WHEN WAS IT WRITTEN AND BY WHOM?
The author of the Book of Joshua is attributed to Joshua. Joshua was probably written in the period between 1405 B.C. and 1390 B.C.
The author of the Book of Judges is unknown, but talmudic tradition attributes Judges to Samuel. Judges was probably written between 1043B.C. and 1015B.C.
The author of the Book of Ruth is unknown, but some scholars attribute Ruth to Samuel, as well. The time period within which it was written is also unknown.
The author of 1 and 2 Samuel is unknown, but the talmudic tradition says that it was written by Samuel. 1 Chronicles 29:29 refers to “the Book of Samuel the Seer” “the Book of Nathan the Prophet" and “the Book of Gad the Seer”, which seems to suggest that all three men contributed to these two books. If Samuel wrote the materials in the first twenty-four chapters, he did so soon before his death in 1015B.C. The books of Samuel ends in the last days of David; so they must have been compiled after 971B.C.
The author of the Books of 1 and 2 Kings is unknown, but evidence supports the talmudic tradition that 1 and 2 Kings were written by the prophet Jeremiah. 1 and 2 Kings were probably written between 971B.C. and 851B.C.
The text of 1 and 2 Chronicles does not identify the author, but evidence supports the talmudic tradition that 1 and 2 Chronicles were written by Ezra. Ezra probably completed 1 and 2 Chronicles between 450B.C. and 430B.C.
The author of the Book of Ezra is attributed to Ezra himself, and much of the book is written in the first person, from Ezra’s point of view. Ezra was probably written between 538B.C. and 473B.C.
The Book of Nehemiah appears to have come from Nehemiah’s personal journals. Some believe that Ezra wrote portions of this book, as well. Nehemiah was probably written between 464B.C. and 423B.C.
The author of the Book of Esther is unkown. Some believe that Mordecai wrote the book, and Ezra and Nehemiah have also been suggested for authorship. Esther was probably written between 486B.C. and 464B.C.
The author of the Book of Job is unknown, and the time period within which it was written is also unknown.
The authorship of almost half of the Book of Psalms is attributed to David. The other half of the book is attributed to many, including Asaph, the sons of Korah, Solomon, Moses, Heman, Ethan and Ezra. The Psalms were probably written in the time span from 1410B.C. to 430B.C.
The Book of Proverbs was most probably authored by Solomon. It is possible that Solomon collected and edited proverbs other than his own. Solomon’s proverbs were written by 931B.C. and his proverbs in chapters 25 - 29 were collected by Hezzekiah about 230 years later.
The author of the Book of Ecclesiastes is Solomon. Ecclesiastes was written about 935B.C.
The Song of Solomon was written by Solomon. The Song of Solomon was written about 965B.C.
The Book of Isaiah was written by Isaiah. Isaiah was probably written between 740B.C. and 681B.C.
The Book of Jeremiah was written by Jeremiah. Jeremiah was probably written between 627B.C. and 580B.C.
The author of the Book of Lamentations is attributed to Jeremiah. Lamentations was probably written at the beginning of the Exile in 588B.C. to about 586B.C.
The author of the Book of Ezekiel is attributed to Ezekiel. Ezekiel was probably written between 605B.C. and 565B.C.
Daniel claimed to write the Book of Daniel, and he wrote in the first person from 7:2 onward. Daniel was probably written between 612B.C. and 33B.C.
The Book of Hosea is written by Hosea. Hosea was probably written between 767B.C. and 710B.C.
The Book of Joel is written by the prophet Joel. There are several other Joels in the Bible. The prophet Joel is known only from this book, and he identifies himself as the son of Pethuel. Some think Joel was a priest as well as a prophet. Joel was probably written after the exile, beginning about 722B.C.
The Book of Amos was written by Amos. Amos was probably written between 767B.C. and 755B.C.
The Book of Micah was written by Micah. Micah was probably written between 735B.C. and 710B.C.
The Book of Nahum was written by Nahum. Nahum was probably written between 663B.C. and 612B.C.
The Book of Habakkuk was written by Habakkuk. Habakkuk was probably written about 607B.C.
The Book of Zephaniah was written by Zephaniah. Zephaniah was probably written between 640B.C. and 612B.C.
The Book of Haggai was written by Haggai. Haggai is known only from this book and from two references to him in Ezra 5:1 and 6:14. Haggai was probably written about 520B.C.
The Book of Zechariah was written by Zechariah. Zechariah was probably written about 520B.C.
The Book of Malachi was written by Malachi. Malachi was probably written about 520B.C.
The Book of Matthew was probably written by Matthew. Matthew was probably written between 58A.D. and 68A.D.
The Book of Mark was probably written by Mark. Mark was probably written between 55A.D. and 66A.D.
The Book of Luke was probably written by Luke. Luke was probably written in the early 60’sA.D.
The author of the Book of John is identified only as the disciple “whom Jesus loved” (13:23; 19:26; 20:2; 21:7, 20). John was probably written between 60A.D. and 90A.D.
The author of the Book of Acts was probably Luke. Suggested dates for the writing of Acts range from A.D. 62 to the middle of the second century. Twentieth century archaelological discoveries, however, show that his work should be dated in the first century.
There is some debate, because of different writing styles and different manuscripts written in Latin and Greek., but the Book of Romans was probably written by Paul. Romans was probably written between 64A.D. and 57A.D.
The Books of 1 and 2 Corinthians were written by Paul. 1 and 2 Corinthians were probably written about 56A.D.
The Book of Galations was written by Paul. Galations was probably written about 49A.D.
The Book of Ephesians was written by Paul. Ephesians was probably written about 61A.D.
The Book of Philippians was written by Paul. Philippians was probably written about 51A.D.
The Book of Colossians was written by Paul. Colossians was probably written about 60-61A.D.
The Books of 1 and 2 Thessalonians were written by Paul. 1 and 2 Thessalonians were probably written about 51A.D.
The Books of 1 and 2 Timothy were written by Paul. 1 and 2 Timothy were probably written about 67-64A.D.
The Book of Titus was written by Paul. Titus was probably written about 63A.D.
The Book of Philemon was written by Paul. Philemon was probably written about 60 or 61A.D.
The Book of Hebrews was written by Paul. Hebrews was probably written between 64A.D. and 68A.D.
The author of the Book of James is unknown. There are several James’ mentioned in the manuscripts, but it has been strongly suggested that it was written by James, the brother of Jesus. James was probably written prior to 49A.D.
The Books of 1 and 2 Peter were thought to have been written by Peter, but some have challenged this suggestion, and some have claimed them as forgeries written under the name of Peter. 1 and 2 Peter were probably written between 63A.D. and 66A.D.
The Books of 1, 2 and 3 John were written by the apostle John. 1, 2 and 3 John were probably written prior to 95A.D.
The Book of Jude was probably written by Jude, the brother of Jesus. The author identifies himself as the servant of Jesus Christ and brother of James. Jude was probably written between 66A.D. and 80A.D.
The Book of Revelation is considered an authentic work of the apostle John. Revelation was probably written about 95-96A.D.
It is a miraculous thing to witness so many different authors writing about events not only occuring in their own time, but also prophesying of future events, many of which have already come to pass. Though we may not know the precise dates, or the particular author in all cases, all of the books contained in the Old Testament and the New Testament fit perfectly together, like the pieces of an intricate puzzle, further testifying of their truthfulness and divine inspiration. Many ancient manuscripts, penned in many different languages have been found, and continue to be found, that exactly agree with the writings contained in the books of the Holy Bible. The words in the Bible have life, and each time you read them, you will discover another layer of truth; how marvelous are the works of our Father.
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