Hebrews

1. The epistle of Hebrews was not written by one of the 12 apostles or Paul because the author of Hebrews did not hear the gospel directly from Jsus.

2. The epistle of Hebrews contains numerous factual errors about the Old Testament, such as incorrectly saying that:
1) the high priests offered sin sacrifices for both themselves and the people daily (instead of annually);
2) the golden altar of incense was located in the Holy of Holies (instead of the Holy Place);
3) the golden pot of manna and the rod of Aaron that budded were both inside the ark of the covenant (instead of in front of the ark);
4) a “covenant” is a “last will and testament” which only comes into effect when the maker of the covenant dies (instead of an “agreement” which comes into effect immediately while both parties are still alive);
5) for the ratification of the Old Covenant, Moses used the blood of calves and goats (instead of only the blood of oxen);
6) Moses used water, scarlet wool, and hyssop for the ratification of the Old Covenant (whereas only priests, not Moses, used water, scarlet, and hyssop for leprosy and house plagues, but not for the ratification of the covenant);
7) for the ratification of the Old Covenant, Moses sprinkled the people and the book (instead of the people and the altar);
8) Moses sprinkled the tabernacle and all the vessels of worship with blood (instead of anointing them with oil).

3. The epistle of Hebrews contains numerous strange teachings, such as incorrectly saying that:
1) Jsus was not always perfect,
2) the Levitical priesthood was abolished,
3) the command of the Law was weak and unprofitable,
4) the first covenant was not blameless,
5) things in heaven needed to be cleansed,
6) the devil has the power of death,
7) Jsus became the high priest,
8) Gd will not forgive willful sin,
9) the New Covenant is less merciful than the Old Covenant.

4. Hebrews likely references non-biblical stories from the apocryphal books of 2 Maccabees and the Martyrdom of Isaiah.

5. Many Christians within the early Church, as well as Martin Luther, did not believe that the epistle of Hebrews should be included in the Bible.

1. Hebrews Not Written by Paul or One of the 12 Apostles

The author of Hebrews acknowledges that he was not among those who heard Jsus directly in-person and then worked signs, wonders, and powers which bore witness to the word.

This means that the author of Hebrews was not Paul or one of the twelve apostles, who all heard and saw Jsus directly in-person and also worked signs, wonders, and miracles.

Heb. 2:3 how will we escape, having neglected such great salvation? Which having received [that] spoken through the Lrd [from] the beginning was confirmed to us by those who heard,
Heb. 2:4 Gd also bearing joint-witness both with signs and wonders, and manifold powers, and distributions of the Holy Spirit, according to His will.

2. Factual Errors in Hebrews

2.1 Daily vs Annual Sin Sacrifices

Hebrews says that the high priests offered daily sin sacrifices for both themselves and the people.

The Bible says that the high priest offered annual sin sacrifices for both themselves and the people on the Day of Atonement.

The twice-daily sacrifice was a continual burnt offering that was a sweet savor to the Lrd, not a sin sacrifice.

The only regular times that the priests offered sin-sacrifices were on a monthly and annual basis, on the new moons and festivals.

Heb. 7:27 who has no daily necessity, as the chief priests, to first offer up sacrifice for His own sins, then for those of the people; for this He did once, having offered up Himself;

Annual Sin Sacrifices for the Priests and the People on the Day of Atonement

Ex. 30:10 And Aaron shall make atonement upon the horns of it [the golden altar of incense] once in the year; with the blood of the sin-offering of atonement once in the year shall he make atonement for it throughout your generations: it is most holy unto the Lrd.

Lev. 16:1-2 And the Lrd spake unto Moses, after the death of the two sons of Aaron, when they drew near before the Lrd, and died; and the Lrd said unto Moses, Speak unto Aaron thy brother, that he come not at all times into the holy place within the veil, before the mercy-seat which is upon the ark; that he die not: for I will appear in the cloud upon the mercy-seat.

Lev. 16:6 And Aaron shall present the bullock of the sin-offering, which is for himself, and make atonement for himself, and for his house.

Lev. 16:11 And Aaron shall present the bullock of the sin-offering, which is for himself, and shall make atonement for himself, and for his house, and shall kill the bullock of the sin-offering which is for himself.

Lev. 16:14-17 and he [Aaron]| shall take of the blood of the bullock, and sprinkle it with his finger upon the mercy-seat on the east; and before the mercy-seat shall he sprinkle of the blood with his finger seven times. Then shall he kill the goat of the sin-offering, that is for the people, and bring his blood within the veil, and do with his blood as he did with the blood of the bullock, and sprinkle it upon the mercy-seat, and before the mercy-seat: and he shall make atonement for the holy place, because of the uncleannesses of the children of Israel, and because of their transgressions, even all their sins: and so shall he do for the tent of meeting, that dwelleth with them in the midst of their uncleannesses. And there shall be no man in the tent of meeting when he goeth in to make atonement in the holy place, until he come out, and have made atonement for himself, and for his household, and for all the assembly of Israel.

Twice-Daily Sacrifice Not a Sin Sacrifice

Num. 28:3-4 And thou shalt say unto them, This is the offering made by fire which ye shall offer unto the Lrd: he-lambs a year old without blemish, two day by day, for a continual burnt-offering. The one lamb shalt thou offer in the morning, and the other lamb shalt thou offer at evening;
Num. 28:6 It is a continual burnt-offering, which was ordained in mount Sinai for a sweet savor, an offering made by fire unto the Lrd.

Regular Sin Sacrifices on the New Moons and Festivals

New Moons (Monthly)
Num. 28:11-15 And in the beginnings of your months ye shall offer a burnt-offering unto the Lrd: two young bullocks, and one ram, seven he-lambs a year old without blemish; and three tenth parts of an ephah of fine flour for a meal-offering, mingled with oil, for each bullock; and two tenth parts of fine flour for a meal-offering, mingled with oil, for the one ram; and a tenth part of fine flour mingled with oil for a meal-offering unto every lamb; for a burnt-offering of a sweet savor, an offering made by fire unto the Lrd. And their drink-offerings shall be half a hin of wine for a bullock, and the third part of a hin for the ram, and the fourth part of a hin for a lamb: this is the burnt-offering of every month throughout the months of the year. And one he-goat for a sin-offering unto the Lrd; it shall be offered besides the continual burnt-offering, and the drink-offering thereof.

2.2 Holy of Holies vs Holy Place

Hebrews says that the golden altar of incense was located in the Holy of Holies.

The Bible says that the golden altar of incense was located in the Holy Place.

Heb. 9:2 for a tabernacle was prepared, the first, in which was both the lampstand, and the table, and the Bread of the Presentation—which is called “Holy”;
Heb. 9:3 and after the second veil a dwelling place that is called “Holy of Holies,”
Heb. 9:4 having a golden censer, and the Ark of the Covenant overlaid all over with gold, in which [is] the golden pot having the manna, and the rod of Aaron that budded, and the tablets of the covenant,

Golden Altar of Incense in the Holy Place

Ex. 30:1-6 And thou shalt make an altar to burn incense upon: of acacia wood shalt thou make it. A cubit shall be the length thereof, and a cubit the breadth thereof; foursquare shall it be; and two cubits shall be the height thereof: the horns thereof shall be of one piece with it. And thou shalt overlay it with pure gold, the top thereof, and the sides thereof round about, and the horns thereof; and thou shalt make unto it a crown of gold round about. And two golden rings shalt thou make for it under the crown thereof; upon the two ribs thereof, upon the two sides of it shalt thou make them; and they shall be for places for staves wherewith to bear it. And thou shalt make the staves of acacia wood, and overlay them with gold. And thou shalt put it in front of the veil that is by the ark of the testimony, before the mercy-seat that is over the testimony, where I will meet with thee.

Ex. 40:20-27 And he took and put the testimony into the ark, and set the staves on the ark, and put the mercy-seat above upon the ark: and he brought the ark into the tabernacle, and set up the veil of the screen, and screened the ark of the testimony; as the Lrd commanded Moses. And he put the table in the tent of meeting, upon the side of the tabernacle northward, without the veil. And he set the bread in order upon it before the Lrd; as the Lrd commanded Moses. And he put the candlestick in the tent of meeting, over against the table, on the side of the tabernacle southward. And he lighted the lamps before the Lrd; as the Lrd commanded Moses. And he put the golden altar in the tent of meeting in front of the veil: and he burnt thereon incense of sweet spices; as the Lrd commanded Moses.

2.3 Inside vs In Front of the Ark

Hebrews says that the golden pot of manna and the rod of Aaron that budded were both inside the ark of the covenant.

The Bible says that the golden pot of manna and the rod of Aaron that budded were both in front of the ark of the covenant.

The Bible says that the only thing inside the ark of the covenant were the tablets of stone.

Heb. 9:3 and after the second veil a dwelling place that is called “Holy of Holies,”
Heb. 9:4 having a golden censer, and the Ark of the Covenant overlaid all over with gold, in which [is] the golden pot having the manna, and the rod of Aaron that budded, and the tablets of the covenant,

Tablets in the Ark of the Covenant

Ex. 25:16 And thou shalt put into the ark the testimony which I shall give thee.

Ex. 40:20 And he took and put the testimony into the ark, and set the staves on the ark, and put the mercy-seat above upon the ark:

Deut. 10:2 And I will write on the tables the words that were on the first tables which thou brakest, and thou shalt put them in the ark.

Deut. 10:5 And I turned and came down from the mount, and put the tables in the ark which I had made; and there they are as the Lrd commanded me.

Golden Pot of Manna in Front of the Ark of the Covenant

Ex. 16:33-34 And Moses said unto Aaron, Take a pot, and put an omerful of manna therein, and lay it up before the Lrd, to be kept throughout your generations. As the Lrd commanded Moses, so Aaron laid it up before the Testimony, to be kept.

Rod of Aaron That Budded in Front of the Ark of the Covenant

Num. 17:10 And the Lrd said unto Moses, Put back the rod of Aaron before the testimony, to be kept for a token against the children of rebellion; that thou mayest make an end of their murmurings against me, that they die not.

Nothing Inside the Ark of the Covenant Except the Tablets of Stone

1Kings 8:9 There was nothing in the ark save the two tables of stone which Moses put there at Horeb, when the Lrd made a covenant with the children of Israel, when they came out of the land of Egypt.

2.4 Last Will vs Agreement

Hebrews says that a “covenant” is like a “last will and testament” which only comes into effect when the maker of the covenant dies.

The Bible says that a “covenant” is like an “agreement” between two parties which comes into effect while both parties are alive.

Heb. 9:15 And because of this, He is mediator of a new covenant, that [His] death having come for redemption of the transgressions under the first covenant, those called may receive the promise of the continuous inheritance,
Heb. 9:16 for where a covenant [is], [it is] necessary to establish the death of the [one] having made [it],
Heb. 9:17 for a covenant is affirmed at death, since it is not in force at all when the [one] having made [it] lives,

“Covenant” as an “Agreement” Coming Into Effect While Both Parties are Still Alive

Gd made a “covenant” with the ancient Israelites. The covenant came into effect while both Gd and the Israelites were alive.

Gd was upset with Israelites because they broke his covenant that he had made with them while both he and they were alive.

The covenant that Gd made with the Israelites was not a “last will and testament” that only comes into effect when the maker of the covenant dies.

Jer. 34:18-20 And I will give the men that have transgressed my covenant, that have not performed the words of the covenant which they made before me, when they cut the calf in twain and passed between the parts thereof; the princes of Judah, and the princes of Jerusalem, the eunuchs, and the priests, and all the people of the land, that passed between the parts of the calf; I will even give them into the hand of their enemies, and into the hand of them that seek their life; and their dead bodies shall be for food unto the birds of the heavens, and to the beasts of the earth.

2.5 Blood of Calves and Goats vs Only Oxen

For the ratification of the Old Covenant, Hebrews says that Moses used the blood of calves and goats.

For the ratification of the Old Covenant, the Bible says that Moses only used the blood of oxen.

Heb. 9:18 for which reason, not even the first has been initiated apart from blood,
Heb. 9:19 for every command having been spoken, according to law, by Moses, to all the people, having taken the blood of the calves and goats, with water, and scarlet wool, and hyssop, he sprinkled both the scroll itself and all the people,
Heb. 9:20 saying, “This [is] the blood of the covenant that Gd enjoined to you,”

Blood of Oxen Only

Ex. 24:3-8 And Moses came and told the people all the words of the Lrd, and all the ordinances: and all the people answered with one voice, and said, All the words which the Lrd hath spoken will we do. And Moses wrote all the words of the Lrd, and rose up early in the morning, and builded an altar under the mount, and twelve pillars, according to the twelve tribes of Israel. And he sent young men of the children of Israel, who offered burnt-offerings, and sacrificed peace-offerings of oxen unto the Lrd. And Moses took half of the blood, and put it in basins; and half of the blood he sprinkled on the altar. And he took the book of the covenant, and read in the audience of the people: and they said, All that the Lrd hath spoken will we do, and be obedient. And Moses took the blood, and sprinkled it on the people, and said, Behold the blood of the covenant, which the Lrd hath made with you concerning all these words.

2.6 Water, Scarlet Wool, and Hyssop

For the ratification of the Old Covenant, Hebrews says that Moses used water, scarlet wool, and hyssop.

The Bible never once says that Moses used water, scarlet wool, and hyssop for anything.

The only times that the Law speaks of water, scarlet, and hyssop are when a priest, not Moses, used them for the cleansing of:
1) leprosy and
2) house plagues.

The only times that the Law speaks of any combination of water, scarlet, and hyssop are when a priest or a clean person, not Moses, used them for:
1) the red heifer (scarlet and hyssop only) and
2) uncleanness by a dead body, bone, or grave (water and hyssop only).

Heb. 9:19 for every command having been spoken, according to law, by Moses, to all the people, having taken the blood of the calves and goats, with water, and scarlet wool, and hyssop, he sprinkled both the scroll itself and all the people,
Heb. 9:20 saying, “This [is] the blood of the covenant that Gd enjoined to you,”

Leprosy

Lev. 14:3-7 and the priest shall go forth out of the camp; and the priest shall look; and, behold, if the plague of leprosy be healed in the leper, then shall the priest command to take for him that is to be cleansed two living clean birds, and cedar wood, and scarlet, and hyssop: and the priest shall command to kill one of the birds in an earthen vessel over running water. As for the living bird, he shall take it, and the cedar wood, and the scarlet, and the hyssop, and shall dip them and the living bird in the blood of the bird that was killed over the running water: and he shall sprinkle upon him that is to be cleansed from the leprosy seven times, and shall pronounce him clean, and shall let go the living bird into the open field.

House Plague

Lev. 14:48-53 And if the priest shall come in, and look, and, behold, the plague hath not spread in the house, after the house was plastered; then the priest shall pronounce the house clean, because the plague is healed. And he shall take to cleanse the house two birds, and cedar wood, and scarlet, and hyssop: and he shall kill one of the birds in an earthen vessel over running water: and he shall take the cedar wood, and the hyssop, and the scarlet, and the living bird, and dip them in the blood of the slain bird, and in the running water, and sprinkle the house seven times: and he shall cleanse the house with the blood of the bird, and with the running water, and with the living bird, and with the cedar wood, and with the hyssop, and with the scarlet: but he shall let go the living bird out of the city into the open field: so shall he make atonement for the house; and it shall be clean.

Red Heifer (Scarlet and Hyssop Only)

Num. 19:5-6 And one shall burn the heifer in his sight; her skin, and her flesh, and her blood, with her dung, shall he burn: and the priest shall take cedar-wood, and hyssop, and scarlet, and cast it into the midst of the burning of the heifer.

Uncleanness by Dead Body, Bone, or Grave (Water and Hyssop only)

Num. 19:16-18 And whosoever in the open field toucheth one that is slain with a sword, or a dead body, or a bone of a man, or a grave, shall be unclean seven days. And for the unclean they shall take of the ashes of the burning of the sin-offering; and running water shall be put thereto in a vessel: and a clean person shall take hyssop, and dip it in the water, and sprinkle it upon the tent, and upon all the vessels, and upon the persons that were there, and upon him that touched the bone, or the slain, or the dead, or the grave:

2.7 Sprinkling Book vs Altar

For the ratification of the Old Covenant, Hebrews says that Moses sprinkled the people and the book.

The Bible says that Moses sprinkled the people and the altar, not the book.

Sprinkling the Altar and the People, Not the Book

Ex. 24:6-8 And Moses took half of the blood, and put it in basins; and half of the blood he sprinkled on the altar. And he took the book of the covenant, and read in the audience of the people: and they said, All that the Lrd hath spoken will we do, and be obedient. And Moses took the blood, and sprinkled it on the people, and said, Behold the blood of the covenant, which the Lrd hath made with you concerning all these words.

2.8 Sprinkling With Blood vs Anointing With Oil

Hebrews says that Moses sprinkled the tabernacle and all the vessels of worship with blood.

For the sanctification of the tabernacle, the Bible says that Moses anointed the tabernacle and all the vessels of worship with oil, not blood.

The Bible never once says that Moses sprinkled the tabernacle, the table of showbread, the lampstand, the golden altar of incense, or the mercy seat with blood.

For the sanctification of Aaron and his sons, Moses sprinkled blood on the altar, and he sprinkled Aaron and his sons with blood and oil.

On the Day of Atonement once per year, the high priest, not Moses, sprinkled blood on the mercy seat, before the mercy seat, and on the golden altar of incense.

If the high priest himself, not Moses, sinned, he sprinkled blood before the veil of the sanctuary, put blood upon the golden altar of incense, and poured the blood out at the base of the altar of burnt-offering.

The Bible never says that anyone sprinkled the table of showbread or the lampstand with blood.

Heb. 9:19 for every command having been spoken, according to law, by Moses, to all the people, having taken the blood of the calves and goats, with water, and scarlet wool, and hyssop, he sprinkled both the scroll itself and all the people,
Heb. 9:20 saying, “This [is] the blood of the covenant that Gd enjoined to you,”
Heb. 9:21 and he [Moses] sprinkled both the tabernacle and all the vessels of worship with blood in like manner,
Heb. 9:22 and with blood almost all things are purified according to the Law, and forgiveness does not come apart from blood-shedding.

Anointing With Oil at the Sanctification of the Tabernacle (One-Time Event)

Ex. 40:9 And thou [Moses] shalt take the anointing oil, and anoint the tabernacle, and all that is therein, and shalt hallow it, and all the furniture thereof: and it shall be holy.

Lev. 8:10-11 And Moses took the anointing oil, and anointed the tabernacle and all that was therein, and sanctified them. And he sprinkled thereof upon the altar seven times, and anointed the altar and all its vessels, and the laver and its base, to sanctify them.

Num. 7:1 And it came to pass on the day that Moses had made an end of setting up the tabernacle, and had anointed it and sanctified it, and all the furniture thereof, and the altar and all the vessels thereof, and had anointed them and sanctified them;

Sanctification of Aaron and His Sons (One-Time Event)

Ex. 29:7 Then shalt thou [Moses] take the anointing oil, and pour it upon his [Aaron’s] head, and anoint him.
Lev. 8:12 And he [Moses] poured of the anointing oil upon Aaron’s head, and anointed him, to sanctify him.

Ex. 29:16 And thou shalt slay the ram, and thou shalt take its blood, and sprinkle it round about upon the altar.
Lev. 8:19 And he killed it; and Moses sprinkled the blood upon the altar round about.

Ex. 29:19 And thou shalt take the other ram; and Aaron and his sons shall lay their hands upon the head of the ram.
Lev. 8:22 And he [Moses] presented the other ram, the ram of consecration: and Aaron and his sons laid their hands upon the head of the ram.

Ex. 29:20 Then shalt thou kill the ram, and take of its blood, and put it upon the tip of the right ear of Aaron, and upon the tip of the right ear of his sons, and upon the thumb of their right hand, and upon the great toe of their right foot, and sprinkle the blood upon the altar round about.
Lev. 8:24 And he brought Aaron’s sons; and Moses put of the blood upon the tip of their right ear, and upon the thumb of their right hand, and upon the great toe of their right foot: and Moses sprinkled the blood upon the altar round about.

Ex. 29:21 And thou shalt take of the blood that is upon the altar, and of the anointing oil, and sprinkle it upon Aaron, and upon his garments, and upon his sons, and upon the garments of his sons with him: and he shall be hallowed, and his garments, and his sons, and his sons’ garments with him.
Lev. 8:30 And Moses took of the anointing oil, and of the blood which was upon the altar, and sprinkled it upon Aaron, upon his garments, and upon his sons, and upon his sons’ garments with him, and sanctified Aaron, his garments, and his sons, and his sons’ garments with him.

Sprinkling the Mercy Seat and the Golden Altar of Incense on the Day of Atonement (Annual Event)

Ex. 30:10 And Aaron shall make atonement upon the horns of it [the golden altar of incense] once in the year; with the blood of the sin-offering of atonement once in the year shall he make atonement for it throughout your generations: it is most holy unto the Lrd.

Lev. 16:1-2 And the Lrd spake unto Moses, after the death of the two sons of Aaron, when they drew near before the Lrd, and died; and the Lrd said unto Moses, Speak unto Aaron thy brother, that he come not at all times into the holy place within the veil, before the mercy-seat which is upon the ark; that he die not: for I will appear in the cloud upon the mercy-seat.

Lev. 16:6 And Aaron shall present the bullock of the sin-offering, which is for himself, and make atonement for himself, and for his house.

Lev. 16:11 And Aaron shall present the bullock of the sin-offering, which is for himself, and shall make atonement for himself, and for his house, and shall kill the bullock of the sin-offering which is for himself.

Lev. 16:14-19 and he [Aaron]| shall take of the blood of the bullock, and sprinkle it with his finger upon the mercy-seat on the east; and before the mercy-seat shall he sprinkle of the blood with his finger seven times. Then shall he kill the goat of the sin-offering, that is for the people, and bring his blood within the veil, and do with his blood as he did with the blood of the bullock, and sprinkle it upon the mercy-seat, and before the mercy-seat: and he shall make atonement for the holy place, because of the uncleannesses of the children of Israel, and because of their transgressions, even all their sins: and so shall he do for the tent of meeting, that dwelleth with them in the midst of their uncleannesses. And there shall be no man in the tent of meeting when he goeth in to make atonement in the holy place, until he come out, and have made atonement for himself, and for his household, and for all the assembly of Israel. And he shall go out unto the altar that is before the Lrd, and make atonement for it, and shall take of the blood of the bullock, and of the blood of the goat, and put it upon the horns of the altar round about. And he shall sprinkle of the blood upon it with his finger seven times, and cleanse it, and hallow it from the uncleannesses of the children of Israel.

Sprinkling of Blood Because of Sin of the High Priest (Inconstant Event)

Lev. 4:3-7 if the anointed priest shall sin so as to bring guilt on the people, then let him offer for his sin, which he hath sinned, a young bullock without blemish unto the Lrd for a sin-offering. And he shall bring the bullock unto the door of the tent of meeting before the Lrd; and he shall lay his hand upon the head of the bullock, and kill the bullock before the Lrd. And the anointed priest shall take of the blood of the bullock, and bring it to the tent of meeting: and the priest shall dip his finger in the blood, and sprinkle of the blood seven times before the Lrd, before the veil of the sanctuary. And the priest shall put of the blood upon the horns of the altar of sweet incense before the Lrd, which is in the tent of meeting; and all the blood of the bullock shall he pour out at the base of the altar of burnt-offering, which is at the door of the tent of meeting.

3. Strange Teachings in Hebrews

3.1 Becoming Better Than Angels

Hebrews indicates that Jsus “had become” better than angels and and that he “inherited” a better name than them.

This implies that at some point Jsus was not better than the angels and that at some point he did not have a better name than them.

Jsus was, is, and always has been better than the angels, because Jsus has always been Gd.

Heb. 1:4 having become so much better than the angels, as He inherited a more excellent name than them.

John 1:1-2 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with Gd, and the Word was Gd; this One was in the beginning with Gd;

John 8:56-58 your father Abraham was glad that he might see My day; and he saw, and rejoiced.” The Jews, therefore, said to Him, “You are not yet 50 years old, and You have seen Abraham?” Jsus said to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, before Abraham’s coming—I AM.”

3.2 Made Perfect Through Sufferings

Hebrews says that Jsus was made perfect through sufferings.

This implies that at some point Jsus was not perfect.

Jsus was, is, and has always been 100 percent perfect and lacking in nothing.

Jsus has never had any need for “spiritual growth” in any way.

Heb. 2:10 For it was fitting to Him, because of whom [are] all things, and through whom [are] all things, bringing many sons to glory, to make the author of their salvation perfect through sufferings,

Heb. 5:8 though being a Son, [He] learned obedience by the things which He suffered,
Heb. 5:9 and having been made perfect, He became the cause of continuous salvation to all those obeying Him,

John 1:18 No one has ever seen Gd; the only begotten Gd who is on the bosom of the Father—He has explained [Him].

John 14:9 Jsus says to him, “Such [a] long time am I with you, and you have not known Me, Philip? He who has seen Me has seen the Father; and how do you say, Show to us the Father?

Col. 1:14-15 in whom we have the redemption, the forgiveness of sins, who is the image of the invisible Gd, firstborn of all creation,

3.3 Becoming Kind and Faithful

Hebrews says that Jsus “had” to be made like a man so that he might become kind and faithful.

Jsus was, is, and has always been 100 percent perfect in kindness, in faithfulness, and in all things.

Heb. 2:17 therefore he had to be made like the brothers in all things, that He might become a kind and faithful high priest in the things related to Gd, to make propitiation for the sins of the people,

John 1:14 And the Word became flesh, and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, glory as of [the] only begotten of [the] Father, full of grace and truth.

John 10:30 I and the Father are one.

Luke 6:36 be therefore merciful, as also your Father is merciful.

3.4 Able To Help Because of Suffering

Hebrews says that Jsus can help those who are tempted because he himself was tempted.

Jsus has always been 100 percent perfect. He has never lacked in anything. He has never needed to undergo anything in order to become better.

Heb. 2:18 for in that He has suffered, Himself being tempted, He is able to help those who are tempted.

Heb. 4:15 For we have not a high priest that cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but one that hath been in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin.

Cor. 4:4 in whom the god of this age blinded the minds of the unbelieving, that there does not shine forth to them the enlightening of the good news of the glory of the Chrst, who is the image of Gd;

3.5 Learning Obedience Through Suffering

Hebrews says that Jsus learned obedience through suffering.

This implies that Jsus was not 100 percent obedient before his earthly suffering.

Jsus has always been 100 percent obedient to the Father. Jsus is not, was not, and has never been lacking in any good character quality.

Heb. 5:8 though being a Son, [He] learned obedience by the things which He suffered,

Col. 2:9 because in Him dwells all the fullness of the Gdhead bodily,

3.6 Change to the Law

Hebrews says that the Levitical priesthood and the Law both changed after Jsus.

Jsus says that the smallest part of the Law and the Prophets will not pass away until heaven and earth pass away, which is until the end of the Millennial Kingdom.

Heb. 7:12 For the priesthood being changed, of necessity also, a change comes of the Law,

Matt. 5:17-19 Do not think that I came to abolish the Law or the Prophets—I did not come to throw down, but to fulfill; for truly I say to you, until the heaven and the earth may pass away, one iota or one tittle may not pass away from the Law, until all may come to pass. Therefore whoever may loose one of these commands—the least—and may teach men so, he will be called least in the kingdom of the heavens, but whoever may do and may teach [them], he will be called great in the kingdom of the heavens.

3.7 Fleshly Command of the Law

Hebrews says that the Law of the command to Levi was fleshly.

The Bible says that the Law is spiritual and that Gd the Father commanded his covenant of life and peace with Levi, whom Gd called his messenger.

Heb. 7:15 And it is yet more abundantly most evident, if according to the likeness of Melchizedek there arises another priest,
Heb. 7:16 who did not come according to the law of a fleshly command, but according to the power of an endless life,

Rom. 7:14 For we have known that the Law is spiritual, and I am fleshly, sold by sin;

Mal. 2:4-7 And ye shall know that I have sent this commandment unto you, that my covenant may be with Levi, saith the Lrd of hosts. My covenant was with him of life and peace; and I gave them to him that he might fear; and he feared me, and stood in awe of my name. The law of truth was in his mouth, and unrighteousness was not found in his lips: he walked with me in peace and uprightness, and turned many away from iniquity. For the priest’s lips should keep knowledge, and they should seek the law at his mouth; for he is the messenger of the Lrd of hosts.

3.8 Weak and Unprofitable Command of the Law

Hebrews says that the command of the Law was abolished because it was weak and unprofitable.

The Bible says that:
1) the Law is perfect and
2) all of the commandments are righteousness.

Paul says that the command of the Law:
1) is breathed by Gd;
2) is profitable;
3) defines what sin is;
4) is for life;
5) is holy, righteous, and good; and
6) is spiritual.

Paul says that he himself:
1) agrees with the Law that it is good,
2) delights in the Law of Gd, and
3) did not sin against the Law to warrant his arrest.

Paul purified himself in the temple and offered sacrifices in order to prove to the Jews in Jerusalem that he kept the Law.

Hebrews presents similar anti-Law tendencies as other non-biblical Christian writings at that time.

Heb. 7:18 for an annulling indeed comes of the command going before because of its weakness, and unprofitableness,
Heb. 7:19 for the Law made nothing perfect, and the bringing in of a better hope, through which we draw near to Gd

Psa. 19:7 The Law of the Lrd is perfect, restoring the soul: The testimony of the Lrd is sure, making wise the simple.

Psa. 119:172 Let my tongue sing of thy word; For all thy commandments are righteousness.

2Tim. 3:16 Every Scripture [is] Gd-breathed, and profitable for teaching, for conviction, for correction, for instruction that [is] in righteousness,

Paul says that the mind of the flesh is:
1) death,
2) an enemy of Gd,
3) does not submit to the Law of Gd, and
4) is not able to please Gd.

Paul indicates that the mind of the Spirit is:
1) life and peace,
2) a friend of Gd,
3) submits to the Law of Gd, and
4) is able to please Gd.

Rom. 8:6-8 for the mind of the flesh [is] death, and the mind of the Spirit—life and peace; because the mind of the flesh [is] enmity to Gd, for to the Law of Gd it does not subject itself, for neither is it able; and those who are in the flesh are not able to please Gd.

Rom. 7:7-23 What, then, will we say? Is the Law sin? Let it not be! But I did not know sin except through Law, for also the covetousness I had not known if the Law had not said: “You will not covet”; and sin having received an opportunity, through the command, worked in me all covetousness—for apart from Law sin is dead. And I was alive apart from law once, and the command having come, sin revived, and I died; and the command that [is] for life, this was found by me for death; for sin, having received an opportunity, through the command, deceived me, and through it, slew [me], so that the Law, indeed, [is] holy, and the command holy, and righteous, and good. That which is good then, has it become death to me? Let it not be! But sin, that it might appear sin, through the good, working death to me, that sin might become exceedingly sinful through the command. For we have known that the Law is spiritual, and I am fleshly, sold by sin; for that which I work, I do not acknowledge; for not what I will, this I practice, but what I hate, this I do. And if what I do not will, this I do, I agree with the Law that [it is] good, and now it is no longer I that work it, but sin dwelling in me, for I have known that there does not dwell in me, that is, in my flesh, good: for to will is present with me, and I do not find to work that which is right, for the good that I will, I do not do; but the evil that I do not will, this I practice. And if what I do not will, this I do, it is no longer I that work it, but sin that is dwelling in me. I find, then, the law, that when I desire to do what is right, the evil is present with me, for I delight in the Law of Gd according to the inward man, and I behold another law in my members, warring against the law of my mind, and bringing me into captivity to the law of sin that [is] in my members.

Acts 25:8 he [Paul] making defense, [said,] “Neither in regard to the Law of the Jews, nor in regard to the temple, nor in regard to Caesar—did I commit any sin.”

Acts 21:20-26 and they having heard, were glorifying the Lrd. They also said to him, “You see, brother, how many myriads there are of Jews who have believed, and all are zealous of the Law, and they are instructed concerning you, that you teach departure from Moses to all Jews among the nations, saying not to circumcise the children, nor to walk after the customs; what then is it? Certainly the multitude must come together, for they will hear that you have come. This, therefore, that we say to you, do. We have four men having a vow on themselves, having taken these, be purified with them, and be at expense with them, that they may shave the head, and all may know that the things of which they have been instructed concerning you are nothing, but you walk—yourself also—keeping the Law. And concerning those of the nations who have believed, we have written, having given judgment, that they keep themselves both from idol-sacrifices, and blood, and a strangled thing, and whoredom.” Then Paul, having taken the men, on the following day, having purified himself with them, was entering into the temple, announcing the fulfilment of the days of the purification, until the offering was offered for each one of them.

Similar Anti-Law Tendencies of Non-Biblical Christian Writings at That Time

Epistle of Barnabas 9:4 (written c. 100 AD) In short, he circumcised our [Christian] ears in order that when we hear the word we might believe. But the circumcision in which they [the Jews] have trusted has been abolished, for he declared that circumcision was not a matter of the flesh. But they [the Jews] disobeyed, because an evil angel instructed them.

Barn. 16:1 Finally, I will also speak to you about the temple, and how those wretched people [the Jews] went astray and set their hope on the building, as though it were Gd’s house, and not on their Gd who created them.
Barn. 16:2 For they, almost like the heathen, consecrated him by means of the temple. But what does the Lrd say in abolishing it? Learn! “Who measured heaven with the span of his hand, or the earth with his palm? Was it not I, says the Lord? Heaven is my throne, and the earth is a footstool for my feet. What kind of house will you build for me, or what place for me to rest?” You now know that their hope was in vain.

Matt. 21:13 and He [Jsus] says to them, “It has been written: My house will be called a house of prayer; but you made it a den of robbers.”
Rom. 9:1-5 Truth I say in Chrst, I do not lie, my conscience bearing testimony with me in the Holy Spirit, that I have great grief and unceasing pain in my heart—for I was wishing, I myself, to be accursed from the Chrst—for my brothers, my relatives, according to the flesh, who are Israelites, whose [is] the adoption, and the glory, and the covenants, and the lawgiving, and the service, and the promises, whose [are] the fathers, and of whom [is] the Chrst, according to the flesh, who is Gd over all, blessed for all ages. Amen.

Justin Martyr, Dialogue with Trypho 16 (written c. 157 AD) For the circumcision according to the flesh, which is from Abraham, was given for a sign so that you [the Jews] may be separated from other nations, and from us [Christians] and so that you alone may suffer that which you now justly suffer; and that your land may be desolate, and your cities burned with fire; and that strangers may eat your fruit in your presence, and not one of you may go up to Jerusalem.’ For you are not recognized among the rest of men by any other mark than your fleshly circumcision.
Trypho 20 “Moreover, that Gd enjoined you to keep the Sabbath, and impose on you other precepts for a sign, as I have already said, on account of your unrighteousness, and that of your fathers,

Demiurge. The blasphemous sect of Gnosticism believed that Gd the Father was 100 percent good; however, they also believed that another being called the Demiurge created the material world against the will of the Father. As a result, the Gnostics believed that the material world was essentially evil.
Marcion. According to the blasphemous teachings of Marcion, the Gd of the Old Testament, whom he called the Demiurge, the creator of the material universe, is a jealous tribal deity of the Jews, whose law represents legalistic reciprocal justice and who punishes mankind for its sins through suffering and death. In contrast, the Gd that Jsus professed is an altogether different being, a universal Gd of compassion and love who looks upon humanity with benevolence and mercy. In Marcionite belief, Chrst was not a Jewish Messiah, but a non-human, non-fleshly, spiritual entity that was sent by the Supreme Being, called the Monad, to reveal the truth about existence, thus allowing humanity to escape the earthly trap of the Demiurge.

Ptolemy the Gnostic, Letter to Flora (written c. 170 AD) For it is evident that the Law was not ordained by the perfect Gd the Father, for it is secondary, being imperfect and in need of completion by another, containing commandments alien to the nature and thought of such a Gd.
Ptolemy the Gnostic, Letter to Flora For if the Law was not ordained by the perfect Gd himself, as we have already taught you, nor by the devil, a statement one cannot possibly make, the legislator must be someone other than these two. In fact, he is the Demiurge and maker of this universe and everything in it; and because he is essentially different from these two and is between them, he is rightly given the name, intermediate.

3.9 First Covenant Not Blameless

Hebrews says that the first covenant was not blameless.

The Bible says that the Law is perfect, but our flesh was unable to keep the perfect Law. The problem was not with the Law but with our flesh.

Heb. 8:6-8 But now hath he obtained a ministry the more excellent, by so much as he is also the mediator of a better covenant, which hath been enacted upon better promises. For if that first covenant had been faultless, then would no place have been sought for a second. For finding fault with them, he saith, Behold, the days come, saith the Lrd, That I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah;

Rom. 7:9-16 And I was alive apart from Law once, and the command having come, sin revived, and I died; and the command that [is] for life, this was found by me for death; for sin, having received an opportunity, through the command, deceived me, and through it, slew [me], so that the Law, indeed, [is] holy, and the command holy, and righteous, and good. That which is good then [the Law], has it become death to me? Let it not be! But sin, that it might appear sin, through the good [the Law], working death to me, that sin might become exceedingly sinful through the command. For we have known that the Law is spiritual, and I am fleshly, sold by sin; for that which I work, I do not acknowledge; for not what I will, this I practice, but what I hate, this I do. And if what I do not will, this I do, I agree with the Law that [it is] good,

Gal. 3:21-22 [Is] the Law, then, against the promises of Gd? Let it not be! For if a law was given that was able to make alive, truly there would have been righteousness by law, but the Scripture shut up the whole under sin, that the promise by faith of Jsus Chrst may be given to those believing.

3.10 Heavenly Things Needing Purified

Hebrews says that the heavenly things needed to be purified.

This implies that the heavenly things were not already 100 percent clean and pure.

The Bible never says that the heavenly places needed cleansing from sin. Sin and impurity cannot exist where Gd the Father himself is.

Heb. 9:23 [It is] necessary, therefore, the pattern indeed of the things in the heavens to be purified with these, and the heavenly things themselves with better sacrifices than these;

Ex. 33:20 And he said, Thou canst not see my face; for man shall not see me and live.

Rev. 21:27 and there shall in no wise enter into it anything unclean, or he that maketh an abomination and a lie: but only they that are written in the Lamb’s book of life.

3.11 Devil Having Power of Death

Hebrews says that the devil has the power of death.

The Bible says that Gd has the power to kill people on earth and also the power to throw them into the eternal death of hell.

Heb. 2:14 Seeing, then, the children have partaken of flesh and blood, He Himself also took part of the same in like manner, that through death He might destroy him having the power of death—that is, the Devil—

Luke 12:4-5 And I say to you, my friends, do not be afraid of those who kill the body, and after these things don’t have anything more to do. But I will show to you whom you should fear: fear Him who, after killing, has authority to cast into Gehenna; yes, I say to you, fear Him.

3.12 Becoming High Priest

Hebrews says that Jsus became the high priest according to the order of Melchizedek, replacing the Levitical priesthood.

The Bible says that David will become the priest-king according to the order of Melchizedek, alongside the Levitical priesthood and in the presence of the Lrd Jsus the King of Kings.

The Bible never says that Jsus was or is a priest. Hebrews is the only book that says that Jsus was or is a priest.

The Bible says that the people of Gd are a kingdom of priests.

It is not sensical for Jsus to be a priest. Priests are servants that offer sacrifices to Gd. Jsus was the sacrifice, and Jsus is Gd. It is not sensical for Jsus to offer sacrifices to Gd as priest, because Jsus is Gd.

Gd commanded priests in the Bible to offer sacrifices for their own sins. This does not accurately prophesy or reflect Jsus’ sinless nature.

Gd commanded the sacrifices to be without any blemish or defect. This does accurately prophesy and reflect Jsus’ sinless nature.

The prophecies about the Millennial Kingdom say that David will be the priest-king prince who will offer sacrifices before the Lrd, who is Jsus.

Hebrews is incorrect to say that Gd has annulled the Levitical priesthood, because the prophecies say that the Levitical priests and Levitical ministers will serve alongside David in the Millennial Kingdom.

Heb. 2:17 for this reason it seemed necessary to Him to be made like the brothers in all things, that He might become a kind and faithful High Priest in the things related to Gd, to make propitiation for the sins of the people,

Heb. 6:20 to where a forerunner entered for us—Jsus, having become Chief Priest throughout the age after the order of Melchizedek.

Heb. 7:11 If indeed, then, perfection were through the Levitical priesthood—for the people under it had received law—what further need, according to the order of Melchizedek, for another priest to arise, and not to be called according to the order of Aaron?
Heb. 7:12 For the priesthood being changed, of necessity also, a change comes of the Law,
Heb. 7:13 for He of whom these things are said in another tribe has had part, of whom no one gave attendance at the altar,
Heb. 7:14 for [it is] evident that out of Judah has arisen our Lrd, in regard to which tribe Moses spoke nothing concerning priesthood.
Heb. 7:15 And it is yet more abundantly most evident, if according to the likeness of Melchizedek there arises another priest,
Heb. 7:16 who did not come according to the law of a fleshly command, but according to the power of an endless life,
Heb. 7:17 for He testifies, “You [are] a priest—throughout the age, according to the order of Melchizedek”;
Heb. 7:18 for an annulling indeed comes of the command going before because of its weakness, and unprofitableness
Heb. 7:19 (for nothing did the Law perfect), and the bringing in of a better hope, through which we draw near to Gd.

The Only Book That Says Jsus Was or Is a Priest

Matthew through Acts mentions “priest” about 124 times, all with reference to the high priests of the Jews or other priests, but none that say that Jsus was a priest.

Romans through Revelation (minus Hebrews) mentions “priest” six times (listed below), all six of which say that the people of Gd are priests.

Hebrews mentions “priest” about 37 times, about 17 of which that say that Jsus was a priest. Hebrews never says that the people of Gd are priests.

The People of Gd as the Kingdom of Priests

Ex. 19:6 and you all shall be unto me a kingdom of priests, and a holy nation. These are the words which thou shalt speak unto the children of Israel.

Rom. 15:16 for me being a servant of Jsus Chrst to the nations, acting as priest in the good news of Gd, that the offering up of the nations may become acceptable, sanctified by the Holy Spirit.

Peter says that people of Gd are priests who offer sacrifices to Gd through Jsus. Peter does not say that Jsus is a priest who offers sacrifices to Gd, because Jsus is Gd.

1Pet. 2:5 and you yourselves are built up as living stones [into] a spiritual house, a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to Gd through Jsus Chrst.
1Pet. 2:9 But you [are] a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people acquired, that you may show forth the excellencies of Him who called you out of darkness into His wonderful light,

Revelation says that the people of Gd will be priests of Gd and of Chrst. Revelation does not say that both Chrst and the people of Gd will be priests of Gd but that the people of Gd will be priests of Gd and of Chrst.

Rev. 1:6 [He] has also made us kings and priests to His Gd and Father, to Him be the glory and the power through the ages of the ages! Amen.
Rev. 5:10 and made them [to be] to our Gd kings and priests, and they will reign on the earth.”
Rev. 20:6 Blessed and holy—he who is having part in the first resurrection; the second death has no authority over these, but they will be priests of Gd and of the Chrst, and will reign with Him one thousand years.

Jsus the Lamb of Sacrifice

John 1:29 On the next day John sees Jsus coming to him and says, “Behold, the Lamb of Gd, who is taking away the sin of the world;

John 1:36 and having looked on Jsus walking, he says, “Behold, the Lamb of Gd”;

Rev. 5:6 and I saw, and behold, in the midst of the throne, and of the four living creatures, and in the midst of the elders, a Lamb standing as having been slain, having seven horns and seven eyes, which are the Seven Spirits of Gd, which are sent to all the earth,

Rev. 7:9 After these things I saw, and behold, a great multitude, which no one was able to number, out of all nations, and tribes, and peoples, and tongues, standing before the throne, and before the Lamb, having been clothed [in] white robes, and palms in their hands,
Rev. 7:10 and crying with a great voice, saying, “Salvation to our Gd, the [One] sitting on the throne, and to the Lamb.”

Symbolism Mismatch With Jsus: The High Priest and Priest-King Offering Sin Sacrifices for Their Own Sins

Lev. 16:6 And Aaron shall present the bullock of the sin-offering, which is for himself, and make atonement for himself, and for his house.

Lev. 16:11 And Aaron shall present the bullock of the sin-offering, which is for himself, and shall make atonement for himself, and for his house, and shall kill the bullock of the sin-offering which is for himself.

Ezek. 45:22 And upon that day the prince shall do for himself and for all the people of the land a bullock for a sin-offering.

Symbolism Match With Jsus: Requirement of Sacrifices To Be Without Blemish

Lev. 1:3 If his oblation be a burnt-offering of the herd, he shall offer it a male without blemish: he shall offer it at the door of the tent of meeting, that he may be accepted before Jehovah.

Lev. 22:19-20 that ye may be accepted, ye shall offer a male without blemish, of the bullocks, of the sheep, or of the goats. But whatsoever hath a blemish, that shall ye not offer: for it shall not be acceptable for you.

Deut. 17:1 Thou shalt not sacrifice unto the Lrd thy Gd an ox, or a sheep, wherein is a blemish, or anything evil; for that is an abomination unto the Lrd thy Gd.

David the Priest-King During the Millennial Kingdom

Hos. 3:5 afterward shall the children of Israel return, and seek the Lrd their Gd, and David their king, and shall come with fear unto the Lrd and to his goodness in the latter days.

Jer. 30:9 but they shall serve the Lrd their Gd, and David their king, whom I will raise up unto them.

Psa. 132:11 The Lrd hath sworn unto David in truth; He will not turn from it: Of the fruit of thy body will I set upon thy throne.

Psa. 89:3-4 I have made a covenant with my chosen, I have sworn unto David my servant: Thy seed will I establish for ever, And build up thy throne to all generations.

Psa. 89:35-36 Once have I sworn by my holiness: I will not lie unto David: His seed shall endure for ever, And his throne as the sun before me.

Ezek. 34:23-24 And I will set up one shepherd over them, and he shall feed them, even my servant David; he shall feed them, and he shall be their shepherd. And I, the Lrd, will be their Gd, and my servant David prince among them; I, the Lrd, have spoken it.

Ezek. 37:21-22 And say unto them, Thus saith the Lrd the Lrd: Behold, I will take the children of Israel from among the nations, whither they are gone, and will gather them on every side, and bring them into their own land: and I will make them one nation in the land, upon the mountains of Israel; and one king shall be king to them all; and they shall be no more two nations, neither shall they be divided into two kingdoms any more at all;

Ezek. 37:24-25 And my servant David shall be king over them; and they all shall have one shepherd: they shall also walk in mine ordinances, and observe my statutes, and do them. And they shall dwell in the land that I have given unto Jacob my servant, wherein your fathers dwelt; and they shall dwell therein, they, and their children, and their children’s children, for ever: and David my servant shall be their prince for ever.

Ezek. 44:3 As for the prince, he shall sit therein as prince to eat bread before the Lrd; he shall enter by the way of the porch of the gate, and shall go out by the way of the same.

Ezek. 45:16-17 All the people of the land shall give unto this oblation for the prince in Israel. And it shall be the prince’s part to give the burnt-offerings, and the meal-offerings, and the drink-offerings, in the feasts, and on the new moons, and on the sabbaths, in all the appointed feasts of the house of Israel: he shall prepare the sin-offering, and the meal-offering, and the burnt-offering, and the peace-offerings, to make atonement for the house of Israel.

Ezek. 45:22 And upon that day the prince shall do for himself and for all the people of the land a bullock for a sin-offering.

Ezek. 46:4 And the burnt-offering that the prince shall offer unto the Lrd shall be on the sabbath day six lambs without blemish and a ram without blemish;

David the Melchizedek Priest-King Alongside Jsus the Anointed

Zech. 6:11-13 yea, take of them silver and gold, and make crowns, and set them upon the head of Joshua the son of Jehozadak, the high priest; and speak unto him, saying, Thus speaketh the Lrd of hosts, saying, Behold, the man whose name is the Branch [Jsus]: and he shall grow up out of his place; and he shall build the temple of the Lrd; even he shall build the temple of the Lrd; and he [Jsus] shall bear the glory, and shall sit and rule upon his throne. And the priest [David] shall be on his right, and the counsel of peace shall be between them both.

The verse below doesn’t make sense if Jsus is the faithful priest who will walk before the Lrd’s anointed forever, because Jsus is the Lrd’s anointed.

The verse below does make sense if David is the faithful priest who will walk before the Lrd’s anointed forever, which is exactly what Ezekiel prophesies for the Millennial Kingdom.

1Sam. 2:35 And I will raise me up a faithful priest [David], that shall do according to that which is in my heart and in my mind: and I will build him a sure house; and he shall walk before mine anointed [Jsus] for ever.

Verses 1 and 3 below don’t make sense if in verse 1 the text is saying that Jsus has been exalted to the right hand of Gd after his resurrection, and then Gd says that he gave birth to Jsus in verse 3.

Psa. 110:1‏ לְדָוִד מִזְמוֹר נְאֻם יְהוָה לַאדֹנִי שֵׁב לִימִינִי עַד־אָשִׁית אֹיְבֶיךָ הֲדֹם לְרַגְלֶיךָ ׃
‎Psa. 110:2‏ מַטֵּה־עֻזְּךָ יִשְׁלַח יְהוָה מִצִּיּוֹן יִרְדֵה בְּקֶרֶב אֹיְבֶיךָ ׃
‎Psa. 110:3‏ עִמְּךָ נְדָבֹת בְּיוֹם חֵילֶךָ בְּהַדְרֵי־קֹדֶשׁ מֵרֶחֶם מִשְׁחָר לְךָ טַל יְלִדְתִּיךָ ׃
‎Psa. 110:4‏ נִשְׁבַּע יְהוָה וְלֹא יִנָּחֵם אַתָּה־כֹהֵן לְעוֹלָם עַל־דִּבְרָתִי מַלְכִּי־צֶדֶק ׃
‎Psa. 110:5‏ אֲדֹנָי עַל־יְמִינְךָ מָחַץ בְּיוֹם־אַפּוֹ מְלָכִים ׃
‎Psa. 110:6‏ יָדִין בַּגּוֹיִם מָלֵא גְוִיּוֹת מָחַץ רֹאשׁ עַל־אֶרֶץ רַבָּה ׃
‎Psa. 110:7מִנַּחַל בַּדֶּרֶךְ יִשְׁתֶּה עַל־כֵּן יָרִים רֹאשׁ ׃

Psa. 110:1 The Lrd [YHWH] saith unto my [David’s] Lrd [Adnai; Jsus], Sit thou at my right hand [in heaven], Until I make your [Jsus’] enemies thy footstool.
Psa. 110:2 The Lrd [YHWH] will send forth the rod of thy [Jsus’] strength out of Zion [on earth], and he [David] will rule in the midst of thine [Jsus’] enemies.
Psa. 110:3 Freewill offerings are with you [David] in the day of thy power in holy garments. From the womb of the morning like dew, I gave birth to you.

Verses 4 and 5 below don’t make sense if in verse 4 the text is saying, “You Jsus are the priest,” but then in verse 5 it is saying, “Jsus (Adnai) is at your right hand, Jsus.”

Verses 4 and 5 below make sense if in verse 4 the text is saying, “You David are the priest,” and then in verse 5 it is saying, “Jsus (Adnai) is at your right hand, David.”

Psa. 110:4 The Lrd [YHWH] hath sworn, and will not repent: Thou [David] art a priest for ever After the order of Melchizedek [the order of a priest-king].
Psa. 110:5 The Lrd [Adnai; Jsus] at thy [David’s] right hand will strike through kings in the day of his wrath.

A priest according to the order of Melchizedek would be both a king and a priest like Melchizedek.

Gen. 14:18 And Melchizedek king of Salem brought forth bread and wine: and he was priest of Gd Most High.

Psalms include other instances where the Lrd is at David or the needy’s right hand.

Psa. 16:8 I have set the Lrd always before me: Because he is at my right hand, I shall not be moved.
Psa. 109:30 I will give great thanks unto the Lrd with my mouth; Yea, I will praise him among the multitude.
Psa. 109:31 For he will stand at the right hand of the needy, to save him from them that judge his soul.
Psa. 110:6-7 He will judge among the nations, He will fill the places with dead bodies; He will strike through the head in many countries. He will drink of the brook in the way: Therefore will he lift up the head.

Levitical Zadokite Priests and Levitical Ministers

Ezek. 40:46 and the chamber whose prospect is toward the north is for the priests, the keepers of the charge of the altar: these are the sons of Zadok, who from among the sons of Levi come near to the Lrd to minister unto him.
Ezek. 44:15 But the priests the Levites, the sons of Zadok, that kept the charge of my sanctuary when the children of Israel went astray from me, they shall come near to me to minister unto me; and they shall stand before me to offer unto me the fat and the blood, saith the Lrd the Lrd:
Ezek. 45:5 And five and twenty thousand in length, and ten thousand in breadth, shall be unto the Levites, the ministers of the house, for a possession unto themselves, for twenty chambers.

Is. 66:20-24 And they shall bring all your brethren out of all the nations for an oblation unto the Lrd, upon horses, and in chariots, and in litters, and upon mules, and upon dromedaries, to my holy mountain Jerusalem, saith the Lrd, as the children of Israel bring their oblation in a clean vessel into the house of the Lrd. And of them also will I take for priests and for Levites, saith the Lrd. For as the new heavens and the new earth, which I will make, shall remain before me, saith the Lrd, so shall your seed and your name remain. And it shall come to pass, that from one new moon to another, and from one sabbath to another, shall all flesh come to worship before me, saith the Lrd. And they shall go forth, and look upon the dead bodies of the men that have transgressed against me: for their worm shall not die, neither shall their fire be quenched; and they shall be an abhorring unto all flesh.

Jeremiah says that the Levitical priesthood will last forever.

Jer. 33:14-18 Behold, the days come, saith the Lrd, that I will perform that good word which I have spoken concerning the house of Israel and concerning the house of Judah. In those days, and at that time, will I cause a Sprout of righteousness to sprout unto David; and he shall execute justice and righteousness in the land. In those days shall Judah be saved, and Jerusalem shall dwell safely; and this is the name whereby she shall be called: The Lrd our righteousness. For thus saith the Lrd: David shall never want a man to sit upon the throne of the house of Israel; neither shall the priests the Levites want a man before me to offer burnt-offerings, and to burn meal-offerings, and to do sacrifice continually.

3.13 Willful Sin Not Forgivable

Hebrews says that if we fall away or sin willfully after becoming a Christian, then the sacrifice of Jsus will not be there for us.

The Bible says that because of the sacrifice of Jsus, if we sin after becoming a Christian and then confess our sins, then Gd will forgive us all of our sins, except for the blasphemy of the Holy Spirit.

Even in the Old Testament, Gd truly forgave the willful adultery and murder that David committed after he had tasted of the anointing and filling of the Holy Spirit.

Hebrews presents similar “no-forgiveness” beliefs as other popular, non-biblical Christian books at that time, such as the Shepherd of Hermas.

Heb. 6:4 for [it is] impossible for those once enlightened, having also tasted of the heavenly gift, and having become partakers of the Holy Spirit,
Heb. 6:5 and tasted the good saying of Gd, also the powers of the coming age,
Heb. 6:6 and having fallen away, to renew [them] again to repentance, having crucified to themselves the Son of Gd again, and exposed to public shame.
Heb. 6:7 For the earth, having drunk in the rain coming on it many times, and is bringing forth herbs fit for those because of whom it is also dressed, partakes of blessing from Gd,
Heb. 6:8 but that which is bearing thorns and briers [is] disapproved of, and near to cursing, whose end [is] for burning;

Heb. 10:26 For [if] we sin willingly after receiving the full knowledge of the truth—there remains no more sacrifice for sins,
Heb. 10:27 but a certain fearful looking for of judgment, and fiery zeal, about to devour the opposers;

Similar “No-Forgiveness” Beliefs of Popular, Non-Biblical Christian Books at That Time

Shep. 31:6 But I am warning you,” he said, “if, after this great and holy call, anyone is tempted by the devil and sins, that person has one opportunity for repentance. But if that one sins repeatedly and repents, it is of no use for such a person, for that person will scarcely live.”

Shep. 6:4-5 After you have made known to them all these words, which the Master ordered me to reveal to you, then all the sins that they have previously committed will be forgiven them. Indeed, all the saints who have sinned up to this day will be forgiven, if they repent with all their heart and drive away double-mindedness from their heart. For the Master has sworn by his own glory regarding his elect, that if sin still occurs, now that this day has been set as a limit, they will not find salvation, for repentance for the righteous is at an end; the days of repentance for all the saints are over, although for the outsiders there is the possibility of repentance until the last day.

Shep. 74:2 Many, therefore, repented when they heard my commandments. Those who have repented have their home within the tower. But some of them fell away completely. These, therefore, have no repentance, for on account of their business affairs they blasphemed the Lrd and denied him. So they lost their life because of the evil they did.

Shep. 96:1 “From the first mountain, the black one, are believers such as these: apostates and blasphemers against the Lrd, and betrayers of Gd’s servants. For these there is no repentance, but there is death, and this is why they are black, for their kind is lawless.

Shep. 103:6 And I do not say this regarding these days, that someone who denies may receive repentance, for it is impossible for anyone who denies the Lrd from now on to be saved; but for those who denied him long ago repentance seems to be a possibility. If, however, any are about to repent, let them do so quickly, before the tower is completed, or else they will be destroyed by the women and put to death.

Marcion also refused to re-admit those who recanted their faith under Roman persecution.

Forgiveness Possible for All Our Sins

Matt. 12:31-32 Because of this I say to you, all sin and blasphemy will be forgiven to men, but the slander of the Spirit will not be forgiven to men. And whoever may speak a word against the Son of Man it will be forgiven to him, but whoever may speak against the Holy Spirit, it will not be forgiven him, neither in this age, nor in that which is coming.

Matt. 18:15 And if your brother may sin against you, go and show him his fault between you and him alone, if he may hear you, you gained your brother;

1John 1:8-2:2 if we say, “We have no sin,” we lead ourselves astray, and the truth is not in us; if we confess our sins, He is steadfast and righteous that He may forgive us the sins, and may cleanse us from every unrighteousness; if we may say, “We have not sinned,” we make Him a liar, and His word is not in us. My little children, these things I write to you that you may not sin: and if anyone may sin, we have an Advocate with the Father, Jsus Chrst, [the] Righteous One, and He is [the] propitiation for our sins, and not only for ours, but also for the whole world,

1Cor. 5:1-5 Sexual immorality is actually heard of among you, and such sexual immorality as is not even named among the nations—as that one has the wife of the father! And you are having been puffed up, and did not rather mourn, that he may be removed out of the midst of you who did this work, for I indeed, as being absent as to the body, and present as to the spirit, have already judged, as being present, him who so worked this thing: in the Name of our Lrd Jsus Chrst—you being gathered together, also my spirit—with the power of our Lrd Jsus Chrst, to deliver up such a one to Satan for the destruction of the flesh, that the spirit may be saved in the Day of the Lrd Jsus.

Gal. 6:1 Brothers, even if a man may be overtaken in any trespass, you who [are] spiritual restore such a one in a spirit of meekness, considering yourself—lest you also may be tempted.

James 5:19-20 Brothers, if anyone among you may go astray from the truth, and anyone may turn him back, let him know that he who turned back a sinner from the straying of his way will save a soul from death, and will cover a multitude of sins.

Rev. 2:20-21 But I have a few things against you: that you allow the woman Jezebel, who is calling herself a prophetess, to teach, and to lead astray, My servants to commit sexual immorality, and to eat idol-sacrifices; and I gave to her a time that she might repent from her sexual immorality, and she did not want to repent;

Psa. 32:1-5 Blessed is he whose transgression is forgiven, Whose sin is covered. Blessed is the man unto whom the Lrd imputeth not iniquity, And in whose spirit there is no guile. When I kept silence, my bones wasted away through my groaning all the day long. For day and night thy hand was heavy upon me: My moisture was changed as with the drought of summer. I acknowledged my sin unto thee, And mine iniquity did I not hide: I said, I will confess my transgressions unto the Lrd; And thou forgavest the iniquity of my sin.

3.14 New Covenant Less Merciful

Hebrews says that the New Covenant is less merciful than the Old Covenant.

Hebrews says the punishment for sin under the Old Covenant (setting aside the Law of Moses) was to die “without mercy” and the punishment for sin under the New Covenant (trampling on Son of Gd) is “much worse” than for sin under the the Old Testament.

The Bible says that the New Covenant is more merciful than the Old Covenant.

Heb. 10:26 For [if] we are sinning willingly after receiving the full knowledge of the truth—there remains no more sacrifice for sins,
Heb. 10:27 but a certain fearful looking for of judgment, and fiery zeal, about to devour the opposers;
Heb. 10:28 anyone having set aside a law of Moses dies without mercies on the basis of two or three witnesses.
Heb. 10:29 Of how much worse punishment will he be counted worthy who trampled on the Son of Gd, and counted the blood of the covenant a common thing, by which he was sanctified, and having insulted the Spirit of grace?

Heb. 12:25 Watch out lest you refuse Him who is speaking, for if those did not escape who refused him who was warning on earth—much less we who turn away from Him who [warns] from Heaven,

New Covenant More Merciful Than Old Covenant

Lev. 20:11 And the man that lieth with his father’s wife hath uncovered his father’s nakedness: both of them shall surely be put to death; their blood shall be upon them.

2Cor. 2:5-9 And if anyone has caused sorrow, he has not caused sorrow to me, but in part, that I may not burden you all; sufficient to such a one is this punishment, that [is] by the greater part, so that, on the contrary, [it is] rather for you to forgive and to comfort, lest by over abundant sorrow such a one may be swallowed up; for this reason, I call on you to confirm love to him, for this also I wrote, that I might know your proof, whether you are obedient in regard to all things.

Rom. 5:20 And law came in, that the trespass might abound, and where sin abounded, grace hyper-abounded,

4. Non-Biblical Sources in Hebrews

4.1 Stories in 2 Maccabees

Hebrews likely references stories from the non-biblical book of 2 Maccabees which mentions:
1) being “torture-racked,”
2) not accepting the release, and
3) hoping for resurrection.

The Bible never mentions anyone who was “torture-racked.”

2 Maccabees includes a story of praying for the dead.

Heb. 11:35 women received their dead by a resurrection, and others were torture-racked, not accepting the release, that they might receive a better resurrection,

Non-Biblical Story About Being “Torture-Racked,” Not Accepting the Release of Death, and Hoping for the Resurrection

2Mac. 6:18-19 Eleazar, one of the principal scribes, an aged man, and of a well favoured countenance, was constrained to open his mouth, and to eat swine’s flesh. But he, welcoming death with honor rather than life with pollution, went up to the torture-rack of his own accord, spitting out the flesh,
2Mac. 6:21-22 Those who were in charge of that unlawful sacrifice took the man aside because of their long acquaintance with him and privately urged him to bring meat of his own providing, proper for him to use, and to pretend that he was eating the flesh of the sacrificial meal that had been ordered by the king so that by doing this he might be released from death and be treated kindly on account of his old friendship with them.
2Mac. 6:27-28 Wherefore now, manfully changing this life, I will shew myself such an one as mine age requireth, and leave to the young a noble example of how to die a good death willingly and nobly for the revered and holy laws.” When he had said this, he went at once to the torture-rack.
2Mac. 6:30-7:2 When he was about to die under the blows, he groaned aloud and said: “It is clear to the Lrd in his holy knowledge that, though I might have been released from death, I am enduring terrible sufferings in my body under this beating, but in my soul I am glad to suffer these things, because I fear him.” And thus this man died, leaving his death for an example of a noble courage, and a memorial of virtue, not only unto young men, but unto all his nation. It happened also that seven brothers and their mother were arrested and were being compelled by the king, under torture with whips and thongs, to partake of unlawful swine’s flesh. One of them, acting as their spokesman, said, “What do you intend to ask and learn from us? For we are ready to die rather than transgress our ancestral laws.”
2Mac. 7:9-11 And when he was at his last breath, he said, “You accursed wretch, you dismiss us from this present life, but the King of the universe will resurrect us to an everlasting renewal of life, because we have died for his laws.” After him, the third was the victim of their sport. When it was demanded, he quickly put out his tongue and courageously stretched forth his hands and said nobly, “I got these from heaven, and because of his laws I disdain them, and from him I hope to get them back again.”
2Mac. 7:14 When he was near death, he said, “It is desirable that those who die at the hands of human beings should cherish the hope Gd gives of being resurrected again by him. But for you there will be no resurrection to life!
2Mac. 7:21-23 She encouraged each of them in their ancestral language. Filled with a noble spirit, she reinforced her woman’s reasoning with a man’s courage and said to them, “I do not know how you came into being in my womb. It was not I who gave you life and breath, nor I who set in order the elements within each of you. Therefore the Creator of the world, who shaped the origin of man and devised the origin of all things, will in his mercy give life and breath back to you again, since you now forget yourselves for the sake of his laws.”

Praying for the Dead in 2 Maccabees

2Mac. 12:39-45 On the next day, when the need for it had arisen, Ioudas’ men went to recover the bodies of those fallen earlier and to bring them back to lie with their kindred in their ancestral sepulchres. Then under the tunic of each one of the dead they found sacred tokens of the idols of Jamnia, which the law forbids the Judeans to wear. And it became clear to all that this was the reason these men had fallen. So they all blessed the ways of the Lord, the righteous judge, who makes visible the things that are hidden, and they turned to supplication, imploring that the sin that had been committed might be wholly blotted out. The noble Ioudas exhorted the people to keep themselves free from sin, for they had seen with their own eyes what had happened as the result of the sin of those who had fallen. He also took up a collection, man by man, to the amount of two thousand drachmas of silver, and sent it to Hierosolyma to provide for a sin offering. In doing this he acted very well and honorably, taking account of the resurrection. For if he were not expecting that those who had fallen would rise again, it would have been superfluous and foolish to pray for the dead. But if he was looking to the splendid reward that is laid up for those who fall asleep in godliness, it was a holy and pious thought. Therefore he made atonement for the dead so that they might be delivered from their sin.

4.2 Story in the Martyrdom of Isaiah

Hebrews likely references a story from the non-biblical book of the Martyrdom of Isaiah about Isaiah being sawn in two.

The Bible never mentions that any of the men of Gd were sawn in two.

Heb. 11:37 they were stoned, they were sawn apart, they were tried; they died in the killing of the sword; they went around in sheepskins, in goatskins—being destitute, afflicted, injuriously treated,

Non-Biblical Story About Isaiah Being Sawn in Two

Martyrdom of Isaiah 1:9 (written c. first century) “For Satan will dwell in the heart of Manasseh your son, and I [Isaiah] will be sawn by him with a wood saw from head to feet, into two, and many from Jerusalem and from Judah will fall away from the living God and will worship idols.”
Martyrdom 3:14-16 Then, being exceedingly angry, King Manasseh, when he heard, with bitter words he commanded immediately that the holy Isaiah be sawn with a wood saw. And while this was happening quickly and he was being sawn in sufficient time, the saw did not touch him at all. Then the holy prophet Isaiah says to Manasseh: “O King, you will know that I was chosen to be cut by a wood saw, and otherwise this would have been impossible.” Then King Manasseh commanded him to be cut with the wood saw.
Martyrdom 3:19 And when the blessed Isaiah said these things, they sawed him in two with a wood saw.

5. Historical Acceptance

5.1 Early Church

Many Christians within the early Church did not believe that the epistle of Hebrews should be included in the Bible.

Irenaeus (lived c. 103-202 AD) cited 21 books of the New Testament a total of approximately 1,000 times. About one third of his citations are made to Paul’s letters. Irenaeus considered all 13 letters belonging to the Pauline corpus to have been written by Paul himself. Irenaeus did not quote from the epistle to Hebrews.

The Muratorian Fragment (written c. 170 AD) is a manuscript fragment that contains the oldest known orthodox list of the books of the New Testament. The fragment does not include the book of Hebrews in the New Testament canon.

3Euseb. 25:1-2 Since we are dealing with this subject it is proper to sum up the writings of the New Testament which have been already mentioned. First then must be put the holy quaternion of the Gospels; following them the Acts of the Apostles. After this must be reckoned the epistles of Paul; next in order the extant former epistle of John, and likewise the epistle of Peter, must be maintained. After them is to be placed, if it really seem proper, the Apocalypse of John, concerning which we shall give the different opinions at the proper time. These then belong among the accepted writings.

6Euseb. 25:1-14 When expounding the first Psalm, he [Origen] gives a catalogue of the sacred Scriptures of the Old Testament as follows: “It should be stated that the canonical books, as the Hebrews have handed them down, are twenty-two; corresponding with the number of their letters.” Farther on he says: “The twenty-two books of the Hebrews are the following: That which is called by us Genesis, but by the Hebrews, from the beginning of the book, Bresith, which means, ‘In the beginning’; Exodus, Welesmoth, that is, ‘These are the names’; Leviticus, Wikra, ‘And he called‘; Numbers, Ammesphekodeim; Deuteronomy, Eleaddebareim, ‘These are the words’; Jesus, the son of Nave, Josoue ben Noun; Judges and Ruth, among them in one book, Saphateim; the First and Second of Kings, among them one, Samouel, that is, ‘The called of God’; the Third and Fourth of Kings in one, Wammelch David, that is, ‘The kingdom of David’; of the Chronicles, the First and Second in one, Dabreïamein, that is, ‘Records of days’; Esdras, First and Second in one, Ezra, that is, ‘An assistant’; the book of Psalms, Spharthelleim; the Proverbs of Solomon, Meloth; Ecclesiastes, Koelth; the Song of Songs (not, as some suppose, Songs of Songs), Sir Hassirim; Isaiah, Jessia; Jeremiah, with Lamentations and the epistle in one, Jeremia; Daniel, Daniel; Ezekiel, Jezekiel; Job, Job; Esther, Esther. And besides these there are the Maccabees, which are entitled Sarbeth Sabanaiel. He gives these in the above-mentioned work. In his first book on Matthew’s Gospel, maintaining the Canon of the Church, he testifies that he knows only four Gospels, writing as follows: “Among the four Gospels, which are the only indisputable ones in the Church of God under heaven, I have learned by tradition that the first was written by Matthew, who was once a publican, but afterwards an apostle of Jsus Chrst, and it was prepared for the converts from Judaism, and published in the Hebrew language. The second is by Mark, who composed it according to the instructions of Peter, who in his Catholic epistle acknowledges him as a son, saying, ‘The church that is at Babylon elected together with you, salutes you, and so does Marcus, my son.’ And the third by Luke, the Gospel commended by Paul, and composed for Gentile converts. Last of all that by John.” In the fifth book of his Expositions of John’s Gospel, he speaks thus concerning the epistles of the apostles: “But he who was ‘made sufficient to be a minister of the New Testament, not of the letter, but of the Spirit,’ that is, Paul, who ‘fully preached the Gospel from Jerusalem and round about even to Illyricum,’ did not write to all the churches which he had instructed and to those to which he wrote he sent but few lines. And Peter, on whom the Church of Chrst is built, ‘against which the gates of hell shall not prevail,’ has left one acknowledged epistle; perhaps also a second, but this is doubtful. Why need we speak of him who reclined upon the bosom of Jsus, John, who has left us one Gospel, though he confessed that he might write so many that the world could not contain them? And he wrote also the Apocalypse, but was commanded to keep silence and not to write the words of the seven thunders. He [John] has left also an epistle of very few lines; perhaps also a second and third; but not all consider them genuine, and together they do not contain hundred lines.” In addition he makes the following statements in regard to the Epistle to the Hebrews in his Homilies upon it: “That the verbal style of the epistle entitled ‘To the Hebrews,’ is not rude like the language of the apostle, who acknowledged himself ‘rude in speech’ that is, in expression; but that its diction is purer Greek, any one who has the power to discern differences of phraseology will acknowledge. Moreover, that the thoughts of the epistle are admirable, and not inferior to the acknowledged apostolic writings, any one who carefully examines the apostolic text will admit.’ Farther on he adds: “If I gave my opinion, I should say that the thoughts are those of the apostle, but the diction and phraseology are those of some one who remembered the apostolic teachings, and wrote down at his leisure what had been said by his teacher. Therefore if any church holds that this epistle is by Paul, let it be commended for this. For not without reason have the ancients handed it down as Paul’s. But who wrote the epistle, in truth, Gd knows. The statement of some who have gone before us is that Clement, bishop of the Romans, wrote the epistle, and of others that Luke, the author of the Gospel and the Acts, wrote it.” But let this suffice on these matters.

6Euseb. 13:6 He [Clement of Alexandria] makes use also in these works of testimonies from the disputed Scriptures, the so-called Wisdom of Solomon, and of Jesus, the son of Sirach, and the Epistle to the Hebrews, and those of Barnabas, and Clement and Jude.

6Euseb. 20:3 There has reached us also a dialogue of Caius, a very learned man, which was held at Rome under Zephyrinus, with Proclus, who contended for the Phrygian heresy. In this he curbs the rashness and boldness of his opponents in setting forth new Scriptures. He [Caius] mentions only thirteen epistles of the holy apostle, not counting that to the Hebrews with the others. And to our day there are some among the Romans who do not consider this a work of the apostle.

3Euseb. 3:5 It is not indeed right to overlook the fact that some have rejected the Epistle to the Hebrews, saying that it is disputed by the church of Rome, on the ground that it was not written by Paul. But what has been said concerning this epistle by those who lived before our time I shall quote in the proper place. In regard to the so-called Acts of Paul, I have not found them among the undisputed writings.

Jerome, On Illustrious Men 5 The epistle which is called the Epistle to the Hebrews is not considered his [Paul’s], on account of its difference from the others in style and language.

Jerome, Letter to Paulinus 53 The apostle Paul writes to seven churches (for the eighth epistle — that to the Hebrews — is not generally counted in with the others).

The Cheltenham List does not include the book of Hebrews.

Cheltenham List (written c. 360 AD ) But as it was said in the Apocalypse of John, “I saw 24 elders casting their crowns before the throne,” our predecessors prove these books to be canonical, and that the elders signify this. Likewise a list of the New Testament: The Four Gospels Matthew, Mark, John, Luke, The Epistles of Paul 13 in number, The Acts of the Apostles, The Apocalypse, Three Epistles of John [one only], two Epistles of Peter,
[one only].

Westcott, A General Survey of the History of the Canon of the New Testament 2:2 (written 1896) Generally indeed it may be stated that no Latin Father before Hilary [died 368 AD] quotes the Epistle [of Hebrews] as St. Paul’s; and his [Hilary’s] judgment and that of the writers who followed him was strongly influenced by the authority of Origen.

Tertullian, On Modesty 20:2-3 (died c. 220 AD) I will even because of the super-abundance add a testimony from one of the companions of the Apostles, who can confirm with almost the same authority the discipline of the first masters. For there is even an epistle to the Hebrews, written by Barnabas, who has been authorized by Gd sufficiently, because St. Paul has mentioned him at his own side in observance of abstinence, ‘for I only and Barnabas, have we not power to forbear working.’ At any rate this epistle of Barnabas is more accepted by the churches, than that apocryphal “Pastor” of the adulterers. And so without any introduction he exhorted his disciples rather to go on unto perfection not laying again the foundation of repentance from the dead works

5.2 Martin Luther

Martin Luther did not believe that the epistle of Hebrews should be included in the Bible.

Martin Luther, Preface to the Epistle to the Hebrews Up to now we have had a clear conscience in presenting books of the New Testament; but the four following had, in ancient times, a different reputation. In the first place, that this Epistle [Hebrews] is not St. Paul’s, nor any other apostle’s is proved by the fact that it says, in Hebrews 2:3, that this doctrine has come to us and remains among us through those who themselves heard it from the Lrd. Thus it is clear that he speaks of the apostles as a disciple to whom this doctrine has come from the apostles, perhaps long after them. For St. Paul, in Galatians 1:1, testifies mightily that he has his Gospel from no man, neither through men, but from Gd Himself.
Again, there is a hard knot in the fact that in chapters 6 and 10 it flatly denies and forbids to sinners repentance after baptism, and in Hebrews 12:17, it says that Esau sought repentance and did not find it. This seems, as it stands, to be against all the Gospels and St. Paul’s epistles; and although one might make a gloss on it, the words are so clear that I do not know whether that would be sufficient. My opinion is that it is an epistle of many pieces put together, and it does not deal with any one subject in an orderly way.

5.3 Tendency of Early Church to Accept Too Many Books

Many Christians within the early Church accepted books into the Bible that were later rejected by all Christians.

The Muratorian Fragment (written c. 170 AD) is a manuscript fragment that contains the oldest known orthodox list of the books of the New Testament. The fragment included the Apocalypse of Peter and the Book of Wisdom in the New Testament canon.

3Euseb. 3:6 But as the same apostle, in the salutations at the end of the Epistle to the Romans, has made mention among others of Hermas, to whom the book called The Shepherd is ascribed, it should be observed that this too has been disputed by some, and on their account cannot be placed among the acknowledged books; while by others it is considered quite indispensable, especially to those who need instruction in the elements of the faith. Hence, as we know, it has been publicly read in churches, and I have found that some of the most ancient writers used it.

The Codex Sinaiticus (written c. 325 AD) is the oldest complete copy of the New Testament, and it includes the Shepherd of Hermas and the Epistle of Barnabas.

Codex Alexandrinus (written c. 420 AD) is one of the earliest and most complete manuscripts of the Greek Bible, and it includes the two non-biblical books of 1-2 Clement.

Jerome, On Illustrious Men 6 Barnabas the Cyprian, also called Joseph the Levite, ordained apostle to the Gentiles with Paul, wrote one Epistle, valuable for the edification of the church, which is reckoned among the apocryphal writings.