Short answer
The books do not say. Hebrews never names its writer. Origen, one of the most learned Christian scholars of the third century, thought the ideas were Paul's. Paul was a Christian missionary of the first century. But on who actually wrote Hebrews, Origen said only God (﷾) knows. The first letter of John names no one. The second and third letters are from someone who calls himself only "the elder". Revelation says its writer was called John. But Dionysius, a third-century bishop, judged from its style that this John was not John the disciple of Jesus. So Christians cannot show from these books which man wrote them. Islam weighs every such book by the Qur'an, which Allah (﷾) sent to confirm the scripture before it and to guard it (5:48).
Full explanation
Hebrews names no writer
Hebrews ends with greetings and news of Timothy, a helper of Paul. But the writer never gives his name. The title "of Paul" printed in older English Bibles is not part of the letter. Even the evangelical NIV Study Bible (a Bible with notes by conservative Christian scholars) states that the writer does not identify himself.
“And I beseech you, brethren, suffer the word of exhortation: for I have written a letter unto you in few words. Know ye that our brother Timothy is set at liberty; with whom, if he come shortly, I will see you. Salute all them that have the rule over you, and all the saints. They of Italy salute you.”
The evangelical NIV Study Bible's own introductions say that the writer of Hebrews does not identify himself; that 1 John, unlike most New Testament letters, does not name its author, whose earliest identification comes from the church fathers; and that although Revelation's author calls himself John four times, the third-century bishop Dionysius concluded from its language, style and thought that the apostle John could not have written it.
Origen: "God knows"
Origen weighed the question in the third century. His own opinion was that the thoughts were Paul's but the wording was someone else's. On who actually wrote it, his verdict was that God (﷾) knows. His words survive in the Church History of Eusebius, a Christian historian of the fourth century. Some before Origen had named Clement of Rome, and others Luke. The letter itself gives no name to settle it, and none has been found since.
“But who wrote the epistle, in truth, God knows.”
Origen says that if he gave his own opinion, the thoughts of Hebrews are the apostle Paul's, but the wording and style belong to someone else who remembered Paul's teaching and wrote it down later. He adds that some before him said Clement, bishop of Rome, wrote it, and others that Luke did.
The letters of John
The first letter opens with "that which was from the beginning". It never names its writer. The NIV Study Bible grants that the earliest identification of him comes from the church fathers (early Christian teachers). The second and third letters come from "the elder" and give no other name.
“That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked upon, and our hands have handled, of the Word of life;”
“The elder unto the elect lady and her children, whom I love in the truth; and not I only, but also all they that have known the truth;”
“The elder unto the wellbeloved Gaius, whom I love in the truth.”
The evangelical NIV Study Bible's own introductions say that the writer of Hebrews does not identify himself; that 1 John, unlike most New Testament letters, does not name its author, whose earliest identification comes from the church fathers; and that although Revelation's author calls himself John four times, the third-century bishop Dionysius concluded from its language, style and thought that the apostle John could not have written it.
Revelation and Dionysius
Revelation names its writer John several times. Dionysius, bishop of Alexandria in the third century, accepted that a man called John wrote it. But he could not accept that this John was John the disciple of Jesus, the son of Zebedee. He judged by the ideas, the phrasing and the Greek. He found them foreign to the Gospel of John and the first letter of John. He concluded that who this John was "does not appear". He also records that some before him had rejected the book altogether.
“The Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave unto him, to shew unto his servants things which must shortly come to pass; and he sent and signified it by his angel unto his servant John:”
“I John, who also am your brother, and companion in tribulation, and in the kingdom and patience of Jesus Christ, was in the isle that is called Patmos, for the word of God, and for the testimony of Jesus Christ.”
“And I John saw these things, and heard them. And when I had heard and seen, I fell down to worship before the feet of the angel which shewed me these things. Then saith he unto me, See thou do it not: for I am thy fellowservant, and of thy brethren the prophets, and of them which keep the sayings of this book: worship God.”
“Therefore that he was called John, and that this book is the work of one John, I do not deny. And I agree also that it is the work of a holy and inspired man. But I cannot readily admit that he was the apostle, the son of Zebedee, the brother of James, by whom the Gospel of John and the Catholic Epistle were written.”
“But that he who wrote these things was called John must be believed, as he says it; but who he was does not appear. For he did not say, as often in the Gospel, that he was the beloved disciple of the Lord, or the one who lay on his breast, or the brother of James, or the eyewitness and hearer of the Lord.”
Dionysius, bishop of Alexandria in the mid-third century, compares Revelation with the Gospel and First Letter of John. He finds the Gospel and the letter alike in ideas and phrasing, and Revelation foreign to both, with almost nothing in common. The Gospel and letter are written in correct, elegant Greek; Revelation's Greek is not accurate, with barbarous idioms and in places errors of grammar. He also reports that some before him had rejected Revelation altogether, saying it was not John's work and that the heretic Cerinthus had put the name on it.
| Book | Does it name its writer? | What the record shows |
|---|---|---|
| Hebrews | No. The title “of Paul” in older English Bibles is not part of the letter. | Origen, a learned Christian of the third century, thought the ideas were Paul's, but said only God (﷾) knows who wrote it. |
| 1 John | No. | The NIV Study Bible grants that the earliest naming of its writer comes from the church fathers, not from the letter. |
| 2 and 3 John | Only “the elder”. | No other name is given. |
| Revelation | Yes: a man called John. | Dionysius, a bishop of Alexandria in the third century, judged from its ideas and its Greek that this John was not John the disciple of Jesus. |
The books themselves do not say which man wrote them.
How Islam weighs these books
Islam does not count these books as the Injil, the revelation Allah (﷾) gave to Jesus (5:46). Whoever wrote them, Islam weighs what they say by the Qur'an. Allah (﷾) sent it to confirm the scripture before it and to guard it (5:48).
“And in their footsteps We sent Jesus the son of Mary, confirming the Law that had come before him: We sent him the Gospel: therein was guidance and light, and confirmation of the Law that had come before him: a guidance and an admonition to those who fear Allah.”
“To thee We sent the Scripture in truth, confirming the scripture that came before it, and guarding it in safety: so judge between them by what Allah hath revealed, and follow not their vain desires, diverging from the Truth that hath come to thee. To each among you have we prescribed a law and an open way. If Allah had so willed, He would have made you a single people, but (His plan is) to test you in what He hath given you: so strive as in a race in all virtues. The goal of you all is to Allah; it is He that will show you the truth of the matters in which ye dispute;”
The Christian replies, and the answer
Revelation 1:9 — Revelation of John, chapter 1, verse 9
“I John, who also am your brother, and companion in tribulation, and in the kingdom and patience of Jesus Christ, was in the isle that is called Patmos, for the word of God, and for the testimony of Jesus Christ.”
Cited for
Christians say the writer calls himself John, and the natural John for the churches of Asia to know was John the disciple of Jesus.
The response
The book gives the name John and no more. It never says he was the disciple of Jesus, the beloved disciple, the brother of James or an eyewitness of the Lord. Dionysius read the book with care and accepted it. He noted this and concluded that who this John was does not appear.
Where it lands — The text gives a first name only. A third-century bishop who accepted the book still could not make its writer John the disciple.
1 John 1:1 — First Epistle of John, chapter 1, verse 1
“That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked upon, and our hands have handled, of the Word of life;”
Cited for
Christians read "which we have seen with our eyes" as John the disciple speaking as an eyewitness.
The response
The letter itself names no one. The NIV Study Bible grants that the first identification of its writer comes from the church fathers, not from the letter. The letter does not say who "we" are.
Where it lands — The letter's own words do not say who wrote it.
Perspectives
Traditional Christian
Church tradition assigns the three letters of John and Revelation to John, the disciple of Jesus. Many in the early church held that Paul wrote Hebrews, and older English Bibles print it under his name. Whoever the human writers were, the church received these books as inspired.
Revelation's author names himself John four times, and tradition identifies him with John, the disciple of Jesus.
Rebuttal
Grant that the writer calls himself John. The book never says he was the disciple of Jesus, the beloved disciple or an eyewitness of the Lord. Dionysius, who accepted the book, noted this. He concluded that who this John was "does not appear".
The first letter of John claims an eyewitness's knowledge: what "we have seen with our eyes".
Rebuttal
Grant that the letter speaks as people who saw and heard. It does not say who "we" are. The NIV Study Bible grants that the earliest identification of its writer comes from the church fathers, not from the letter.
The Islamic perspective
These books give no name, or only a first name or a title. They do not say which man wrote them. Even evangelical study notes say so.
Hebrews does not name its writer. Origen thought its ideas were Paul's, but said only God (﷾) knows who actually wrote it.
1 John names no writer, and 2 and 3 John name only "the elder".
Dionysius of Alexandria judged Revelation by its ideas, phrasing and Greek. He concluded that John, the disciple of Jesus, did not write it.
Even evangelical study notes concede that Hebrews and 1 John do not name their writers.
Islam weighs earlier writings by the Qur'an. Allah (﷾) sent it to confirm the scripture before it and to guard it.