Hebrews

The New Testament writing known as the Epistle (or “Letter”) to the Hebrews poses many challenges to its interpreters, due to the mysteries that continue to surround fundamental issues relating to the text’s historical background. Although the attribution of Hebrews to Paul dates to early in the history of its transmission, doubts concerning its authorship are equally old. In the twenty-first century, scholars are in near-complete agreement in rejecting Pauline authorship of the Epistle, and there is increasing acceptance of the thesis that Hebrews’ author will remain anonymous. The title conferred upon Hebrews provides further difficulties, both because the epistolary nature of the text is typically rejected in favor of the view that Hebrews bears resemblance to a sermon and because there is a lack of consensus concerning the location and identity of the work’s addressees. Hebrews is thus often referred to as a “riddle,” but the work also occupies a special place among New Testament writings because of its highly developed rhetorical style, intricate relationship with the scriptures of Israel, and rich theological vision. Hebrews has been somewhat neglected in the history of New Testament scholarship, but the end of the twentieth century and the beginning of the twenty-first have witnessed a marked increase in the number of publications devoted to its analysis, and this fresh intensity of interest in Hebrews shows no sign of abating.