Were there different authors of the books of the Bible? Who were the authors?There are two answers to who wrote the Bible. As a divine document, its words ultimately come from God. Second Timothy 3:16 teaches the Bible is God-breathed. Second Peter 1:20-21 reveals, "no prophecy of Scripture comes from someone's own interpretation. 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." God directed the human authors of the Bible, using their own writing styles and personalities to produce the words of His choosing.
The human authors involved include approximately 40 writers of diverse backgrounds and locations over the course of 1,500 years. Isaiah was a prophet, Ezra was a priest, Matthew was a tax collector, John was a fisherman, Moses was a shepherd, and Luke was a physician. Despite such variety, the Bible teaches consistently and without contradiction on a wide range of issues. The authors each present different perspectives, yet they all proclaim the same God and the same singular path of salvation—Jesus Christ (John 3:16; 14:6; Acts 4:12). Some books of the Bible specify their author by name. Below is a list of each book followed by the name of its author and the approximate date of its writing.
Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, Deuteronomy = Moses – 1440-1400 B.C.
Joshua = Joshua - 1350 B.C.
Judges, Ruth, 1 Samuel, 2 Samuel = Samuel/Nathan/Gad - 1000 - 900 B.C.
1 Kings, 2 Kings = Jeremiah - 600 B.C.
1 Chronicles, 2 Chronicles, Ezra, Nehemiah = Ezra - 450 B.C.
Esther = Mordecai - 400 B.C.
Job = Moses? - 1400 B.C. (author and date uncertain)
Psalms = several different authors, approximately half by David around 1000 B.C. (the earliest psalm is from Moses around 1400 B.C.; the latest around 400 B.C.)
Proverbs, Ecclesiastes, Song of Solomon = Solomon - 900 B.C.
Isaiah = Isaiah - 700 B.C.
Jeremiah, Lamentations = Jeremiah - 600 B.C.
Ezekiel = Ezekiel - 550 B.C.
Daniel = Daniel - 550 B.C.
Hosea = Hosea - 750 B.C.
Joel = Joel - 850 B.C.
Amos = Amos - 750 B.C.
Obadiah = Obadiah - 600 B.C.
Jonah = Jonah - 700 B.C.
Micah = Micah - 700 B.C.
Nahum = Nahum - 650 B.C.
Habakkuk = Habakkuk - 600 B.C.
Zephaniah = Zephaniah - 650 B.C.
Haggai = Haggai - 520 B.C.
Zechariah = Zechariah - 500 B.C.
Malachi = Malachi - 430 B.C.
Matthew = Matthew - A.D. 55-70
Mark = John Mark - A.D. 50-65
Luke = Luke - A.D. 60-65
John = John - A.D. 90
Acts = Luke - A.D. 60-65
Romans, 1 Corinthians, 2 Corinthians, Galatians, Ephesians, Philippians, Colossians, 1 Thessalonians, 2 Thessalonians, 1 Timothy, 2 Timothy, Titus, Philemon = Paul - A.D. 50-67
Hebrews = author unknown - A.D. 60s
James = James - A.D. 45-50
1 Peter, 2 Peter = Peter - A.D. 60s
1 John, 2 John, 3 John = John - A.D. 90 (some suggest a pre-A.D. 70 date)
Jude = Jude - A.D. 60
Revelation = John - A.D. 90-96 (some suggest a date prior to A.D. 70)
Is the Bible really the Word of God?
How is the Bible inspired? What does it mean for the Bible to be inspired?
What is the canon of the Bible and how did we get it?
Why are there four Gospels instead of one?
What is the meaning of God-breathed in reference to the Bible?
Truth about the Bible