Who Wrote the Book of Hebrews?

The book of Hebrews does not name its author. Clement of Alexandria said it was Paul’s, written in Hebrew and translated by Luke. Origen said the thoughts are the apostle’s, the style is someone else’s, and that God knows who wrote it. Tertullian speaks of an epistle to the Hebrews under the name of Barnabas. Later readers have suggested Apollos. The letter itself does not decide.

Key Points

• Hebrews 1:1–3Close^1:1 God, who at sundry times and in divers manners spake in time past unto the fathers by the prophets, ^1:2 Hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son, whom he hath appointed heir of all things, by whom also he made the worlds; ^1:3 Who being the brightness of his glory, and the express image of his person, and upholding all things by the word of his power, when he had by himself purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high;Hebrews 1:1–3 · King James VersionOpen source says God has spoken by his Son, the brightness of God’s glory, by whom he made the worlds. What Is the Deity of Christ?
• Hebrews 2:3CloseHow shall we escape, if we neglect so great salvation; which at the first began to be spoken by the Lord, and was confirmed unto us by them that heard him;Hebrews 2:3 · King James VersionOpen source says the salvation was first spoken by the Lord and was confirmed by those who heard him. The writer puts himself among people who received it from hearers.
• Hebrews 13:23CloseKnow ye that our brother Timothy is set at liberty; with whom, if he come shortly, I will see you.Hebrews 13:23 · King James VersionOpen source mentions “our brother Timothy.” The closing still does not sign a name.
• Eusebius, Church History 6.14.2, reports Clement of Alexandria: Hebrews is Paul’s, written to the Hebrews in Hebrew, and Luke translated it. (2)
• Origen, in Church History 6.25.14: “But who wrote the epistle, in truth, God knows.” (2)
• Tertullian, On Modesty 20: “For there is extant withal an Epistle to the Hebrews under the name of Barnabas.” (3)

What the Book Says About Its Writer

Hebrews 2:3CloseHow shall we escape, if we neglect so great salvation; which at the first began to be spoken by the Lord, and was confirmed unto us by them that heard him;Hebrews 2:3 · King James VersionOpen source, King James Version:

How shall we escape, if we neglect so great salvation; which at the first began to be spoken by the Lord, and was confirmed unto us by them that heard him;

Hebrews 2:3 · King James Version

The salvation begins with the Lord and reaches “us” through those who heard him. Readers hesitate to call the writer Paul because Paul says he received the gospel by revelation, not from other people. That hesitation is about this sentence. The book never says “Paul, an apostle.”

Hebrews 13:22CloseAnd I beseech you, brethren, suffer the word of exhortation: for I have written a letter unto you in few words.Hebrews 13:22 · King James VersionOpen source calls the work a word of exhortation, written in few words. Hebrews 13:23CloseKnow ye that our brother Timothy is set at liberty; with whom, if he come shortly, I will see you.Hebrews 13:23 · King James VersionOpen source says our brother Timothy is set at liberty, and that the writer hopes to come with him. A connection with Paul’s circle is what readers notice. A signature is not in the chapter. Who Wrote the Book of Acts? is Luke’s book, which shares people with Paul’s letters and does not settle Hebrews.

Hebrews 1:1–3Close^1:1 God, who at sundry times and in divers manners spake in time past unto the fathers by the prophets, ^1:2 Hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son, whom he hath appointed heir of all things, by whom also he made the worlds; ^1:3 Who being the brightness of his glory, and the express image of his person, and upholding all things by the word of his power, when he had by himself purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high;Hebrews 1:1–3 · King James VersionOpen source is the letter’s own claim: God, who spoke in time past by the prophets, has in these last days spoken by his Son, appointed heir of all things, by whom he made the worlds, the brightness of God’s glory and the express image of his person. Who Is Jehovah? is a different reading of texts that apply the LORD’s words to the Son. Is Jesus the Creator or a Creature? quotes the note on Hebrews 1:10.

Clement of Alexandria

Eusebius, Church History 6.14.2, reporting Clement: (2)

He says that the Epistle to the Hebrews is the work of Paul, and that it was written to the Hebrews in the Hebrew language; but that Luke translated it carefully and published it for the Greeks, and hence the same style of expression is found in this epistle and in the Acts.

Clement, still in Eusebius, says the words “Paul the Apostle” were probably not prefixed, because the Hebrews were prejudiced and suspicious, and Paul did not wish to repel them at the start by giving his name. He also reports a blessed presbyter: the Lord was the apostle to the Hebrews, so Paul, sent to the Gentiles, did not subscribe himself an apostle of the Hebrews, out of respect for the Lord. Those are Clement’s reasons for a missing name. They are not a line in the letter.

What Origen Said

Origen’s homilies on Hebrews, as Eusebius quotes them in Church History 6.25.11–14, say the style is not rude like the apostle who called himself rude in speech, but purer Greek. The thoughts, Origen says, are admirable and not inferior to the acknowledged apostolic writings. Then: (2)

If I gave my opinion, I should say that the thoughts are those of the apostle, but the diction and phraseology are those of some one who remembered the apostolic teachings, and wrote down at his leisure what had been said by his teacher. Therefore if any church holds that this epistle is by Paul, let it be commended for this. For not without reason have the ancients handed it down as Paul’s. But who wrote the epistle, in truth, God knows.

He adds that some before him said Clement of Rome wrote it, and others said Luke, the author of the Gospel and the Acts. New Advent publishes this English from the Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers. It is not a council’s decree.

Eusebius also records Caius, at Rome under Zephyrinus, who mentions only thirteen epistles of the apostle and does not count Hebrews. He says that to his own day some among the Romans do not consider Hebrews a work of the apostle. (2)

Barnabas

Tertullian, On Modesty 20: (3)

For there is extant withal an Epistle to the Hebrews under the name of Barnabas — a man sufficiently accredited by God, as being one whom Paul has stationed next to himself in the uninterrupted observance of abstinence.

Tertullian then uses Hebrews 6, the warning about those who have been illuminated and have fallen away. He treats the letter as Barnabas’s. He does not quote a title page. Can You Lose Your Salvation? quotes the churches on that warning and does not pick a side.

Apollos and the Other Names

Acts 18:24CloseAnd a certain Jew named Apollos, born at Alexandria, an eloquent man, and mighty in the scriptures, came to Ephesus.Acts 18:24 · King James VersionOpen source introduces a Jew named Apollos, born at Alexandria, an eloquent man, and mighty in the scriptures. Later readers have suggested him because the letter is polished Greek and full of the scriptures, and because Alexandria is the city of Clement and Origen’s discussion. The book of Acts does not say Apollos wrote Hebrews. This page does not quote a later preface that was not opened here.

Luke is already in Clement’s account, as translator, and in Origen’s list of guesses. Barnabas is Tertullian’s name. Paul is the traditional attribution Clement defends and Origen will not seal. Priscilla is not named in any of these sentences. The letter does not name a woman, and it does not name a man.

Frequently Asked Questions

Did Paul Write Hebrews?

The book does not say so. Clement of Alexandria said yes, and he explained the missing name. Origen said the thoughts are the apostle’s and the writer is known to God. Some in Rome, Eusebius says, left it off Paul’s list. Who Wrote the Bible?

Did a Woman Write Hebrews?

Nothing in the letter’s closing, and nothing in the Clement, Origen, or Tertullian lines quoted here, names a woman as the author.

Why Is Hebrews in the New Testament?

Churches received it, including churches that were unsure of the writer. Origen says that if a church holds it to be Paul’s, let it be commended, because the ancients handed it down as his. The letter’s own subject is the Son. How Was the Bible Canon Decided, and What Is the Apocrypha?

What Does Hebrews Say About Jesus?

Hebrews 1:2–3Close^1:2 Hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son, whom he hath appointed heir of all things, by whom also he made the worlds; ^1:3 Who being the brightness of his glory, and the express image of his person, and upholding all things by the word of his power, when he had by himself purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high;Hebrews 1:2–3 · King James VersionOpen source says God made the worlds by the Son, who is the brightness of God’s glory and the express image of his person, and who sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high after purging sins. What Is the Deity of Christ?