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[[Image:KJV 1611 Hebrews.jpg|right|thumb|200px|The 1611 edition of the [[King James Bible]] showing the opening of the Epistle to the Hebrews, with a mistaken attribution to Paul as the author.]]

[[Image:KJV 1611 Hebrews.jpg|right|thumb|200px|The 1611 edition of the [[King James Bible]] showing the opening of the Epistle to the Hebrews, with a mistaken attribution to Paul as the author.]]

The '''Epistle to the Hebrews''' is one of the greatest mysteries in all of intellectual history: the authorship of this brilliant work is unknown, and was certainly not [[Saint Paul]]. It contains much [[Biblical scientific foreknowledge]], such as foreshadowing the [[Second Law of Thermodynamics]] by explaining that the "universe" shall "wear out" like a "garment", i.e., [[entropy]] is always increasing,<ref>[[Epistle to the Hebrews (Translated)#1:10-11|Hebrews 1:10-11]].</ref> and by three times using the modern concept of [[infinity]] millennia before its acceptance. This book is the only one to state that Jesus was tempted in every way possible "as we are,"<ref>Hebrews 4:15 ([[ESV]]).</ref> and only this book explains Jesus's relationship to [[angel]]s,<ref>Hebrews 1:4,5,6,7, and 13.</ref> picking up on the discussion at Luke 24:23 ([[Road to Emmaus]]).  This Epistle may have inspired the [[Gospel of Luke]].

The '''Epistle to the Hebrews''' is a book in the [[New Testament]], which immediately follows Philemon.

 

Its authorship is one of the greatest mysteries in all of intellectual history: notwithstanding that many translations label the author as [[Saint Paul]], most likely he was not.

 

It contains much [[Biblical scientific foreknowledge]], such as foreshadowing the [[Second Law of Thermodynamics]] by explaining that the "universe" shall "wear out" like a "garment" (i.e., [[entropy]] is always increasing)<ref>[[Epistle to the Hebrews (Translated)#1:10-11|Hebrews 1:10-11]].</ref>, and by three times using the modern concept of [[infinity]] millennia before its acceptance. This book is the only one to state that Jesus was tempted in every way possible "as we are,"<ref>Hebrews 4:15 ([[ESV]]).</ref> and only this book explains Jesus's relationship to [[angel]]s,<ref>Hebrews 1:4,5,6,7, and 13.</ref> picking up on the discussion at Luke 24:23 ([[Road to Emmaus]]).  This Epistle may have inspired the [[Gospel of Luke]]; Luke is considered among some scholars to be the author of the epistle.

This Epistle was written perfectly at the highest level of the Greek language.  "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>  This short book demonstrates a phenomenal knowledge of scriptures, 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 (154) that do not appear anywhere else in the New Testament,<ref>https://www.neverthirsty.org/bible-qa/qa-archives/question/how-any-words-are-in-the-greek-new-testament/</ref> and a striking absence of five words commonly used elsewhere.  This also contains a favorite verse of athletes: "let us run with endurance the race that is set before us."<ref>{{bibleref|Hebrews|12|1}}</ref>

This Epistle was written perfectly at the highest level of the Greek language.  "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>  This short book demonstrates a phenomenal knowledge of scriptures, 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 (154) that do not appear anywhere else in the New Testament,<ref>https://www.neverthirsty.org/bible-qa/qa-archives/question/how-any-words-are-in-the-greek-new-testament/</ref> and a striking absence of five words commonly used elsewhere.  This also contains a favorite verse of athletes: "let us run with endurance the race that is set before us."<ref>{{bibleref|Hebrews|12|1}}</ref>

==Author==

==Author==

The identity of the author of the epistle has been called "the riddle of the New Testament."<ref>Scott, E. F. [http://www.archive.org/stream/MN41537ucmf_9/MN41537ucmf_9_djvu.txt ''The Epistle of the Hebrews: Its Doctrine and Significance''] (Edinburgh; T and T Clarke; 1922) full text online. Accessed 15 March 2008</ref> It remains the only New Testament book whose authorship is definitely unknown. The earliest translations of the [[King James Bible]] call it "the Epistle of Paul the Apostle to the Hebrews," but this is implausible conjecture, and also a position that was not adopted by the church until the [[Middle Ages]]. By the time of the [[Reformation]], this authorship was being questioned. While commonly attributed to [[Paul]], a comparison of the language and style with his other writings demonstrates that he was not the author, although the ideas expressed within it do not contradict Pauline thought, suggesting that the author may have been a pupil of his.  

The identity of the author of the epistle has been called "the riddle of the New Testament."<ref>Scott, E. F. [http://www.archive.org/stream/MN41537ucmf_9/MN41537ucmf_9_djvu.txt ''The Epistle of the Hebrews: Its Doctrine and Significance''] (Edinburgh; T and T Clarke; 1922) full text online. Accessed 15 March 2008</ref> It remains the only New Testament book whose authorship is definitely unknown. The earliest translations of the [[King James Bible]] call it "the Epistle of Paul the Apostle to the Hebrews," but this is implausible conjecture, and also a position that was not adopted by the church until the [[Middle Ages]]. By the time of the [[Reformation]], this authorship was being questioned. While commonly attributed to [[Paul]], a comparison of the language and style with his other writings demonstrates that he was not the author<ref>One reason for rejecting Paul as the author is the frequent use (in the King James) of stating that "one in a certain place" followed by an Old Testament quotation; Paul (a learned Pharisee) would have mentioned the source by name.</ref>, although the ideas expressed within it do not contradict Pauline thought, suggesting that the author may have been a pupil of his.  

The strikingly beautiful and sophisticated use of the Greek language in this book suggests it was written by a great Greek thinker, perhaps someone at the high level of [[Aristotle]] or [[Plato]].

The strikingly beautiful and sophisticated use of the Greek language in this book suggests it was written by a great Greek thinker, perhaps someone at the high level of [[Aristotle]] or [[Plato]].