Hebrews

    The author of this Epistle is unknown.  Late MSS. often attached Paul’s name to the title, but most all recent authorities have rejected this.  There are all kinds of guesses.  Luther’s suggestion of Apollos has the most appeal to me, but God only knows who his scribe was.  “…one may say with considerable confidence that the Epistle was most probably written between AD 60 and 70”  (A.M.Stibbs).  It was written to Greek speaking Jews of the Dispersion, converts to Christ who like their forefathers in the wilderness were being tested and tempted to turn back.  The author uses the Greek OT (LXX) to set forth Christ as the fulfillment of the hope of Israel, and to exhort and warn them not to reject God’s grace, which is received by faith.  Thus it is of tremendous value to Gentiles also, for it opens up the word of God in the OT to us as our own spiritual history and heritage, for by faith we are all sons of Abraham and are the Israel of God, and heirs according to promise (Gal. 3:14, 29; 4:28; 6:16).