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1. Who wrote the Bible (and When)?
Old Testament
The following books of the Bible are of unknown authorship:
Genesis
Exodus
Leviticus
Numbers
Deuteronomy
These books are traditionally assumed to have been written by Moses, though his
authorship is not claimed internally. Since Deuteronomy records the death of
Moses, it seems unlikely that he wrote it; certainly he didn't write the part
that describes his death. Though some scholars would claim a composite
authorship for these books starting around 950 BC with them reaching their
final form during the time of Ezra around 500 BC, I would take a more
conservative position and argue for a unitary authorship within fifty years of
the Exodus (which would date from either around 1290 BC or 1440 BC; that is
another whole area of controversy), with much of the material coming from Moses
himself (not excluding some obvious editorial activity over the years; notice,
for example, Deuternomy 2:10-12).
Joshua
Traditionally, many have claimed Joshua as the author of the book. But
considering that the book describes Joshua's death at the end, and includes in
the middle (specifically Joshua 15:13-19; cf. Judges 1:1, 9-15) an incident the
occured after Joshua's death, it seems impossible that Joshua is the author. On
the other hand, the reference to "we" and "us" in Joshua
5:1 and 5:6 perhaps suggests an eyewitness to the events was the author of the
book. The book would thus date to either the 15th or 13th century BC,
depending, again, upon exactly when the Exodus from Egypt occured.
Judges (c. 10th century BC)
Ruth (c. 10th century BC)
1-2 Samuel (8th-6th century BC)
1-2 Kings (6th-5th century BC)
1-2 Chronicles (400 BC would be the earliest possible date for composition)
Esther (5th century BC)
Job (c. 10th century BC at the earliest)
Lamentations
Traditionally the book has been ascribed to Jeremiah the prophet. There is,
however, no statement in the book itself suggesting who the author might be,
other than that he (or she) is obviously an eyewitness to the destruction of
Jerusalem by the Babylonians (c. 586 BC).
Books with known authorship (either in part or in whole)
Psalms
A conglomerate written by many people. The authorship of individual psalms, as
attributed by their titles, breaks down as follows (of the 150 psalms, 116 are
provided with a title):
Moses - Psalm 90
Heman the Ezrahite - Psalm 88
Ethan the Ezrahite - Psalm 89
Solomon - Psalm 72, 127
David (73 times) - Psalms 3-9, 11-32, 34-41, 51-65, 68-70, 86, 103, 108-110,
122, 124, 131, 133, 138-145
Asaph (12 times) - Psalms 50, 73-83
Sons of Korah (9 times) Psalm 42, 44-45, 47-49, 84-85, 87
Author unknown - (49 times) the remainder
The Septuagint (an early Greek translation of the Hebrew Bible from around 200
BC) gives some additional authorship identification, as follows:
Jeremiah - Psalm 137
Haggai and Zechariah - Psalms 146-147
Ezra - Psalm 119
Hezekiah (15 times) Psalms 120-134
Though the titles prefaced to the Psalms clearly date back before 200 BC (since
they appear in the Septuagint, along with the extras that translation gives),
how authoratative they are is subject to much debate.
The psalms, based on the authorship attributions, would then date between the
15th century (or 13th, depending on the time of the Exodus) and the 5th
century, by which time the book probably took the form it currently has.
Proverbs
Again, the book is a composite, so far as authorship is concerned.
1:1-24:22 is attributed to Solomon (thus dating to the 900's BC)
24:23-34 are attributed to "the wise"
25:1-29:27 are attributed to Solomon, but were collected and recorded by
"Hezekiah's men".
30:1-33 is attributed to Agur
31:1-31 is attributed to Lemuel
Ecclesiastes
The book is attributed to Solomon by some. If that is the case, the book dates
to the 900's BC. Others would argue for an unknown author, and put the date of
composition around 390 BC.
Ezra-Nehemiah
They are treated as a single book in the Talmud, Josephus, and the Canon of
Melito (AD 171). They are also treated as a single book in the Masoretic Text
(traditional Hebrew Bible).
The author of the book of Ezra-Nehemiah is unknown, though Ezra 7-9 apparently
were written by Ezra, since they are in the first person. The account in
chapters 1-6 is compiled from records, including decrees (1:2-4; 6:3-12),
genealogies and name lists (2), and letters (4:7-22; 5:6-17). There are two
sections that have been preserve in Aramaic (4:8-6:18 and 7:12-26). Aramaic was
the diplomatic language during this period. Sources for the section labled
"Nehemiah" in our text include what appear to be memoirs of Nehemiah,
written in the first person: Nehemiah 1:1-7:73a; 11:1-2; 12:31-43: 13:4-31.
The date of the final composition of the book is generally accepted as being
sometime during the 4th century BC.
Song of Songs
The book is attributed to Solomon, which would place its date of composition in
the 900's BC.
Isaiah
It is attributed to Isaiah; it consists several oracles given by him over
several years (740-690 BC). Its final form as we have it (assuming a single,
unitary authorship to the book) would thus be sometime during the 7th century
BC.
Jeremiah
It is attributed to Jeremiah, who lived from about 627 to 580 BC.
Ezekiel
It is attributed to Ezekiel, who was born around 622 BC. Based on internal
dating, the book covers the time from about 593 through about 570 BC.
Daniel
It is attributed to Daniel, and thus would have been written sometime between
605 BC and about 530 BC.
Hosea
Attributed to Hosea. His prophesies cover the period from 753-715 BC.
Joel
Attributed to Joel. The date of the book is uncertain, with dates ranging from
the early pre-exilic (800's BC) to late post-exilic period (500-400 BC).
Amos
Attributed to Amos. Dates between 767 and 753 BC.
Obadiah
Attributed to Obadiah. Dates between 847 and 841 BC.
Jonah
Attributed to Jonah. Dates to the 700's BC.
Micah
Attributed to Micah. Dates between 740 and 695 BC.
Nahum
Attributed to Nahum. Two different dates are generally accepted as
possibilities for Nahum's ministry: 661-612 BC or 722-701 BC.
Habakkuk
Attributed to Habakkuk. Dates to sometime between 612 and 587 BC.
Zephaniah
Attributed to Zephaniah. Dates sometime during the reign of Josiah (640-609 BC)
Haggai
Attributed to Haggai. It is possible to date his prophesies very exactly (since
he gave us the precise day he uttered his prophesies):
1:1 August 29, 520 BC
1:15 September 21, 520 BC
2:19-20 December 18, 520 BC
Zechariah
Chapters 1-8 are attributed to Zechariah and can be dated precisely.
1:1 October, 520 BC
1:7 February 15, 519 BC
7:1 December 7, 518 BC
Chapters 9-14 were not written by Zechariah and cannot be easily dated. That
they were not written by Zechariah is clear from both internal and external
evidence.
9-11 were written by Jeremiah, according to Matthew 27:9-10, which quotes
Zecharaiah 11:12-13 and attributes it to Jeremiah. The date would then be
sometime between 627 and 580 BC
Chapters 12-14 are titled "an oracle" and are attributed to no one.
Malachi
Based on Mark 1:2-3, the book called "Malachi" was apparently
actually written by Isaiah, since there the author of Mark quotes from
"Malachi" but attributes it to Isaiah. The title "Malachi",
taken from 1:1 is simply the Hebrew phrase "my messenger", and the
word is so translated in 3:1.
The date of the book would then be sometime between 740 and 690 BC.
New Testament
Matthew
Attributed to Matthew. Probably written sometime between AD 55 and 75.
Mark
Attributed to John Mark. Probably written before AD 70, and before the books of
Matthew or Luke were composed.
Luke
Attributed to Luke. Since the book of Acts (also attributed to Luke) was
written afterward, and since Acts was apparently written before Paul's
execution during the reign of Nero, the book of Luke is apparently relatively
early, perhaps before AD 60.
John
Attributed to John. Probably composed between AD 85 and 90, though some
scholars have suggested dates as early as AD 45 and as late as AD 110.
Acts
Attributed to Luke. Probably composed around AD 64 (Paul's imprisonment in Rome
was from AD 61-63).
Romans
Attributed to Paul. Written AD 56 or 57.
1 Corinthians
Attributed to Paul. Written AD 55.
2 Corinthians
Attributed to Paul. Written AD 56.
Galatians
Attributed to Paul. Written AD 52
Ephesians
Attributed to Paul. Written AD 63.
Philippians
Attributed to Paul. Written between AD 59 and AD 61.
Colossians
Attributed to Paul. Written AD 62.
1 Thessalonians
Attributed to Paul. Written AD 50.
2 Thessalonians
Attributed to Paul. Written AD 50.
1 Timothy
Attributed to Paul. Written between AD 62 and AD 67.
2 Timothy
Attributed to Paul. Written between AD 62 and AD 67.
Titus
Attributed to Paul. Written AD 63.
Philemon
Attributed to Paul. Written between AD 56 and AD 62.
Hebrews
Traditionally Paul has been given credit for the book, though there is nothing
in the book to suggest that he is the author; and from the standpoint of the
style and structure of the book Pauline authorship is so unlikely as to be
excluded as even reasonably possible. Written between AD 66 and AD 70
(certainly written before the destruction of Jerusalem AD 70).
James
Attributed to James. Written between AD 45 and AD 50.
1 Peter
Attributed to Peter. Written between AD 62 and AD 64.
2 Peter
Attributed to Peter. Written between AD 64 and AD 68.
1 John
Attributed to John. Written between AD 85 and AD 90.
2 John
Attributed to John. Written AD 90.
3 John
Attributed to John. Written AD 90.
Jude
Attributed to Jude. Written between AD 60 and AD 65.
Revelation
Attributed to John. Written between AD 54 and AD 68 or between AD 81 and AD 96.