generally dated circa AD 95. This places the date of composition no later than the early 90s. There is also tentative support for dating the letter to the period AD 50-90 if the Timothy of Hebrews can be identified with the Timothy who became the companion of Paul after AD 50. This identification is based on the assumption that Hebrews mentions "a well-known Christian"--a role for which Paul's Timothy seems to be the only candidate. The most widespread assumption about dating has, however, been based on the absence of any mention of the destruction of Jerusalem and the temple in AD 70. Many scholars held that this indicated that Hebrews was composed prior to AD 70 or, at least, "was written at the very time of the Fall." Hughes argues, for instance, that the consistent use of the present tense "in speaking of the ministry of the levitical priesthood" means the letter must have preceded the Fall since, once the temple was destroyed, "its ministry abruptly ceased." This would place the composition of Hebrews sometime in the 60s--a notion tha
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