Page 10 - Genesis: Book of Beginnings and Science Behind it

Chapter 2: Who wrote Genesis?

Connect…

Genesis does not open with a book's title page and a “written by” entry. Since Genesis describes the
beginning of time, only God was there to describe the events. However, 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….

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.

The Lesson ...

Who wrote Genesis?

Like all other books of the Bible, the book of Genesis was written by men of God
who were moved by the Holy Spirit (2 Peter 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 several 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 were then verbally transmitted by their
Israeli ancestors and the Egyptians, Babylonians, and others into the book of Genesis. Presumably, they
circulated the idea that these stories came from Moses to attach them to the great lawgiver. This is

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