PROX EBRAIOUX
) the title of the Epistle, like that of the other Epistles to Churches, is simply
PROX EBRAIOUX
, to Hebrews. There is no title or colophon to the Epistle in D
2, but it has a running heading
PROX EBRAIOUX
.
The absence of title in D
2 is contrary to the usage of the MS.; and it is also to be noticed that the colophon to the Epistle to Philemon (
pro;" Filhvmona ejplhrwvqh
) gives no notice that any other Epistle is to follow, as is done in other cases (e.g.,
pro;" Tivton ejplhrwvqh, a[rcetai pro;" Filhvmona
). In fact the Epistle to Philemon is followed by the
Stichometry
(
Hist. of Canon of N. T.
p. 563), and the Epistle to the Hebrews has been added by the Scribe as an appendix to the archetype of the other Epistles.
The Egyptian versions ( Memph. Theb. ) have the same simple title: to the Hebrews.
This title, as in other cases, was gradually enlarged. The Peshito Syriac and the New College MS. of the Harclean give the Epistle to the Hebrews: the Cambridge MS. of the Harclean Syriac gives in its title the Epistle to the Hebrews of Paul the Apostle , but in the subscription the Epistle is called simply the Epistle to the Hebrews.
Later Greek MSS. give Pauvlou ejpistolh; pro;" JEbraivou" , as in the Epistle to the Romans & c., (P 2), and, at greater length, tou' aJgivou kai; paneufhvmou ajpostovlou Pauvlou ejpistolh; pro;" JEbraivou" (L 2). Sometimes historical statements are inwoven in the title: ejgravfh ajpo; jItaliva" dia; Timoqevou hJ pro;" JEbraivou" ejpistolh; ejkteqei'sa wJ" ejn pivnaki (M 2); Pau'lo" ajpovstolo" JEbraivoi" tavde suggenevsin (f Scr).
The title forms no part of the original document; but it must have been given to the book at a very early date, when it first passed into public use as part of a collection of Apostolic letters. And it was rightly given in regard to the permanent relation which the book occupies to the whole message of the Gospel. For while the treatment of the subjects with which it deals and the subjects themselves are of universal interest, the discussion is directed by special circumstances. The arguments and reflections in their whole form and spirit, even more than in special details, are addressed to Hebrews, men, that is, whose hearts were filled with the thoughts, the hopes, the consolations, of the Old Covenant, such perhaps as, under another aspect, are described as oiJ ejk peritomh'" (Acts 10:45; 11:2; Gal. 2:12; Col. 4:11; Tit. 1:10).
Tertullian has preserved an interesting notice of another name, which was given to the Epistle in North Africa, and which apparently dates from a time earlier than the formation of the collection of Apostolic Epistles. He quotes it definitely as Barnabae titulus ad Hebraeos ( de Pudic. 20); and there can be no reasonable doubt that the Epistle of Barnabas which is included in the African (Latin) Stichometry contained in the Cod. Clarom. (D 2) refers to this book. There is not however the least evidence that it was ever called the Epistle to the Laodicenes (not in Philastr. Haer. 89 or Cod. Boern. G 3), or the Epistle to the Alexandrines ( Can. Murat. fertur etiam ad Laudicenses [epistola], alia ad Alexandrinos, Pauli nomine finctae ad haeresem Marcionis,