“All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works.” (II Tim. 3:16-17)
Whenever the epistle to the Hebrews is mentioned, one of the first questions that is inevitably asked is the following:
Who is the author?
Although the answer to this question has been a matter of endless debate, we know, of a certainty, that God is the one who ultimately authored it via the inspiration of the Holy Spirit in the light of the above text. In other words, no matter who the human author was that God used to pen this epistle, it truly is the Divinely-inspired Word of God.
That said, there are some witnesses within the epistle itself which give us some clues as to who the human author was.
For example, we read:
“For ye had compassion of me IN MY BONDS, and took joyfully the spoiling of your goods, knowing in yourselves that ye have in heaven a better and an enduring substance.” (Heb. 10:34)
Whoever the human author was, he was clearly “in bonds” at some point in time.
Furthermore, we read:
“Know ye that OUR BROTHER TIMOTHY is set at liberty; with whom, if he come shortly, I will see you. Salute all them that have the rule over you, and all the saints. THEY OF ITALY salute you.” (Heb. 13:23-24)
Whoever the human author was, he also referred to “our brother Timothy” who had been with him in Italy.
With these clues before us, I’d like to suggest Paul as the probable candidate for human authorship.
Why?
Well, for starters, we know that Paul was imprisoned in Rome, which is in Italy, and some of his epistles bear witness of this truth.
For example, we read:
“But I would ye should understand, brethren, that the things which happened unto me have fallen out rather unto the furtherance of the gospel; So that MY BONDS IN CHRIST are manifest in all the palace, and in all other places; And many of the brethren in the Lord, waxing confident by MY BONDS, are much more bold to speak the word without fear.” (Phil.1:12-14)
“All the saints salute you, chiefly THEY THAT ARE OF CAESAR’S HOUSEHOLD.” (Phil. 4:22)
Paul wrote his epistle to the Philippians while in “bonds” in Rome, which is in Italy, and which is where “Caesar’s household” was.
If you recall, Paul appealed unto Caesar (Acts 25:11-12) while on trial in Caesarea (Acts 23:33), and he was ultimately sent to Italy to stand trial before Caesar there:
“Then said Agrippa unto Festus, This man might have been set at liberty, IF HE HAD NOT APPEALED UNTO CAESAR. AND WHEN IT WAS DETERMINED THAT WE SHOULD SAIL INTO ITALY, they delivered Paul and certain other prisoners unto one named Julius, a centurion of Augustus' band.” (Acts 26:32-27:1)
Additionally, please notice how Paul began his epistle from Rome to the Philippians:
“Paul AND TIMOTHEUS, the servants of Jesus Christ, to all the saints in Christ Jesus which are at Philippi, with the bishops and deacons:” (Phil. 1:1)
In other words, Timotheus (Timothy) was obviously with Paul in Rome, which is in Italy, at the time of his imprisonment there. We see further evidence of this truth in Paul’s epistle to the Colossians.
There, we read:
“Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, and TIMOTHEUS OUR BROTHER,” (Col. 1:1)
“The salutation by the hand of me Paul. REMEMBER MY BONDS. Grace be with you. Amen.” (Col. 4:18)
Again, Timothy was clearly with Paul in Rome, which is in Italy, during the time of his imprisonment there or during the time that he was in “bonds”.
Here is yet another example of this same truth:
“Paul, A PRISONER of Jesus Christ, and TIMOTHY OUR BROTHER, unto Philemon our dearly beloved, and fellowlabourer,” (Phlm. 1:1)
Once more, while Paul was a “prisoner” in Rome, which is in Italy, Timothy was there with him.
There are those who claim that Paul could not be the human author of this epistle because he mentioned “our BROTHER Timothy” (Heb. 13:23). In other words, because Paul elsewhere referred to Timothy as his “son” (I Tim. 1:2, 18, II Tim. 1:2, Phlm. 2:2), they claim that Paul would not refer to Timothy as his "brother" here.
Is this objection valid?
No, it most certainly is not.
Why not?
Because, by mentioning “our BROTHER Timothy”, Paul may have actually clearly identified himself as being the human author.
Why do I say this?
Because, besides the mention of “our BROTHER Timothy” in Hebrews 13:23, there are only 4 other places in the New Testament where Timothy is referred to as “our BROTHER”, and all 4 times it is Paul who addresses him in such a manner.
We read:
“Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, and TIMOTHY OUR BROTHER, unto the church of God which is at Corinth, with all the saints which are in all Achaia:” (II Cor. 1:1)
“Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, and TIMOTHEUS OUR BROTHER,” (Col. 1:1)
“Wherefore when we could no longer forbear, we thought it good to be left at Athens alone; And sent TIMOTHEUS, OUR BROTHER, and minister of God, and our fellowlabourer in the gospel of Christ, to establish you, and to comfort you concerning your faith:” (I Thess. 3:1-2)
“Paul, a prisoner of Jesus Christ, and TIMOTHY OUR BROTHER, unto Philemon our dearly beloved, and fellowlabourer,” (Phlm. 1:1)
There are some other indicators which point to Paul probably being the human author of this epistle, and there are also other indicators which some errantly claim point away from the same.
Anyhow, good luck (not that I believe in luck) proving that Peter, Barnabas, Luke, or anybody else was imprisoned in Italy with Timothy.
Scripture itself certainly seems to indicate that Paul was the human author of the epistle to the Hebrews.