The book of Hebrews is unique in that it does not identify its author as most epistles (letters) in the New Testament do. There is much speculation by Bible scholars as to who the author is. Most Bible commentators tend 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 the recipients’ prayers that he be “unrestrained and able to come back” 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 Jews - if not most - 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.

Most English translations of verse 1:4 have an unfortunate rendering that could be misinterpreted as saying that Christ was made or became better than the angels, as if that was not His original state or attribute. For example, the King James has: “4Being made so much better than the angels, as He has by inheritance obtained a more excellent name than they.” Most (30 of 33) translations examined speak of ‘being made’ or ‘having become’ in verse 4, a rendering that might suggest a transition in Christ’s character or status. This seems to imply that Christ was elevated to a new status (as opposed to a restoration to His original state); 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 viewed as being in reference to His restoration to His initial 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 RFP Bible (version of God’s Word) will use a paraphrased variation of that NLT rendering of verse 4, as you will see below in the text, to avoid the problem noted here.