Jesus' Words Only

Who Wrote The Epistle to the Hebrews?

"The nearest approach to a ‘tradition’ is one quoted by Tertullian as current in North Africa at the close of the 2nd century ascribing the epistle to Barnabas." (New Commentary on Holy Scriptures.) See Tertullian, De Pudicitia, 20.

Tertullian writes: "Hebrews, a work of Barnabas...." See Tertullian, De Pudicitia (Latin & French translation by A.Picard)(1906 edition) at 184 (Latin) and 185 (French)

Tertullian does so again in On Modesty XX (ca. 207 AD):

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 is clearly referencing our Epistle to the Hebrews 6:1, 4-6 in the NT for he next quotes:

Warning, accordingly, the disciples to omit all first principles, and strive rather after perfection, and not lay again the foundations of repentance from the works of the dead, he says:  “For impossible it is that they who have once been illuminated, and have tasted the heavenly gift, and have participated in the Holy Spirit, and have tasted the word of God and found it sweet, when they shall—their age already setting—have fallen away, should be again recalled unto repentance, crucifying again for themselves the Son of God, and dishonouring Him.”

More proof is as follows. Because this epistle to the Hebrews has the most excellent Greek in the NT, and Barnabas was known to have such erudition (being from Cyprus which was renown for excellence in writing Greek)(Barclay:8), many Christian authorities support Barnabas as the author. These include:

i)     A.M. Stibbs, V. Principal, The New Bible Commentary (Oak Hill Theological College, London) at 1088

ii)     Dr. Allan J. McNicol, Prof. of N.T.,  Harper’s Bible Dictionary (Bangalore, Inst. for Christian Studies, Austin, Texas, 1994) at 94.

iii)     Myles M. Bourke, The New Jerome Biblical Commentary (Bangalore, 1994) at 920.

iv)     Dr. Robert W. Ross, Dept. of History, N. W. College, Minneapolis, Minn., The Wycliffe’s Bible Commentary (1987) at 1403 f.

v)     William Smith, A Dictionary of the Bible (Grand Rapids, Michigan, 1988) at 238.

vi)     Dr. F. F. Bruce, Ryland’s Prof. of Biblical Criticism & Exegesis, Manchestor University, in Peake’s Commentary on the Bible, (Thomas Nelson Ltd, London, 1967) at 1008.

Source: "Barnabas, His Gospel, Credibility."

Bruce says Tertullian does not attribute the epistle to Barnabas as if he were merely expressing opinion, but rather as if it were a commonly held ascription among those of his circle. Thus, Tertullian attributes it to Barnabas as a matter of fact.

Different Teachings than Paul

However, in the later 200s, Origen said no one knows who wrote Hebrews. Then even later, in the 300s, many began saying Paul wrote it. Many today say this is unlikely because of the following differences in soteriology and Christology:

Paul's Patterns	Hebrew's Presentation
Christ being the Head of the Body of believers (I Cor. 12:12-27; Eph. 1:22,23; 4:14,15; 5:23; Col. 1:18; 2:10,19).	Christ is the High Priest over thePeople of Israel (Heb. 2:17; 3:1; 4:14,15; 5:5,20; 9:11,12,19-23; 13:11,12).
The Believer's unconditional eternal union with Christ (Rom. 8:26-36; I Cor. 5:5; Eph. 1:3-5,13,14; 2:5-9; 4:30).	The Believer's potential to "fall away" from eternal union with Christ (Heb. 6:4-6,9-12; 10:26-39).

 

Preoccupation with showing theequal status between Jew and Gentile as the people of God (Rom. 1:16; 3:9-11, 22,23; 4:9-12; ch. 9-11; I Cor. 1:24; Gal. 3:28; Eph. 2:11-22; 3:6; Col 3:11).

Preoccupation with showing Israel as THE PEOPLE of God (2:17; 4:9; 5:3; 7:5,11,27; 8:8,10; 9:7,19; 11:25; 13:17).

 

Use of the word WORLD over 40 times with special reference to the global aspect of Christ's redemption (II Cor 5:19; Col. 1:4-6; I Tim. 3:16). Paul uses kosmos in a broad manner. It is a common Pauline term.

Not one usage of the word WORLD is in reference to Christ's act of redemption. Rather Israel is seen as the only beneficiary (2:17; 7:27; 13:12). Kosmos used only 5 times in a narrow context.

 

Israel's FALL into a state of "Lo Ammi" (Rom. 11; Eph 2).

Israel's RISE into the promised Covenant (8:8-13; 10:16,29; 12:24; 13:20)

Source: "The Authorship of the Book of Hebrews"

Conclusion

This study of authorship gives us some idea of what caused Barnabas and Paul to split. Barnabas was pro-Israel, but Paul was perceived as anti-Israel.