Changes

The [[Epistle to the Hebrews]] is the nineteenth book of the [[New Testament]], and one of the greatest mysteries in all of intellectual history: the authorship of this brilliant work is unknown. It is not a letter at all, but a detailed explanation of the reasons behind Jesus's life and [[Passion of Christ|Passion]], and how [[God]] did not fail to intervene.  Unlike the real New Testament letters, this book is not introduced by the name of its author.

The [[Epistle to the Hebrews]] is the nineteenth book of the [[New Testament]], and one of the greatest mysteries in all of intellectual history: the authorship of this brilliant work is unknown. It is not a letter at all, but a detailed explanation of the reasons behind Jesus's life and [[Passion of Christ|Passion]], and how [[God]] did not fail to intervene.  Unlike the real New Testament letters, this book is not introduced by the name of its author.

'''Highest intellectual level''':  This Epistle was written flawlessly in a higher form of Greek than any other book ever written in history.  "It would be difficult to find anywhere passages more exact and pregnant in expression than i. 1-4; ii. 14-18; vii, 26-28; xii, 18-24."<ref>''The Epistle to the Hebrews: The Greek Texts with Notes and Essays'' (edited by Brooke Foss Westcott), xlvi</ref>  There is also a striking absence of five words commonly used in other parts of the New Testament.  This short book demonstrates a phenomenal knowledge of Scriptures by the author, and draws an analogy between the new concept of [[Christian]] [[faith]] and the sacrifice of [[Isaac]] in the [[Old Testament]].<ref>Saldarini, Anthony J. [http://mb-soft.com/believe/txs/hebrews.htm ''Epistle to the Hebrews''] Believe. Accessed 15 March 2008</ref><ref>Pawson, J. David ''Unlocking The Bible'' p.1113 (London, Collins; 2003) ISBN 978 0 00 716666 4</ref>  It contains a record number of words that do not appear anywhere else in the New Testament, and the style of the writing is at the highest level of Greek found anywhere.   

'''Highest intellectual level''':  This Epistle was written '''''perfectly''''' in a higher form of Greek than any other book ever written in history.  "It would be difficult to find anywhere passages more exact and pregnant in expression than i. 1-4; ii. 14-18; vii, 26-28; xii, 18-24."<ref>''The Epistle to the Hebrews: The Greek Texts with Notes and Essays'' (edited by Brooke Foss Westcott), xlvi</ref>  There is also a striking absence of five words commonly used in other parts of the New Testament.  This short book demonstrates a phenomenal knowledge of Scriptures by the author, and draws an analogy between the new concept of [[Christian]] [[faith]] and the sacrifice of [[Isaac]] in the [[Old Testament]].<ref>Saldarini, Anthony J. [http://mb-soft.com/believe/txs/hebrews.htm ''Epistle to the Hebrews''] Believe. Accessed 15 March 2008</ref><ref>Pawson, J. David ''Unlocking The Bible'' p.1113 (London, Collins; 2003) ISBN 978 0 00 716666 4</ref>  It contains a record number of words that do not appear anywhere else in the New Testament, and the style of the writing is at the highest level of Greek found anywhere.   

'''Written very early''':  This Epistle was written before any persecution of the disciples, because there is a reference to their lack of their physical suffering yet, making it likely the Epistle was written prior to the [[Ascension]].  Luke's Gospel and the Acts of the Apostles, particularly its chapter 7, apparently benefited from having a copy of this Epistle because Luke imitated it in several ways.<ref>"Lukan Authorship of Hebrews," by David Lewis Allen, which describes the parallels between Acts 7 and Hebrews 11.</ref>  This Epistle was written before institution of the Eucharist and before the destruction of the Jerusalem Temple in A.D. 70.<ref>http://www.mycrandall.ca/courses/ntintro/Heb.htm</ref>  This Epistle was also known to Clement, a very early pope, as confirmed by 1 Clement (17:1, 36:2-5), which is typically dated as having been written sometime between A.D. 95 and 120.

'''Written very early''':  This Epistle was written before any persecution of the disciples, because there is a reference to their lack of their physical suffering yet, making it likely the Epistle was written prior to the [[Ascension]].  Luke's Gospel and the Acts of the Apostles, particularly its chapter 7, apparently benefited from having a copy of this Epistle because Luke imitated it in several ways.<ref>"Lukan Authorship of Hebrews," by David Lewis Allen, pp. 143-50, which describes the parallels between Acts 7 and Hebrews 11.</ref>  This Epistle was written before institution of the Eucharist and before the destruction of the Jerusalem Temple in A.D. 70.<ref>http://www.mycrandall.ca/courses/ntintro/Heb.htm</ref>  This Epistle was also known to Clement, a very early pope, as confirmed by 1 Clement (17:1, 36:2-5), which is typically dated as having been written sometime between A.D. 95 and 120.

'''Likely authorship by Jesus''': The Epistle also uses a same distinctive phrase once used by Jesus, which reinforces His likely authorship.  This Epistle is actually a 45-minute sermon, probably the one given by [[Jesus]] to disciples on the Road to Emmaus, shortly after the [[Resurrection]].<ref>Luke 24:13-35 (Road to Emmaus).  See also [http://sljinstitute.net/general-epistles/hebrews/the-finality-and-superiority-of-the-son-of-god-hebrews/ Mentioning an expert opinion that the Epistle is based on Jesus's explanation on the Road to Emmaus]</ref>  The total length of this Epistle is slightly less than 5000 words.<ref>http://catholic-resources.org/Bible/NT-Statistics-Greek.htm</ref>  Although some early manuscripts of this book are marked as "to the Hebrews," this Epistle is actually directed more towards early Christians familiar with Scriptures.

'''Likely authorship by Jesus''': The Epistle also uses a same distinctive phrase once used by Jesus, which reinforces His likely authorship.  This Epistle is actually a 45-minute sermon, probably the one given by [[Jesus]] to disciples on the Road to Emmaus, shortly after the [[Resurrection]].<ref>Luke 24:13-35 (Road to Emmaus).  See also [http://sljinstitute.net/general-epistles/hebrews/the-finality-and-superiority-of-the-son-of-god-hebrews/ Mentioning an expert opinion that the Epistle is based on Jesus's explanation on the Road to Emmaus]</ref>  The total length of this Epistle is slightly less than 5000 words.<ref>http://catholic-resources.org/Bible/NT-Statistics-Greek.htm</ref>  Although some early manuscripts of this book are marked as "to the Hebrews," this Epistle is actually directed more towards early Christians familiar with Scriptures.