Situation of Hebrews

Teaching Hebrews again. I don't suppose I've posted very often on the situation. Here's a summary of situation thoughts:

Author

• male
• highly educated (one use of Scripture in Heb. 13 is only found elsewhere in Philo)
• probably Hellenistic Jew
• not an apostle, not likely Paul
• possibly in Pauline circle

Destination

• Rome has most votes ("those from Italy" send greetings back; first shows up in Clement of Rome; most known persecutions in Rome)
• Some think Asia Minor, perhaps making connection with Colossians
• Jerusalem was traditional, but rarely suggested today

Audience

• Greek speaking, Septuagint using
• have been believers for some time
• went through a previous crisis (if Rome, either Claudius explusion or Nero persecution)
• founding leaders probably martyred (13:7, if Rome makes post-Nero most likely)
• struggling with atonement anxiety (most thus say audience Jewish, but Gentile can't be as easily ruled out here as one might think at first)
• are demoralized, fatigued, perhaps ramping up to new crisis, are stopping to gather together (Schenck suggests post-temple destruction is a good candidate)
• Schenck thinks the beginning things they need to relearn in 6 are not things a Jew would learn when believing on Christ, concludes the audience is primarily Gentile

Date

• If Rome, post-Nero, then post-temple destruction fits best
• can't be too late if Timothy is Timothy