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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. It is not a letter to the Hebrews, but a detailed explanation to everyone of the reasons behind Jesus's life and [[Passion of Christ|Passion]], and how [[God]] did not fail to intervene.  Unlike the actual letters in the New Testament, this book is not introduced by the name of its author.  Its title of "Hebrews" is itself a misnomer, as the explanation in the book is plainly for everyone. The only hint we have about its author is Hebrews 13:19, where the author urges the audience to [[prayer|pray]] "in order that I may be restored to you the sooner."<ref>ESV quoted here.</ref>

The '''Epistle to the Hebrews''' is one of the greatest mysteries in all of intellectual history: the authorship of this brilliant work is unknown. It contains much [[Biblical Scientific Foreknowledge]], such as foreshadowing the [[Second Law of Thermodynamics]] by explaining that the "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>

 

This epistle is not a letter to the Hebrews, but a detailed explanation to everyone of the reasons behind Jesus's life and [[Passion of Christ|Passion]], and how [[God]] did not fail to intervene.  Unlike the actual letters in the New Testament, this book is not introduced by the name of its author.  Its title of "Hebrews" is itself a misnomer, as the explanation in the book is plainly for everyone. The only hint we have about its author is Hebrews 13:19, where the author urges the audience to [[prayer|pray]] "in order that I may be restored to you the sooner."<ref>ESV quoted here.</ref>

This Epistle, the nineteenth book of the [[New Testament]], was likely written within months or even days of Jesus's [[Resurrection]], because it refers to worship practices under the old covenant in the present tense (Hebrews 8:4-5, 10:1-3), practices which continued to A.D. 70, for thirty-seven years after Jesus [[Ascension|ascended]] into heaven.<ref>"practices which continued A.D. 70, for thirty-seven years after Jesus ascended into heaven." (Compare Hebrews 10:32-34 and Acts 8:1-3.) It is not impossible that this Epistle could also have been written at ''any'' time during those 37 years, even as late as February A.D. 70 (A.D. 33 + 37 years = A.D. 70). The Temple was taken in March of that year and burned in August. See the following historical documentation.

This Epistle, the nineteenth book of the [[New Testament]], was likely written within months or even days of Jesus's [[Resurrection]], because it refers to worship practices under the old covenant in the present tense (Hebrews 8:4-5, 10:1-3), practices which continued to A.D. 70, for thirty-seven years after Jesus [[Ascension|ascended]] into heaven.<ref>"practices which continued A.D. 70, for thirty-seven years after Jesus ascended into heaven." (Compare Hebrews 10:32-34 and Acts 8:1-3.) It is not impossible that this Epistle could also have been written at ''any'' time during those 37 years, even as late as February A.D. 70 (A.D. 33 + 37 years = A.D. 70). The Temple was taken in March of that year and burned in August. See the following historical documentation.

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]].

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==