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Who Wrote the Bible? Searching for Its Origins and Authors

Reveal the voices behind the Bible’s beloved books, what is known of the authors, and the fascinating process by which this world-shaping text took shape.
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Rated 5 out of 5 by from Love the course and Dr. Baden is very good... I just finished watching the entire course start to finish -- absolutely wonderful -- making the OT make logical and consistent sense -- simply wonderful!! But I must complain about the course guide -- what a complete disappointment! All the wonderful charts, lists and helps as shown withing the lectures are NOT there!! WHY?? I really feel cheated—I mean really!!
Date published: 2026-02-15
Rated 5 out of 5 by from Among the best Beautifully conceived, prepared, and executed. A genuine pleasure
Date published: 2026-02-15
Rated 4 out of 5 by from Impeccable Scholarship, Negative Focus Who wrote the Bible?? No one knows with any certainty since the historical record is thin. As a result, Biblical scholars are forced to rely heavily on linguistic analysis to postulate the existence of multiple unnamed authors. Because the grist of such analysis consists of discrepancies and contradictions within the text, the focus ultimately comes across to me as skeptical in nature. Also, with so much hyper-analysis going on, the end result is even worse than losing sight of the forest for the trees--It's more like there's no forest left because all the trees were chopped down. To clarify, I am not a religious person and have no specific religious bias. However, when I want to learn about religion (or any topic, for that matter), I strongly prefer to learn from someone who is an unabashed advocate for their subject. Highlight the positives so that I can do my own analysis and criticism. So, while Dr. Baden is obviously a brilliant scholar, I didn't feel as if I took away much of value from this course.
Date published: 2026-02-11
Rated 5 out of 5 by from Fascinating I have always been interested in the history of religion. Dr. Baden presents this course in such an inviting way and with such depth that I am even more motivated to learn more.
Date published: 2026-02-02
Rated 5 out of 5 by from Obligation I have been watching Great Courses for decades and have considered most of the lecturers as very good. History, science, art, music ... even baking bread. This is not a real review; I just felt obligated to tell Dr. Baden that I thought he was an excellent instructor who made the material more interesting than I had anticipated and liked his objective viewpoint. I should mention that I am a life-long atheist now in my 70s but find the history of religion fascinating. Just want to end by saying that I loved his manner of speaking and pleasant demeanor; although there were only a handful of humorous comments in the series, I could see him doing stand-up if he seeks a career change in the future. I sincerely hope he provides us with another course.
Date published: 2026-01-27
Rated 5 out of 5 by from Very Insightful and Engaging I love Dr. Baden. He is an engaging speaker and so knowledgeable on the subject of the Bible. I was so fascinated by this content. This is my favorite course and the Great Courses+ so far. Though it's 24 lectures, I found it so interesting that if still felt short.
Date published: 2026-01-24
Rated 5 out of 5 by from Great Great content and great professional content for the average person who wants to learn more about the topic
Date published: 2026-01-17
Rated 5 out of 5 by from Could Be Challenging I was raised Southern Baptist, but now describe myself as a born-again agnostic. My wife is Jewish and attends a Reformed synagogue. She was not around a lot Christians until college. That is pretty much the boat I was in, except the reverse. We have had some interesting discussions over the years about religion. I say the course could be challenging as in my tradition all of the Bible is the literal word of God and absolutely true. This is not how Professor Joel S. Baden presents it. I am sure that many of my mishpocha in Oklahoma and Kentucky would find his presentation of the Bible as the weaving together of many traditions floating around the Middle East in antiquity... well, troubling. Add to that the fact that many of the traditional authors of many books are not who they are generally assumed to be. Plus, the fact that much of the text of the Bible has been an ongoing process of editing and revisions over the centuries with many different hands in that process. I have read and studied enough to have been somewhat aware of the Bible pulling in stories from many different sources. I was not aware of all the contested authorship. Having said all that, Professor Baden did not really lean in one direction or another as far as the Jewish/Christian side of the subject. I remember starting one Great Course class that I stopped watching almost immediately as the Professor had a strong fundamental Christian bias. Not so here. Professor Baden, while Jewish, is first and foremost – at least in this course – a scholar. His presentation style is clear and approachable. He seems like a person who would appreciate a good joke and deep discussions. We both truly enjoyed the course, and found ourselves pausing the video to share something or talk about what we had just watched. Sometimes it is good to be challenged, especially intellectually.
Date published: 2026-01-15
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Who Wrote the Bible? Searching for Its Origins and Authors

Trailer

A Text with a History

01: A Text with a History

Take a first look at three questions which drive this course: Who wrote the Bible? How do we know who wrote the Bible? Why does it matter? Look into the role of translation in our experience of the Bible, traditional conceptions of its authorship, and the scholarly perspective contrasted with the traditional, in a living text that is a negotiation among many people, past and present.

27 min
The Sources of the Pentateuch

02: The Sources of the Pentateuch

Delve into the Pentateuch, the first five books of the Bible, traditionally attributed to Moses. Examine the claims for Moses’ authorship vs. indications within the text itself. Delineate the four “sources” or strands of the Pentateuch, their distinct content, and evidence that each was originally a separate text. Reflect on who may have written the four documents of the Pentateuch and when.

24 min
Genesis: Creation and the Flood

03: Genesis: Creation and the Flood

Two of the famous stories from Genesis, the Creation story and the Flood, do not appear in the Bible as we commonly understand them. Discover how each story unfolds in the text in two different versions, each internally consistent, yet each contradicting the other. Grasp how we are challenged, from the beginning, to rethink the idea that the Bible offers us easy answers or uncontroverted “truth.”

25 min
Exodus: From Egypt to Sinai

04: Exodus: From Egypt to Sinai

Travel into the biblical account of the plagues and the Exodus from Egypt. Observe that the story of the plagues is told in two narratives, woven into one, each with different plot points and theological perspectives. Then, find three interwoven narratives of Moses at Mt. Sinai and see what this way of storytelling reveals about the Israelites’ diverse perspectives on their relationship with God.

25 min
Leviticus and the Priestly Writings

05: Leviticus and the Priestly Writings

The book of Leviticus belongs to the priestly strand of the Pentateuch. Follow its portrayal of the rituals, sacrifices, and cleansing of the Tabernacle, the dwelling place of God. In its second and later half, note how the writing extends to laws regarding morality, holiness, and the entire domain of the Israelites, as Leviticus offers a clear example of how biblical texts changed over time.

28 min
Deuteronomy: Retelling Israel’s Past

06: Deuteronomy: Retelling Israel’s Past

The book of Deuteronomy comprises one of the four core “sources” or documents of the Pentateuch. Note that Deuteronomy draws on the other sources, as Moses delivers to Israel a new law code. See how Deuteronomy is structured as an ancient treaty, outlining the obedience of vassals (the Israelites) to a ruler (God), as the book seeks to both understand and control the course of Israel’s history.

26 min
The History from Joshua to the Exile

07: The History from Joshua to the Exile

Explore the Bible’s account of Israel’s history from the conquest of Canaan to the exile to Babylon. Grasp the writings’ consistent theological viewpoint, vis a vis what we know from history and archaeology. In the books of Judges and Kings, observe that the biblical historian highlights Israel’s failings before God, and that the writings make use of history for theological ends.

27 min
The David Story

08: The David Story

Mark how the biblical account of David’s life has been shaped as a popular, idealized conception of him. Look into his story as depicted in Samuel and Kings, his reign as Israel’s king, and how the text glorifies David in the face of potentially damaging facts about his character and actions. In the process, consider what we may learn if we read the Bible not as history, but as literature.

29 min
The Three Isaiahs

09: The Three Isaiahs

Learn about the role of the prophet in antiquity, as a mouthpiece for God, who speaks of the future for the sake of the present. Study indications that the Book of Isaiah is two separate prophetic texts, from the 8th century BCE and the 6th, with different concerns and theologies. Finally, contemplate the possibility of three authors of this text, and Professor Baden’s own intriguing hypothesis.

28 min
Jeremiah: The Layered Prophet

10: Jeremiah: The Layered Prophet

The Book of Jeremiah offers a fascinating look at how biblical texts were created. Observe the composition of the text, with the words of Jeremiah, narratives about his life, and other material. Investigate the writing of the text itself by Jeremiah’s scribe Baruch, and evidence that all the writing is Baruch’s, giving us as a textual record of how prophetic ideas were recorded and transmitted.

26 min
The Minor Prophets

11: The Minor Prophets

The books of the Minor Prophets can be seen as a microcosm of the Bible itself, revealing a range of theological themes and messages. In Zechariah, Amos, Habakkuk, and others, grasp how each prophet speaks to the specific time and context in which they lived, voicing social critique or promises about what is to come, and see how the texts were often updated later to reflect changing times.

26 min
The Psalms in Tradition and Practice

12: The Psalms in Tradition and Practice

Look into the authorship of the Psalms, believed for 2,000 years to have been written by David. Investigate how this notion developed, and why scholars and historians now believe David did not write them. Assess what we know about dating the Psalms, and evidence which suggests that the Psalms were not personal expressions but existed within the ancient Israelite liturgy of worship.

26 min
Contrasting Proverbs and Ecclesiastes

13: Contrasting Proverbs and Ecclesiastes

The two very different books of Proverbs and Ecclesiastes are considered by tradition to have been written by Solomon. Discover why textual and historical research refutes this idea, indicating more than one author and source for the two books. Assess the opposing viewpoints of the books, the wisdom of Proverbs versus the pessimism of Ecclesiastes, as they teach us not what to think, but how.

26 min
The Voices of Lamentations

14: The Voices of Lamentations

Lamentations records the Israelites’ trauma at the Babylonian destruction of Jerusalem. Investigate its attribution to Jeremiah, and encounter the five distinct poems within the book, each with different voices and viewpoints, which suggest a variety of authors. Grasp the book’s distinct literary quality, as the voices remind us that there is no singular perspective on traumatic experience.

27 min
The Stories and Visions of Daniel

15: The Stories and Visions of Daniel

Dig into this complicated book, structured as a group of stories about Daniel and his friends at the Babylonian court, followed by a narrative of apocalyptic visions. Look into the dating of the book, one of the latest writings of the Hebrew Bible. See how this text in two halves, originally written in two languages, reflects the vibrance of Israelite culture in the face of imperial oppression.

26 min
Chronicles: History Rewritten

16: Chronicles: History Rewritten

The book of Chronicles is another telling of Israel’s history, from the time of Adam to the end of the Babylonian exile. Study features of the text that indicate its awareness of earlier biblical writings, and when it was written. Uncover the ideological thrust of Chronicles; its whitewashing of key historical events, which shows how a text’s agenda can affect what is told, and how.

26 min
Understanding the Synoptic Gospels

17: Understanding the Synoptic Gospels

The Gospels of Mark, Matthew, and Luke—the “Synoptic” gospels—are traditionally understood as eyewitness accounts of the life of Jesus. Unpack the textual and historical evidence that they were written long after Jesus’ life. Compare the many similarities and differences between the three accounts, known as the “synoptic problem,” as they offer insight into the complex history of the Bible.

25 min
The (Very Different) Gospel of John

18: The (Very Different) Gospel of John

Investigate the authorship of the Gospel of John, indicated by the text to be an unnamed disciple of Jesus. Explore textual features suggesting that this disciple is a literary figure, not a historical one. Uncover the many conundrums within the text itself, and the significant differences between John and the Synoptic Gospels, which demonstrate its contrasting theological conception of Jesus.

25 min
The Passion Narrative

19: The Passion Narrative

The events of Jesus’ crucifixion and death are told in the Bible in four distinct versions: the four Gospels. See how each Gospel tells the story in a different way, agreeing on the outline of events but offering contrasting details and different theological and thematic features. Observe that the traditional passion narrative we all know is in fact a new story, constructed out of the four.

25 min
Acts: What Came after the Gospels?

20: Acts: What Came after the Gospels?

Uncover the authorship of the book of Acts—the same author who wrote the Luke gospel—and note that Acts functions as a sequel to Luke, recounting what happened after Jesus’ death. In the story of the apostles, Peter, Paul, and others, and their mission to spread the word of Jesus to the gentiles, see how Acts is shaped as an ideological message—a call for the founding of the Christian church.

26 min
The Epistles of Paul (and Others)

21: The Epistles of Paul (and Others)

The Epistles or letters of Paul to the Christian communities of the Near East are the earliest Christian writings and the earliest articulation of Christian theology. Learn why scholars believe that roughly half of them were written by Paul, and the remaining ones were not. Look into the possible origins of the other letters, and what the authors may have aimed for in writing under Paul’s name.

27 min
Revelation: The Apocalypse of John

22: Revelation: The Apocalypse of John

The book of Revelation epitomizes the literary genre of apocalyptic, speaking of the end of time through visions and inscrutable symbols. Trace its traditional attribution to John of the fourth Gospel, and evidence that identifies a different author. Grasp the relation of the text to the terrible oppression of early Christians under Rome, and its vision of a glorious and victorious future.

27 min
Texts That Didn’t Make It into the Bible

23: Texts That Didn’t Make It into the Bible

Early Judaism and Christianity produced numerous religious texts that did not enter the Bible’s canon. Look into intriguing non-canonical texts from early Judaism, which were often preserved by Christians, and Christian texts such as the gnostic writings and the Gospel of Thomas. Note that inclusion in the Bible was not the choice of the books’ authors, but that of later religious authorities.

27 min
A Living Library

24: A Living Library

Conclude with reflections on how we view and read the Bible. Contemplate the Bible as a library—a collection of writings, written for a distant epoch, and built upon, revised, and reinterpreted over time. Remembering that when the texts were written there was no Bible, grasp that what made a text biblical was not its having been written, but its having been read.

29 min

Overview Course No. 60150

From the first centuries CE to the present, the question of who wrote the Bible has fascinated readers, theologians, and scholars. While countless viewpoints have circulated, the matter of who wrote the Bible remains a compelling issue.

In these 24 eye-opening lectures, Professor Baden takes you deeply into the history of both the Hebrew Bible and the New Testament, as you explore essential topics such as:

  • The Foundations of the Torah. Discover that the Bible’s first five books contain four independent and contrasting texts woven together and honoring multiple perspectives on Israel’s relationship with God.
  • The Writing of the Prophets. Learn that the book of Isaiah is composed of two distinct prophetic texts; in Jeremiah, learn about the writing of the book by Baruch, Jeremiah’s scribe.
  • Proverbs and Ecclesiastes. Investigate their attribution to Solomon and note that the books’ wholly divergent worldviews (spiritual wisdom vs. pessimism) demonstrate that the Bible holds disparate and contrasting perspectives at the same time.
  • Chronicles. In this second biblical telling of the history of the Israelites, observe how the writing whitewashes events of the reigns of Israel’s kings, as Chronicles tells Israel’s history from its own vantage point, for its own time.
  • Luke and the Book of Acts. Trace the connections between the writing of the Gospel of Luke and Acts; grasp how the texts recount historical events to communicate something larger—a call for the founding of the Christian church.
  • Revelation. Investigate the identity of “John,” whose name appears as the author of the book. Note the ways in which Revelation offers a vision of divine victory to Christians suffering brutal oppression by Rome.

In shedding light on core questions about the Bible’s writing, Who Wrote the Bible? Searching for Its Origins and Authors offers you a provocative and enlightening look at the creation of this beloved book—a foundational document of our culture and civilization.

About

Joel S. Baden
Joel S. Baden

To search for the authors behind this unique collection is to realize that the Bible is a living text. One that each generation can reinterpret to address the challenges of its own time and place.

INSTITUTION

Yale University

Joel S. Baden is Professor of Hebrew Bible at Yale University and the director of the Center for Continuing Education at Yale Divinity School. He holds a PhD in Hebrew Bible from Harvard University. He is the author of numerous books, including The Composition of the Pentateuch and The Historical David. He has published many scholarly articles and essays and has also written widely for a popular audience, in publications such as The New York Times, The Washington Post, The Atlantic, Slate, the Los Angeles Times, and the Daily Beast.

By This Professor

Who Wrote the Bible? Searching for Its Origins and Authors
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