The author is anonymous, although the internal reference to "our brother Timothy" (Hebrews 13:23) causes a traditional attribution to Paul, but this attribution has been disputed since the second century and there is no decisive evidence for the authorship.

[3][4] The original text was written in Koine Greek.

Some early manuscripts containing the text of this chapter are: This paragraph, the first of several warning passages, gives the direct practical consequences of the previous chapter, which can be a positive encouragement (pay more careful attention to what we have heard or a negative attitude (drift away) as stated in verse 1.

[8] The writer and readers were not part of the first generation of Christians when the gospel of salvation was first announced by the Lord (that is, Jesus Christ) and was confirmed by those who heard him (Hebrews 2:3), but they certainly received it from those who had obtained it from Jesus with the affirmation from God by signs, wonders and various miracles, and gifts of the Holy Spirit distributed according to his will (Hebrews 2:4).

[8] The text centers on Psalm 8:4–6 in connection to the catena or 'chains' of the scriptures in the first chapter.