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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.

The content of this short book is at the highest intellectual level. 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.  "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>

'''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. 

The Epistle was written before any persecution of the disciples, because there is a reference to their lack of their physical suffering yet; this makes it likely the Epistle was written prior to the [[Ascension]].  The Epistle also uses a same distinctive phrase once used by Jesus, which reinforces his likely authorship.  This Epistle was certainly written 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, 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.

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.

Chapter 11 of this Epistle is known as the "[[faith]] Hall of Fame."

Chapter 11 of this Epistle is known as the "[[faith]] Hall of Fame."

Attridge<ref>Attridge, Harold W. ''Epistle to the Hebrews'' Anchor Bible Dictionary</ref> writes: "Although Hebrews is included in the Pauline corpus and was part of that corpus in its earliest attested form ([eg papyrus] ''P46''), it is certainly not a work of the apostle. This fact was recognized, largely on stylistic grounds, even in antiquity. Some patristic authors defended the traditional Pauline attribution with theories of scribal assistants such as [[Clement]] of Rome or Luke, but such hypotheses do not do justice to the very un-Pauline treatment of key themes, particularly those of law and faith. Numerous alternative candidates for authorship have been proposed. The most prominent have been [[Barnabas]], to whom [[Tertullian]] assigned the work; [[Apollos]], defended by [[Martin Luther|Luther]] and many moderns; [[Priscilla]], suggested by von Harnack; [[Epaphras]]; and [[Silas]]. Arguments for none are decisive, and [[Origen|Origen's]] judgment that "''God only knows''" who composed the work is sound."

Attridge<ref>Attridge, Harold W. ''Epistle to the Hebrews'' Anchor Bible Dictionary</ref> writes: "Although Hebrews is included in the Pauline corpus and was part of that corpus in its earliest attested form ([eg papyrus] ''P46''), it is certainly not a work of the apostle. This fact was recognized, largely on stylistic grounds, even in antiquity. Some patristic authors defended the traditional Pauline attribution with theories of scribal assistants such as [[Clement]] of Rome or Luke, but such hypotheses do not do justice to the very un-Pauline treatment of key themes, particularly those of law and faith. Numerous alternative candidates for authorship have been proposed. The most prominent have been [[Barnabas]], to whom [[Tertullian]] assigned the work; [[Apollos]], defended by [[Martin Luther|Luther]] and many moderns; [[Priscilla]], suggested by von Harnack; [[Epaphras]]; and [[Silas]]. Arguments for none are decisive, and [[Origen|Origen's]] judgment that "''God only knows''" who composed the work is sound."

==Provenance==

==Provenance==