Who wrote the book of Hebrews? There has long been interest, discussion, and debate over that question, but it is a waste of time since God did not tell us. The most important thing is to know that God is the real Author of all scripture (2 Tim. 3:16). Also, as we will see in this study, more important than knowing who wrote it is knowing that the apostle Paul did NOT write it. Yet, most think he did. After all, the title of the book in most Bibles is, “The Epistle of Paul the Apostle to the Hebrews.”
There are some Bible-believers who think Paul wrote Hebrews because it says so in the title of the 1611 King James Bible. It is the words of scripture that are inspired and preserved, NOT the things that men have added to it, such as titles, postscripts, headers, cross-references, alternate translations, or any study helps. For example, the postscripts for 1 & 2 Thessalonians in the 1611 claim that Paul wrote those epistles from Athens at the time of Acts 17. Yet, by comparing Acts 18 with 1 Thessalonians 3, we know that Paul wrote it later from Corinth.
Typically, those who believe Paul wrote Hebrews also believe the General Epistles were written to the Body of Christ. Yet, the word of God does not teach the 12 apostles became members of the Body of Christ, but rather that they maintained their distinct calling as apostles to Israel (Matt. 19:28; Gal. 2:9). Hebrews through Revelation were written to the little flock of believing Israel, historically in the Acts period and prophetically in the tribulation period. Of course, they contain applications for us (e.g., Heb. 4:12; 11:1, 6), as does all scripture.
The strongest passages that are used to claim Paul wrote Hebrews are not conclusive. After we consider those, we will consider the biblical reasons that conclusively prove he was not the writer.
- Heb. 13:18-19, 23-25 – Why would Paul request prayer to be restored to the little flock? Timothy was a common name, so it may not have been referring to Paul’s son in the faith. Paul never mentioned Timothy as being a prisoner in his epistles. Compare that the writer considered this to be a short epistle (“few words”) with what Paul said about the much shorter letter of Galatians (Gal. 6:11). If these verses proved Paul was the writer, it would mean he wrote it after the transition period ended in Acts 28. That would mean he ignored all the revelations he had already received concerning the Body of Christ and regressed in doctrine. In fact, he would have contradicted some of his own doctrine. Also, as we will see, v.25 is not the token found in all of Paul’s inspired epistles (2 Thess. 3:17).
- 2 Pet. 3:15-16 – During the Acts transition period, when Paul was going to the Jews first, he wrote a letter to the little flock concerning the postponement of the kingdom due to the longsuffering of the Lord. Hebrews cannot be that epistle because that is NOT what it is about (Heb. 2:5; 12:28). Not everything Paul wrote was given by the inspiration of God (e.g., 1 Cor. 5:9), but all his inspired epistles are preserved in the Bible. The word “also” in v.16 contrasts what Paul wrote to the little flock with “all his epistles” which are scripture (cf. 2 Tim. 3:16; 2 Pet. 3:16).
Reasons Paul Did Not Write Hebrews
- It does not contain the token of authenticity that is found in every one of Paul’s inspired epistles (2 Thess. 2:2; 3:17-18). A salutation is a greeting, and Paul gives greetings at the beginning and end of his epistles. The token in all 13 of his inspired epistles is that his name appears first, written by his own hand. There are differences in how he ends his epistles, so how could the “token in EVERY epistle” be referring to something that is not consistent in every epistle? The closing salutation in v.18 cannot the token since the EXACT words are also used by John (Rev. 22:21).
- It concerns the last days of Israel, not the parenthetical mystery age that interrupted prophecy. In Paul’s last inspired epistle, he wrote of the last days that were yet future (2 Tim. 3:1). Hebrews, as well as the other Hebrew epistles, was written to those living in the last days of prophecy (Heb. 1:1-2; cf. Acts 2:16-17). The theme of an epistle is usually stated in the introduction. The first four verses of Hebrews form one sentence that declares the theme of the book. Hebrews is about Jesus Christ according to prophecy, and is a further expansion of the message that He preached to His own people in His earthly ministry (Matt. 15:24; Heb. 2:1-5). That message was the gospel of the kingdom (Matt. 4:17, 23). Israel will enter her kingdom under the blood of the new covenant. The book of Hebrews is one of three transition books in the NT. Matthew transitions from OT prophecy to fulfillment. Acts transition from Israel to the Body of Christ. Hebrews transitions from the old covenant to the new and from the tribulation to the kingdom.
- It contains major doctrinal and dispensational differences from Paul’s epistles. People commonly think Hebrews was written for this present age because of its emphasis on the blood of Christ. However, there is a difference in application. This book is to the Hebrews what Romans is to the Body of Christ. For every similarity, there are more DIFFERENCES. The writer refers to his letter as a “word of exhortation” (13:22). The main exhortation of the letter is stated in the middle of it (6:1-3). If they don’t “go on unto perfection,” there is a danger of them falling away (6:4-8) and drawing “back to perdition” (10:26-27, 35-39). The national salvation of Israel occurs at the second coming of Christ (Acts 3:19-21; cf. Rom. 5:9-11; 11:26-27). That is the reason there are passages in the Hebrew Epistles make it sound like the people are saved and others that they are looking to be saved. The difference is between individual and national salvation.
- The writer identifies himself as being in the same situation with his readers. The plural pronouns “us”, “we”, and “our” are used throughout the epistle. How could the apostle Paul possibly write such things as Hebrews 3:6, 14 or 4:1?
- The gospel of the grace of God, that Paul received by revelation of Jesus Christ, is not found in Hebrews (neither is the Body of Christ or our blessed hope). If Paul wrote it, he would’ve been under his own curse (Gal. 1:6-9).
