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The earliest copy in existence is part of a [[papyrus]] [[codex]] in Greek of the Letters of Saint Paul, dating from around AD 200. The codex, referred to as ''P46'' was discovered in 1931, and provided a text at least a century older than the [[Vatican]] and [[Sinaitic]] codices, the oldest authorities on which the text had previously rested.<ref>[http://www.lib.umich.edu/pap/exhibits/papyri_james/1_2.html ''From Papyri to King James: The Transmission of the English Bible''] University of Michigan. Accessed 15 March 2008</ref> The epistle can be dated with some certainty by its content: the use of "''Remember your leaders, who spoke the word of God to you. Consider the outcome of their way of life and imitate their faith''" (Heb 13:7) is consistent with a period after the death of the first leaders of the church in [[Rome]]. The epistle also discusses the temple and its sacrifices in the present tense: this places its writing between Paul's [[Epistle to the Romans]] in AD 55 and the destruction of the temple in AD 70.
The earliest copy in existence is part of a [[papyrus]] [[codex]] in Greek of the Letters of Saint Paul, dating from around AD 200. The codex, referred to as ''P46'' was discovered in 1931, and provided a text at least a century older than the [[Vatican]] and [[Sinaitic]] codices, the oldest authorities on which the text had previously rested.<ref>[http://www.lib.umich.edu/pap/exhibits/papyri_james/1_2.html ''From Papyri to King James: The Transmission of the English Bible''] University of Michigan. Accessed 15 March 2008</ref> The epistle can be dated with some certainty by its content: the use of "''Remember your leaders, who spoke the word of God to you. Consider the outcome of their way of life and imitate their faith''" (Heb 13:7) is consistent with a period after the death of the first leaders of the church in [[Rome]]. The epistle also discusses the temple and its sacrifices in the present tense: this places its writing between Paul's [[Epistle to the Romans]] in AD 55 and the destruction of the temple in AD 70.
[[Image:Papyrus P46.jpg|right|thumb|200px|Papyrus ''P46'', showing the opening paragraphs of the Epistle to the Hebrews.]]
[[Image:Papyrus P46.jpg|right|thumb|200px|Papyrus ''P46'', showing the opening paragraphs of the Epistle to the Hebrews.]]
==To whom written==
It is uncertain to whom the letter was sent, bearing only the words "to the Hebrews", and it has been variously suggested that it was sent to the church at [[Alexandria]], [[Antioch]], [[Jerusalem]] or [[Ephesus]]. Pawson<ref>Pawson, J. David op cit p.1115</ref> points to the end of the letter: "''Those ''from'' Italy send you their greetings''" (Heb 13:24) as indicating the letter was written ''to'' Italy, most likely the church in Rome. In light of its title, it would seem that it was specifically meant for that portion of the church that was Jewish.
==References==
==References==
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