Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Chapter 11
Chapter 12
Chapter 13
Book Overview - Hebrews
by Joseph Benson
EPISTLE OF PAUL THE APOSTLE TO THE HEBREWS.
PREFACE
AS most of the principal doctrines of the gospel are more expressly asserted and more fully explained in this epistle to the Hebrews than in any other of the inspired writings, it is peculiarly important that its authenticity and divine authority should be established. In order to this, it is only necessary to show that it was written by St. Paul, whose inspiration and apostleship are universally acknowledged, and consequently the divine authority of all his official writings. Now that he was the author of this epistle seems to be satisfactorily proved by the following arguments, advanced by Dr. Whitby and many others.
First, from the words of St. Peter, (2 Peter 3:15-16,) “As our beloved brother Paul, according to the wisdom given unto him, hath written unto you,” it is evident, 1. That Paul had written to them to whom St. Peter was then writing, namely, to the believing Jews in general, (2 Peter 1:1,) many of whom were dispersed in divers countries, as mentioned 1 Peter 1:1. 2. That he had written to them a certain letter, distinct from all his other epistolary writings, as appears from those words, “as also in all his epistles,” that is, his other epistles. Since then none of the ancients say that this epistle was lost, it must be that which bears the name of “the epistle to the Hebrews.” Some indeed have thought, the epistle intended by St. Peter might be that written to the Romans, in which St. Paul speaks to the Jews by name, Romans 2:17. But, I. That passage is plainly addressed to the unbelieving Jews, and concerned them only: whereas, St. Peter writes to the brethren, 1 Peter 3:12; the beloved, 1 Peter 3:1; 1 Peter 3:14; 1 Peter 3:17; to them who had “received like precious faith,” chap. Hebrews 1:1. He therefore could not mean the Jews, of whom St. Paul speaks in the epistle to the Romans.
A second argument to prove that St. Paul was the author of this epistle is taken from these words, “Know ye that our brother Timothy is set at liberty, with whom, if he come shortly, I will see you: They of Italy salute you,” Hebrews 13:23-24. For it was customary with St. Paul, when he wrote to the churches, to call Timothy his brother: see 2 Corinthians 1:1; Colossians 1:1; 1 Thessalonians 3:2; Philemon 1:1. Timothy was a prisoner at Rome in the seventh year of Nero, and set at liberty the eighth, says Dr. Lightfoot, Harm., pp. 139, 140. Of which here the author of this epistle gives notice, and says, he would come with him to them; that is, to the Jews in Judea, to whom we shall soon see this epistle was written. Now Timothy, we know, was still the companion of St. Paul. Lastly, he desires them to pray for him, which is frequently done by St. Paul in most of his epistles, but is never done in any of the catholic epistles. And, in requesting their prayers, he adds a circumstance which more fully characterizes him; “Pray for me,” says he, “that I may be restored to you the sooner.” Now Paul had been sent bound from Judea to Rome, and therefore his return from Rome to Judea was properly a restoring of him to them. And that he was thus restored to them, we learn from Chrysostom declaring, that, being set at liberty, he went to Spain, thence to Judea, and so back to Rome.