OneYearBibleOnline Discussion

Hello OYB members,

I have heard that there are many different views of how our Old Testament was written and assembled. Tradition holds that Moses was responsible for the bulk of the material in the first five books called the Pentateuch and after he died it was completed by others. Some think it began as legends and myths, which were passed down orally throughout the generations. Others think Ezra wrote most of it after the exile. And still others are convinced it was written early in its history and simply added to and edited by the people of Israel.

I tend to lean toward Moses being the primary author or at least most of the content of them since we have so many references by Jesus to this fact.. I think this is the most important reason to take traditional Mosaic authorship issues seriously. The historical trustworthiness of the Pentateuch is taught clearly by our Lord. Consider these 'controversial' events as referred to by Jesus:

Matthew 19:4-5 (both creation accounts in Gen 1 and 2)
Luke 17.26f (the Noahic flood)
Luke 17.28 (destruction of Sodom)
Mt 12.40 (Jonah and the big fish)
Mt 4.16 with 12.17 ("Both" Isaiahs)
Lk 20.37 (the burning bush)
Jn 6.32 (Manna in the wilderness)
Jn 3.14 (the bronze serpent)

And then consider these statements of His about Mosaic origination/recording of specific passages:

Matt. 8:4 priest and offer the gift Moses commanded, as a testimony
Matt. 19:8 Jesus replied, "Moses permitted you to divorce your
Mark 1:44 and offer the sacrifices that Moses commanded for your cleansing,
Mark 7:10 For Moses said, 'Honor your father and your mother
Mark 10:3 What did Moses command you?" he replied.
Mark 10:5 your hearts were hard that Moses wrote you this law,"
Mark 12:26 read in the book of Moses, in the account of
Luke 5:14 and offer the sacrifices that Moses commanded for your cleansing,
Luke 20:37 of the bush, even Moses showed that the dead rise
John 3:14 Just as Moses lifted up the snake in the desert,
John 7:19 Has not Moses given you the law? Yet not one
John 7:23 so that the law of Moses may not be broken.

That’s my two cents. Does anyone else have any thoughts on this topic? Thank you for your contribution in advance.

Your servant in Christ,

Lance Muller

I agree! Moses is most likely the Author of the Pentateuch.

I beleive that it was moses too. Although I was curious when reading Genesis 4 how he would know the exact genealogies?

Would they really be that accurate if they were passedon orally?