An Argument for the Pauline Authorship of Hebrews as the Most Probable
The epistle to the Hebrews was written in A.D. 63, seven years before the Roman Emperor Titus destroyed Jerusalem and its temple. In a sense it was God's final warning to the Jew that the ancient temple worship was about to be swept away. Hebrews provides something better Christianity. Four years after it was written Peter and Paul, the two great apostles of the Church whose works dominate the Acts were both put to death. Their inspired writings were left behind to encourage believers who had to pass through these testing times. Hebrews is thus a watershed epistle. Because it is anonymous, an attempt to trace its author is a worthwhile exercise.
Logically Peter should have written Hebrews. He was the apostle to the Jews Paul to the Gentiles. Why should their roles be reversed? One reason might be that Peter turned back to the ancient Jewish religion which Hebrews insists has been superseded by Christianity. Paul had to rebuke him for this Gal. 2:11-2111But when Peter was come to Antioch, I withstood him to the face, because he was to be blamed. 12For before that certain came from James, he did eat with the Gentiles: but when they were come, he withdrew and separated himself, fearing them which were of the circumcision. 13And the other Jews dissembled likewise with him; insomuch that Barnabas also was carried away with their dissimulation. 14But when I saw that they walked not uprightly according to the truth of the gospel, I said unto Peter before them all, If thou, being a Jew, livest after the manner of Gentiles, and not as do the Jews, why compellest thou the Gentiles to live as do the Jews? 15We who are Jews by nature, and not sinners of the Gentiles, 16Knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law, but by the faith of Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Jesus Christ, that we might be justified by the faith of Christ, and not by the works of the law: for by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified. 17But if, while we seek to be justified by Christ, we ourselves also are found sinners, is therefore Christ the minister of sin? God forbid. 18For if I build again the things which I destroyed, I make myself a transgressor. 19For I through the law am dead to the law, that I might live unto God. 20I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me. 21I do not frustrate the grace of God: for if righteousness come by the law, then Christ is dead in vain. (Galatians 2:11‑21). Another reason is Peter's lack of formal education as compared with Paul's. God always prepares His servants for the line of truth with which He entrusts them. Paul was educated by Gamaliel, a famed Jewish teacher "and taught according to the perfect manner of the law of the fathers" Acts 22:33I am verily a man which am a Jew, born in Tarsus, a city in Cilicia, yet brought up in this city at the feet of Gamaliel, and taught according to the perfect manner of the law of the fathers, and was zealous toward God, as ye all are this day. (Acts 22:3). He tells the Galatians that he "profited in the Jews' religion above many my equals in my own nation, being more exceedingly zealous of the tradition of my fathers" Gal. 1:1414And profited in the Jews' religion above many my equals in mine own nation, being more exceedingly zealous of the traditions of my fathers. (Galatians 1:14). Paul's background in divine things shines through in Hebrews when he compares the old religion with the new and better one. Familiarity with the old is a prerequisite to such a comparison. Peter openly admitted this. Speaking of Paul's writings he says "in which are some things hard to understand, which those who are untaught and unstable twist, as they do also the other Scriptures" 2 Peter 3:1616As 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. (2 Peter 3:16).
Paul had a motive for writing Hebrews a motive not common to any of the inspired writers of the New Testament. He was the Apostle to the Gentiles by the will of God. He was a minister of the gospel Col. 1:2323If ye continue in the faith grounded and settled, and be not moved away from the hope of the gospel, which ye have heard, and which was preached to every creature which is under heaven; whereof I Paul am made a minister; (Colossians 1:23) and a minister of the Church Col. 1:2525Whereof I am made a minister, according to the dispensation of God which is given to me for you, to fulfil the word of God; (Colossians 1:25). He carried out these roles faithfully. He preached the gospel throughout the ancient world, he established and strengthened Churches. It was given to him to complete the Word of God Col. 1:2525Whereof I am made a minister, according to the dispensation of God which is given to me for you, to fulfil the word of God; (Colossians 1:25), and he is the major author of the New Testament. In carrying out these tasks his was no cloistered life "in stripes above measure, in prisons more frequent, in deaths often. Of the Jews five times received I forty stripes save one. Thrice was I beaten with rods, once was I stoned, thrice I suffered shipwreck, a night and a day I have been in the deep. In journeyings often, in perils of waters, in perils of robbers, in perils by my own countrymen, in perils by the heathen, in perils in the city, in perils in the wilderness, in perils in the sea, in perils among false brethren, in weariness and painfulness, in watching often, in hunger and thirst, in fastings often, in cold and nakedness" 2 Cor. 11:23-2723Are they ministers of Christ? (I speak as a fool) I am more; in labors more abundant, in stripes above measure, in prisons more frequent, in deaths oft. 24Of the Jews five times received I forty stripes save one. 25Thrice was I beaten with rods, once was I stoned, thrice I suffered shipwreck, a night and a day I have been in the deep; 26In journeyings often, in perils of waters, in perils of robbers, in perils by mine own countrymen, in perils by the heathen, in perils in the city, in perils in the wilderness, in perils in the sea, in perils among false brethren; 27In weariness and painfulness, in watchings often, in hunger and thirst, in fastings often, in cold and nakedness. (2 Corinthians 11:23‑27). Did this mean anything to the Jewish Christians at Jerusalem? Not at all. They were keeping the law and sacrificing animals in the temple. They wanted Paul to do the same Acts 21:23, 2423Do therefore this that we say to thee: We have four men which have a vow on them; 24Them take, and purify thyself with them, and be at charges with them, that they may shave their heads: and all may know that those things, whereof they were informed concerning thee, are nothing; but that thou thyself also walkest orderly, and keepest the law. (Acts 21:23‑24). Their insistence that Paul do this was the mainspring of his captivity in effect the chaining of the gospel. Clearly Paul had a motive for writing Hebrews not shared by others of his day correcting the legality of Jewish believers and urging them to turn to the better things offered by true Christianity.
The problem of authorship arises out of the absence of formal identification. There is no apostolic salutation at the close as in 2 Thess. 3:1717The salutation of Paul with mine own hand, which is the token in every epistle: so I write. (2 Thessalonians 3:17) "The salutation of Paul with my own hand, which is the token in every epistle; so I write." Furthermore there is none at the opening, for the epistle begins with "God." Jesus is God manifest in the flesh and Hebrews opens with His glories. He is declared to be the apostle in 3:1. That is the prime reason for the lack of apostolic salutation at the opening of Hebrews. Since Jesus is the Apostle all other men must recede like the light of a candle in the light of the sun. Again Hebrews is not a letter but a treatise. It is not addressed to an assembly or an individual and so does not require an introductory and closing salutation. It is general "to whom it may concern." As we read it, we learn that it is written to the Jewish people as a whole some of whom are Christ's sheep and others who have professed to be, but who are in danger of giving up their profession.
It is reasonable to assume that the letter was delivered to James at Jerusalem, as the leading man there, or if not to someone of his stature. After public reading and discussion copies would be made and distributed, following the precedent in Acts 15:2323And they wrote letters by them after this manner; The apostles and elders and brethren send greeting unto the brethren which are of the Gentiles in Antioch and Syria and Cilicia: (Acts 15:23). These must have been sent to all the synagogues throughout the ancient world. Certainly "the strangers scattered throughout Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia and Bithynia" 1 Peter 1:11Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ, to the strangers scattered throughout Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia, (1 Peter 1:1) to whom Peter wrote "this second epistle" 2 Peter 3:11This second epistle, beloved, I now write unto you; in both which I stir up your pure minds by way of remembrance: (2 Peter 3:1) must have received a copy of Hebrews. We know this from Peter's closing words mentioning Paul by name as having written to them 2 Peter 3:15-1615And 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; 16As 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. (2 Peter 3:15‑16).
Internal Identification of Paul As the Author.
The faith chapter- Of the great writers of the New Testament John's ministry was love, Peter's hope and Paul's faith. Paul left us his faith chapter Heb. 11 as a spiritual legacy in his old age.
The author is an old man Twice in this epistle the author drops hints that he has become an old man. In 9:5, speaking of the cherubim of glory he says "concerning which it is not now (the time) to speak in detail." Then in 11:32 he repeats this refrain that the sand was running out of his glass, so to speak "the time would fail me to tell of Gideon" etc. Now Paul the aged hasn't got enough time to write about these themes for his life is ebbing away. Hebrews is to be Paul's last major project. What time he has left will be spent on pastoral work. He writes only three other letters after Hebrews. These are 1 Tim, Titus and the last words of Paul, 2 Tim. Peter too was aged, but 2 Peter 3:1515And 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; (2 Peter 3:15) is a disclaimer against his authorship.
The author is writing from Italy Fables to the contrary, there is no proof that Peter ever visited Rome. Paul did, as a prisoner, and Acts 28 attests to the fact. While Rome is not mentioned specifically as the writer's residence, the epistle closes with "those of Italy greet you" 13:24, which is a more wide-ranging geographical expression, and an indication of how greatly the gospel had spread throughout that country.
The author wants to visit Jerusalem with Timothy Now let us look at 13:23. Paul informs the Hebrews that Timothy has been set free. No details of his imprisonment are given simply his release. Timothy was his son in the faith the faithful and devoted traveling companion in his evangelical campaigns from Acts 16 on. Paul was overjoyed at the prospect of another visit to Jerusalem this time with Timothy. However the mind of the Lord was that the epistle to the Hebrews should represent him at Jerusalem instead.
Numeric Proofs of Paul's Authorship of Hebrews
God is called "the God of Measure" in 2 Cor. 10:1313But we will not boast of things without our measure, but according to the measure of the rule which God hath distributed to us, a measure to reach even unto you. (2 Corinthians 10:13), and there is much sound Biblical scholarship to support the view that the numbers used in the Scriptures have spiritual meanings. Our only interest in this field of study here however, is whether it can help us establish or refute Paul's authorship of Hebrews. The late Dr. E.W. Bullinger thought it could. He made a numeric proof of Paul's authorship of Hebrews. His proof ranges over several pages, and it is impractical either to reproduce it or to condense it here. Instead the interested reader is referred to his book "Number in Scripture" published by Kregel Publications, Grand Rapids, Michigan, USA.