Even without a named writer, the church recognized Hebrews as apostolic, doctrinally rich, widely used, and Spirit-inspired.
One of the most intriguing mysteries in the New Testament is the book of Hebrews. Unlike most other letters, Hebrews doesn’t begin by naming its author. This has sparked centuries of debate: Who actually wrote it? And perhaps even more importantly: Why was it included in the Bible if no one knew?
Let’s explore why Hebrews earned its place in the canon despite its anonymous authorship.
1) Apostolic Authority
Early Christians believed that a New Testament book needed a clear link to the apostles—either written by them or by close associates. While Hebrews doesn’t identify its writer, its teaching aligns remarkably well with Pauline theology (Christ’s supremacy, the New Covenant, and salvation through faith).
Because of this, many in the early church assumed Paul wrote it, or that a close companion did. You can see how Hebrews was treated alongside Pauline materials in Eusebius’s Church History.
2) Doctrinal Depth
- Jesus as the great High Priest (Hebrews 4:14–16)
- The once-for-all sacrifice of Christ (Hebrews 10:10–14)
- The superiority of the New Covenant (Hebrews 8:6–13)
These teachings resonated deeply with the church. Even without a named author, the content itself was recognized as divinely inspired and consistent with the rest of Scripture. Read the text here: Hebrews (ESV) on Bible Gateway.
3) Widespread Use in Worship
By the second century, Hebrews was being publicly read in churches across the Christian world. This widespread liturgical and pastoral use helped establish its authority. The early church father Clement of Rome quoted Hebrews as early as AD 96 in his First Letter to the Corinthians, showing that the work was already treated as Scripture.
4) Endorsements from Early Church Fathers
Even though the author’s identity was debated, leading voices affirmed Hebrews’ inspiration:
- Origen (3rd century) famously said, “Who wrote the epistle, in truth, God knows,” yet he still used it as Scripture. See the quotation in Eusebius, Church History 6.25.
- Athanasius (4th century) included Hebrews in his list of canonical New Testament books in the 39th Festal Letter.
5) East and West Came to Agree
The Eastern church (e.g., Alexandria) accepted Hebrews as Pauline—and thus canonical—sooner than the West. The Western church (e.g., Rome) hesitated longer because of the anonymous authorship. By the late fourth century, however, the universal church recognized Hebrews within the New Testament canon.
Conclusion
Hebrews was included in the Bible not because the church knew the human author, but because:
- Its teaching aligned with apostolic faith,
- Its theology was powerful and consistent,
- It was widely used in Christian worship, and
- Early church leaders affirmed its inspiration.
In Origen’s words, “God knows” who wrote Hebrews—and that was enough for the church to preserve it as Scripture.
