quality of Christ's self-sacrifice compared to the offerings of the Levitical priests. Judging from the general topic it seems likely that the intended audience consisted of converted Jews who were either being pressured to return to Judaism or were losing faith in their new religion. Yet it is not even certain that the title itself is entirely appropriate. It does not name the writer and, unlike most New Testament letters, does not name the recipients other than to identify them as 'Hebrews'--a description that does not occur in the text. The first use of the current title occurs in the writings of Clement of Alexandria around AD 180 and it appears that the title was added to explain the letter's purpose only "after this had become unknown."
Some scholars have even doubted that Hebrews is a letter. Unlike other NT letters it does not begin with a salutation incorporating the names of its writer and readers and it is sometimes suggested that the document was originally a sermon which was "subsequently adapted to serve as a letter." There are traditional personal notes at the end of Hebrews informing the readers that "our brother Timothy has been released" and proffering greetings from "those who come from Italy." Yet some scholars, such as Buchanan, propose that the entire thirteenth chapter is a later addition--devised to bring the text into conformity with other NT letters. This does not explain, however, why the even more significant prefatory material is lacking--except to argue that it was lost. The most convincing evidence that Hebrews is a letter is its tone. The document seems to be "addressed to a particular community in which the writer takes a lively interest," and this prompts most scholars to accept it as a letter.
The dating of the letter seemed to be somewhat less difficult. The earliest mention of Hebrews consists of "echoes and imitations" in Clement of Rome's Epistle to the Corinthians, which is...