A Few Thoughts on the Writer of Hebrews:

One of my favorite passages in all of Scripture is found in Hebrews, chapter 12, verses 1 and 2: It follows a long list of suffering saints of the past who by faith have endured hard times. “Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.”

Having said all of that, I’ll make a controversial statement: I believe the writer of Hebrews is none other than Paul, and I’ll tell you why. In the Old Testament book of Habakkuk, chapter 2, verse 4 we read, “Behold the proud, his soul is not upright in him; but the just shall live by his faith.” Paul echoes that phrase in Romans 1:17, but alters it very slightly, “The just shall live by faith,” and again in Galatians 3:11, “The just shall live by faith.” When we turn to Hebrews 10:38, we find the exact same wording. It seems to me, Paul was fixated on the phrase. In addition, Romans reveals who the “JUST” are; Galatians examines how we “SHALL LIVE;” and finally we arrive at Hebrews, historically referred to as the faith book. In chapter 10, verse 38 we read, that the just shall live “BY FAITH.”

It occurs to me that since only three times “The just shall live by faith” is found in the New Testament, and two of them are undisputedly identified with Paul, why not the third? I said earlier it’s controversial, but until scholars find proof that another has penned Hebrews, I’ll just go on believing it’s Paul. Nome sain?