Oldest Book of the Bible: Authorship and Composition
The question of the "oldest book of the Bible" involves both the dating of the biblical texts and the traditional attributions of authorship. While the Bible is a collection of sixty-six distinct books, composed by various writers across different periods and circumstances, it is understood by some to have a singular divine author and purpose [2, 3].
Traditionally, the Pentateuch—the first five books of the Old Testament (Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, and Deuteronomy)—is attributed to Moses [1, 5]. This tradition holds that Moses wrote these books during the forty years of wandering in the wilderness, approximately between 1491 and 1451 BC [1]. Genesis, the first book of the Pentateuch, covers a vast period from the creation of Adam to the death of Joseph, spanning 2369 years according to one tradition [1]. It describes the origins of the world and humanity, and the initial steps toward the establishment of the theocracy [1, 4]. The phrase "In the beginning" in Genesis 1:1 refers to a period of "remote and unknown antiquity" [8].
Specific passages within the Pentateuch support Mosaic authorship. For instance, Deuteronomy 31:22 states that "Moses wrote down the words," which is considered evidence for the traditional view of Moses writing Deuteronomy [5]. Similarly, Exodus 24:4 notes that Moses wrote down "all the words of God" after receiving commandments and ordinances, forming what is known as the Book of the Covenant [10]. John Gill, a Baptist commentator, also affirms that Moses wrote the song in Deuteronomy 31:21 on the same day it was divinely inspired [12].
While the Pentateuch is widely considered the earliest written portion of the Bible, other books or parts of books may also contend for ancient origins. For example, Psalm 90 is attributed to Moses, making it one of the most ancient sacred writings [9]. This psalm is thought to have been penned around the time of the deliverance from Egypt [9]. The book of Psalms generally contains a collection of observations on God's word and precepts, with some psalms, like Psalm 119, being attributed to David [6, 7].
The concept of "the Bible" as a unified collection of sacred books, or "Biblia" meaning "books," began to be applied in the fifth century AD [2]. The English term "Bible" was adopted by Wycliffe and gradually came into use [2]. Despite the diverse authorship and historical contexts, the entire collection is seen by some as having "one author and one purpose and plan," centered on the redemption of humanity [3]. The revelation of God's will, as presented in the Bible, occurred "at sundry times and in divers manners" to different individuals throughout history [11].
Sources
- Smith's Bible Dictionary “Smith's Bible Dictionary: Genesis — (origin), the first book of the law or Pentateuch, so called from its title ia the Septuagint, that is, Creation . Its author was Moses. The date of writing was probably during the forty-years wanderings in the wilderness, B.C. 1491-1451. Time .--The book of Genesis covered 2369 years,--from the creation of Adam, A.M 1, to the death of Joseph, A.M. 2369, or B.C. 1635. Character and purpose .--The book of Genesis (with the first chapters of Exodus) describes the steps which led to the establishment of the theocracy. It is a part of the writer's plan to tell u”
- Easton's Bible Dictionary “Easton's Bible Dictionary: Bible — Bible, the English form of the Greek name Biblia, meaning "books," the name which in the fifth century began to be given to the entire collection of sacred books, the "Library of Divine Revelation." The name Bible was adopted by Wickliffe, and came gradually into use in our English language. The Bible consists of sixty-six different books, composed by many different writers, in three different languages, under different circumstances; writers of almost every social rank, statesmen and peasants, kings, herdsmen, fishermen, priests, tax-gatherers, tentmakers; e”
- Smith's Bible Dictionary “Smith's Bible Dictionary: Bible — The Bible is the name given to the revelation of God to man contained in sixty-six books or pamphlets, bound together and forming one book and only one, for it has in reality one author and one purpose and plan, and is the development of one scheme of the redemption of man. I. ITS [301]Names.-- (1) The Bible, i.e. The Book, from the Greek "ta biblia," the books. The word is derived from a root designating the inner bark of the linden tree, on which the ancients wrote their books. It is the book as being superior to all other books. But the application of the w”
- Smith's Bible Dictionary “Smith's Bible Dictionary: Creation — (The creation of all things is ascribed in the Bible to God, and is the only reasonable account of the origin of the world. The method of creation is not stated in Genesis, and as far as the account there is concerned, each part of it may be, after the first acts of creation, by evolution, or by direct act of God's will. The word create (bara) is used but three times in the first chapter of Genesis-- (1) as to the origin of matter; (2) as to the origin of life; (3) as to the origin of man's soul; and science has always failed to do any of these acts thus as”
- Deuteronomy (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Deuteronomy 31:22: 31:22 Moses wrote down the words: This statement is good evidence for the traditional view that Moses wrote Deuteronomy (see Deuteronomy Book Introduction, “Authorship”).”
- Psalms (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on Psalms 119 (introduction): INTRODUCTION TO PSALM 119 This psalm is generally thought to be written by David, but when is uncertain; very probably towards the decline of life; and, as some think, for the sake or his son Solomon. It seems to be a collection of observations on the word of God and its precepts, the usefulness and excellency of it, he had made in the course of his life; interspersed with various petitions for the grace of God, to enable him to observe it. The psalm is a very extraordinary one; partly on account of the unusual length of it, it being more than double t”
- Psalms (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on Psalms 1:2: law--all of God's word then written, especially the books of Moses (compare Psa 119:1, Psa 119:55, Psa 119:97, &c.).”
- Genesis (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on Genesis 1 (introduction): Genesis 1:1 THE CREATION OF HEAVEN AND EARTH. (Gen 1:1-2) In the beginning--a period of remote and unknown antiquity, hid in the depths of eternal ages; and so the phrase is used in Pro 8:22-23. God--the name of the Supreme Being, signifying in Hebrew, "Strong," "Mighty." It is expressive of omnipotent power; and by its use here in the plural form, is obscurely taught at the opening of the Bible, a doctrine clearly revealed in other parts of it, namely, that though God is one, there is a plurality of persons in the Godhead--Father, So”
- Psalms (Nonconformist/Puritan) “Matthew Henry on Psalms 90 (introduction): The foregoing psalm is supposed to have been penned as late as the captivity in Babylon; this, it is plain, was penned as early as the deliverance out of Egypt, and yet they are put close together in this collection of divine songs. This psalm was penned by Moses (as appears by the title), the most ancient penman of sacred writ. We have upon record a praising song of his (Ex. 15, which is alluded to Rev 15:3), and an instructing song of his, Deu. 32. But this is of a different nature from both, for it is called a prayer. It is supposed that this psalm”
- Sefaria (Jewish (Rationalist)) “Abraham Ibn Ezra on Exodus 24:4: AND MOSES WROTE. After Moses related all the words of God, the commandments, and the ordinances, he wrote them down. This is what the Book of the Covenant consists of.”
- Hebrews (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on Hebrews 1:1: God, who at sundry times and in divers manners,.... The apostle begins the epistle with an account of the revelation God has made of his mind and will in former times: the author of this revelation is God, not essentially, but personally considered, even God the Father, as distinguished from his Son in the next verse; for the revelation under the Old Testament is divine, as well as that under the New; in this they both agree, in whatsoever else they differ: and this revelation was made at several times, at different seasons, and to different persons; and consisted of ”
- Deuteronomy (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on Deuteronomy 31:21: Moses therefore wrote this song the same day,.... The same day it was dictated to him by divine inspiration; he wrote it, as Josephus says (d),"in hexameter verse, which he left in the holy Bible or book (the Pentateuch), containing (as he adds) a prophecy of things future, according to which all things have been done, and are done; and in nothing of it has he erred from the truth;''which is a very just account of it, and worthy of observation: and taught it the children of Israel; instructed them in the meaning of it, directed them to repeat it frequently, to”