Priscilla, a teacher of teachers, whose name was female enough to pose a threat to a later. Although long thought to be paul, the author of hebrews is in fact unidentified. I have to say that priscilla s letter is a lively read and quite thought provoking. Paul is considered the author by many, because he wrote most of the new testament. This book is an update which takes such material into account. First, in the earliest manuscript editions of the new testament books, hebrews is included.
Priscilla, pious and wise, a church planter who was familiar with the struggles of gentiles, exiles, and women. Origen, clement, pantaenus, ambrose, rufinus and eusebius all ascribe the epistle to paul. From wikipedia, the free encyclopedia the 1611 edition of the king james bible ends the epistle to the hebrews with written to the hebrewes, from italy, by timothie the epistle to the hebrews of the christian bible is one of the new testament books whose canonicity was disputed. Authorship of the epistle to the hebrews wikipedia. She backs this up with literary criticism, circumstantial evidence and archeological finds. Letter to the hebrews, new testament letter traditionally attributed to st. In addition, she is described as teaching apollos, a prominent preacher in corinth. However, though a vast majority of christiansboth and scholars and the laitystill believe paul wrote the book, there are some tempting reasons to think otherwise. It is the subject matter of the book which is most important. Peter in rome and wrote hebrews under his tutelage. David alan black, professor of new testament and greek, southeastern baptist theological seminary. Regardless of the human hand that held the pen, the holy spirit of god is the divine author of all scripture 2 timothy 3. The intriguing theory presented in more modern times by the german biblical scholar adolf harnack argued that hebrews was written by priscilla, the woman who, together with her husband, aquila, was a close associate of pauls. Of the many attempts to identify the author of hebrews, priscilla can be overlooked, and yet she remains an obvious candidate.
Anyone willing to dig into the treasures of this book of charts will not be disappointed. But if paul did not write the book of hebrews, the question arises. A german lutheran, he felt his calling as a theologian was to open up freedom of thought, of pursuing truth on every path, the freedom from interference by those who have been given authority in human institutions. Conjectures as to the author have ranged from the apostle paul, who wrote at least thirteen books in the new testament, to priscilla, a friend of.
Origen, homilies on hebrews, quoted in eusebius, ecclesiastical history 6. I cannot associate the book with paul because the method which paul used in writing all his epistle is different from the book of hebrews like the writer of hebrews quotes the old testament differently from paul. Priscilla was an early christian, wife of aquila and fellow worker in the lord with paul. His theory rests mainly on the fact that hebrews has dozens of parallels with the book of wisdom. Many early church leaders believed paul to have been the author. Nov 07, 20 we do not know who wrote the book of hebrews, though it appears that it was probably paul. Paul certainly had the credentials to write a book of such depth. The letter itself does not state it is to the hebrews, but it obviously is, given its content. Apollos, silas, luke, james, clement of rome, aquila, priscilla, and paul. For not without reason have the men of old time handed it down as pauls.
In my last post, i explored the reasons why hebrews in the new testament might have been written by a woman, as outlined by ruth hoppin, in her book priscilla s letter. Hebrews complete bible book chapters and summary new. Priscilla, a roman christian, a coworker with paul and timo thy, a woman who had not seen the lord jesus but had received confirmation of salvation by those who had. Feb 23, 2021 if any church, therefore, holds this epistle as pauls, let it be commended for this also. The epistle of hebrews was written to demonstrate to jews that as great as the mosaic. Harnacks hypothesis that priscilla wrote the biblical epistle to the hebrews. She also worked alongside aquila in their tentmaking. Finding the author of the epistle to the hebrews was originally published in 1997 by international scholars publications under the christian. In spite of the fact that the message of hebrews is similar to that of pauls message in that he believes the law has been done away with, i agree with the scholars for a number of reasons. The different ways of writing is to focus attention to a different people.
Gordon ascribes the authorship of hebrews to priscilla, writing that it is evident that the holy spirit made this woman priscilla a teacher of teachers. I believe paul wrote hebrews in prison just before he wrote ephesians, philippians, colossians, philemon as his last attempt to reach jews first romans 1. Dec 28, 2020 i think priscilla is a likely candidate, and the reason she made it anonymous is because some people wouldnt accept an epistle by a woman. The book presents christ as the final high priest and eloquently explains the old testament sacrificial system in light of the atonement of christ. One of the theories about the authorship of hebrews is that priscilla the wife of aquilla wrote hebrews. Ancient vs modern views on hebrew authorship traditionally, it was thought that paul wrote hebrews, and was included in that collection, but later scholarship has muddied the waters, such that most bibles dont contribute authorship to anyone in particular. Hoppin, as well as others, also believes that priscilla was the author of hebrews. The message of hebrews is that the reality of the types in the ot have come in the person of the son and that the jews only hope of salvation is in him. I highly recommend hoppins book as a starting point in the exploration of the topic of the female authorship of hebrews. She makes a compelling argument in a beautifully written work of literary fiction. There have been many suggested authors since the first century. Mar 29, 20 both luke and the writer of hebrews reveal a masterful use of the septuagint.
Herbert batemans latest contribution on the book of hebrews is truly excellent. As weve just suggested, the author of hebrews wrote to exhort his audience. However, there is still much evidence that paul wrote the letter. While it is by no means universal indeed many suggestions have been made, and at least in my estimation not even the most persuasive case, some have suggested female authorship for this epistle. T he epistle of hebrews was written to demonstrate to jews that as great as the mosaic law was, as great as the temple was, as great as the levitical sacrifices were, christ was superior hebrews 1.
It revealed that judaism based upon the mosaic law, levitical sacrifices, etc. For many years her focus has been on priscilla as author of the epistle to the hebrews. There are a couple reasons why this might be the case. A quick read through hebrews is one of the most encouraging, praiseinducing, shakeyouup experiences youll ever have. Paul the apostle but now widely believed to be the work of another jewish christian. But now scholars are almost of one mind that paul did not write it. The book of hebrews, and the book of luke use one word that is not found in any other book of the bible, and that is the word merismos.
Since that time additional relevant material has been published, some of it related to the dead sea scrolls. Conclusion lois dickie, no respecter of persons, pompano beach, florida. Except for hebrews and 1 john, every epistle of the new testament designates its author by name and title. Sep 05, 2017 it provides an interesting answer to the question, who wrote the new testaments book of hebrews. Harnacks hypothesis that priscilla wrote the epistle to the hebrews. In the oldest greek manuscriptsthe epistle to the hebrews pros hebraious follows the. Hebrews chapter 11 by faith abel, enoch, noah, isaac. Priscilla and clement of rome have been suggested by other scholars. Since all the books in the bible come from men, having priscilla as the author of hebrews. In truth, the book of hebrews does not indicate who wrote it. It is more often then not translated as divided asunder in the english translations, but this word in the greek means to separate for distinction, or clarity. She was the teacher of apollos and was married to aquila and traditionally listed among the seventy disciples see luke 10. Aug 18, 2019 since all the books in the bible come from men, having priscilla as the author of hebrews would stand as a delightful bonus. Conjectures as to the author have ranged from the apostle paul, who wrote at least thirteen books in the new testament, to priscilla, a friend of pauls who accompanied him during part of his ministry.
In the chapter paul the false apostle i mentioned that many scholars believe the book of hebrews was not written by paul. Apr 23, 2019 the author of the book of hebrews refers to themselves only seven times in the entire book. To follow are her most salient arguments in favor of priscilla s authorship. This description of the authors purpose helps orient us to the main ideas found in the book of hebrews. The style, language, and lack of attribution, is the common cause of doubt about his real authorship.
Even more appealing would be if priscilla wrote it. Nov 02, 2016 who authored the bible book of hebrews. Plumptre suggested that apollos may be the author of both the old testament book of wisdom and the letter to the hebrews, claiming that apollos wrote wisdom while a jew and wrote hebrews after his conversion to christianity. Implications of the theology of hebrews for gender equality appeared in priscilla papers, the journal of christians for biblical equality in the winter 2003 edition.
Pages saturday, january 10, 2009 search this blog about this blog about me contact me my book resources. A welcome challenge to accepted thought regarding the author of hebrews. Origen is often quoted as saying in reference to the book of hebrews authorship that in truth, only god knows. Pauline authorship should be rejected despite the attempts, both ancient and modern, to mount a defense first, in pauls letters he identifies himself by name, thus the absence of a name in hebrews renders it doubtful that paul wrote the letter. Paul, luke, james, priscilla and aquila, silas, apollos, barnabas, or clement of rome. In my final analysis, the wellwritten book does not definitively answer the question, who wrote hebrews. A first book, priscilla, author of the epistle to the hebrews, was published in the late 1960s. The epistle itself provides some information about the author.
My opinion is that the author of the epistle to the hebrews was paul. Reality, in the person and work of christ, replaced the. Based on evidence such as early new testament manuscripts attributing hebrews to paul, historical pauline association, and similar theology, the king james version allowed the title of the book to remain as the epistle of paul the apostle to the hebrews. Mimi haddad 1993 puts forward priscilla as the author of the book of hebrews. Scott believes it may have been a woman named priscilla the wife of a man named aquila. Along with her husband, she had a great influence on the life of apollos. Andrews as in criminal justice, bs in religion, ma in biblical studies, and mdiv in theology is ceo and president of christian publishing house. Paul, luke, barnabas, silas, apollos, priscilla and aquila, james, philip, jude, clement of rome have all been offered as suggested authors of the book of hebrews. To follow are her most salient arguments in favor of priscillas authorship.
Ruth hoppin provides a compelling and convincing case that priscilla is the author of the epistle to the hebrews. Letter to the hebrews, new testament letter traditionally attributed to paul but now widely believed to be the work of a jewish christian, perhaps one of pauls associates. As i have shown, paul is a false apostle and his words are far from being the infallible word of god. I think that is also a sensible reason for why she would praise barak for his faith without mentioning deborah who he followed into war. Feb 12, 2020 chapters book division chapters general epistles 34 hebrews james 5 1 peter 5 when was the book of hebrews written. The book of hebrews is a wonderful addition to the new. Traditionally, paul the apostle was thought to be the author. Hoppin proposes the thesis that priscilla was a student of st. When you combine those facts with the evidence in acts you know who wrote hebrews. In 1957, russell prohl wrote a book called woman in the church and he commented, there are a number of bible critics who suggest that priscilla wrote the epistle of the hebrews. The authorship of hebrews 2769 words research paper. A first book, priscilla, a uthor of the epistle to the hebrews, was published in the late 1960s.
Introduction who is the author of the book of hebrews. I wrote this guide to give you a framework for studying and understanding one of my favorite books of the bible. A while back ago, i wrote an article about my top three questions i have when i get to heaven. Jan 02, 2020 church tradition teaches that paul wrote the book of hebrews, and until the 1800s, that issue was closed. You can find several articles on wiley clarksons website. Church tradition teaches that paul wrote the book of hebrews, and until the 1800s, that issue was closed. And although the genres are different, luke seems to have a sermon peppered through his narrative. The author of the letter to the hebrews the sentinel. The epistle to the hebrews of the christian bible is one of the new testament books whose canonicity was disputed. Although many scholars have debated the authorship of various books of the bible, hebrews is the only one that does not have a majority rule as to who wrote it. It makes little difference who wrote the book of hebrews. The authorship of hebrews 2769 words research paper example. The author of hebrews wrote to exhort his audience to reject local jewish teachings and to remain faithful to jesus. Hebrews chapter 10 the significance of the details.
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