The release which Paul so confidently anticipated, probably happened
shortly after the writing of the last epistle, and at this time,
just before leaving Italy for another field of labor, it is commonly
believed that he wrote his epistle to the Hebrews. Of the particular
place, the time, the immediate object, and the persons who were the
receivers of this epistle, nothing is with any certainty known; and
the whole range of statements in standard works of exegetical and
critical theology, on this writing, is the most appalling mass of
vague speculations, unfounded conclusions and contradictory assertions,
that presents itself to the historian of the apostolic works in any
direction; and in respect to all these points, referring the critical
to any or all of the thousand and one views, given in the learned
and elaborate introductions and commentaries, which alone can with
any justice so much as open the subject, the author excuses himself
entirely from any discussion of this endless question, in the words
used on one of these points, by one of the most learned, acute,
ingenious and cautious critics of modern times. “Any thing further
on this subject I am unable to determine, and candidly confess my
ignorance as to the place where the epistle to the Hebrews was written.
Nor do I envy any man who pretends to know more on this subject, unless
he has discovered sources of intelligence, which have hitherto remained
unknown. It is better to leave a question in a state of uncertainty,
than, without foundation, to adopt an opinion which may lead to
material errors.”