Book of Hebrews

The Pivotal Epistle
By Chuck Missler, Koinonia House
http://www.khouse.org/
from the May 20, 2008 eNews issue

The Epistle to the Hebrews is one of the greatest theological treatises of the New Testament. This letter is, in a real sense, the "Leviticus" of the New Testament, detailing how the Lord Jesus Christ is both the fulfillment and the successor to all that had gone on before. Most studies of the book of Hebrews begin by addressing the topic of it's authorship. Who wrote the book of Hebrews? The Bible doesn't tell us, and there are many theories. However the available evidence, we feel, seems to justify a Pauline ascription.
Some suggest that Apollos wrote this epistle, although there is not much evidence to support the theory. Furthermore, Apollos was from Alexandria, and yet even in Alexandria in the earliest times the book was associated with Paul. So, if Apollos was the author, somehow he didn't even convince his own hometown.

Others ascribe the book to Barnabas, but here again there is no evidence to support this theory. There are some spurious writings (that are not regarded as authentic) that were attributed to Barnabas, but their style is so different from the epistle to the Hebrews that if one can conclude that the writings attributed to Barnabas were at all indicative of Barnabas' style, he clearly didn't write the Epistle to the Hebrews. There are many stylistic reasons that point to its Pauline authorship.
Also, the Apostle Peter seems to allude to this letter in 2 Peter 3:15-16: And account that the longsuffering of our Lord is salvation; even as our beloved brother Paul also according to the wisdom given unto him hath written unto you...Peter here ascribes a letter written by Paul to the Hebrews. But the other 13 Pauline epistles all went to Gentile churches. So if Hebrews was not written by Paul, then there is a missing letter written by Paul to the Hebrews.

As also in all his epistles, speaking in them of these things; in which are some things hard to be understood, which they that are unlearned and unstable wrest, as they do also the other scriptures, unto their own destruction. Here Peter is commenting on Paul's letter, saying that Paul had written some things that were hard to understand (indeed, the difficulties in Hebrews 6 and 10).

For a more in depth discussion of the authorship of the book of Hebrews, listen to Chuck's verse-by-verse commentary. The book of Hebrews describes how Jesus is the fulfillment of the Old Testament. The primary focus of this letter to believers is to press on to spiritual maturity. For anyone serious about their spiritual growth, a thorough study of the book of Hebrews is essential.