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14 of 16 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Learning About Priscilla, June 19, 2003
This review is from: Priscilla's Letter: Finding the Author of the Epistle to the Hebrews (Paperback)
A generation or so ago, when we all read the King James Bible, we accepted that the Letter to the Hebrews was written by the apostle Paul. Today, with so much scholarly research and archaeological findings available to us, not to mention numerous modern Biblical translations that reflect these discoveries, no serious scholar believes that anymore. Indeed, the authorship of Hebrews has been a question from the early days of the Church. It is strikingly different from any other book/epistle in the New Testament. And, as any Greek student can tell you, its sophisticated style and vocabulary make it the most difficult of all the books in the New Testament to translate. Ruth Hoppin in "Priscilla's Letter" systematically walks the reader through the arguments for and against possible authors of Hebrews, examining not only Paul but also Clement, Barnabas, Apollos, and Aristion, along with Priscilla, who, with her husband Aquila, was co-worker and co-traveler with Paul (and thus heavily influenced by him). She presents Priscilla as a logical candidate, considering her church leadership, family background, personal history, and the very fact of her own femininity. In fact, even for those who remain vehemently opposed to the thought of a woman writing Scripture, this book will be useful as a biography of an important Biblical character and as a history lesson about the status of women in the Jewish and Roman cultures of the early church. Hoppin quotes from historical resources (as well as Scripture) and takes readers on a tour of the archaeological discoveries that relate to Priscilla and her time. She analyzes different verses in Hebrews that illustrate her contention, and she persuasively debates verses that would seem to argue against it. Her argument for a woman, especially this woman, being the author of a document that became part of Holy Scripture, is methodically, convincingly presented. Along the way, readers will learn more about the theological arguments within Hebrews and about the Christian Church at the time Hebrews was written. Thus, this is an important book for anyone interested in the history of the Christian Church. Readers may also find Hoppin's detailed argument most persuasive, and they may be surprised to find themselves joining her in her belief that one of the authors of the books of our Bible was indeed a woman.
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10 of 11 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Extremely well researched - vital reading for any serious Bible scholar, February 9, 2008
This review is from: Priscilla's Letter: Finding the Author of the Epistle to the Hebrews (Paperback)
It amazes me that anyone thinks Paul wrote Hebrews! The ascended Christ audibly confronted Paul outside Damascus (Acts 9:3-7). Galatians 1:12 affirms that Paul did not receive the gospel from any human source, nor was he taught it - as was the author of Hebrews (Heb 2:3). The notion that Paul wrote Hebrews can be strangled at birth. Besides, male authors of NT letters tend to open with their own name, followed by some variant of "Apostolos Xristou Ihsou" (an apostle of Christ Jesus). Hebrews opens "Polumerws kai polutropws palai o qeos lalhsas tois patrasin" (In many ways and at many times long ago God spoke to our ancestors). A female authorship would account for the otherwise inexplicable omission of the author's name. Priscilla's gender embodies a reason for suppression of the author's identity. Paul's gender doesn't!
In this excellent publication, Ruth Hoppin builds a profile of the anonymous author of Hebrews, mainly using internal evidence from the letter itself; (we'll call the person "AAH" to save space). Luke & Paul document Priscilla's career in Acts 18:1-3, 18-19, 26, Romans 16:3, 1 Corinthians 16:19 and 2 Timothy 4:19. If Priscilla didn't write the theological and literary masterpiece known as "The Epistle to the Hebrews", she and its author share MUCH in common. In fact, their careers and priorities are eerily similar! Seven examples will suffice to illustrate the point...
1. Priscilla flees Rome in a climate of religious persecution; AAH flees [somewhere] to a place of hope (6:18)
2. Priscilla ministers to those with an incomplete knowledge of the Scriptures; AAH aspires to impart to his/her readers a deeper understanding of the faith (5:11-14)
3. Priscilla risks her life for Paul; AAH honours those who suffer for their faith (13:3), especially martyrs (11:37 & 12:4)
4. Priscilla accommodates Paul in her house; AAH instructs his/her readers to practise hospitality (13:2)
5. Priscilla repatriates to Rome and is foremost of the 26 named individuals greeted in Paul's Epistle; The Epistle to the Hebrews was almost certainly written in Rome (13:24)
6. Priscilla and Timothy, close friends of Paul, are both prominent in the Ephesian church; AAH informs readers of Timothy's release and of his/her own plans to travel with him to the destination city (13:23)
7. Priscilla spends months on the open seas, sailing at least 3,500km during her ministry; AAH describes faith as the "soul's anchor" (6:19) and cautions his/her readers not to "drift away" (2:1)
The list of similarities goes on. If you've made up your mind that Hebrews' author was male, don't bother buying this book. However, if you're genuinely interested in exploring Biblical history with an open mind, then Priscilla's Letter is a 'must read'.
PS - this reviewer is male.
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15 of 18 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Thoroughly Researched and Timely, January 7, 2001
This review is from: Priscilla's Letter: Finding the Author of the Epistle to the Hebrews (Paperback)
The groundwork for Priscilla's Letter was laid by famed scholar Adolph von Harnack, who first conjectured that Paul's colleague Priscilla may have written that book of the Bible known as "Hebrews." Ruth Hoppin has taken a giant step toward demonstrating Harnack's hypothesis, unearthing archaeological data and testimony to show clearly that Priscillan authorship is a viable suggestion that needs to be seriously considered. Hoppin also points out flaws in certain other popular theories about the authorship of Hebrews, rounding out her thorough analysis by pointing to the possible location of writing and destination of the letter. If you are interested in examining the roles of women in New Testament times, buy this book.
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