The Greek Subscriptions to Hebrews and the Position of the Letter in the Corpus Paulinum

Abstract This study analyzes the paratextual features of the Letter to the Hebrews in 631 Greek manuscripts, with particular focus on scribal subscriptions and the letter's position within the Pauline corpus. The data reveals a diverse and evolving tradition: subscriptions range from simple labels to elaborate attributions including geographical origin, letter carriers, and explicit claims of Pauline authorship. Hebrews appears in several positions—after Romans, after 2 Thessalonians, and at the end of the Pauline letters—reflecting varied canonical perceptions. Although no consistent correlation can be identified between a manuscript's subscription and its placement of Hebrews, the development of these features reveals important shifts in how the letter was received and contextualized. The manuscript evidence challenges theories that Hebrews was a later addition to a thirteen-letter collection and instead supports its longstanding inclusion in the Pauline tradition. The study highlights the significance of paratexts for understanding the reception, transmission, and canonical shaping of New Testament texts.