Who Wrote the Bible?
The Bible was written by about 40 human writers over many centuries, including Moses, David, Solomon, the prophets, and the apostles and their companions. Christians believe that behind these human writers stands one divine author: God, who inspired them to write. This article explains who wrote the Old and New Testaments, when and in what languages the Bible was written, why the authorship of some books is disputed, and what it means to say the Bible was inspired by God.
The Bible was written by about 40 people, including Moses, King David, the prophets, and apostles such as Matthew, John, Peter and Paul, over roughly 1,500 years. Christians believe God inspired these writers, so that the Bible is both a human book, written in their own words, and the word of God.
- Did One Person Write the Bible?
- How Many People Wrote the Bible?
- Who Wrote the Old Testament?
- Who Wrote the New Testament?
- Do We Know Who Wrote Every Book of the Bible?
- Why Is the Authorship of Some Books of the Bible Disputed?
- When Was the Bible Written?
- How Long Did It Take to Write the Bible?
- What Languages Was the Bible Originally Written In?
- What Does It Mean to Say the Bible Was Inspired by God?
- Frequently Asked Questions
Did One Person Write the Bible?
No. The Bible was not written by one person. It is a collection of books written by many different people, living in different places and times, over many centuries.
As explained in What Is the Bible and What Is Its Main Message?, the Bible is like a library bound into a single volume. Its writers included a leader who freed a nation from slavery, a shepherd who became a king, a wise king, prophets, a tax collector, fishermen, a doctor and a former persecutor of Christians.
Yet Christians also say that, in another sense, the Bible has one author. They believe God inspired every human writer, so that the whole Bible carries one message. This is why the Bible, written by so many hands, tells one connected story from creation to the final renewal of all things.
How Many People Wrote the Bible?
About 40 people wrote the Bible. This is the number most often given, and it counts the writers named in the Bible itself or identified by long Christian tradition.
The number is approximate for three reasons. First, some books do not name their writer. Second, some books were written by more than one person, such as the Book of Psalms, which contains songs by several writers. Third, some writers used helpers to write down their words. The prophet Jeremiah dictated his messages to a scribe named Baruch, who "wrote them on the scroll" (Jeremiah 36:4, NIV). Paul's letter to the Romans was written down by a helper who adds his own greeting near the end: "I, Tertius, who wrote down this letter, greet you in the Lord" (Romans 16:22).
What stands out is not the exact number but the variety. These writers came from very different backgrounds, yet their writings fit together as one story.
The table below lists the main traditional writers of the books of the Bible.
| Books | Traditional writer or writers |
|---|---|
| Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, Deuteronomy | Moses |
| Joshua | Joshua |
| Judges, Ruth, 1 and 2 Samuel | Samuel and other prophets |
| 1 and 2 Kings | Unnamed; traditionally linked to the prophet Jeremiah |
| 1 and 2 Chronicles, Ezra, Nehemiah | Ezra and Nehemiah |
| Job | Unknown |
| Psalms | David and others, including Asaph, the sons of Korah, Solomon and Moses |
| Proverbs, Ecclesiastes, Song of Songs | Mainly Solomon |
| Isaiah, Jeremiah, Ezekiel, Daniel and the other prophets | The prophets whose names the books bear |
| Tobit, Judith, Wisdom, Sirach, Baruch, 1 and 2 Maccabees (in Catholic and Orthodox Bibles) | Jewish writers; Sirach names its writer as Jesus son of Sirach, and most of the others do not name a writer |
| Matthew, Mark, Luke, John | Matthew, Mark, Luke and John |
| Acts of the Apostles | Luke |
| Romans through Philemon (13 letters) | Paul |
| Hebrews | Unknown |
| James, 1 and 2 Peter, 1, 2 and 3 John, Jude | James, Peter, John and Jude |
| Revelation | John |
Who Wrote the Old Testament?
The Old Testament was written by Moses, the prophets, kings such as David and Solomon, and other writers of ancient Israel, many of whom are named in the books themselves or identified by long Jewish and Christian tradition.
Moses and the first five books. Christian and Jewish tradition holds that Moses wrote the first five books of the Bible. The books themselves say that Moses wrote down God's words (Exodus 24:4; Deuteronomy 31:9). Jesus referred to these books as "the Book of Moses" (Mark 12:26) and said, "If you believed Moses, you would believe me, for he wrote about me" (John 5:46). The account of Moses' own death at the end of Deuteronomy (Deuteronomy 34) is traditionally understood as added by a later writer, often thought to be Joshua.
The history books tell the story of Israel from the entry into the Promised Land to the return from exile. Several of them do not name their writers, and tradition links them to prophets and leaders such as Joshua, Samuel, Ezra and Nehemiah.
The Psalms were written by several people. Many are titled as psalms of David, and others are credited to Asaph, the sons of Korah, Solomon and even Moses (Psalm 90).
The wisdom books are linked mainly to King Solomon, who was famous for his wisdom. Proverbs itself shows that some of his sayings were later gathered by others: "These are more proverbs of Solomon, compiled by the men of Hezekiah king of Judah" (Proverbs 25:1).
The prophets wrote, or had written down, the messages God gave them. Their books usually begin by naming the prophet, as in "The vision concerning Judah and Jerusalem that Isaiah son of Amoz saw" (Isaiah 1:1).
The seven books found in Catholic and Orthodox Old Testaments, such as Tobit, Sirach and 1 and 2 Maccabees, were also written by Jewish writers. Sirach, for example, names its writer as Jesus son of Sirach (Sirach 50:27).
Who Wrote the New Testament?
The New Testament was written by apostles of Jesus and their close companions: Matthew, Mark, Luke, John, Paul, Peter, James and Jude, along with the unknown writer of the letter to the Hebrews.
The Gospels. Matthew was a tax collector who became one of the twelve apostles (Matthew 9:9). Mark was a companion of Peter and Paul, and early Christians consistently described his Gospel as based on Peter's preaching. Luke was a doctor and a travel companion of Paul (Colossians 4:14). He explains that he "carefully investigated everything from the beginning" before writing his Gospel (Luke 1:3). John was one of the twelve apostles, and his Gospel says of its writer, "This is the disciple who testifies to these things and who wrote them down" (John 21:24).
Acts of the Apostles was written by Luke as a second volume to his Gospel. Both books are addressed to the same person, Theophilus (Luke 1:3; Acts 1:1).
Paul's letters. Thirteen letters, from Romans to Philemon, begin by naming Paul as their writer. Paul was a former persecutor of Christians who became an apostle after meeting the risen Jesus (Acts 9). Sometimes he added a note in his own hand to show a letter was genuinely from him: "See what large letters I use as I write to you with my own hand!" (Galatians 6:11).
The other letters were written by James and Jude, who were relatives of Jesus, and by the apostles Peter and John. Peter's second letter even refers to Paul's letters and places them alongside "the other Scriptures" (2 Peter 3:15–16).
Revelation was written by John, who names himself four times and says he received the visions while on the island of Patmos (Revelation 1:9).
Do We Know Who Wrote Every Book of the Bible?
No. We know the writers of most books of the Bible, but a few books do not name their writers, and for some of these the writer is still unknown.
It helps to separate three groups of books:
- Books that name their writer in the text, such as Paul's letters, the prophets and Revelation.
- Books that do not name their writer, but whose writer has been identified by long and consistent tradition, such as the four Gospels and the first five books of the Bible.
- Books whose writer is unknown, such as Job and the letter to the Hebrews.
The letter to the Hebrews is the best-known example. Some early Christians thought Paul wrote it, but the letter itself never says so, and its style is different from his other letters. Many other names have been suggested, but no one knows for certain.
Not knowing a writer's name does not lessen a book's value for Christians. What matters most is that the Church received these books as inspired Scripture. A letter from a friend is no less true because the envelope is missing.
Why Is the Authorship of Some Books of the Bible Disputed?
The authorship of some books is disputed because certain modern scholars doubt the traditional writers, usually pointing to differences in writing style or to prophecies they believe could not have been written before the events they describe. Christians who hold the traditional view answer that these doubts rest on assumptions rather than proof.
The books most often questioned include the first five books of the Bible, parts of Isaiah, the Book of Daniel, some of Paul's letters and 2 Peter. The main reasons given, and the answers to them, are these.
Differences in style. Critics argue that a change in vocabulary or style shows a different writer. But the same person can write very differently depending on purpose, audience and stage of life. A scientist writes a research paper differently from a letter to a friend. The Bible also tells us that writers sometimes used helpers to write down their words (Jeremiah 36:4; Romans 16:22), which could naturally affect the style.
Prophecy. Some scholars assume that a detailed prediction of future events must have been written after those events took place, and they date books such as Daniel and parts of Isaiah later for this reason. But this is a starting belief, not evidence. If God can reveal the future, as the Bible claims, then a prophecy written before the events is exactly what we should expect.
The earliest witnesses. The people closest to these books accepted their traditional writers. Jesus spoke of Moses as a writer and quoted Isaiah and Daniel by name (Mark 12:26; Matthew 13:14; Matthew 24:15). The early Church received the Gospels and letters under the names of their traditional writers, and no rival names were ever suggested for the four Gospels.
Raising doubts is easy. Proving them is another matter. When a book has been linked to the same writer for many centuries, and the earliest witnesses agree, the burden of proof rests on the person who wants to overturn that testimony. A suggestion that a book might have been written by someone else, without clear evidence, is a theory, not a fact. In the end, the question is not whether a claim can be doubted, but whether the doubt is supported by evidence.
When Was the Bible Written?
The Bible was written over many centuries. According to the traditional Christian view, the first books were written by Moses more than a thousand years before the birth of Jesus, and the last book, Revelation, was written near the end of the first century after Jesus.
The Old Testament was written over roughly a thousand years, from the time of Moses to the period after the Jewish people returned from exile. The New Testament was written much more quickly, within the lifetimes of the apostles and their companions, in the decades after Jesus' death and resurrection.
Some scholars date parts of the Old Testament later than the traditional view does. But on any reckoning, the Bible was not written in a single period. It grew over many generations, as God spoke to his people at different times in their history. The letter to the Hebrews describes it this way: God spoke "through the prophets at many times and in various ways, but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son" (Hebrews 1:1–2).
How Long Did It Take to Write the Bible?
It took about 1,500 years to write the Bible, according to the traditional Christian view, from the writings of Moses to the Book of Revelation near the end of the first century.
To put this in perspective, 1,500 years is roughly 60 generations of people. The writers of the later books could not have met the writers of the earlier ones, and they lived in very different cultures. Yet the later books build on the earlier ones, quote them and show how their promises were fulfilled.
Christians see this unity as a sign that one God was guiding the whole process. A single book written over 1,500 years by about 40 writers, which still tells one story and points to one person, Jesus Christ, is remarkable by any measure.
What Languages Was the Bible Originally Written In?
The Bible was originally written in three languages: Hebrew, Aramaic and Greek. Most of the Old Testament was written in Hebrew, a few passages in Aramaic, and the New Testament was written in Greek.
- Hebrew was the language of ancient Israel, and almost all of the Old Testament was written in it.
- Aramaic was a related language widely spoken in the Middle East in later Old Testament times. Parts of the books of Daniel and Ezra were written in Aramaic. It was also the everyday language that Jesus himself spoke.
- Greek was the common language of the eastern Roman world in the time of the apostles. The New Testament was written in Greek so that its message could be read by people across many nations. Some of the books found in Catholic and Orthodox Old Testaments have also come down to us in Greek.
Today, almost all readers meet the Bible in translation. Christians believe that a faithful translation carries the same message as the original, which is why the Bible has been translated into more languages than any other book.
What Does It Mean to Say the Bible Was Inspired by God?
To say the Bible was inspired by God means that God guided the human writers so that what they wrote was his word, while they still wrote in their own words, styles and personalities.
The Bible makes this claim about itself. Paul writes, "All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness" (2 Timothy 3:16). Peter explains how this happened: "For prophecy never had its origin in the human will, but prophets, though human, spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit" (2 Peter 1:21). King David said, "The Spirit of the LORD spoke through me; his word was on my tongue" (2 Samuel 23:2).
Inspiration does not usually mean that God dictated the words while the writers acted like machines. Luke tells us that he did careful research before writing (Luke 1:1–4). Paul's letters show his personality, his feelings and his concern for the churches. The prophets wrote in their own styles. God worked through the writers, not around them.
A helpful comparison is a musician playing an instrument. The same melody sounds different on a violin, a flute or a piano, because each instrument has its own character. Yet the melody belongs to the composer. In the same way, each writer of the Bible has his own voice, but the message belongs to God. The Catholic Church expresses this by teaching that God is the author of Scripture, and that the human writers are also true authors who used their own abilities.
Because the Bible is inspired by God, Christians believe it is true and trustworthy, and that it carries God's authority. This is why the early Christians received the apostles' message "not as a human word, but as it actually is, the word of God" (1 Thessalonians 2:13).
Frequently Asked Questions
Did Jesus write any books of the Bible? No. Jesus did not write any of the books of the Bible. His teaching was written down by his followers in the Gospels. The only time the Gospels describe Jesus writing is when he wrote on the ground with his finger (John 8:6–8), and the Bible does not say what he wrote. Christians believe that the whole Bible points to him, even though he wrote none of it himself.
Did any women write books of the Bible? No book of the Bible is known to have been written by a woman. However, the Bible records the songs and prayers of several women, including Miriam (Exodus 15:21), Deborah (Judges 5), Hannah (1 Samuel 2:1–10) and Mary, the mother of Jesus (Luke 1:46–55). Two books, Ruth and Esther, are named after women.
Who wrote the most books of the Bible? Paul wrote the most books: 13 letters in the New Testament, or 14 if he wrote Hebrews, which is uncertain. Moses is traditionally credited with five books. If the question is who wrote the most words, the answer is usually Luke or Moses, because Luke's Gospel and Acts together are longer than all of Paul's letters.
Who wrote the Book of Psalms? The Book of Psalms was written by several people. King David is the best-known writer, and many psalms carry his name in their titles. Other psalms are credited to Asaph, the sons of Korah, Solomon, Heman, Ethan and Moses, and some psalms do not name a writer. The collection was gathered over many generations and used in Israel's worship.
Did the Bible writers know they were writing Scripture? Some of them clearly did. The prophets often introduced their messages with "This is what the LORD says," showing they knew they were speaking God's words. Paul told the Corinthians that what he was writing was "the Lord's command" (1 Corinthians 14:37). Peter placed Paul's letters alongside "the other Scriptures" (2 Peter 3:16). Others, such as the writers of the Psalms, may simply have been praying and singing to God, without knowing that their words would become part of the Bible.
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