The letter to the Hebrews in the New Testament is incredibly written. The strange part is, we really don’t know who wrote it. Was it yet another letter from the apostle Paul? Could it have come from another early church figure like Barnabas or Apollos? We have no way to be sure. With that in mind, should the book of Hebrews be in the Bible? Isn’t the authority of the authors essential to considering a book part of the divinely inspired canon?
Despite the uncertainty, we can still confidently include Hebrews within the biblical canon for a few reasons.
Hebrews was Written Early
We can be very confident that the letter to the Hebrews was not a late addition. As with other New Testament books, nowhere does the letter mention the siege of Jerusalem or the destruction of the temple. We know from various historical sources that those events took place around 70 AD. The book discusses sacrifices. If the Jewish culture had recently been upended, including the temple where said sacrifices took place, the letter would mention it.
Hebrews was Accepted Early
Given its early date, many apostles and early church leaders would still have been alive. At the very end of the book, the author mentions traveling with Timothy. If this were fraudulent or lacking authority, early leaders would have dealt with it. Instead, the letter appears in many of the early lists and compilations of the New Testament. Although we seemingly lost the author’s identity as early as the 2nd century, nobody questioned the authority. Even if the author was not an eyewitness, like Mark or Luke, living witnesses could confirm the accuracy.
The Proof is in the Pudding
Simply put, the book of Hebrews is really good. It reads like divinely inspired scripture. That might not persuade many skeptics, but keep it in mind as you consider this question. Regardless of the arguments, God’s word should be capable of speaking for itself. The proof is in the pudding. The book adds rich theological teaching that is consistent with the rest of scripture. The church is better for having read it. Should the Book of Hebrews be in the Bible? Even with unanswered questions, we can give a resounding yes to this one.
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