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==Language==
==Language==
The [[Greek]] of the epistle is particularly sophisticated, and widely regarded as the best example in the New Testament,<ref>Pawson, J. David op cit</ref> noted for its "striking purity and elegance".<ref>"Language and style" [http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/07181a.htm ''Epistle to the Hebrews''] Catholic Encyclopedia. Accessed 15 March 2008</ref> Not only does the author show "great familiarity with the rules of the Greek literary language" but also "of all the New Testament authors he has the best style. His writing may even be included among those examples of artistic Greek [[prose]] whose rhythm recalls the parallelism of [[Hebrew]] poetry."<ref>Catholic Encyclopedia op cit</ref> Even in the English translation, the language is refined and sophisticated. It uses 168 terms which appear in no other part of the New Testament, including ten words found neither in [[koine]] or classical Greek, and a further forty words which do not appear in the [[Septuagint]].
The [[Greek]] of the epistle is particularly sophisticated, and widely regarded as the best example in the New Testament,<ref>Pawson, J. David op cit</ref> noted for its "striking purity and elegance".<ref>"Language and style" [http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/07181a.htm ''Epistle to the Hebrews''] Catholic Encyclopedia. Accessed 15 March 2008</ref> Not only does the author show "great familiarity with the rules of the Greek literary language" but also "of all the New Testament authors he has the best style. His writing may even be included among those examples of artistic Greek [[prose]] whose rhythm recalls the parallelism of [[Hebrew]] poetry."<ref>Catholic Encyclopedia op cit</ref> Even in the English translation, the language is refined and sophisticated. It uses 168 terms which appear in no other part of the New Testament, including ten words found neither in [[koine]] or classical Greek, and a further forty words which do not appear in the [[Septuagint]].
==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 conjecture, and also a position thast was not adopted by the church until the [[Middle Ages]]. While commonly attributed to [[Paul]], a comparison of the language and style with his other writings seems to indicate that he was not the author, although the ideas expressed within it certainly follow Pauline thought, suggesting that the author had been a pupil of his. Candidates for its authorship have included Barnabas, [[Luke]], Silas, Stephen, Apollos and Priscilla.
==References==
==References==