The ongoing debate about who and when wrote the books of the Bible
The composition of the Bible is a complex process that spans centuries, with multiple authors contributing to its contents. Here’s a brief overview of traditional and modern scholarly views:
The Old Testament or Hebrew Bible: Traditionally, specific individuals were believed to have authored certain books of the Old Testament. For instance, Moses was thought to have written the first five books, known as the Torah or Pentateuch. However, modern scholarship suggests a more complex process.
The Documentary Hypothesis is one of the prevailing theories concerning the Torah’s authorship. It posits that the Torah is a compilation of four main sources: the Jahwist (J), Elohist (E), Deuteronomist (D), and Priestly (P) sources, each with its unique style, perspective, and historical context. These were likely compiled around the 5th-6th centuries BCE, though the sources themselves may be older.
The rest of the Old Testament books (Historical Books, Wisdom Books, Major and Minor Prophets) have varying traditional attributions and scholarly theories. Some, like many of the Psalms, are considered to be collections from multiple authors across many years.