The authorship of the Book of Genesis has been debated over the course of many years. There are two main theories as to who wrote the Book of Genesis. The most popular and accepted view of who wrote Genesis is Moses. The second theory is the JEDP theory.
Whether a person believes Moses wrote Genesis or chooses to adhere to the JEDP theory is ultimately up to them. However, how a person views the authorship of Genesis can impact their view of not only the Book of Genesis but also the entire Pentateuch and the entire Bible.
The JEDP Theory
The original JEDP Theory is the theory that states there are multiple authors of the Pentateuch, consisting of and broken down between the J(ahwist), E(lohist), P(riestly Code), and D(euteronomist).
The conclusion of liberal scholars view that the J(ahwist) documents are the verses written by authors who preferred the Hebrew name Jahweh (Jehovah) to be used in reference to God. Most liberal scholars believe the J(ahwist) part of the JEDP Theory was written somewhere between 900-850 B.C.
The E stands for the name of Elohim, which is another name for God. This part is supposed to have been written in 750-700 B.C.
The D is for Deuteronomist, in which the scholars view that a completely different group of authors wrote this part around the time of King Josiah's reforms, which would have been in 621 B.C. P stands for the priests who would have written Leviticus as well as other sections during the time after 586 B.C.
This theory ultimately rejects the entirety of the authorship of the Pentateuch by Moses and instead states that there were multiple different authors of the Pentateuch. This theory arose due to the fact that there are different names used for God throughout the Pentateuch.
Thus, advocates of this view claim there are four different authors or groups of authors who wrote the Pentateuch, including the Book of Genesis, therefore, claiming Moses could not be the sole writer of the Pentateuch or Genesis.
The view evolved and developed over time by Ibn Ezra, Benedict Spinoza, Jean Astruc, Johann Eichhorn, Johann Vater, Wilhelm De Wette, as well as Dr. Julius Wellhausen, among others. Dr. Julius Wellhausen is the most accredited with this theory, though he did not originally create it.
He saw the JEDP Theory through an evolutionary lens and rejected the historicity of the patriarchs. This can cause us to question how much weight and accuracy we place behind the JEDP Theory.
The JEDP theory’s value and lack of value to dispensationalists is two-fold. The value of this theory is that it can help us become more ready to show proof of the authorship of the Pentateuch to be solely by Moses and not by multiple authors.
The JEDP theory’s lack of value to dispensationalists is that it can impair a person’s understanding and knowledge of the scriptures. If you doubt the authorship of the Pentateuch to be Moses, then it could lead you to question other facts of the scriptures.
The Importance of Moses’ Authorship
One may start with doubting the authorship of Moses and end with denying the entire canon because you have rejected the literal, dispensational approach and have instead accepted a liberal allegorical approach, in which you deny the resurrection of Christ.
Furthermore, this theory has too many holes in it, as even scholars cannot confirm this theory to be correct.
The JEDP theory attacks the teleology of the person and work of Jesus Christ as well as the unity of the Pentateuch because to deny the authorship of Moses for the entire Pentateuch is to call into question Christ’s affirmation of the authorship of Moses in John 5:46-47,
“If you believed Moses, you would believe me, for he wrote about me. But since you do not believe what he wrote, how are you going to believe what I say?”
Jesus affirms the authorship of Moses here. This could lead to the belief that Christ was not impeccable and draw ultimately to the conclusion that Christ did sin, in which then, Christ would not be able to have saved us from our sins.
This would entail that there has not been the finished work of the cross, and we would all still be dead in our sins. As Paul states, “And if Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile; you are still in your sins” (1 Corinthians 15:17).
There are multiple reasons in addition to Jesus’ statement to prove the true authorship of the Pentateuch to be Moses, including that the scriptures themselves state that Moses is the author of the Pentateuch as in Exodus 17:14; 24:4; 34:27, Numbers 33:1–2, and Deuteronomy 31:9–11. It should also be noted that Moses was the patriarchal leader of God’s people, so he had the responsibility to document everything.
Also, a clear argument is that the Jewish audience of Jesus’ day knew that Moses was the author of the Pentateuch, as the first five books of the Bible were known as the Law of Moses. This clarifies that Moses had written all books of the Pentateuch, including Genesis.
Why Does This Matter?
The conclusion on the matter is that the JEDP theory is a false theory developed by scholars who were atheistic in their thinking and tried to claim that Moses was not the sole author of the Pentateuch.
The truth of the matter is that Moses is the sole writer of the Pentateuch. The only part of the Pentateuch that Moses wouldn't have written was the writing about his death in Deuteronomy. This part would have been written by his successor, Joshua.
Therefore, Moses is the sole writer of Genesis as well as the remainder of the Pentateuch. Jesus confirms it, as well as many biblical scholars have found this to be true through historical research.
It is important to remember that Moses did not write the Book of Genesis all on his own, but rather, he wrote as the Holy Spirit guided him. He recorded the events of the Pentateuch as well as he was carried along by the Holy Spirit.
Ultimately, we can see how God is the main writer of Genesis and the rest of the Bible; however, God led Moses through the Holy Spirit to record the events and to write down the message of Genesis for all people to know.
As evident in Genesis, Moses wouldn't have been around during the times of Adam and Eve. God would have told Moses about these events, and Moses would have recorded them as God instructed.
It is always inspiring to look behind the authorship of the books of the Bible and to have a glimpse at who wrote each book. In the case of Genesis, Moses is the author.
While there are many theories opposing this idea, including the JEDP Theory, we can know with certainty that Moses is the sole writer of Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, and Deuteronomy. The Holy Spirit inspired these books, and Moses wrote as he was instructed.
For further reading:
What Is the Meaning of Genesis 1 and Why Is it Popular?
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