Italy mentioned in Hebrews....because of Peter?

[Fidelis]

From A Commentary on the New Testament, published by the Catholic Biblical Association in 1942, page 605:
24. The brethren from Italy: Christians living in Italy. Those who hold that the Epistle was not written in Italy interpret the brethren as the Italian companions of the author, who were sending their greetings.

[/INDENT]

To me, this seems the most common sense understanding of the passage. There is even one ancient manuscript of this book which places it’s place of composition as Athens. The Navarre Bible Commentary on Hebrews points this out, along with the fact that many Fathers and early commentators indicate that “this letter was was certainly written in Rome.” (p.197) It may be impossible to make a determination, especially from the verse in question.

 

[MarcoPolo]

From A Commentary on the New Testament, published by the Catholic Biblical Association in 1942, page 605:
24. The brethren from Italy: Christians living in Italy. Those who hold that the Epistle was not written in Italy interpret the brethren as the Italian companions of the author, who were sending their greetings.

From A Catholic Commentary on Holy Scripture, edited by Dom Bernard Orchard, published by Thomas Nelson & Sons in 1953, page 1171:
Those ‘from Italy’ are presumably in Italy, from where (probably Rome) the letter was written …

It seems that from the passage "Salute all your prelates, and all the saints. The brethren from Italy salute you." that the brethren from Italy are more likely the counterpart of “prelates and saints” whom the Hebrews author tells his audience to salute, and not just general Christians. It might even mean the Bishops AND Christians from Italy.

Interesting to hear the 2 theories though.