Let’s step back to start with why does it matter who wrote Genesis, or any book of the Bible for that matter. As we try to study the Bible, we are encouraged not to believe everything written in it; even from pastors, teachers, and scholars. Even many of the Bible commentaries and Study Bibles’ notes have comments about myths or cultural traditions that cause us to doubt the Word of God. Doesn’t it seem odd that there should be notes and comments that seemingly undermine the very authority and word of Scripture? Yet there they are.
And where does that leave us as Christians? No, I believe… but Genesis might not be an actual account of history, it’s probably meditphorical. No, no, I believe the Word of God, but there are parts of Daniel that were written after the fact, they’re not really prophecies. Nor Isaiah. There may be no way to know when the Gospels were written, or maybe Paul didn’t write all the letters that are attributed to him. Slowly doubt creeps into everything we believe until the Bible is nothing more than a religious book of moral stories, not actual events, just stories to teach us. Not the truth, just stories.
If they are just stories, then why did Jesus have to die? In the light of some moral fabrications, Jesus’ suffering and death seem inhumane and pointless. And who would want to love an “all loving” God that promotes such atrocities?
And if they are just stories, how can we cling to Jesus’ payment on the cross for our sins? If everything else in the Bible are just stories, what about the atonement? We believe that we’re saved because of what Jesus did on the cross, but who’s to say that isn’t just a story as well? Paul talks about this in 1 Corinthians (15:19; ESV): If in Christ we have hope in this life only, we are of all people most to be pitied. But Paul continues to make a case that we have hope because Christ rose from the dead, it’s not just a story! Whew!
The very basis of our faith and redemption starts with the truth of God’s Word!
That being said, there are a couple of thoughts as to who wrote Genesis: The first being what is called the Documentary Hypothesis. This belief has a number of unknown writers and editors, compiling and editing old legends and traditions, and then circulating them as written by Moses. They justify this view based on peculiarities of language and style, references to customs and cultures, and other internal evidences which seems to suggest a somewhat “patchwork” construction to the book.
The second belief is the historically traditional view of Jewish scribes and Christian fathers that Moses did actually write the first five books, in this case specifically Genesis. The first five books of the Bible—Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, and Deuteronomy—are called the Law of Moses. Jesus Himself holds this view in Luke: And beginning at Moses and all the Prophets, He expounded to them in all the Scripture the things concerning Himself (Luke 24:27; NKJV). Then He said to them, “These are the words which I spoke to you while I was still with you, that all things must be fulfilled which were written in the Law of Moses and the Prophets and the Psalms concerning Me” (Luke 24:44; NKJV). Jesus also said in John (5:45-47; NKJV), “Do not think that I shall accuse you to the Father; there is one who accuses you—Moses, in whom you trust. For if you believed Moses, you would believe Me; for he wrote about Me. But if you do not believe his writings, how will you believe My words?”
This is where we all have to ask ourselves: “Do we believe Jesus? Can we trust what He says?” The politically correct answer as a Christian is “yes!” But we need to examine ourselves to make sure we, ourselves, believe Jesus’ words are true, and have not just accepted it as a vain platitude.
Something to keep in mind when any doubt about the Bible arises: The devil, Satan, doesn’t want us to believe the Word of God. He doesn’t have to get us to believe there is no God, but doubt what God says. We see this strategy evidenced in the Garden of Eden: And he said to the woman, “Has God indeed said…” (Genesis 3:1; NKJV). It’s Satan’s oldest trick!
And it works! Doubt is powerful and crippling. Even in our justice system, we have guilty beyond reasonable doubt. When we have doubt about doing something, we tend to follow-through half-heartedly, right? What could be more crippling than doubting the Word of God?
But we know the Bible was written under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit because it is written: For no prophecy was ever produced by the will of man, but men spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit (2 Peter 1:21; ESV). And, All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness (2 Timothy 3:16; ESV).
With all that, what is the verdict? Based on the testimony of Jesus Christ, Moses did indeed write Genesis, and Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, and Deuteronomy!
Trust in the Word of God, believe in Him with all your heart, and “just stand up.”