Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth, 2nd Timothy 2:15.
The Grace Bible Baptist Independent Church of Shinglehouse, PA is one of the truly great churches in our area. Their Pastor, Phil Seely, a relatively young man recently sent me the following study that he had done. Being in my late 60s and noting that so many of those who defend the integrity of our bible are of similar age or older, I rejoice to see these younger men who have learned to trust the words of their bible and who strive to teach their people accordingly.
The Token of Paul’s Epistles – Rendering a reason concerning the writer of the
book of Hebrews: rightly dividing the word of truth.
Early last week I was studying through Exodus chapter 12, and I came across a word that I knew the basic definition of but had never studied out. In verse 13, God uses the word “token” when referring to the blood that was to be placed upon the posts of the doors. The word token is used in its different forms 21 times in the King James Bible, and as I began searching through each of them, it became clear what God meant by a token. In its simplest form, it is a type of sign or evidence showing proof of something.
I began cataloging each usage in my mind and formulating how I would teach through this in our upcoming midweek service. All was going well until I came to the last reference; which is 2nd Thessalonians 3:17; The salutation of Paul with mine own hand, which is the token in every epistle: so I write. I no longer felt as confident as I had at the beginning of the study. This is one passage that I had not been given much clarity on, and so hesitated.
I have been told many things about the salutation of Paul with his own hand, but always from books, or men; never from God. And so my study shifted. I was now ready to settle into this until God taught me what the Apostle Paul meant by that.
Oddly enough, it didn’t take long. All I really had to do was read the entirety of verse 17. At the end of the verse, Paul tells us that his salutation is the token of every epistle that is written by him. And then like a good traffic cop, the colon after that statement told me that Paul was going to tell me what that token would be.
He says, “so I write.” Immediately after he tells you that he gives a sign in every epistle so that you can know it is from him, he says that he is going to write that token. 2 Thessalonians 3:17-18
17 The salutation of Paul with mine own hand, which is the token in every epistle: so I write.
18 The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen.
The token of Paul"s epistles is his salutation that the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all, or some form of that statement. As I began looking through each of his letters, I began seeing this at the close of each one. He writes that in every single one of his epistles.
Romans 16:24 The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen.
1st Corinthians 16:21-23
21 The salutation of me Paul with mine own hand.
22 If any man love not the Lord Jesus Christ, let him be Anathema Maranatha.
23 The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you.
2nd Corinthians 13:14
14 The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Ghost, be with you all. Amen.
Galatians 6:18 Brethren, the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit. Amen.
Ephesians 6:23-24
23 Peace be to the brethren, and love with faith, from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
24 Grace be with all them that love our Lord Jesus Christ in sincerity. Amen.
Philippians 4:23 The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen.
Colossians 4:18 The salutation by the hand of me Paul. Remember my bonds. Grace be with you. Amen.
1st Thessalonians 5:28 The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you. Amen.
2nd Thessalonians 3:17-18
17 The salutation of Paul with mine own hand, which is the token in every epistle: so I write.
18 The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen.
1st Timothy 6:20-21
20 O Timothy, keep that which is committed to thy trust, avoiding profane and vain babblings, and oppositions of science falsely so called:
21 Which some professing have erred concerning the faith. Grace be with thee. Amen.
2nd Timothy 4:22 The Lord Jesus Christ be with thy spirit. Grace be with you. Amen.
Titus 3:15 All that are with me salute thee. Greet them that love us in the faith. Grace be with you all. Amen.
Philemon 1:25 The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit. Amen.
As I got through the 13 epistles of Paul that bear his name, and came to the book of Hebrews, my King James Bible already had an answer to the question in the back of my mind. Did Paul write the book of Hebrews? For quite some time I have been convinced that he did, but if this statement was in the closing statements of the book, it would confirm without a doubt that the title recorded in my KJB was correct: “The Epistle of Paul the Apostle to the Hebrews”.
I turned to the last chapter and had my answer.
Hebrews 13:23-25
23 Know ye that our brother Timothy is set at liberty; with whom, if he come shortly, I will see you.
24 Salute all them that have the rule over you, and all the saints. They of Italy salute you.
25 Grace be with you all. Amen.
The human author of these letters is clearly seen by the token he said he would give. Because of this, we see that the writer of the Book of Hebrews is verily Paul. The King James Bible translators had this understanding, and so they entitled the book “The Epistle of Paul the Apostle to the Hebrews”. This then begs the question (for those who are not afraid to ask it), if the scripture itself bears witness to the author, where did the idea originate that it was not Paul?
Editor's Note: Brother Seely who owns one of the first Revised Versions of the Bible ever printed in America noted the following passage. It demonstrates that doubting the King James Bible includes doubting the headings.
Below is a passage from the Introduction of The Revised Version of the bible as printed in America:
