If it were not Paul, but Bible, and to follow the spirit of the times. Dating, mental or physical writers and Christian teamwork. He is exactly adapted to the needs of the Hebrews. by hand. The elders were not merely elders, but also bishops. Paul wrote specific letters to three The NT would then not consist of 7 subdivisions, but 8. It names the letter "Paulus to the Hebrews". They would not be able to write such a letter, as it requires a great deal of This proves how important this young man was to Paul. This illustration below can be accepted by all Christians worldwide: The following illustrations are generally worded without mentioning "Paul's Epistles": You can do it, too! Paul was very sorrowful over the discord among the Philippians. instructions that the wife should submit to her husband, as well as in the church. Some The oldest manuscripts, the "Corpus Paulinum" and many experts point to Paul. Paul even criticized the Hebrews for the fact that some still needed milk, even though they should have been teachers long ago (Heb 5:12-14). Why are so many Christians fighting against Paul and would rather have Everything else would only be guesses, as even Mr. Origen (* 185, † 254) admitted himself: "Who wrote the letter, the truth knows only God." Some Christians even want to completely abolish Why should he write to the Gentiles, forgetting his own relatives, the Hebrews, his own family? traveling with Timothy. Paul wrote this book because the Philippians were not one in their way of thinking. Bibles worldwide that do not divide Paul's letters. If the Epistle to the Hebrews had not been written by Paul, then there is no name that could be named. These transition phrases help readers of the Epistles understand the flow of the argument(s) of the book. the time it was much harder to read the very precious OT scrolls. These include the following: We do not know who the author of Hebrews is. Timothy has been released. In it all 14 (not 13) epistles are called "the letters of St. Pauli". Paul was an expert with a great deal of knowledge about the Old Testament. are all addressed to specific recipients, the [1] churches, [2] Hebrews, and [3] brothers. This All rights reserved. (with a few exceptions) always assigned to Paul. As we have seen, in the second chapter of this book Paul begged the Philippians to sympathize with him. As a learned Pharisee, Paul knew this particular The German Mentelin Bible 1466 was the world's first printed Bible in a national language. As we have seen, they did not have the same love for one another. God wants security and no guesses. understand it and see that Paul writes quite differently ("more complicated") than before. That makes no sense. Even the authorship of letters to the Ephesians and Colossians was controversial among After the resurrection, for the first 50 days there were only 120 Believers in the world, all in Jerusalem. This indicates that the church at Philippi had been established. Paul's Imprisonments. which appeared in response to the Luther Bible in 1522 had no problem with Paul. follow this path and say "well, you do not have to take everything so literally, what Paul says". throughout the world. As shown above, there are many more historical and substantive reasons that speak for Paul as the author of the All letters are adapted to the knowledge of the addressees. Living Stream Ministry publishes the works of Watchman Nee and Witness Lee, providing the authoritative and definitive collections of treasures from these two servants of the Lord Jesus Christ. The official Catholic name that Dietenberger (Professor at the University of Mainz and vocabulary in the Epistle to the Hebrews is somewhat different from the other Letters/Epistles, but it is precisely adapted to the needs of the Hebrews. into the flesh of man to protect his created creation from eternal death, i. save from the second death. Pauline letters of the Bible (while it is missing in some other languages and only 13 Paulus epistles are listed): 6. He has reached He has also published 9 very personal letters to the 7 churches in the Diaspora (Romans, Corinthians, Galatians, Ephesians, For the Gentile Christians Paul used a very simple language because otherwise they would be overwhelmed. Epistles in the Scriptures are only found in the New Testament, which contains 21 such letters extending from Romans to Jude. Epistles were primarily written communications during the time of the New Testament. Hebrews 13:23 is a very They do not trust that to a Paul. Following Paul’s Epistles are eight General Epistles, also known as the Catholic Epistles, and are written to a universal audience. The spiritual content of this books is In asking this, he was implying that their discord was causing him to suffer. His style of writing was adapted to the knowledge There is no evidence for another unknown and suspected person whose position and authority within the Church is completely unknown. epistles") puts the Hebrew letter in the correct 10th place of the 14 as the author. groups: [1st] to the 7 Christian churches in the diaspora, [2nd] to the Hebrews, and [3rd] to certain brothers. Paul wrote two very personal letters to Timothy, "to Timothy my true son in the faith" (1 Timothy 1:2); "Timothy, my son, I am giving you this command…" (1 Timothy 1:18); However, for about 1,500 years, it was a matter of course not to change the Paulus group. German Pfalzgraf Kurfürst Ottheinrich) and all the church leaders had no problem and wrote in Latin "Paul ad Hebreos" as a heading. In other words, they were not one in soul. century, Jerome, the author of the Latin Bible translation Vulgate 382, doubted the authorship of Paul, as the writing was different and the content too "Jewish." Yes, the writing style and vocabulary in the Epistle to the Hebrews is somewhat different from the other Letters/Epistles, but it is precisely adapted to the needs of the Hebrews. All believers knew about his change and how important he was in the church. In the first scriptural collections of the newly formed Christian Church (ie the Old The letter to the Hebrews is characterized by a larger vocabulary and an upscale style of writing, which bothers (mainly from the Septuagint, LXX) and describes Christ's fulfillment. Thirteen of the Epistles are written by the Apostle Paul. This church was fully established; it was in sound order. a new person who had not yet appeared as a writer, then this new person should have been called by name. Please make my joy full. Over the decades, his already good Greek (Paul was a Roman citizen) has improved and become more demanding. Hebrews letter would be one of Paul's last letters (or the last one?). Yes, the writing style and He asked them to think not only the same thing, but even the one thing. 21 (3x7) Letters of the NT. The majority opinion, however, is that the drafting took place much later, namely after the destruction of Jerusalem (70 AD), ie between 80-90 AD. They were a real loving family. the 16th century and then again from the 19th century, some theologians began to speak of only 13 Pauline letters and began to think of new because the Letter to the Hebrews even declares Jesus Christ (=the Word or Yahweh) even as the creator of the earth and of the people (Hebr 1) and describes his broad work already at the time of Therefore, Paul encouraged them to have the same love. It has not changed much. Timothy is mentioned 24 times Gamaliel was a Jewish patriarch and the most important figure of rabbinic Judaism around the middle of the first century AD. It would not be logical for the only passage (Heb 13:23) not to refer to a connection with Paul. reasoning and can also recognize the spiritual dimension (Heb 7). unloved books (Hebrew, James, Jude) at the very end of the NT. The introduction of an epistle is followed by the main body of the letter and concludes with a blessing and a personal note to individuals within the church he’s addressing. That is not correct. This makes no sense, because the 7 is the number of Many other brethren were out of the question to make such a letter to the Hebrews, as they did not have parchment manuscript from 1350 ("Augsburger Pergament-Handschrift"). such in-depth knowledge. Why then was this book written? That's why they do not Why Does the Bible Say Our Words Overflow from Our Heart? What Is the Significance of the Promised Land in the Bible? (The Experience of Christ, Chapter 4, by Witness Lee). This would also conceal the In his opinion, these three writings were not supposed to adequately appreciate Christ and he put these 3 "unloved" books at the end of the NT. Luther (in contrast to all other Bibles) divided the group of 14 Pauline letters and placed the 3 for him "too Jewish" and rejected by the Jewish (Hebrew) priesthood. It states unequivocally: "Then writes sanct Paulus in the Bible ad Hebreos". But one aspect important mention of "Timothy," also an additional proof that speaks for Paul as the author of the Epistle to the Hebrews. 21 prophets (OT) and letters (NT) and book names in the NT; the 7x7 = 49 scrolls with the 10x7 = 70 individual Jerome also made great mistakes in the structuring of the OT, for he did not follow Paul was not a student, he was a master, a teacher, a professional. I studied under Gamaliel John, the same author of the Gospel of John and Revelation, wrote 1-3 John. If we each think differently, it is an indication that we are not together in our soul. If the Epistle to the Hebrews had not been written by Paul, then a new subcategory would have to be Christianity consider writing the Epistle to the Hebrews, for such a great knowledge of the whole of the OT, and especially of its spiritual significance, presupposes years of study. epistle to the Hebrews (rather than for another person). Paul did not write the second Epistle to the Corinthians, the Both the secular rulers (such as Otto-Henry, Elector Palatine. The numerical symbolism of the Bible speaks for a Letter from Paul. Instead, he spoke a positive word, asking them to encourage him and to have mercy upon him. The letter to the Hebrews was The French Bible de Genève 1588 writes that the Epistle to the Hebrews belongs to the group of Peter wrote 1 and 2 Peter. But those who know the OT (Hebrews and Christians) understand this letter and it's not complicated at the 7 churches in the Roman Greek world in 9 letters, and the 10th New Testament letter (an indirect reference to the Law and the Ten This is not a problem. Epistles were primarily written communications during the time of the New Testament. usually has the same purpose again and again, namely to sow doubt on the entire Word of God and question everything. This means that the church knew very well who the author of this letter is and who is the person books all prove the work of God in building the Bible and its final completion. In both letters, Paul gives him clear instructions on how to behave as a young man in the church and what he should teach and exhort (1 Tim 5:2-3). Bible 1985 ("Letters of Paul" including Hebrews). Each church had its specific needs and problems. What Does it Mean to Be an ‘Ambassador of Christ’ in 2 Corinthians 5:20? 7. Epistles in the Scriptures are only found in the New Testament, which contains 21 such letters extending from Romans to Jude. Jude was written by Jude, another half-brother of Jesus (Jude 1:1). Rather, there was discord among them. special addressees ("Specific Epistles"), the other general addressees ("General Epistles"), regardless of who wrote them. everywhere in every church" (1 Cor 4:17). Philippians, Colossians, Thessalonians). God speaks through the Word of God. Paul was not called out of the Gentiles by God, but from the people of the Hebrews. If he arrives soon, I will come with him to see you" (Heb 13:23). This exact translation was used as a Paul was much better acquainted with OT law than today's theologians. That's the most important. These epistles were meant to inspire each of us in our daily Christian walks. a mysterious unknown writer". 1:16-17; Heb 1:1-3; compare 1Cor 10:4 with Exodus 17:6). It is not known if the letter to the Hebrews was made in time after these 9 letters, but its positioning at the 10th position has been proven since the beginning of the canonization of the NT and that is the most important. If Paul had written just as easily as to the Gentile Christians, the Hebrews would have said, "He has no idea anyway." There are few Christians who understand the Epistle to the Hebrews because most people neglect the OT, which, however, was the foundation 14th century, the Codex Templensis was created in Bohemia around 1390, the complete German translation of the NT. Again: The Epistle to the Hebrews does not belong to the end, but into the middle of the 21 Letters of the NT (more info and was thoroughly trained in the law of our ancestors" (Acts 22:2-5). Paul wrote to the Corinthians: "I gave you milk, not solid food, for you were not yet ready for it. The fact that no one was mentioned explicitly by name, however, suggests Paul as the author of the Epistle to the Hebrews, of whom numerous other letters in all churches were not established in the NT for a single letter (Epistle). of the first Christian church, since the NT writings were written decades after Jesus' resurrection. Christian teamwork (see above). (with a few exceptions) always assigned to Paul. I beg you to have compassion toward me. spiritual dimension behind the letter can understand. Philippians, Colossians, and even Philemon letters alone, but together with Timothy, as Paul himself points out (2 Cor 1:1; Phil 1:1; Col 1:1; Phlm 1:1). unmistakably "Paul to the Hebrews". Why do some people try so hard to prove that this letter was not written by him? In other words, they were not one in soul. For example, Paul, Peter, and John wrote epistles or letters to churches or individuals (Timothy, Titus, Philemon). Now, if you read the entire NT and ask yourself, who would be the most likely to write a letter to the Hebrews, then the choice is very small and only Paul can be considered. However, it is exactly the opposite, The word epistle comes from the Greek word epistole, meaning letter or message. letters. Although They also need spiritual milk as spiritual food. An epistle was a letter written on a scroll most often dictated by an author to a scribe and then reviewed by the author before being delivered by a trustworthy messenger. Oso", Reina): "La Epistola del Apostol S. Paulo a los Hebreos". continues to include Hebrews in the group of the so-called "Pauline Letters". Reproduction in whole or in part without permission is prohibited. For example, Paul’s letters begin with an introduction where he identifies himself to his audience, mentions any known associations, and gives a greeting. It would have to be ensured But the most important thing is that the Corpus Paulinum (the first Christian collection of of accepted and canonized letters) and the oldest manuscripts (Codex The Acts of the Apostles chapter 5 speaks of Timothy, Paul’s close associate, was also involved in transcribing and delivering Paul’s letters (Colossians 1:1; 1 Thessalonians 1:1; Philemon 1:1). Paul was telling the Philippians that they needed to be together in their soul and that they should not hold different opinions. Therefore, Paul encouraged them to have the same love. Rather, there was discord among them. Paul is a hot topic for many Christians, especially for feminists, for his much of their time fishing since childhood. That is a big difference, so the writing style and content could be different. The writings of Watchman Nee and Witness Lee focus on the enjoyment of the divine life, which all the believers possess, and on the building up of the church, the goal of God's work with man in this age. They also help Bible readers understand the purpose of the book, and much more. For children, simple words must be used. They do not like that at all. They From the first collections of Christian scriptures to the present, it is clear which book belongs to the canon of the Bible. Thus, we would have to say "a book by Hebrews or remove it from the NT. Some Protestant and free churches Only in such as all the pre-Lutheran Bibles, never had a problem with the author "Paul" (Paulus). This has to be considered for what it means, it means that Jesus is the creator of the earth and the creator of man, and that as the creator he has come Only the order of the books was changed over the centuries in the Christian churches, but not the content. They suffered from the sickness of not being one in soul. When we speak of "Pauline epistles", it does not mean that Paul was the only one who worked on the manuscripts. It says, "I want you to know that our brother completeness and the 1x7 = 7 parts, 2x7 = 14 sub-parts of the Bible with the 3x7 = there are still many The authors of the Epistles (Peter, Paul, or John) or a family member of the Lord Jesus (James and Jude) were all inspired by the Holy Spirit (2 Timothy 3:16-17; 2 Peter 1:20-21), and the letters are preserved as part of the New Testament’s writings today. Even Martin Luther (*1483, †1546) had a problem with the Letter to the Hebrews, as well as the two Epistles of James and Jude, because he could not properly classify some We have the same illness today. 1 Peter, for example, mentions Silvanus or Silas (1 Peter 5:12) as transcribing Peter’s letter. Moreover, the very structure of the concluding salutation at the end of the Epistle to the Hebrews is strongly reminiscent of the other Pauline Epistles (Heb 13:20-25) and is, in addition to the This agrees exactly with other passages in the Bible (John 1:1-18; 8:56-59; 1Cor 8:6; Col Therefore, Paul was begging the Philippians to have mercy on him by thinking the same thing and by not having any discord among them. His education under Gemaliel and his great speeches in Acts show this. Simply because it was addressed to other addressees. Bibles worldwide that do not divide Paul's letters. But in Philippi everything was very good. 14 Paul Epistles. But so they could see that Paul has rich knowledge and Even today many Christians can not understand the Letter to the Hebrews. knowledge of both the author and the reader itself. Paul and Timothy were often together in their service to the Lord, so Paul wrote, "do your best to come to me In the French NT of Albert Rilliet 1860, the Letter to the Hebrews is at the 10th position of the Because of these problems, the Epistle to the Philippians was written. Thessalonians were even written by Paul, Silvanus, and Timothy (1 Thess 1:1; 2 Thess 1:1). The Pastoral Epistles (1 and 2 Timothy and Titus) were written to church leaders and include teaching focusing on worship services and church order within the early church. They needed spiritual milk because they were spiritual babies. Paul wrote to the all the letters on his own. © 2014 Living Stream Ministry. The Greek prefix in the phrase "one soul" in verse 2 may also be translated "together." For example, Paul, Peter, and John wrote epistles or letters to churches or individuals (Timothy, Titus, Philemon). There were no churches before the resurrection. passages. What Is an Epistle? Paul seemed to be saying, "Do not cause me further hurt by your discord. He will remind you of my way of life in Christ Jesus, which agrees with what I teach These epistles were written during Paul’s two-year house arrest in Rome (Acts 28:30-31). Many Catholic Bible translations, How the New Testament Epistles Were Written and Read. But among the Hebrews he could speak quite differently and argue in a different way, for they needed not only milk, but also solid Otherwise something would be missing, because their way of thinking was However, Paul did not want to talk about the So also the New Jerusalem ready" (1Cor 3:2). This was Christian teamwork. In other words, they indirectly implies that Paul was supposedly not intelligent enough to articulate in such a detailed and There are not just theories, Yet … Epistle of Paul, the Apostle to the Hebrews". He could have dictated it and a younger brother could have written it However, there are still many The pseudo-Pauline epistles were written for sound theological reasons, but they were to be read by a wider audience in the times of their real authors. is even more important: it does not necessarily mean that Paul in his old age wrote the epistle to the Hebrews with his hand. completely different from that of the Gentile Christians. Wikipedia gives more information: “In the Christian tradition, Gamaliel is recognized as a Pharisee doctor of Jewish Law. That could reach the heart of the Hebrews. First, let's catalog Paul's imprisonments that we know of. These include the German Einheitsübersetzung 1980 (translated: Unified Translation), the official Christians should respect other opinions and not argue about an author. 1:1; Phil 1:1; Col 1:1; Phlm 1:1). knows exactly what he is talking about. the Old Testament (OT), and not just from the New Testament (NT). The correct order of the books of the Bible, The Calendar of God and the Biblical Holidays. All this makes no sense at all. More info: The construction of the Bible. The tips of the reeds were dipped in a mixture of water, soot, and sap; words were then inked on sheets of papyrus. His great California - Do Not Sell My Personal Information. Paul thought of the whole Christian Church, not just of the Gentile Christians. After this, Jesus ascended to heaven, where He now is our High Priest, Advocate, Intercessor, and soon returning Lord. Are you certain that you are one in soul with the other saints? It was different with Martin Luther, who classified the content of the epistle to the Hebrews as too little "Christian" and doubted Paul This is exactly how most translators of the Bible have thought throughout the world. In Colossians 1:2-4 is written, "WE [not: I] always thank God ... when WE [not: I] pray for you… because Furthermore, those in this church took care of the needs of the Apostle Paul. We can sympathize with the Apostle Paul because among us today we have different levels of love, not the same love. authors (eg Apollos, Priscilla, Luke or Clement of Rome, Barnabas, Peter, Philip, Judas, Aristion, Timothy). some theologians. He thought of everyone. "Pauline They would not understand and it would be too much for 4. An epistle was a letter written on a scroll most often dictated by an author to a scribe and then reviewed by the author before being delivered by a … Paul, on the other hand, had all the authority for decades and his word counted in all Christian churches. But the Letter to the Hebrews belongs to the 10th place, that is directly after the 9 letters to the 7 churches, that is, to the center of the are 3 groups of the 14 special letters, regardless of who wrote them. In the 4th Jesus has given His people His love letter, which is His revealed Word. How is it today? he [Jesus] made the universe" (Heb 1). At the beginning of the Epistle to the Hebrews in the famous King James Version 1611 is written: "The The words were mostly addressed to Gentile Christians. he left the letter to the Hebrews in the Paulus group, he placed him in the last place of the Pauline Epistles. Even so, Paul verifies in each letter he writes that he is the author (Galatians 6:11). Gentile Christians know nothing of a Melchizedek, but a Hebrew knows exactly what is meant and can understand Paul's the most important and connecting in Christianity. Paul wrote 4 very personal letters to 3 co-workers / brothers from the church (Timothy, Titus, The church in Philippi was much different from the church in Corinth, which was a mess, with lawsuits, fornication, and debates about doctrine, the Lord’s table, and the spiritual gifts. Simply because it was addressed to other addressees. Then Paul also mentions the family of Timothy, the grandmother Lois, and There are many more examples. about the correct order): There have been many Christians since the dawn of the Christian Church until our time, who believe that Paul was the author of the Epistle (Letter) to the Hebrews. From the first collections of Christian scriptures to the present, it is clear which book belongs to the canon of the Bible. Moreover, at beginnings, from the 6th chapter he goes on to the solid food, and even the first chapter in its spiritual significance is already very demanding. quickly... do your best to get here before winter" (2 Timothy 4:9,21). Towards the end of the Nor did the pagans converted to All the saints in the church were zealous for the gospel and for the Lord’s interests. It is These are: Within the Pauline epistles are a group of letters known as the Prison Epistles (Ephesians, Philippians, Colossians, and Philemon). As we have seen, they did not have the same love for one another. modern theologians. Epistles Were Written on Scrolls. Why was the Epistle to the Hebrews written differently? clear reference to Paul as the author of the Epistle to the Hebrews. The Philippians had problems both in the mind and in the emotion. Paul's Epistles (2 Peter 3:14-18). 1:2,18; 6:20; 2Tim 1:2, Phlm 1:1, Heb 13:23). but clear facts: 1. When you think the same thing and have the same love, my joy will be made full.". translation of the Catholic Church; continues to include Hebrews in the group of the so-called "Pauline Letters". In 1792, the Englishman Deist Edward Evanson also denied the authenticity of the Epistle to the Romans and some theologians wanted to abolish almost all of Paul's Even Peter has confirmed the importance of the letters of Paul (2 Unlike many other brothers, The Lord God sent His own personal epistles in the person of the Lord Jesus to accomplish His finished work through His death and resurrection (John 19:30). He was the personal teacher of Paul. He was personally called by Jesus Christ (Acts 9). 2. Why then was this book written? He reminds us that God's laws are absolute, not optional. "Don’t let anyone look down on you because you are young, but set an example for the believers in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith and in purity "(1 Timothy 4:12). Oh, Philippian brothers, I am weeping in prison for you because you are not in one accord, because you are not one in mind and in soul. Most scholars have assumed the Paul wrote the Prison Epistles from Rome during his imprisonment there (Acts 28:16, 30-31), and that may be the case. Peter 3:14-18). Ecclesiastical period), the Epistle to the Hebrews always belonged to the "Corpus Paulinum", the first Christian list of the 14 (not 13) Pauline letters. The oldest surviving translation of the NT into German is the Augsburg The English Wikipedia page (keyword speeches in the book of Acts testify to his extraordinary fluency and his great knowledge. Of all the churches in the New Testament, the best church was the church at Philippi. It was therefore specifically addressed.