Were there different authors of the books of the Bible? Who were the authors?

what does the bible say?

As a divine document, the words and message of the Bible ultimately come from God. Second Timothy 3:16 teaches that the Bible is God-breathed. Second Peter 1:20-21 adds that the prophets were moved by the Holy Spirit as they spoke (and wrote) from God. God directed the human authors of the Bible, using their own writing styles and personalities to produce His words. The human authors include approximately forty writers of diverse backgrounds and locations over the course of fifteen hundred years. Isaiah was a prophet, Ezra was a priest, Matthew was a tax collector, John was a fisherman, Moses was a shepherd, and Luke was a physician. Despite such variety, the Bible teaches consistently and without contradiction on a wide range of issues. The authors each present different perspectives, yet they all proclaim the same God and the same singular path of salvation—Jesus Christ (John 3:16; 14:6; Acts 4:12). Some books of the Bible specify their author by name. Below is a list of each book followed by the name of its author and the approximate date of its writing.

from the old testament

• David proclaimed in the Psalms, “Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.” God’s word has always guided those who follow Him.

from the new testament

• The apostle Paul wrote of the Bible’s divine inspiration: “All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness,” (2 Timothy 3:16).
• Peter noted the Holy Spirit as the source of Scripture: “For no prophecy was ever produced by the will of man, but men spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit” (2 Peter 1:21).

implications for today

Some authors are auto-buys for readers. Readers like their writing style, and trust them enough to buy their work, perhaps without even skimming the description. The Bible should be an auto-buy for everyone as its Author is One in Whom we can put complete trust. No other collection of books could cover such a wide span of history, be penned by so many authors from different times and cultures, yet still have a coherent message: Christ is the Solution to humankind’s sin problem. That in itself is miraculous. Though the list below shows who penned the various books of Scripture, the real answer to “Who wrote the Bible” can be expressed in one word: God. Old Testament Authors Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, Deuteronomy = Moses – 1440-1400 B.C. Joshua = Joshua - 1350 B.C. Judges, Ruth, 1 Samuel, 2 Samuel = Samuel/Nathan/Gad - 1000 - 900 B.C. 1 Kings, 2 Kings = Jeremiah - 600 B.C. 1 Chronicles, 2 Chronicles, Ezra, Nehemiah = Ezra - 450 B.C. Esther = Mordecai - 400 B.C. Job = Moses? - 1400 B.C. (author and date uncertain) Psalms = several different authors, approximately half by David around 1000 B.C. (the earliest psalm is from Moses around 1400 B.C.; the latest around 400 B.C.) Proverbs, Ecclesiastes, Song of Solomon = Solomon - 900 B.C. Isaiah = Isaiah - 700 B.C. Jeremiah, Lamentations = Jeremiah - 600 B.C. Ezekiel = Ezekiel - 550 B.C. Daniel = Daniel - 550 B.C. Hosea = Hosea - 750 B.C. Joel = Joel - 850 B.C. Amos = Amos - 750 B.C. Obadiah = Obadiah - 600 B.C. Jonah = Jonah - 700 B.C. Micah = Micah - 700 B.C. Nahum = Nahum - 650 B.C. Habakkuk = Habakkuk - 600 B.C. Zephaniah = Zephaniah - 650 B.C. Haggai = Haggai - 520 B.C. Zechariah = Zechariah - 500 B.C. Malachi = Malachi - 430 B.C. New Testament Authors Matthew = Matthew - A.D. 55-70 Mark = John Mark - A.D. 50-65 Luke = Luke - A.D. 60-65 John = John - A.D. 90 Acts = Luke - A.D. 60-65 Romans, 1 Corinthians, 2 Corinthians, Galatians, Ephesians, Philippians, Colossians, 1 Thessalonians, 2 Thessalonians, 1 Timothy, 2 Timothy, Titus, Philemon = Paul - A.D. 50-67 Hebrews = unknown; most likely Paul; possibly Luke, Barnabas, or Apollos - AD 65 James = James - A.D. 45-50 1 Peter, 2 Peter = Peter - A.D. 60s 1 John, 2 John, 3 John = John - A.D. 90 (some suggest a pre-A.D. 70 date) Jude = Jude - A.D. 60 Revelation = John - A.D. 90-96 (some suggest a date prior to A.D. 70)

Recap

understand

• God used forty writers of diverse backgrounds and locations to pen His words in Scripture.
• The writing of the Bible spanned more than fifteen hundred years.
• The Bible has one real author: God.

reflect

• What evidence for Divine authorship of Scripture do you find most compelling?
• How does God’s preservation of each writer’s style in Scripture help you to better underst and the role believers can play in carrying out God’s will?
• How does Scripture inform your everyday walk with Christ?

engage

• How can we engage others who say that the Bible is not inerrant because it was “written by men”?
• How can we use the Bible’s overall coherence as a starting point for a conversation about Divine authorship?
• How can showing the Bible is God’s inspired word answer modern-day objections about controversial scriptural teachings?