Most Bible scholars outside of the Evangelical ghetto believe the Pentateuch/Torah — the first five books of the Bible: Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, and Deuteronomy — was written by multiple authors over centuries. Many Evangelicals, on the other hand, believe Moses wrote the Pentateuch — an absurd claim if there ever was one. If you are unfamiliar with why this position is absurd, give the Wiki on the subject a read.
Thinking that Moses wrote the first five books of the Bible leads to all sorts of apologetic gymnastics and wild explanations for things in the text that make Mosaic authorship an impossibility. Is Moses authored the book of Deuteronomy, explain chapter 34, verses 4-8:
And the Lord said unto him, This is the land which I sware unto Abraham, unto Isaac, and unto Jacob, saying, I will give it unto thy seed: I have caused thee to see it with thine eyes, but thou shalt not go over thither. So Moses the servant of the Lord died there in the land of Moab, according to the word of the Lord. And he buried him in a valley in the land of Moab, over against Bethpeor: but no man knoweth of his sepulchre unto this day. And Moses was an hundred and twenty years old when he died: his eye was not dim, nor his natural force abated. And the children of Israel wept for Moses in the plains of Moab thirty days: so the days of weeping and mourning for Moses were ended.
If Moses wrote Deuteronomy, how is it possible he also wrote his obituary? Absurd, right? I know all the explanations Evangelicals give to explain how this is possible, but none of them seem plausible. No, it is far more likely that an unknown author tacked on his account of Moses’ death long after he died. Problem solved, but many Evangelicals can’t accept that explanation because Bible literalism forced them to accept that Moses wrote the Pentateuch and he somehow mentioned his demise before he died, centuries after his death.
Here’s another. Take Numbers 12:3:
(Now the man Moses was very meek, above all the men which were upon the face of the earth.)
If Moses wrote the Pentateuch, he sure had a high opinion of himself. the Bible has a lot to say about the sin of pride, does it not? No, it is far more likely that an unknown author added this description of the humble, meek Moses long after he was dead. Of course, if you are an Evangelical who believes in the transcription theory — God gave Moses the words to write, he was just a secretary — problem solved. Just remember, when facing an insurmountable problem with the Biblical text, appeal to faith and the supernatural. Problem solved.
Bruce Gerencser, 67, lives in rural Northwest Ohio with his wife of 46 years. He and his wife have six grown children and thirteen grandchildren. Bruce pastored Evangelical churches for twenty-five years in Ohio, Texas, and Michigan. Bruce left the ministry in 2005, and in 2008 he left Christianity. Bruce is now a humanist and an atheist.
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Hey Moses mighta been meek and all that but what a guy! Lived to be 120 and not diminished in any way? Shoot, a guy like that could write his own obit, no prob. (bazinga)
Renowned Bible scholar “Dr.” David Tee responds:
https://theologyarchaeology.wordpress.com/2024/11/21/answering-unbelievers-arguments/
Money quotes:
One of the reasons we do not engage unbelievers that much anymore is that they never accept the answers provided to them when they raise the same arguments every atheist has raised for thousands of years. [then maybe you need to come up with better explanations]
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Here is the problem with that statement. Most bible scholars are not Christians. We knew one who was an atheist yet felt he could tell everyone what the Bible really said.
….
There is little point in rehashing the debate because many unbelievers do not accept the answers given. But as the Bible says, preaching of the cross is foolishness to those who do not believe. So do not cast pearls before swine when this topic arises. Just stick with Mosaic authorship and you will be fine. [Yes, stick with ignorance and outdated theories.]
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Then the unbelievers’ concept of biblical inerrancy is full of errors and does not do the topic justice. They do not understand the biblical text nor want to. We know that Adam and Eve had 3 named sons and countless unnamed sons and daughters. Being not named does not minimize their lives or mean they did not exist and help build the pre-flood world population. [Countless unnamed sons and daughters? Really? Evidence, please..]
Unbelievers are creating these faulty issues so they can ruin the faith of the believer so it is best to not engage them when this happens to you. Protect your faith as we only get the information that God wants us to know and pertains to our salvation and belief in him;
“We know that Adam and Eve…” Oh Brother! “We know” leaves nothing much to say. Perhaps Doc Tee should have his mental health evaluated in case he is a danger to himself or others. Better too soon than too late.
OMG Mr Tee just can’t help himself but to weigh in on whatever Bruce writes!
“MoSt bIblE sCh0LaRs AreN’t rEaL KrIsChUnZ sO tHeY are wROnG EnD oF sT0rY sHUt up hEaTHenz.”
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Come on Bruce, you know very well that god could prop up dead Moses and give him some papyrus and a writing tool and make him write his own obituary. 😈