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They assumed that the fact that two different names for God are used (Elohim & Yahweh), that this is must mean that Genesis is the fusing together of two ancient Canaanite religious traditions. However, this is not the only possible explanation, these names are used contextually as well (Elohim in certain contexts, and Yahweh is usually used in others), so it is not necessarily proof of two different textual traditions. Many scholars are backing away from these source theories as they are now often viewed as simplistic. Most conservative scholars believe that the text is what it is and is a unified book, the more liberal scholars would say that it likely did come from many different sources and religious traditions, but it is impossible to know with certainty how all of this took place. Many still disagree with these ideas, but both sides are slowly beginning to come to an agreement that regardless of your views on the origins of the texts, the best course of action is to study and appreciate the texts as we have them.

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What are the famous sources used in the formation of Genesis in the Old Testament?

The consensus of biblical scholars is that principal 'sources' for the Pentateuch (Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers and Deuteronomy) were the anonymous sources now known as the Yahwist, or 'J' Source, the Elohist, or 'E' Source, the Deuteronomist, or 'D' Source, and the Priestly Source, or just 'P' Source.The earliest of these is believed to be the Yahwist, who lived in the southern kingdom of Judah around the ninth century BCE, although some recent scholars would date him much later. The latest of the four sources was the Priestly Source, who wrote during the Babylonian Exile.A number of Redactors expertly wove together their contributions to the Books of Genesis and Exodus so that even when a doublet exists, a modern reader is scarecely aware that two different traditions are being presented.


Who wrote the first chapters of the Bible?

Moses Although the text of Genesis makes no claim about authorship, the traditional Jewish, and later Christian, belief was that the five books of the Torah were dictated by God to Moses on Mount Sinai. For a number of reasons this is no longer accepted by the majority of modern biblical scholars, and contemporary academic debate centres instead on the proposal known as the documentary hypothesis. This postulates that Genesis, together with the other four books, is a composite work assembled from various sources. These sources are:[82]


What are the reasons for the differences between the birth stories Mark and Luke?

This is a matter of some debate among Biblical scholars. The best that we can say is that each author was recording what their sources told them (neither was present at the time).


Which author of the Bible wrote about Adam?

Another answer from our community:Though the actual 'author' of the Bible would be God himself, he used many 'writers'. The Biblical account of Adam is found at Genesis 1:26-5:5, and is generally attributed to Moses' as the writer of the first five books of the Hebrew Scriptures, called the 'Torah' or 'Law' (Pentateuch)(Romans 10:5 / Leviticus 18:5)(Joshua 1:7 + 8:32).Other 'writers' who wrote about Adam are Joshua, Job, Luke, Paul, Jude, and possibly Ezra (who is believed to have written Chronicles)


What discoveries in Mesopotamia prove that the Bible is an accurate historical book?

No discoveries in Mesopotamia prove that the Bible is an accurate historical book, otherwise modern scholars would have to regard it as such. Most modern scholars accept accounts in the Bible as historically true only so far as they are confirmed by extra-biblical sources. They see the Bible as true in parts, but not in total.


When was Genesis of the Bible written?

A:The Book of Genesis is traditionally thought to have been written by Moses during the Exodus from Egypt, in the period 1440 to 1400 BCE. Biblical scholars say that Genesis was actually written in stages by three major sources and at least two redactors. A large part of Genesis was written by an anonymous source now known as the Yahwist, writing around the ninth century BCE. The Yahwist represented the views of the southern kingdom of Judah. Further early material was written by the Elohist, writing in the northern kingdom of Israel prior to 722 BCE. A redactor subsequently combined these accounts, and where the accounts of the Yahwist and the Elohist overlapped, the redactor generally omitted the Elohist material. The Priestly Source wrote additional material in Genesis during the fifth century BCE. Probably in the fourth century BCE, a redactor finalised the Book of Genesis into more or less the form we know today.


What is the history of The Book of Genesis?

A:The Book of Genesis is commonly supposed to have been written just as we have it today, by Moses during the fifteenth-century-BCE Exodus from Egypt. In fact, scholars say the Book of Genesis has a long history, spanning many centuries in the first millennium BCE and was written by three main authors, largely based on oral myths and legends passed down by storytellers.The three main sources for Genesis were all anonymous but are now known to scholars as the 'J Source' or Yahwist, the 'E Source' or Elohist, and the 'P Source' or Priestly Source. J wrote around 900 BCE from the perspective of the southern Hebrew kingdom of Judah. E wrote more than a century later, from the perspective of the Israelites in the northern kingdom. Some time after 700 BCE, the two sources were combined by a redactor into a common source document known to scholars as 'JE'. This was amended and added to during the Babylonian Exile by P. Finally, a Redactor finished the work, producing the Book of Genesis more or less as we know it today.


What was the age of Leah when she married?

Leah, a biblical figure mentioned in the Book of Genesis, is traditionally believed to have married Jacob when she was around 14 to 16 years old. However, the exact age is not specified in the scriptures, and interpretations vary among different religious and scholarly sources.


What does JEPD MEAN?

JEPD refers to the Documentary Hypothesis, a scholarly theory regarding the authorship of the Torah (the first five books of the Bible). It posits that these texts were derived from four distinct sources: the Jahwist (J), the Elohist (E), the Deuteronomist (D), and the Priestly (P) sources. Each source reflects different historical contexts, theological perspectives, and literary styles, contributing to the complexity of the biblical narrative. This hypothesis has been influential in biblical studies but remains a topic of debate among scholars.


Whom was Moses writing for in Genesis?

Biblical tradition says that Moses wrote the Book of Genesis, presumably for the Israelites whom he led on the Exodus out of Egypt, although there are anachronisms that can only be explained by a later date of authorship.However, the strong consensus of biblical scholars is that there never was an Exodus out of Egypt as described in the Bible. Without the Exodus, there was no Moses and we have to ask who really wrote the Book of Genesis before we can say to whom it was written.Biblical scholars say Genesis was written over a period of centuries during the final millennium BCE, by three major sources, with some input by other sources. Each source had his own reasons for writing his contribution, and his own audience.Writing around the eighth or ninth century BCE, the anonymous source now known as the Elohist recorded traditions for the people of the northern kingdom of Israel. Writing around the same time, or a little earlier, the anonymous source now known as the Yahwist recorded traditions for the people of the southern kingdom of Judah. The two documents were redacted and combined into a single book shortly after the fall of the northern kingdom in 722 BCE. The Priestly author added to this document during the Babylonian Exile, to suit the theological and political needs of his own time. The Priestly source wrote for the Jews of the Exile and of post-Exilic Judah.For more information, please visit:http://christianity.answers.com/theology/moses-in-history-and-tradition


Where can one read Genesis 1 online?

One can read Genesis 1 online from a number of online sources. For example, Bible-specialized websites such as Bible Gateway offer Genesis 1 and more.


How can one differentiate between primary and secondary sources?

Primary sources are firsthand accounts or original documents from the time period being studied, while secondary sources are interpretations or analyses of primary sources by scholars or historians.