284 bryan r. dyer
autograph in 2 Thess 3:17 serves the function of authenticating the letter.77
one must not make too much of the absence of this element in hebrews
since it does not appear in every pauline letter. however, if the author of
hebrews were attempting to pass off his letter as from paul, one wonders
why he did not utilize this established feature of paul’s writing to certify
such pseudonymity.
The grace benediction appears in all of paul’s letters with little varia-
tion in its basic formula: wish, divine source, and recipient.78 besides its
use in heb 13:25, a grace benediction also appears in rev 22:21 as well
as 1 Clem. 65.2. in all of the undisputed letters, the divine source is the
“lord Jesus [Christ]” (rom 16:20; 1 Cor 16:23; 2 Cor 13:13; phil 4:23; 1 Thess
5:28; phlm 25) while most of the disputed letters only contain the grace
wish and recipient (ὑμῶν). hebrews 13:25 is closer to the disputed letters
in this regard since it leaves out the divine source of the wish. its actual
wording—ἡ χάρις μετὰ πάντων ὑμῶν—matches just Titus 3:15 exactly, but
overall follows closely the grace benedictions found in each of paul’s let-
ters and revelation.
after this brief comparison between the letter closings of hebrews
and paul’s letters, it is evident that some connection existed between
these writings. hebrews 13:20–25 follows the basic structure of the epis-
tolary closings found in the pauline corpus. further, there are specific
elements—the use of ὁ θεὸς τῆς εἰρήνης in heb 13:20 and the grace bene-
diction in 13:25—that demonstrate pauline influence or familiarity. at
the same time, there are many features that parallel not only the pauline
corpus but other new Testament letters as well. The peace benediction,
the greetings, and the hortatory section all appear in other early Christian
letters outside of paul. many features of the hebrews closing parallel 1
pet 5:10–14—possibly more than any letter of paul.79 while acknowledg-
ing certain distinctively pauline features in heb 13:20–25, it is not at all
clear that this letter closing was written as an imitation of paul. it seems
much more probable that the author of hebrews follows the patterns of
77 gordon d. fee, The First and Second Letters to the Thessalonians (niCnT; grand rap-
ids: eerdmans, 2009), 341. weima argues that this is at best an addition to the function of
the autograph expressing the authority of the letter (Neglected Endings, 126–27).
78 see weima, Neglected Endings, 78–87.
79 The blessing, promise of being restored/equipped, and ascription of praise in heb
13:20–21/1 pet 5:10–11; the reference to the epistle’s briefness and mention of a companion
in heb 13:22–23/1 pet 5:12; a final appeal to compliance to the epistle in heb 13:22/1 pet
5:12; the command to offer greetings and relay greetings from others (following a similar
pattern) in heb 13:24/1 pet 5:13–14a; a final benediction in heb 13:25/1 pet 5:14. see gareth
Cockerill, The Epistle to the Hebrews (niCnT; grand rapids: eerdmans, 2012), 710 n.1.