While it is uncertain who the author is, many
in the early church believed it to have been written by Paul. Including Clement
who said, "Paul, as sent to the Gentiles, on account of his modesty did
not subscribe himself an apostle of the Hebrews, through respect for the Lord,
and because being a herald and apostle of the Gentiles he wrote to the Hebrews
out of his superabundance." The Epistle begins with the statement that Jesus is the
radiance and imprint of God (similar to Colossians 1:15). After that the Epistle gives a large section of Old Testament passages to connect them to who Jesus is.
Chapter 2 addresses a warning about neglecting our salvation because we have such a great
and powerful message from
God himself.
Another notable verse is the reference to God putting all things under his [Jesus']
feet which is a reference from Psalms as well as being found in 1 Corinthians
15:27 ad Ephesians 1:22.
As a the author continues to set up his account of
Jesus is in Chapter 3 he compares Jesus with Moses, whom Jews think of as being
the greatest prophet, which is especially interesting when you consider that
Moses said a prophet would be risen up who would be like him but greater.
(See
Deuteronomy 18:15). Therefore, the
author spends chapters 3-5 showing, using Old Testament themes, that Jesus is
the new High Priest, and comparing the believers to the Jews who were under
Moses (a theme also present in 1 Corinthians 10).
Hebrews 6 speaks about leaving
behind the elementary doctrines of things like washings, laying on of hands,
and the resurrection. After this and a warning about falling away, the Epistle
focuses on the certainty of God's promises using the life of Abraham which he
leads into the obscure character who, like Jesus, is the prince of peace, and
king of righteousness. Further, this character provides Abraham with bread and
wine which is a likely allusion to the Eucharist that would be instituted by
Christ in the New Testament, and Abraham gives him an offering (tithe). The author then
in Chapter 7-10 speaks of this new and better covenant on account of what Jesus
has done using plethora of Old Testament language.
Again these themes are
reminiscent of themes common through out the Old Testament which have a heavy emphasis on the New
Covenant obtained through Jesus' blood. However, it is also true that Paul was the Apostle who seems to have focused the most on the New Covenant through the cross.
Interestingly, another use of Old Testament imagery to further
Christology is found in Hebrews 10:22 there is a particularly interesting point
which finds its parallel in Ezekiel 36:25 where it says "I
will sprinkle clean water on you, and you shall be clean from all your
uncleannesses, and from all your idols I will cleanse you." Again, as
elsewhere, we see Jesus as the fulfillment of Old Testament prophecies, in this
case, it seems it is through the cross and his institution of baptism both common themes in most of Paul's Epistles (See Titus 3:5-7, Romans 6, Ephesians 5:26 etc.). Further,
in chapter 10 the author speaks of us of us entering the holiest place through the curtain, i.e., Christ.
It is possible this is also more Old Testament imagery as the tent where the
Ark was held during the Exodus had a curtain made from the skin and hair an
animal, and it was stained red (Exodus 26). If this is a Christological
connection, it would show that we can enter the holiest place through what Jesus
has done upon the cross.
Next, the author speaks about faith in Chapter 11
specifically going into a long list of Old Testament examples of faith.
Including a reference to people trusting in a better resurrection which seems
to mirror a story from 2 Maccabees 7. The Epistle then speaks about throwing
off the weight of our sin and running this race in 12:1 (see also 1 Corinthians
9:24-27) and about Jesus' willingness to endure the cross for us which is a
common theme throughout the Old Testament and especially in Paul's epistles.
The letter concludes with encouragement to endure and train our bodies that we
may present ourseleves as living sacrifices to God (see also Romans 12:1-2).
And with a final greeting in which Timothy, one of Paul's closest co-workers in
the gospel, being mentioned as being released.
Thus, while there is plenty to argue against Paul's authorship there seems to be a significant amount of common images and argumentation style compounded by the Ante-Niuean witness of Paul being the Author that if it was not, in fact, Paul it must clearly have been someone who knew him and his epistles very well.
