- Aquinas makes more sense than this article, this is from his commentary on Hebrews on why authorship was disputed: This was for two reasons: first, because it does not follow the pattern of the other epistles. For there is no salutation and no name of the author. Second, it does not have the style of the others; indeed, it is more elegant. Furthermore, no other work of Scripture proceeds in such an orderly manner in the sequence of words and sentences as this one. Hence, they said that it was the work of Luke the evangelist, or of Barnabas, or of Pope Clement. For he wrote to the Athenians according to this style. Nevertheless, the old doctors, especially Dionysius and certain others, accept the words of this epistle as being Paul’s testimony. Jerome, too, acknowledges it as Paul’s epistle. To the first argument, therefore, one may respond that there are three reasons why Paul did not write his name: first, because he was not the apostle of the Jews but of the gentiles: he who wrought in Peter to the apostleship of the circumcision, wrought in me also among the gentiles (Gal 2:8); consequently, he made no mention of his apostleship at the beginning of this epistle, because he was unwilling to speak of it except to the gentiles. Second, because his name was odious to the Jews, since he taught that the observances of the law were no longer to be kept, as is clear from Acts (Acts 15:2). Consequently, he concealed his name, lest the salutary doctrine of this epistle go for naught. Third, because he was a Jew: they are Hebrews: so am I (2 Cor 11:22); and fellow countrymen find it hard to endure greatness in their own: a prophet is not without honor, save in his own country and in his own house (Matt 13:57). To the second argument the answer might be given that the style is more elegant because even though he knew many languages: I speak with all your tongues (1 Cor 14:18), he knew the Hebrew language better than the others, for it was his native tongue, the one in which he wrote this epistle. As a result, he could write more ornately in his own idiom than in some other language; hence, he says: for though I be rude in speech, yet not in knowledge (2 Cor 11:6). But Luke, who was a skillful writer, translated this ornate Hebrew into Greek. Saint Thomas Aquinas. (2018). Commentary on the Letter of Saint Paul to the Hebrews (F. R. Larcher, Trans.; Vol. 41, pp. 2–3). Aquinas Institute; Emmaus Academic.
- I can understand your point of Aquinas perhaps treating this subject with more efficacy. However, let us deal with one another with more grace than to simply open your post with that kind of commentary. The editor of a newsletter is hardly to be judged against a prolific author of deep Christian discourse, treasured over many centuries. The article serves its intent and we should at least applaud the author for his contribution. It's not like either you nor I wrote this -- for if we had, we'd hope for a balanced response
- Timothy, you are correct, I could have chosen my words better in my first sentence. I apologize if it came across as cynical.
