Short answer
Hebrews is anonymous in the New Testament, and most evangelical scholars conclude we do not know the author for certain. Among the named candidates suggested by evangelicals, Apollos is often treated as the most likely single candidate — but Barnabas, Luke, Clement, and (more recently) Priscilla have also been proposed. Whatever the identity, evangelicals affirm Hebrews as Scripture and view Hebrews 11:6 as a clear, authoritative statement about the centrality of faith.
Why Hebrews’ authorship is uncertain (evangelical perspective)
– The letter itself does not name its author (unlike Paul’s letters), and it lacks Paul’s typical personal greetings and signature.
– The Greek style and vocabulary differ markedly from Paul’s undisputed letters (many words and stylistic features are unique to Hebrews).
– Early church testimony is mixed: some early fathers attributed it to Paul, others rejected that attribution or said the author was unknown (Origen famously said, “Who wrote the Epistle to the Hebrews? Only God knows.”).
– Because of these internal and external factors, careful evangelical scholars tend to treat the author as anonymous and weigh several plausible candidates.
Why Apollos is often favored by evangelicals
– Acts 18:24–28 describes Apollos as “eloquent and competent in the Scriptures,” an Alexandrian Jew knowledgeable in the Old Testament — traits that fit Hebrews’ polished Greek, rhetorical form, and heavy use of the Septuagint.
– The theology of Hebrews (a high Christology, use of priestly/temple imagery, and careful use of Old Testament quotations) could fit an educated Jewish Christian like Apollos.
– Many evangelical commentators find Apollos a good explanatory candidate without having to force Pauline authorship onto material that reads differently.
Other candidates considered by evangelicals
– Paul: defended by some (especially historically). Pros: early church sometimes attributed Hebrews to Paul; theological overlap with Pauline thought (faith, grace). Cons: different style and vocabulary; no personal signature; Hebrews’ approach to priesthood and covenant language is distinct.
– Barnabas: companion of Paul and a Levite by tradition — fits the Jewish/Levitical emphases. Some early tradition supports this.
– Luke: some suggest stylistic connections to Luke-Acts; others point out differences (Hebrews’ Greek is more polished, and Luke’s style differs).
– Clement of Rome: proposed in patristic debates though less commonly favored today.
– Priscilla (with Aquila): a minority proposal in recent literature, argued especially by those who want to explain why an important female teacher might be anonymous; this view is not widely held among evangelicals, though it is discussed.
What evangelical scholars say
– Many modern evangelical commentators (for example, Leon Morris, D. A. Carson, William L. Lane, F. F. Bruce) treat the author as effectively unknown while evaluating candidate authors. Apollos and Barnabas are often singled out as plausible.
– Evangelicals emphasize that uncertainty about the human author does not affect the letter’s authority or its teaching — Hebrews is received as canonical and inspired.
Practical note for Hebrews 11:6
– From an evangelical standpoint the force of Hebrews 11:6 (“without faith it is impossible to please God…”) is clear and central to the epistle’s message: faith is the means by which believers enter into relationship with God and receive his promises. The question of human authorship does not change the verse’s doctrinal weight.
If you’d like, I can:
– Summarize the main arguments for and against each proposed author in more detail;
– Recommend specific evangelical commentaries on Hebrews (e.g., Morris, Bruce, Lane, Carson) for deeper study.
