Page 10 - Advanced Genesis - Creationism - Student Textbook

Study Section 2: Who wrote Genesis?

2.1 Connect

Moses is often thought to be the author of Genesis. Moses lived around 1550 BC or perhaps
around 2,500 to 3,000 years AFTER the events described in the book of Genesis. How is it
possible that someone could write a book about events 3000 years after the events
occurred? Where did Moses get all his information? Let’s see if we can figure this question
out….

2.2 Objectives

1. The student should be able to propose the three main suggestions for who authored the book
of Genesis.

2. The student should be able to list all the various “origins” found in the Book of Genesis.

3. The student should be able to show how other Old Testament and New Testament books validate the
authenticity of the book of Genesis.

2.3 Who wrote Genesis?

The book of Genesis, like all other books of the Bible was written by
men of God that were moved by the Holy Spirit (2Peter 1:21).
The question is exactly who were these “holy men”?

There are three main suggestions about who wrote Genesis:

1. Various writers after Moses
Most so-called liberal theologians and commentators, along with a few
conservatives, have followed a theory that a number of unknown writers and
editors, during the period of Israel’s history from about the time of King Hezekiah to that of Ezra the
scribe, compiled and edited several old legends and traditions. They then were verbally transmitted not
only by their own Israeli ancestors but also by the Egyptians, Babylonians an others into the book of
Genesis. Presumably, then they circulated the idea that these stories came from Moses in order to
attach them to the great law giver. This is called the “Documentary Hypothesis” and has been applied to
not only Genesis but also to the other books of the Pentateuch and to Joshua, also, to a lesser degree to
other books of the Old Testament. It is also called the J, E, D, P Hypothesis. Each letter stands for a
different period. J stands for “Jehovist Document” and they supposedly were written 850 BC. They are
marked by the use of the divine name Jehovah. The E stands for the “Elohist Document” dating 750 BC.
It is marked with the use of the divine name Elohim. The D stands for “Deuteronomist Document” and it
was supposed to be a further editorial on the first 2 and was written about 620 BC. The P stands for
“Priestly Documents” representing an editorial revision by a group of Jewish priests around 500 BC.

Those that hold this peculiar notion attempt to justify it by supposed peculiarities of language and style,
references to customs and cultures and other internal evidences which seem to suggest to them this
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