IS THE BOOK OF HEBREWS SIGNED ?

by Douglas Ecklund
(Florida)

Hebrews 13: 25 - 25
IS THE BOOK OF HEBREWS SIGNED?
CAN WE KNOW WHO WROTE THIS EPISTLE?

The apostle Paul writes in the epistles that he includes a salutation or greeting:

“The salutation by the hand of me Paul. Remember my bonds. Grace be with you. Amen.” Colossians 4:18

“The salutation of me Paul with mine own hand.”
1 Corinthians 16:21

This salutation is significant in regard to the fact that it is written in not some, but all of his epistles; certainly it is written by his own hand, but this salutation identifies the author.
The importance is not placed so much on the fact that is was by his hand, but that it was something particular he wrote;

“The salutation of Paul with mine own hand, which is the token in every epistle: so I write.”
2 Thessalonians 3:17

Here is the salutation as written in 2 Thessalonians;

“The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen.”
2 Thessalonians 3:18

Following are the salutations, which appear in all other epistles written by Paul;

“The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen.” Romans 16:24

“The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you.” 1 Corinthians 16:23

“The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Ghost, be with you all. Amen.” 2 Corinthians 13:14

“Brethren, the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit. Amen.” Galatians 6:18

“Grace be with all them that love our Lord Jesus Christ in sincerity. Amen.” Ephesians 6:24

“The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen.” Philippians 4:23

“The salutation by the hand of me Paul. Remember my bonds. Grace be with you. Amen.” Colossians 4:18

“The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you. Amen.” 1 Thessalonians 5:28

“Grace be with thee. Amen.” 1 Timothy 6:21

“The Lord Jesus Christ be with thy spirit. Grace be with you. Amen.” 2 Timothy 4:22
“Grace be with you all. Amen.” Titus 3:15

“The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit. Amen.” Philemon v25


Finally, the salutation of Paul is written in the book of Hebrews. The token of the wonder of the Grace of the Lord Jesus Christ;

“Grace be with you all. Amen.” Hebrews 13:25

It is possible that this salutation identifies Paul as the author of Hebrews, as this was an identifying token in all his epistles.

This phrase is also found in 2 John and Revelation;

“Grace be with you, mercy, and peace, from God the Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of the Father, in truth and love.” 2 John 1:3

“The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen.” Revelation 22:21

The possibility of identifying Paul as the writer of the book of Hebrews based upon the use of this salutation is not precluded by the appearance of this benediction in the books of 2 John or Revelation. Paul stated that this token appeared in all of his epistles: He did not state that others would not express it as well.

Outside of the book of Hebrews, and all the Pauline epistles, these are the only books in which we find this benediction.

John never claimed association of his writings with this salutation: the appearance of this salutation in 2 John and Revelation does not signify identification of the writer.