Did Paul Write Hebrews?

I don’t see how Paul could have written Hebrews. Whoever wrote Hebrews says in Hebrews 2:3 that he was a second generation Christian. He did not get his gospel from Christ, but from others who received it from Christ and passed it on to him. (“confirmed to us by those who heard him.”) Since we know that Paul received his message directly from Christ and strongly defended this direct, first generation revelation (Galatians 1:11,12), it would be impossible for Paul to write the words in Hebrews 2:3. Paul could not qualify as an Apostle unless he received his messaged directly from Christ.

The Hebrews author obviously knew many of the people Paul knew, and experienced some of the same types of persecution Paul endured. The similarities of Pauline-like experiences do not prove the author was Paul, but the way the author received his message proves that he could not have been Paul.

I took a look at Hebrews 2:3 in the Greek, and it seems to me it says what the KJV and the NKJV says, but I would be happy to hear from someone who is a bona fide Greek scholar. However, I checked a couple of other reliable translations, and they also understand it the same way. “how shall we escape if we neglect so great a salvation? After it was at the first spoken through the Lord, it was confirmed to us by those who heard.” (NASB) “how shall we escape if we neglect such a great salvation? It was declared at first by the Lord, and it was attested to us by those who heard,” (ESV) I consulted five other translations, and all understand it like the above. I cannot find any translation that reads as you suggest.

I appreciate the challenge, as it made me dig a little deeper, which is always a good thing. In this case, the more I studied, the more I found my initial impression reinforced. However, I am always happy to consider evidence to the contrary.

Luke

http://www.amazon.com/Authorship-Hebrews-American-Commentary-Theology/dp/0805447148/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1391305249&sr=8-1&keywords=lukan+authorship+of+hebrews

2 Thess 3:17…Paul always signs his letters with his own hand.

Also the lack of the traditional Pauline prayers and benedictions is perplexing.

The ostensible provenance of the letter seems to be more closely aligned with a post-Pauline environment.

The theological emphasis of the epistle is closely Pauline.

The reference to Timothy as “brother” is a contrast from Paul’s more frequent term of endearment “true child” (1 Tim 1) and “son” (Phil 2).

Luke was imprisoned with Paul willingly or unwillingly on various occasions….the reference to prison does not necessitate a Pauline authorship (Acts 26-27).

The syntax and vocabulary of the epistle are uniquely different from the Pauline epistles in a number of instances.

I have recently suspected that it would not be Paul since it lacked the typical greeting and Paul was the apostle to the Gentiles but someone close who had suffered with him and would have clout with the Hebrews, maybe a Levite. How about Barnabas (Acts 4:36)?

But Herman Ridderbos (I think) also suggests Barnabas. I have his book at the office where he gives his reasons, but I have thought it to have been Luke instead. Luke is one who already is an accepted author of NT works, whereas Barnabas was one who would be new on the scene, so to speak [as an inspired writer, I mean] , and have a somewhat bigger hurdle to be accepted by the churches. I think those who received it knew very well who wrote it, he writes as if they know him and Timothy. I also suspect that Hebrews may have been a project of Paul that was interrupted by his untimely death and completed by Luke. But that’s just my pet theory. Don’t mess with it!