About The Author

The Book of Hebrews stands apart from other New Testament epistles because its author never identifies himself. This has made authorship one of the most debated questions in biblical scholarship since the early church. What is generally agreed upon is that the letter was written sometime before AD 70, likely between AD 60 and 69, since it speaks of the temple sacrificial system as still ongoing and makes no mention of the temple’s destruction. The author appears to have been a highly educated Jewish Christian, deeply familiar with the Old Testament, Levitical worship, and Hellenistic rhetorical style.

Because the author remains anonymous, a traditional chronological biography cannot be constructed with certainty. However, several candidates have been proposed throughout church history:

Paul was an early tradition favored particularly in the Eastern church, though the Greek style of Hebrews differs significantly from Paul’s undisputed letters, and the author distinguishes himself from the apostles in Hebrews 2:3, saying salvation “was confirmed to us by those who heard him,” suggesting he received the gospel secondhand rather than directly from Christ, as Paul claimed for himself.

Barnabas, mentioned by the early church father Tertullian, was a Levite (Acts 4:36) which would explain the author’s deep knowledge of priestly ministry and sacrificial law.

Apollos, suggested by Martin Luther, was an Alexandrian Jew “mighty in the Scriptures” (Acts 18:24), fitting the eloquent, scholarly style of the letter.

Luke, proposed by some scholars including Origen in part, is supported by certain linguistic similarities to Luke Acts.

What we do know is that the author was likely a second generation Christian, someone who had not personally witnessed Jesus’s earthly ministry but had received the gospel from those who did (Hebrews 2:3). He was clearly a skilled teacher with pastoral concern for his readers, and Hebrews 13:23 reveals a personal connection with Timothy, suggesting he moved within Pauline circles.

Hebrews was written to Jewish Christians, likely those facing pressure to return to Judaism or abandon their Christian faith under persecution. The letter’s original recipients seem to have been discouraged, weary, and tempted to fall away (Hebrews 2:1, 6:4to6, 10:23to25). Some may have faced social ostracism, loss of property, or even the threat of martyrdom (Hebrews 10:32to34, 12:4).

The author’s purpose was to demonstrate the absolute superiority of Christ over the old covenant, over angels, over Moses, over the Levitical priesthood, and over the sacrificial system. This was crucial because the temptation to revert to Judaism carried the implicit danger of denying that Jesus was the final and sufficient sacrifice for sin.

 

Introduction

Hebrews chapter 1 opens with a powerful declaration of the supremacy of Jesus Christ over all previous forms of divine revelation, including the prophets and the angels. The author begins by contrasting God’s past communication through the prophets with His ultimate revelation through His Son. Christ is presented as the radiance of God’s glory, the exact representation of His being, and the one through whom all things were created and are sustained.

The chapter goes on to establish the divine nature and exalted position of Christ by quoting a series of Old Testament passages. These citations demonstrate that Jesus is not merely a messenger or a created being like the angels, but the eternal Son of God who sits at the right hand of the Father. The author emphasizes that angels are servants and messengers, while the Son is worshiped and reigns eternally on His throne.

This opening chapter sets the theological foundation for the entire epistle, which will continue to explore the superiority of Christ’s priesthood, covenant, and sacrifice. It calls believers to recognize the incomparable greatness of Jesus and to give Him the honor and attention that His position as heir of all things rightly deserves.

Chapter 1 (BBE)

Important Verses

Verse 2 “By whom he gave the last word to us in his Son, to whom he gave everything, and through whom he made the heavens and the earth.” This verse establishes Jesus as the final and complete revelation of God, superior to all previous messages given through the prophets.

Verse 3 “Who, being the outshining of his glory, the exact image of his being, supporting all things by the word of his power, having made himself clean from sin, took his place at the right hand of God in heaven.” This verse describes the divine nature of Christ and His role in sustaining creation, as well as His exalted position after completing the work of redemption.

Verse 8 “But of the Son he says, Your seat of power, O God, is for ever and ever; and the rod of your kingdom is a rod of righteousness.” This citation from the Old Testament affirms the divinity of Christ, directly calling Him God and confirming His eternal reign.

Verse 14 “But the angels are only spirits sent from God to do his work, sent out to give help to those who are to have salvation for their heritage.” This verse clarifies the role of angels as servants of God, emphasizing that their purpose is to assist those who will inherit salvation through Christ.