All Catholics should exercise great caution when reading studies on the Holy Scriptures. Unfortunately, in many circles there is a certain naturalistic, positivist and rationalist spirit that causes confusion in people’s minds.

Pope Benedict XVI warned against this in one of his audiences on the great Doctor of the Bible, St. Jerome: “We should never read Scripture alone because we meet too many closed doors and could easily slip into error. […] For St. Jerome, an authentic interpretation of the Bible must always be in harmonious accord with the faith of the Catholic Church” (General Audience, 14/11/2007).

With regard to the letters of St. Paul, the one whose authorship is most questioned is the Epistle to the Hebrews. A complete explanation of the discussion on this subject would be very lengthy, but, in summary, we can assert that there are serious elements, supported by internationally renowned scholars, to affirm that all the so-called Pauline letters have St. Paul as their author or direct inspirer, including the Epistle to the Hebrews.

José María Bover maintains that it was inspired by Paul and that the Apostle personally commissioned a writer – probably formed in Alexandria – to write it (cf. Teología de San Pablo. 4th ed. Madrid: BAC, 1967, p. 18-41).