Hebrews 7:25 (NIV): “Therefore he is able to save completely those who come to God through him, because he always lives to intercede for them.”

When evangelicals talk about the “author” of Hebrews they are usually addressing the question of who wrote the entire Epistle to the Hebrews (the verse itself is part of that letter). There is no single evangelical consensus; historically many evangelicals affirmed Pauline authorship, but modern evangelical scholarship is divided and many now favor another candidate, most commonly Apollos. Below is a concise overview of the main evangelical perspectives and the reasons given.

Summary of evangelical positions
– Traditional evangelical (historic Protestant) view: Paul wrote Hebrews. This was the common view in the Western church and among many Reformation and early Protestant leaders. It preserves Hebrews within the Pauline corpus and harmonizes theological affinities with Paul.
– Contemporary evangelical scholarship: Many conservative evangelical scholars today are open to anonymity and attribute Hebrews to someone else—most often Apollos. Others keep Paul as a plausible author or remain agnostic. Evangelical opinion is therefore split, though Apollos is a frequent modern evangelical candidate.

Why some evangelicals still favor Paul
– Early acceptance in the West: Several early Western church fathers (e.g., Tertullian, Augustine) attributed Hebrews to Paul, and the letter circulated in the church as Pauline in the West.
– Theological overlap: Hebrews’ strong emphasis on salvation in Christ, grace, and the fulfillment of the Law resonates with Pauline themes (though presented in priestly/typological terms).
– Connection to Paul’s circle: Hebrews 13:23 mentions “our brother Timothy,” which many see as linking the author to Paul’s circle. Some evangelicals suggest Paul may have written Hebrews and someone else delivered or translated it into polished Greek.

Why many evangelicals favor Apollos (or another non-Pauline author)
– Greek style and literary quality: Hebrews is written in polished, classical Greek—stylistically different from Paul’s letters. Apollos (Acts 18:24–28) is described as “an eloquent man, competent in the Scriptures” from Alexandria, which fits the style and Alexandrian background reflected in Hebrews.
– Theological and rhetorical profile: Hebrews’ use of Jewish typology, philosophical training, and high priestly Christology fits what might be expected of an Alexandrian Jewish Christian teacher like Apollos more than the typical Pauline letters.
– Early uncertainty in the East: Eastern fathers (e.g., Origen) expressed doubt about Pauline authorship. Origen famously wrote, “Who wrote the epistle, God only knows,” while still affirming its authority.
– Conservative evangelical scholars who argue for Apollos include F.F. Bruce and others who find the Apollos hypothesis the best fit of internal and external evidence.

Other candidates sometimes proposed by evangelicals
– Barnabas (early tradition in some quarters)
– Luke or Clement of Rome (less commonly favored)
– Anonymous—some evangelicals accept that the human author remains unknown while holding to the letter’s canonical authority

Why the question matters to evangelicals
– Doctrinal authority: For evangelical theology, Hebrews is canonical and authoritative regardless of the human author. The theological weight of verses like Hebrews 7:25 (Christ’s ongoing intercession and complete salvation) is not dependent on identifying an author.
– Interpretation/context: Knowing likely authorship can help explain style, background, and some allusions (e.g., Alexandrian influence if Apollos), which can sharpen historical and exegetical interpretation.

Recommended evangelical resources
– F.F. Bruce, The Epistle to the Hebrews (NICNT) — argues for Apollos as a strong candidate.
– D. A. Carson, in various essays/collections — cautious and careful about authorship, helpful on interpretation.
– George H. Guthrie, Hebrews (NIVAC/Eerdmans) — solid evangelical commentary that treats authorship issues fairly.

Bottom line
From a broad evangelical perspective there is no single settled answer. Historically many evangelicals accepted Paul; today many evangelical scholars consider Apollos the most likely human author based on style and background. Whatever the human author, evangelicals affirm Hebrews as Scripture and regard Hebrews 7:25—and its teaching about Christ’s saving work and ongoing intercession—as theologically central and authoritative.

If you’d like, I can summarize the main internal clues in Hebrews that point toward Apollos or toward Paul, or give a short bibliography of evangelical commentaries on Hebrews.