Was Paul the Author of the Epistle to the Hebrews?
By Miles E. Cornell
THERE have been skeptical persons, who were given to much doubting, who have denied that Paul was the author of the epistle to the Hebrews. And some classes of Christians, whose creed was condemned by the testimony of that book, have questioned its authority. We met such a class in Boston, headed by a man of some talent. They deny that Christ was the mediator of the new covenant 1800 years ago, for the reason that it is only just now being made. But the author of Hebrews declared that “He [Christ] is the mediator of the new testament.” Heb. 9:15. Hence, to maintain their position, they reject the book of Hebrews. The following is a brief summary of the evidence we brought in our defense: 1. The Christians of Alexandria, the most celebrated theologians of the early church, were almost unanimous that Paul was the author. Among them were Clement, Pantaenus, Origen, Justin Martyr, and a host of others. 2. The inscription of the oldest Greek, the Syriac, and Italic translations and versions, make Paul the author. 3. Eusebius, bishop in Palestine, collected testimony from all quarters, having heard of the objection as to Paul being the author. After carefully weighing the objection, he regarded Hebrews as the undoubted production of the apostle Paul. 4. The objection to it was first raised in Rome, and not in the eastern churches. 5. Paul was the companion and intimate friend of Timothy. The author of Hebrews says, “Know ye that our brother Timothy is set at liberty?” Heb. 13:23. Just what might be expected of that apostle. 6. He was in bonds when he wrote the epistle. “Ye had compassion on me in my bonds.” Heb. 10:34. 7. The salutation he sends was peculiarly Pauline. “They of Italy salute you.” Heb. 13:24. 8. The doctrines of the book exactly agree with those taught by Paul in his undisputed writings. 9. The Scriptures would be incomplete without this book. It supplies an important place in the divine record. 10. If it be rejected because anonymous, or the name of its author not given, then the 1st, 2d, and 3d epistles of John must be ruled out for the same reason. 11. None but an apostle of deep experience could have been its author; hence, no other apostle was so well qualified to write it. The style is exactly that of Paul. 12. It has Paul’s token or seal at the conclusion. “Grace be with you all. Amen.” In the epistle to the Thessalonians, Paul says: “This is the token in every epistle; so I write.” That is, he hints that his epistles may be known by the style. “So I write.” Every one of Paul’s 14 epistles closes in this manner. Matthew, Mark, Luke, John, Acts, 1st and 2d Peter, James, 1st, 2d, and 3d John, and Jude, none of them close in this way. That style seems peculiar to the apostle Paul. 13. Like all the other epistles of Paul, it was written in the Greek language. Paul had used the Greek for twenty-five years, both in writing and speaking. It was not a translation; for all agree that it was originally written in Greek because of its free, flowing, full style, like an original composition. 14. To all who have an interest in the work of our High Priest in the heavenly sanctuary, this book is of paramount importance, as it contains the only complete commentaries on the subject of the sanctuary, both type and antitype, to be found in the Bible. It brings more clearly to view the fact that salvation is made sure by a “better covenant,” established upon “better promises,” set forth by a “more excellent ministry,” affording a “better hope” of “better things,” to be realized in a “better country,” through a “better resurrection,” and adds the blessed assurance that God has provided some “better thing for us that they without us shall not be made perfect.” Praise God for such a book. And let all the people say, Amen. M. E. CORNELL.