Page 7 - Hebrews- Student Textbook

2. They had experienced some persecution (cf. 10:32; 12:4). Judaism was recognized as a legal
religion by the Roman authorities while later in the first century Christianity was considered illegal
when it separated from synagogue worship.

3. They had been believers for a long time, but were still immature (cf. 5:11-14). They were afraid to
break completely with Judaism (cf. 6:1-2).

C. The ambiguous text of 13:24 could imply it was written (1) from Italy or (2) to Italy, probably Rome.

D. The location of the recipients is linked to the different theories concerning authorship.
1. Alexandria - Apollos
2. Antioch - Barnabas
3. Caesarea - Luke or Philip
4. Rome - Clement of Rome and the mention of Italy in 13:24.
5. Spain - This was the theory of Nicolas of Lyra (A.D. 1270-1340)

Just as we are uncertain about the author, we are even less sure about where this book originated
geographically. All commentators focus on Hebrews 13:24: “Those from Italy send you their greetings.”
But this note can be rendered in several ways: these persons may be a group of Italian believers who
have left Italy and now send their greetings back home to their native land, or it can refer to those in
Italy who send their greetings to a place that is unspecified, where the letter was being sent.
Fact. The name “The Letter to the Hebrews” is derived from one option for the book’s implied
audience—Jewish converts to Christianity. The recipients of Hebrews appear to be members of a
community the author personally knew. They may have lived in Italy (Heb 13:24); some of the language
of Hebrews parallels the Roman writings of Clement and the Shepherd of Hermas (Heb 13:17). Hebrews’
original audience being from Italy does not exclude them from being Jewish—Jews were dispersed
throughout the Roman Empire. It’s clear that the audience knew Jewish tradition and customs and were

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