Who wrote the book of Hebrews? Paul, Apollos (my choice), Barnabas, Luke, Aquila? As Origen (200 AD) said, “Only God knows for certain!” When quoting the Old Testament, the author usually uses the Septuagint (LXX), the Greek translation of the Hebrews OT, done in 250 BC in Alexandria, Egypt. The early church was divided over who the author was and whether the book should be included in the New Tesstament canon. The Eastern church and many church fathers believed that Paul wrote it, so they considered it canonical early on. The Western church doubted that Paul was the author and was much slower to accept its canonicity, but did so by the 4th century. I do not think that Paul wrote it. Why not? Because of a statement in Hebrews 2:³ how will we escape if we neglect so great a salvation? After it was at first spoken through the Lord, it was confirmed to us by those who heard (i.e. heard directly from Jesus which would be the apostles), ⁴ God also testifying with them (i.e. the apostles), both by signs and wonders, and by various miracles and by gifts of the Holy Spirit (which the apostles gave to baptized believers by laying their hands on them, Acts 8:14-18) according to His own will.” The apostle Paul would never have said that! In the Galatian letter, Paul is adamant that he received the gospel that he preached directly by a revelation from Jesus and that he did not get it from the apostles. Galatians 1:¹¹ For I would have you know, brothers and sisters, that the gospel which was preached by me is not of human invention. ¹² For I neither received it from man, nor was I taught it, but I received it through a revelation of Jesus Christ.” So who wrote it? I think Apollos wrote it. He was from Alexandria, Egypt, which is where the LXX was translated and widely used by 1st century Christians there. The author is keen at using logic in his arguments in the letter. Apollos was eloquent (logios: Eloquent, learned) and proficient (dunatos: Powerful, mighty, able, possible) in the Old Testament Scriptures. Acts 18:²⁴ Now a Jew named Apollos, an Alexandrian by birth, an eloquent man, came to Ephesus; and he was proficient in the Scriptures (i.e. Old Testament Scriptures). Martin Luther was the first to suggest that Apollos wrote Hebrews (for the reasons just given). I agree with Martin Luther!

The first test for canonicity of a New Testament letter or book was if it was written by an apostle or a close associate of an apostle. Thus the gospels of Matthew and John were automatically accepted.  Irenaeus (3.1.1.) claims that John Mark wrote the Gospel of Mark based on Peter’s preaching, so that helped get that gospel in. Luke was a close associate of the apostle Paul, so his gospel was accepted. John the apostle wrote 3 letters (the 2nd and 3rd were disputed as to canonicity) and Revelation which were accepted (although Revelation was disputed). Peter wrote 2 letters which were accepted (although 2 Peter was disputed). Jude and James, brothers of Jesus, were disputed but accepted.

Hebrews was disputed due to the question about who wrote it, as already discussed. But it was eventually accepted because of the belief that Paul wrote it. But if Paul did not write it (which I don’t think he did), then can we be sure that it is canonical anyway? Yes we can. Why? First of all, it was written before the destruction of the temple in 70 AD. The temple was still standing and priests still entering the temple to offer sacrifices at the time of writing of the book. Hebrews 9:⁶ Now when these things have been so prepared, the priests are continually entering the outer tabernacle, performing the divine worship, ⁷ but into the second, only the high priest enters once a year, not without taking blood which he offers for himself and for the sins of the people committed in ignorance. ⁸ The Holy Spirit is signifying this, that the way into the holy place has not yet been disclosed while the outer tabernacle is still standing, ⁹ which is a symbol for the present time.” The NASB correctly translates the verbs here in the present tense, not past tense as the NIV does. The priests “are continually entering”, the high priest “enter” once a year and “offers” blood. That was still going on at the time of writing. The way into the new holy place (the Holy of Holies in heaven where God dwells) has not yet been disclosed while the tabernacle “is still” standing.

Not only that, but the book accurately predicts that there will be a judgment on the unbelieving Jews that is about to happen. Hebrews 10:²⁶ For we — willfully sinning after the receiving the full knowledge of the truth — no more for sins doth there remain a sacrifice, ²⁷ but a certain fearful looking for of judgment, and fiery zeal, “about to” (mello, to be about to)devour the opposers” (Young’s Literal Translation). YLT is one of the few translations that correctly translate the Greek word mello to be “about to”, which means something is imminent. This verse could only refer to the judgment of the unbelieving Jews in 70 AD where the Romans destroyed the temple and the city of Jerusalem, killing over a million Jews according to Josephus. So the book had to be written before 70 AD.

Then, the book accurately predicts the imminent 2nd coming of Jesus and says that it will be “very soon” and there will be “no delay” in that 2nd coming. Hebrews 10:³⁷ For yet in a very little while,
He who is coming will come, and will not delay.” The 2nd coming of Jesus was the coming to judge the Jews (10:26-27) the which was predicted right before 10:37. The 2 events are connected and occur at the same time. This prediction of a 2nd coming that was imminent at the time of writing is consistent with Jesus’ predictions in Matthew 10:23; 16:27-28; 24:30-34; 26:64 and with other such predictions by Paul and the other NT writers. So the book had to be written before 70 AD. This prediction also destroys the theory of many who say that Jesus did predict his 2nd coming to be imminent but that he delayed that 2nd coming (going on about a 2,00 year delay as of today). They say that because they expected Jesus to establish an earthly kingdom but he did not. They say that he delayed his 2nd coming and will some day come to establish an earthly kingdom. The problem with their theory is that Jesus never intended to establish an earthly kingdom. John 18:36 “my kingdom is not of his world”. Matthew 16:²⁸ “Truly I say to you, there are some of those who are standing here who will not taste death until they see the Son of Man coming in His kingdom.” He did establish his kingdom in the first century, but it was a spiritual kingdom, the church. He did not delay his 2nd coming.

Another proof that the book was written before 70 AD and is canocial is found in Hebrews 8.:¹³ When He said, “A new covenant,” He has made the first obsolete. But whatever is becoming obsolete and growing old is about to disappear.” This is a prediction that the old covenant was about to be (eggus: Near, close, at hand) taken away, to “disappear” (aphanismos: Disappearance, destruction, ruin). That could only refer to the destruction of the temple in 70 AD and the final removal of the old covenant, to be replaced by the new covenant. After 70 AD, animal sacrifices have never been offered and there is no genealogically confirmed priesthood to offer sacrifices.

One final proof that the book was written before 70 AD and is canonical is found in in another accurate prediction in Hebrews 12:²⁶ And His voice shook the earth then, but now He has promised, saying, “Yet once more I will shake not only the earth, but also the heaven.” ²⁷ This expression, “Yet once more,” denotes the removing of those things which can be shaken, as of created things, so that those things which cannot be shaken may remain. ²⁸ Therefore, since we receive a kingdom which cannot be shaken, let’s show gratitude, by which we may offer to God an acceptable service with reverence and awe; ²⁹ for our God is a consuming fire. This is a prediction of the imminent destruction of the old heavens and earth, i.e. the old Jewish system to be replaced by the new heavens and earth, i.e. the new covenant system. Again, that would occur in 70 AD. The old covenant system was phsical with the physical city of Jerusalem and could be “shaken” and destroyed when the temple was destroyed. The new covenant system “could not be shaken” because it was spiritual with the new, heavenly Jerusalem, which is the church.

The conclusion? It doesn’t matter if we can be sure who wrote the book. It doesn’t matter if the book was accepted in the canon b/c the early church thought that Paul wrote the book and probably were mistaken about who wrote the book. The book is full of accurate predictions about the destruction of the temple and the city of Jerusalem in 70 AD. The book was written while the temple was still standing at the time of writing, and thus is was written before 70 AD and before the predictions would be fulfilled. It accurately predicts the future, which is the first test of a true prophet.

Here is a slide I did that summarizes all this.

The first test of canonicity of a new testament book was if it was written by an apostle (Matthew, John, Peter, Paulof close associate of an apostle (Mark and the apostle Peter, Luke and the apostle Paul). The early church eventually accepted Hebrews in the canon based on belief that it was written by Paul, which is highly unlikely. So, if they were wrong about the author, how can we be sure that the book was indeed canonical? The book is full of accurate predictions about 70 AD which is proof of a true prophet of God.

1. The book was written while the temple was still standing (Heb 9:6-9) so it was written before the destruction of the temple by the Romans in 70 AD.
2. The book accurately predicts in 10:27 the judgment on the unbelieving Jews that was “about to happen” (Mello) in 70 AD.
3. The book accurately predicts the 2nd coming of Jesus to judge the Jews which was imminent at the time of writing (10:37) and which would not be delayed. 
4. The book accurately predicts the imminent removal of the old covenant (8:13) to be replaced by the new covenant, which would also happen in 70 AD.
5. The book accurately predicts in 12:26-27 a final destruction of the old heavens and earth, i.e. the old Jewish system, which would happen in 70 AD.