Eastertide #16: For my granddaughters.

When Christ finished his sacrifice for our sins,

He sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high.

(Hebrews 1:3)

These last few mornings I’ve spent my fire pit time reading through the New Testament book of Hebrews. It seems to me a good Eastertide read—much about the meaning of the Cross and Christ’s ascension to the Father. I’ve never enjoyed the book much—too many angels and then there’s that Melchizedek thing—even the writer seems to bog down: “Of these things we cannot speak now in detail” (9:5). Whenever I’m tempted to give up on it, the writer to the Hebrews warns me that I better stick with it: “Solid food for the mature” (5:14); the writer keeps telling me—like a mother telling her children to eat their vegetables.

So far, I have two thoughts from the book of Hebrews: 1) What a majestic first paragraph; and 2) I’ve got an idea concerning authorship. Why is it anonymous? Martin Luther thought Apollos wrote it since Apollos was “an eloquent man, well-versed in scriptures” (Ac 18:24). That sounds like the book of Hebrews—a bunch of scripture accompanied by eloquent interpretations. But who taught Apollos “the way of God more accurately”? Was it not Priscilla (Ac 18:26)? And since I have a granddaughter that bears Priscilla’s name; and, since all my granddaughters are bright and beautiful; and, since they are not altogether pleased with the church’s attitude towards women; let’s say the book of Hebrews was written by Priscilla. Why not? I like the book better already.