One of the questions people often ask when studying Hebrews is, “Who wrote it?”
My usual answer is simple:
God.
That may sound like a way of avoiding the question, but it is actually the most certain answer we have. The human author never identifies himself. Unlike Paul’s letters, Hebrews opens without a greeting or signature. In fact, by the standards of the New Testament, Hebrews is anonymous.
That has led Christians throughout history to ask the question, “Who was the human author?”
And the answer, if we’re being honest, is that we don’t know.
The Early Church Had Different Opinions
Some believed Paul wrote Hebrews.
Others suggested Luke translated a Hebrew original into Greek.
Still others pointed to Barnabas, Clement of Rome, or later, Apollos.
Origen, one of the great church fathers, perhaps said it best:
“Who wrote the epistle, God only knows with certainty.”
That statement has survived because it captures the humility the evidence demands.
Why Many Doubt Paul Wrote Hebrews
For centuries, many Christians accepted Pauline authorship. But several features of Hebrews make that difficult.
First, the writing style is very different from Paul’s.
Second, Hebrews begins unlike any of Paul’s letters.
Third, Hebrews emphasizes Christ’s priesthood in ways that are unique among New Testament books.
But perhaps the most significant statement comes in Hebrews 2:3:
“It was declared at first by the Lord, and it was attested to us by those who heard.”
The writer places himself among those who received the gospel from eyewitnesses.
Paul, however, consistently emphasized that he received the gospel directly from Christ Himself (Galatians 1:11-12).
That has led many scholars to conclude that the author of Hebrews was a second-generation Christian.
What Can We Know?
While we may not know his name, we are not completely in the dark.
The author was clearly:
- A Jewish Christian.
- Deeply familiar with the Old Testament.
- Comfortable using the Septuagint, the Greek translation of the Old Testament.
- A gifted writer with exceptional Greek.
- Closely connected with Timothy (Hebrews 13:23).
- Familiar with the struggles of the congregation he addressed.
- Part of the wider circle surrounding Paul and his ministry.
In other words, he wasn’t a stranger.
He was likely someone from Paul’s inner circle of trusted ministers.
But his name remains unknown.
Perhaps That Was Intentional
We live in a culture fascinated with personalities.
Who said it?
Who wrote it?
Who gets the credit?
Yet Hebrews refuses to put the spotlight on the messenger.
Instead, from its opening sentence, the focus is entirely on Jesus.
God has spoken.
And He has spoken through His Son.
Throughout the book, the writer continually points away from himself and toward Christ.
Jesus is better.
Better than angels.
Better than Moses.
Better than Aaron.
Better than the sacrifices.
Better than the old covenant.
Better than everything that came before.
Maybe that is exactly how the author wanted it.
His name fades into the background so that Jesus stands at the center.
In the End
Would it be interesting to know who wrote Hebrews?
Certainly.
Would it settle some debates?
Perhaps.
But the authority of Hebrews has never rested upon our certainty concerning the human author.
It rests upon the God who breathed it out.
As one theologian observed, if you received a letter from a great king, you would spend your time reading the message rather than examining the pen with which it was written.
The same is true with Hebrews.
God has spoken.
And that message is far more important than the identity of the servant He used to deliver it.
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