Most scholars agree that we simply do not know who wrote the New Testament book of Hebrews.

Quick Scoop: Who Wrote Hebrews?

The text of Hebrews itself never names an author, and early Christian writers also gave differing answers, so the question has stayed open for nearly two thousand years.

Main Theories About the Author

Over time, several names have been proposed as possible authors:

  • Paul the apostle (traditional view in many early churches, especially in the East).
  • Barnabas, Paul’s coworker and “son of encouragement.”
  • Apollos, an eloquent teacher from Alexandria, skilled in Scripture.
  • Luke, Paul’s companion and a polished Greek writer.
  • Clement of Rome or even Priscilla, suggested by some later scholars.

These proposals try to explain Hebrews’ polished Greek style, deep use of the Old Testament, and connections to Paul’s circle, but none can be proven.

Why Paul Is Often Questioned

Many older traditions ascribed Hebrews to Paul, and some ancient manuscript collections even grouped Hebrews with Paul’s letters.

However, modern scholars point out that:

  • The Greek style is more refined than Paul’s usual writing.
  • The vocabulary and structure differ from Paul’s undisputed letters.
  • The letter does not open with Paul’s name or his usual greeting formula.

Because of this, many scholars think the author moved in Paul’s wider circle but was not Paul himself.

What Early Christians Said

Early church voices were already divided:

  • Some Eastern Christians accepted Hebrews as Pauline and canonical earlier than churches in the West.
  • Clement of Alexandria suggested a Pauline connection but thought someone like Luke might have translated or shaped the Greek.
  • Tertullian attributed the work to Barnabas.
  • Eusebius noted that some thought Clement of Rome might have been involved.

One of the most famous comments comes from Origen (3rd century), who concluded: “Who wrote the epistle of Hebrews? In truth, only God knows.”

So What Can We Say Today?

Putting all this together, most modern scholars say:

  1. The author was a highly trained Greek writer, deeply familiar with the Old Testament (especially in Greek).
  1. The author likely belonged to the broader Pauline circle or early missionary network.
  1. The precise name of the author remains unknown and probably cannot be recovered with certainty.

A concise, historically responsible answer is:

The Book of Hebrews has an unknown human author.
Many candidates have been suggested (Paul, Barnabas, Apollos, Luke, and others), but the early church’s own verdict, echoed by Origen, still stands: only God truly knows who wrote Hebrews.

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