Here are a few of the more well-known authors, and some of the books they are believed to be responsible for:

Moses: Genesis–Deuteronomy

You may remember him as The Prince of Egypt who led the Hebrews out of slavery, accompanied by plagues, a parting sea, and a cracking soundtrack! The first five books of the Bible are often attributed to Moses. These are origin stories, about the beginning of the world, and the nation of Israel.

While these books probably contain stories and laws that originated from Moses, they also drew from other ancient sources and were finalised centuries later. This is clear from the last book, which records and reflects on Moses’ death.

David: The Psalms

Every culture has its favourite songs; those you sing all year round, and others that are brought out on special occasions. Israel had its own collection known as the Psalms. These songs expressed the full range of human emotions and helped people celebrate the good times and find comfort in hard times.

Of the 150 songs, nearly half were attributed to David, who was one of Israel’s most loved kings, and many others to musicians who worked in his courts. These were collated and arranged thematically, centuries later.

The Apostles: The Four Gospels

The New Testament contains many writings about Jesus – stories about his life and death, and collections of his teachings. There are four biographies, none of which were written by Jesus himself, but by some of his earliest followers. Today we call these ‘Gospels’ – which means ‘good news’, because the authors believed that all Jesus did and stood for was good news for a hurting world.

The Gospels are named after the people traditionally believed to have written them: Matthew, Mark, Luke and John. Each is slightly different in style, but together they paint a rich account of Jesus’ life and message. This article explores a bit more about whether Jesus existed, and what we can know about him.

Paul: The Letters

The Bible contains a collection of letters, many of which were penned by a man named St Paul – the one who was blinded on the road to Damascus. He wrote to encourage churches in cities like Ephesus, Corinth, and Rome, and today most of the letters are named after the people to whom they were sent: Ephesians, Corinthians, Romans, and so on.

Didn't find what you were looking for?

Work with us

Privacy

Legal