AUTHORSHIP
EPISTLE
HEBREWS
13
OF THE
TO THE
dead, and Christ shall give thee light). See then that ye walk circumspectly, not as fools, but as wise'. The apostle's
immediate context is reproving the works of darkness that are done in secret, walking as children of light (verse 8),
and walking circumspectly (verse 15), but he turns aside momentarily to comment on the revealing power of light.
2 Corinthians 2:14-17, is a further example, verses 15 and 16 being parenthetical.
We find further examples in the epistle to the Hebrews. In chapter 12:18-24 the writer first states negatively:
`For ye are not come unto the mount that might be touched' (i.e. Sinai), and then positively: `But ye are come unto
mount Sion, and unto the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem ...'. The awe-inspiring accompaniments of
the giving of the law at Sinai, `the sound of a trumpet, and the voice of words' causes the author to digress, `which
voice they that heard intreated that the word should not be spoken to them any more. For they could not endure that
which was commanded, And if so much as a beast touch the mountain, it shall be stoned, or thrust through with a
dart: And so terrible was the sight, that Moses said, I exceedingly fear and quake'. Not only this, but at the
beginning of the chapter we have an emphasis upon discipline (chastening) and the three words used are particularly
Pauline, paideuo (12:6,7,10), see 1 Corinthians 11:32; 2 Corinthians 6:9; 1 Timothy 1:20; 2 Timothy 2:25, and Titus
2:12; elsewhere it is only used by Luke (Luke 23:16,22; Acts 7:22; 22:3), and once in Revelation 3:19. Paideutes,
instructor, only found in Romans 2:20 and Hebrews 12:9, paideia, instruction, chastening, occurring only in
Ephesians 6:4; 2 Timothy 3:16 and Hebrews 12:5,7,8,11.
There is another example of digression in Hebrews 3:3-6, `For this man was counted worthy of more glory than
Moses, inasmuch as he who hath builded the house hath more honour than the house. (For every house is builded by
some man; but He that built all things is God). And Moses verily was faithful in all his house, as a servant ...'.
Moreover, in this passage we have three words which are peculiarly Pauline, namely klesis, calling, Romans 11:29;
1 Corinthians 1:26; 7:20; Ephesians 1:18; 4:1,4; Philippians 3:14; 2 Thessalonians 1:11; 2 Timothy 1:9. It occurs
elsewhere only once (2 Pet. 1:10). Homologia, profession, (2 Cor. 9:13; 1 Tim. 6:12,13, and three times in Hebrews
3:1; 4:14; 10:23). Kauchema, rejoicing, (Rom. 4:2; 1 Cor. 5:6; 9:15,16; 2 Cor. 1:14; 5:12; 9:3; Gal. 6:4; Phil. 1:26;
2:16 and Heb. 3:6).
When we compare 1 Corinthians 15:26-28 and Hebrews 2:5-14, we have striking evidence of the same mind
behind the words. Not only is there the special use of `destroy' applied to death as we have seen; there is in both the
peculiar argument derived from the passage: `Thou didst put all things under His feet' taken from Psalm 8. This
quotation is found nowhere else in the New Testament than in Paul's writings (1 Cor. 15:27; Eph. 1:22, and Heb.
2:8); in other words, they are confined to Paul and the writer of the epistle to the Hebrews. The argument in each
case is exactly the same. Adam is referred to by name in 1 Corinthians 15, and clearly implied in Hebrews 2:8. `It
is manifest that He is excepted, which did put all things under Him', is paralleled by the statement: `He left nothing
that is not put under Him'.
Hupotasso, to subject, is another Pauline word. Out of 40 New Testament references Paul uses it 24 times and
Hebrews five times in exactly the same way. Not only this, but in the same context in Hebrews we have the
exclusive Pauline words: parabasis, transgression (Heb. 2:2; 9:15; Rom. 2:23; 4:15; 5:14; Gal. 3:19; 1 Tim. 2:14);
parakoe, disobedience, (Heb. 2:2; Rom. 5:19; 2 Cor. 10:6); endikos, just, (Heb. 2:2; Rom. 3:8); metecho, to be a
partaker (Heb. 2:14; 5:13; 7:13; 1 Cor. 9:10,12; 10:17,21, 30); douleia, bondage, (Heb. 2:15; Rom. 8:15,21; Gal.
4:24; 5:1). This is strong evidence indeed that we have the same mind behind these contexts in Hebrews and
1 Corinthians.
Quotations from the Old Testament.
When we come to consider quotations from the Old Testament, we find the Pauline habit of accumulating Old
Testament passages, (see Rom. 3:10-18; 9:7-33), often joined together by the characteristic kai palin, `and again',
(Rom. 15:9-12; 1 Cor. 3:19,20). We find the same characteristic in Hebrews; compare Hebrews 1:5-14; 2:12,13;
4:4,5; 10:30. In Heb. 10:30, the writer quotes from Deuteronomy 32:35, but does not give a literal translation of the
Hebrew nor a literal quotation from the LXX. In Romans 12:19, Paul quotes the same passage and uses exactly the
same wording, which is remarkable. The famous quotation from Habakkuk 2:4, `The just shall live by faith', gives
the keynote of the Gospel of God's grace made known through Paul's ministry. It is absolutely basic to this Gospel,
and the epistle to the Romans is written around it. It occurs in Galatians with a slightly different stress (3:11), and is
not quoted by any other New Testament writer except the author of Hebrews. The emphasis here is on the word