46 uses an extensive and well-developed system of nomina sacra (saying this is 2nd century) however since the exact provenance of the nomina sacra system itself is not well-established. Therefore we can safely say, the 300 intact chapters date between the first and the second century A.D.Hebrews 1
Long ago, at many times and in many ways, God spoke to our fathers by the prophets, 2 but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed the heir of all things, through whom also he created the world. 3 He is the radiance of the glory of God and the exact imprint of his nature, and he upholds the universe by the word of his power. After making purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high, 4 having become as much superior to angels as the name he has inherited is more excellent than theirs.
5 For to which of the angels did God ever say,
“You are my Son,
today I have begotten you”?
Or again,
“I will be to him a father,
and he shall be to me a son”?
6 And again, when he brings the firstborn into the world, he says,
“Let all God's angels worship him.”
7 Of the angels he says,
“He makes his angels winds,
and his ministers
a flame of fire.”
8 But of the Son he says,
“Your throne, O God, is forever and ever,
the scepter of uprightness is the scepter of your kingdom.
You have loved righteousness and hated wickedness;
therefore God, your God, has anointed you
with the oil of gladness beyond your companions.”
10 And,
“You, Lord, laid the foundation of the earth in the beginning,
and the heavens are the work of your hands;
they will perish, but you remain;
they will all wear out like a garment,
like a robe you will roll them up,
like a garment they will be changed.
But you are the same,
and your years will have no end.”
13 And to which of the angels has he ever said,
“Sit at my right hand
until I make your enemies a footstool for your feet”?
14 Are they not all ministering spirits
sent out to serve
for the sake of those who are to inherit salvation?
This debate of who wrote Hebrews leans to revisionist history. It's not love - it's verbiage. This is a 2,000 year "new knowledge" I'd want to lean away from false knowledge of this debate. I've had two of these debates swirl around me recently. Why are we so hip to debunk this intact Chapter as not of Paul? What about The Holy Spirit?
It's exactly as if in the A.D. year of 4015 the theologians make the newspaper headlines proclaiming, "in wisdom", Ronald Reagan killed JFK.
Jesus displays Father God with His Loving Words - God runs to us. That is the important part of God's Word! Let us lean to God in understanding!!! Not to our own current debate. God wants to save you and me - not have debates of facts now debated.
When I grew up, this was undoubtedly leaning to Paul being the author. The last and final chapter of Hebrews has the author with Timothy and speaks of the Love the writer has for his flock, which speaks to all that Paul wrote of.
What is the problem? When we debunk the Word of God - we are debunking something far older and far wiser than man who draws breathe. John 1 tells us Jesus is the Word of God manifest. God tells us our opinions will fall away, yet the Word of God will remain.
We bring to question the testimony of Truth. This is after all the generation who applauded the false grave of Jesus' wife.
In Revisionist History - this debunks the Resurrection. Will we question the abilities of the Council of Nicaea? Will we debunk the lives the apostles gave? Will we debunk Bishop Papias of Hierapolis who interviewed the Disciple John on Patmos. John saying that the other Gospels were accurate and well done. Will we debunk the histories of A,D, early 1st century to 140 by Polycarp? The Disciple of John The Disciple.
Will we debunk Eusebius - the first bishop of Caesarea? Eusebius records seeing with his own eyes (not yet Emperor) Constantine traveling with the army to Nazareth to torture to death the living issue of Jesus' brothers who refused to betray Jesus as God's Son? This is the Emperor who, when he became Emperor, proclaimed Christianity to be the Way, Truth and Life under Jesus as God's Son. These events effected Constantine. These events shape our world today.
God tells us He does not Lie.
In this century alone - we have discovered the census of Luke Chapter 2 is real.
In this century alone - we have discovered Herod slaughtered children in Bethlehem.
In this century alone - we have discovered Pontius Pilate did historically exist.
In this century alone - we have discovered the Ipuwer Papyrus does tell of the Exodus and was discovered at the base of the pyramids and is in the Dutch National Museum of Antiquities in Leiden, Netherlands.
In this century alone - we have discovered a clay pot in the hometown of Goliath telling of his fight with King David.
In this century alone - 2nd Generation Professor Eilat Mazar read the Bible to discover where the location of King David's Palace would be and discovered - David's Palace - complete with the biblical description of Jeremiah's scribe and his bulla discovered in the correct place.
Until this generation - Pilate was considered to be a myth and King David as well.
Ok, this remarkable and astonishingly beautiful Chapter is considered to be so beautiful - it is not Paul's style of writing and sounds more like Luke. However, in law today - there is a truth understood to be "Moose Head truth." The telling of the truth creates such logic, that the hearing of this - with the verbal emphasis on truth - that the Truth is revealing. A moment where TRUTH is comprehended too clearly to be pushed aside. Called this because it was as if the moose head on the wall had spoken. Clearly the Scriptures tell us the Holy Spirit inspires Scripture, not academics who arrive 2,000 years later. The Holy Spirit says iron sharpens iron. The moose head truth is some days we are more inspired and work harder.
Bishop Papias of Hierapolis was a man who knew that an audience of millenniums would want to know what the disciples and presbyters had to say about WITNESSING Jesus. So he recorded his conversations with John. The disciples were VERY INTERESTED in the testimony of each other. This week I spoke to a man in his 20s about how to discover his voice in writing. In human nature, if we read something astonishing like Luke's Gospel and the 1st Chapter of John - we will strive to present a higher quality of writing. We cannot say Paul was uninspired.
In the 26 times Timothy is mentioned - this is in conjunction with Timothy's travels as Timothy was sent with or by Paul on an errand of ministry, directed by his father in ministry - Paul.
Was Paul concerned with the authorship of the New Testament? Yes.
2 Timothy 3
16 All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness; 17 so that the man of God may be adequate, equipped for every good work.
Romans 15:4
For everything that was written in the past was written to teach us, so that through the endurance taught in the Scriptures and the encouragement they provide we might have hope.
14 times Romans discusses Son of God.
1 Corinthians discusses Angels 4 times, Paul's other Books discuss angels 10 times.
God tells us in the Old Testament the Children of Israel will have a time period where they do not believe the Exodus records the truth. The New Testament tells us revisionist histories happen as well. What can the people from the pews say? We must say we are not impressed with 20th and 21st century studies about the authorship of the Bible. Too many histories support the Scriptures. The author is the Holy Spirit.
Titus 3:9
But avoid foolish controversies, genealogies, dissensions, and quarrels about the law, for they are unprofitable and worthless.
It is worthless to debunk the Bible as being too old or inaccurate to matter. To ascribe current authorship quotes for 2 millenniums of God's Word? Let's lean to GOD BEING AUTHENTIC.
Without Doubt ~
Almost 2 millenniums ago, the 300 chapters of the New Testament were carried carefully. Within 16 years of the Resurrection of Jesus - the leaders - the Caesars of the Roman Empires - were killing people to kill the Scripture. This would continue off and on for 400 years. The Nicene Council was made up of men who risked their lives to know Jesus Christ as God. The Book of Hebrews was held in high regard as the Word of God. We should not do less. And we should not banter about The Book of Hebrews as a catch phrase for wisdom of 21st century scholars.
What is higher, is to say, like Jesus:
John 5:17
But Jesus answered them, “My Father is working until now, and I am working.”
Jesus told us about Scripture and debate:
Matthew 22:29
know the Scriptures
the power of God
Father God, all Your Scripture reveals mankind to be short of Your Glory. As we go through life - let us be like Isaiah, "Send me!" Knowing Your righteousness must prevail. And faith in You, is our Salvation. We ask for Your Blessings and for the blessing of those we love. In Jesus the Lord. Amen.
♔ Lord Jesus Saves †
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