And yet, it's very different at the same time. So, typically epistles start with the person who's writing them and then an address to whoever is receiving the epistle. The book of Hebrews doesn't start that way, and it seems, therefore, that it's probably less an epistle and more a homily, an extended sermon that's been put into a form that's going to reach this local congregation.
Dr. Stephen E. Witmer is Adjunct Professor of New Testament at Gordon- Conwell Theological Seminary and Lead Pastor of Pepperell Christian Fellowship in Pepperell, MA.