Pentateuch Authorship and Post-Exile Worship

The two main theories about who wrote the Pentateuch—the first five books of the Old Testament—are

the Documentary Hypothesis and the Traditional Mosaic authorship. The Documentary

Hypothesis says that the Pentateuch is made up of several different sources, each with its own

style and viewpoint. These sources are called J (Yahwist), E (Elohist), D (Deuteronomist),

and P (Priestly). Over time, editors combined these sources to create the Pentateuch

as we know it. The Traditional Mosaic authorship theory believes that Moses himself

wrote the Pentateuch, inspired by God. This view sees the text as a unified work from one author,

Moses, who recorded God’s laws, history, and teachings.