The book of Hebrews is a unique epistle (letter) in that it does not identify its author as most other epistles in the New Testament do. There has been much speculation by Bible scholars as to who the author is. Most Bible commentators are inclined to believe it was the Apostle Paul. In addition to similar writing style and other considerations, a few verses within the letter suggest Paul was the author: Seven of the translations Verse 10:34 speak of the author being in bonds or chains (while the others speak of “those in prison”). And in verse 13:19, the author asks for their prayers that he be “restored and able to come to those who are addressed in his letter. Most believe the constraint he seeks restoration from is imprisonment – again suggesting Paul as the author. If not Paul, it was certainly written by someone with a deep theological background comparable to his. Several Bible scholars opine that the reason that the identity of its author is conspicuously absent is because it is addressed to a Jewish audience; and many Jews were so bitterly opposed to Paul and his Christian doctrine that had he identified himself, as he does in the other Pauline letters, many, if not most, Jews would never have accepted or read the contents of what we know as the “Book of Hebrews”. It is a treasure trove of Christian theology, regardless of its authorship.

The wording in Hebrews 1:3 and 4 could be misinterpreted as saying that Christ was made or became better than the angels, as if that was not His original standing or attribute:- “3 Who being the brightness of his glory, and the express image of his person, and upholding all things by the word of his power, when he had by himself purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high; 4Being made so much better than the angels, as He has by inheritance obtained a more excellent name than they.” (King James Bible). Most (30 of 33) translations examined speak of ‘being made’ or ‘having become’ in verse 4, an unfortunate rendering that suggests a transition in Christ’s character or status. This wording seems to suggest that Christ was elevated to a new status (as opposed to a restoration to His former status); and such an interpretation would be in direct conflict with all that Scripture says of Christ. The “when he had” in Verse 3 might even add to the problem. Verses 1:3-4 do not suggest a conflict if they are taken as being in reference His restoration to His rightful glory after voluntarily “being made a little lower than the angels for the suffering of death”, as we see in the next chapter (2:9): “9But we see Jesus, Who was for a brief period made a little lower than the angels, that He, by the grace of God, might suffer death for everyone, now crowned with glory and honor.” It is within this context that verses 1:3-4 should be viewed, which then tells of His being “crowned with glory and honor”, His restoration to His rightful glory after He had humbled himself as our Sacrificial Lamb. Christ is (and has always been) part of the Holy Trinity. He is not a created being like the angels – in fact, He was God’s “agent” of creation. Nor is Christ evolving! The NLT is one of only three translations that do not seem to imply this transition in Christ’s character; and this Bible (version of God’s Word) will use a paraphrased variant of that NLT rendering of verse 4, as you will see below in the text, to avoid the problem noted here.