Page 9 - Hebrews- Student Textbook
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Since the persons addressed in this letter appear to belong to the second generation of believers (Heb
2:3), this letter could not have been written before AD 50, and probably not before AD 60. A terminus ad
quem can be set from the references in the church father Clement, whom almost no one dates later
than AD 96. In 1 Clement 36:1–6 there are a number of quotations from the letter to the Hebrews. That
would leave a range for dating this epistle from AD 50 or 60 to AD 96. However, the writer makes no
reference to the fall of Jerusalem in AD 70, which would have strengthened his statement that the old
covenant “will soon disappear” (8:13). If the absence of an allusion to the fall of Jerusalem is recognized,
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then this would place it sometime before AD 70, which we surmise would be approximately AD 65.
1.4 Let’s Practice…
1-3. Name three of the four things we do know about the author of the book of Hebrews.
4-6. Give three reasons why Paul was probably NOT the author of the book of Hebrews.
7 There are four favored places where the Hebrew recipients of this book lived. Which on is favored
above all the rest?
8. What do we know about the recipients of the book?
9 Kaiser, (p. 358).
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