The Authorship of Hebrews and the Value of Innocent Shrewdness

It's so easy to pass on to others what we've been taught without ever having thought through the evidence for ourselves. I should know. I'm an expert in "scholarly group think." For example, here's a list of objections to the Pauline authorship of Hebrews. I used to teach lists like this in my NT Intro classes. But while I was reviewing this evidence for a book I was writing on the authorship of Hebrews, I was like, "Hmm. I might want to rethink my assumptions here." Case in point? Well, the above-linked essay says this about Hebrews' use of the Old Testament:

Auctor [the author] cites the Old Testament differently than Paul does. "As it is written (kathōs gegraptai) appears in Romans 11 times and never in Hebrews. "It says" or "he says" (eirēken) appears in Hebrews 6 times and never in Paul.

Notice that little word "never." Upon reading Paul, I learned that this is simply not true. I found 6 examples -- count 'em, 6 -- where Paul uses the it says/he says formula. 

This triggered something in me that had gone dormant in all my years of teaching Hebrews. I had not been as skeptical about the "evidence" as I should have been. The tight hold the academy had on me had gone unnoticed. Not only did I learn that this particular argument could be challenged, but all the others could as well. What kind of disciples are we making when we simply repeat what others are telling us to believe? Problem is, I'm undoubtedly still doing this in ways I'm ignorant of. And that bugs me no end. 

I use this as an example of what is quite possibly a false assumption in the field of New Testament studies, but it can probably be applied to many other areas of research as well. Our students should be taught to question everything. And they will learn innocent shrewdness -- or not -- from us. 

Just sharing some thoughts. 

Have a wonderful day! 

P.S. Care to dig a bit deeper? Check out my power point here.