This was a
MINOR point in my response to you - but
MOST scholars do
not believe that Paul wrote
Hebrews - and that the evidence is so
overwhelming, that it is
not even up for debate.
From Wikipedia:
Authorship of the Epistle to the Hebrews
In general, the evidence against Pauline authorship is considered too solid for scholarly dispute. Donald Guthrie, in his New Testament Introduction (1976), commented that "most modern writers find more difficulty in imagining how this Epistle was ever attributed to Paul than in disposing of the theory."[14] Harold Attridge tells us that "it is certainly not a work of the apostle".[15] Daniel Wallace, who holds to the traditional authorship of the other epistles, states that "the arguments against Pauline authorship, however, are conclusive."[16] As a result, although a few people today believe Paul wrote Hebrews, such as theologian R.C. Sproul,[17] contemporary scholars generally reject Pauline authorship.[18] As Richard Heard notes, in his Introduction to the New Testament, "modern critics have confirmed that the epistle cannot be attributed to Paul and have for the most part agreed with Origen's judgement, 'But as to who wrote the epistle, only God knows the truth.'"[19]
From
Doctrine.org, here is a list of the
five main points why Paul
couldn't have written the Letter:
Five major objections exist to Pauline authorship:2
- The letter is anonymous which is contrary to Paul’s practice in his other letters.
- The writing style is dramatically better than Paul.
- The logical development is much more tightly woven than is Paul’s.
- Spiritual eyewitnesses are appealed to (Hebrews 2.3) while Paul insisted on no intermediaries for his gospel (Galatians 1.12).
- Timothy’s imprisonment (Hebrews 13.23) does not seem to fit within Paul’s lifetime since he is mentioned in Acts and Paul’s letters as a free man.
Anyway -
back with the topic . . .
Scholarly men and modern critics can be in error.
Addressing the 5 major objections with His help;
#1. Paul, being a former persecuting Jew, would be more at home in writing to believers that have come out of Judaism in relating to them. It is not so anonymous if Paul cites running that race as he had written of in the epistle to the Corinthians.
#2. The writing style is Paul's since it did mention the race and Timothy, and just because it was "better written" which is an opinion anyway, that does not mean it did not come from him.
#3, The logical development is also an opinion. There are premises in his other epistles for what he has gone into more in Hebrews. 1 Corinthians 10th chapter in addressing idolatry in communion to the Gentiles & Jews, and then in Hebrews 10th chapter in addressing the practice of the former sacrificial offering in relation to communion to the Jews in how if they use communion like the former sacrificial system in receiving Christ one time's offering for sin "again" thus placing the blood of the New Covenant on par with the blood of goats and bulls that it needs repeating to be received again, God will be wroth with His people and judge His people for treating His blood as if it was an unholy thing; as in not good enough the first time to effect salvation wherein the Holy Ghost in them is a Witness that they are saved.
#4. Hebrews 2:3 How shall we escape, if we neglect so great salvation; which at the first began to be spoken by the Lord, and was confirmed unto us by them that heard him;
Paul heard Jesus when He revealed Himself to Him on the road to Damascus. Having experienced this, he grouped himself with others that have heard Him.
Galatians 1:12 For I neither received it of man, neither was I taught it, but by the revelation of Jesus Christ.
That is how he was able to group himself with those that have heard Him in Hebrews 2:3
#5. Hebrews 13:23 is not referring to Timothy's imprisonment, but being "set at liberty" from other tasks in the ministry to come to them.
I reckon you will side with the scholars on this rather than lean on Him as your Good Shepherd for the wisdom in seeing the truth in His words.
You can prove me wrong by going before that throne of grace and ask Him for help in trusting Him as your personal Good Shepherd for the wisdom to understand the truths in His words. I admit that I cannot convince you of the truth, but I have faith in Him that He can if you trust Him to do this.
