Bible facts
Who wrote the Bible? Authors, languages and dates
The Bible has no single author. It was written by dozens of people over about a thousand years, in Hebrew, Aramaic and Greek. Tradition attributes books to Moses, David, Solomon, the prophets, the evangelists and Paul, but many books name no author. For Jews and Christians, these authors wrote inspired by God.
Who are the authors according to tradition?
- Torah (Genesis to Deuteronomy): attributed to Moses.
- Psalms: 73 psalms bear David’s name in the Hebrew titles; others are attributed to Asaph, the sons of Korah, Solomon and Moses, and several have no author, such as Psalm 91.
- Proverbs, Ecclesiastes and the Song of Songs: linked to King Solomon.
- Prophetic books: named after prophets such as Isaiah, Jeremiah and Ezekiel.
- Gospels: Matthew, Mark, Luke and John. Luke also wrote Acts.
- Letters: 13 bear Paul’s name; others those of Peter, James, John and Jude. Hebrews names no author.
The traditional count comes to about 40 authors.
What do scholars say?
Historical research sees a longer, collective process. Many books were written, gathered and edited over several generations:
- The Torah is thought to have been composed from older traditions and sources and to have reached its final form around the Babylonian exile (6th–5th centuries BC).
- Prophetic books gather the words of the prophet and of his disciples. In Isaiah, for example, chapters 40–55 are attributed to an author from the time of the exile — that is where Isaiah 41:10 is found.
- The Gospels do not name their authors in the text; the titles were given by tradition.
- Of Paul’s letters, seven are accepted as his by virtually all scholars: Romans, 1 and 2 Corinthians, Galatians, Philippians, 1 Thessalonians and Philemon. The authorship of the others is debated.
Which languages was the Bible written in?
The Old Testament was written in Hebrew, with passages in Aramaic (parts of Daniel and Ezra). The New Testament was written in Greek, the common language of the Mediterranean at the time. The deuterocanonical books have come down to us mainly in Greek.
How long did it take to write the Bible?
By scholars’ estimates, the oldest texts go back to around 1000 BC and the latest New Testament writings to the end of the 1st century AD. Using the traditional chronology, which places Moses around 1400 BC, the span reaches about 1,500 years.
Did God write the Bible?
For Judaism and Christianity, the Bible is God’s word written by human beings. Christian tradition speaks of “inspiration”, drawing on 2 Timothy 3:16. Each tradition understands differently how that inspiration relates to the human work of the authors.
To see which books each tradition accepts, read how many books are in the Bible.
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Frequently asked questions
Who wrote the Bible?
Dozens of authors over about a thousand years. Tradition names Moses, David, Solomon, the prophets, the evangelists and Paul, among others; many books name no author.
How many authors wrote the Bible?
The traditional count is about 40 authors. Scholars see a larger number, since many books were edited over several generations.
What language was the Bible written in?
Hebrew, with some Aramaic, in the Old Testament, and Greek in the New Testament.
Who wrote the New Testament?
According to tradition, the evangelists Matthew, Mark, Luke and John, the apostle Paul and other apostles such as Peter and James. It was written roughly between AD 50 and 100.