Description
At the end of the second century, opinion was divided regarding the authorship of the Epistle to the Hebrews. Clement of Alexandria believed that Paul wrote the epistle in Hebrew and that Luke translated it into Greek. Origen thought that someone familiar with Paul’s teachings wrote Hebrews, but he added his now-famous remark that “who really wrote the letter is known to God alone.” At Carthage, Tertullian suggested the name of Barnabas. Christians in Rome and in the West generally confessed that they did not know who wrote Hebrews. Archer points out that “none of the ancient authorities… entertained any doubt as to the canonicity (i.e. the divine inspiration) of the Epistle,” however, and that “in any event the primary author… is God Himself, no matter which human instrument He used.” In the days of the Reformation, Luther favored Apollos as the author and Calvin looked to Clement of Rome or possibly Luke.
