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How have biblical scholars concluded that there were two sources for many of the stories that appear in Genesis?
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.
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
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.
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.
Who wrote the Biblical Creation stories?
Answer 1: MosesThe first book of Moses is called Genesis. Therefore, it's believed that Moses wrote Genesis, which contains the creation account.Answer 2: Historical AnalysisThe first biblical creation story, in Genesis 1:1-2:4a, is considered by biblical scholars to have been written by the 'P' (Priestly) source. The second biblical creation story, in Genesis 2:4bff, is considered by biblical scholars to have been written by the 'J' (Yahwist) source.Answer 3: Edited by Moses but Written EarlierIf you are referring to the creation accounts in the Bible there is really only one account contained in Genesis 1-2 and others in other parts of the Bible, although the Genesis account is the best known. The final editor of the Genesis account, probably Moses, used a common custom of his day by writing an account which focuses on the creation of the world and all that is in it in Genesis 1:1 to 2:4a and then an account which focuses on the creation of mankind in Genesis 2:4b and following.Since we know from other ancient sources that writing was known and used for centuries before even Abraham, (contrary to skeptical nineteenth century theories) then it is possible that Abraham, as has been suggested by scholars, was either the author or collector of these accounts, with Moses being the final editor.The archeological discovery of the Ebla Tablets is just another of many discoveries which make the skeptical JEDP theories of the nineteenth century seem rather unlikely. The Ebla Tablets, which contain a creation account with details very similar to Genesis, and which pre-date Abraham, may well indicate a common knowledge among the ancients of the real truth of the Genesis account. Although we do not know the author of these tablets, we do know that they also confirm the historicity of the biblical record in a number of other places, which suggests that the scenerio of likely biblical authors is more likely to be correct. Even archeologists who do not necessarily believe the Bible, when speaking about the Ebla Creation Tablet acknowledged that 'we'd better forget about JEDP' (my paraphrase.)Answer 4: Oral Tradition Prior to Writing DownRegardless of your faith, or lack thereof, it is safe to say that, long before any of the books in the Old Testament were written, they were passed down orally. So the person who composed the creation story and the person who put it to paper are two different people. But, something being written doesn't make it truer. An oral tradition can be true just as the written word can be false.That being said, the creation stories in the Old Testament are a mix of material created by the Hebrew people and the older creation stories of the cultures around them. They grew and changed with retelling and as people moved around they adopted some of the forms common in their area. They wouldn't even have known they were changing anything because they had no written copy. Historians believe that this explains some of the contradictory elements of the modern Bible.People who have faith in the perfect accuracy of the Bible do not believe that it is correct because it was written down right away by an eye witness. They believe it is correct because God would have guided the writer and ensured that errors would not be made in the written record.Another good thing to consider when reading the Bible is: who translated it? The various books of the Bible are written in many languages and have been translated from Hebrew to Greek to Latin to English and the meaning gets changed along the way. The preserve the most accuracy translating the Hebrew directly to English and having the translation done by someone who knows the culture it was written in. This would preserve common word use then that might not be how the word is used now. (An example in English. Corn used to mean anything small, like grains of salt or wheat. Now it means maize. Corned beef makes a lot more sense when you know that and you know it is cured with salt.) Get a few copies of different translations and read them, the differences can be surprising. (As a side note, the idea, that the hand of God ensures accuracy, also applies to translators.)
