Quest 1 - The Documentary Theory of the Pentateuch (JEDP Theory)

JEDP Theory

Belief that the Pentateuch is formed from many documents

Denies authorship of Moses

Other Names of the JEDP Theory

Documentary Theory

Wellhausen School of Theology (Julius Wellhausen)

History of JEDP Theory

Christianity accepted at face value the truthfulness of the Pentateuch

Rise of Deism - acceptance questioned

Deism - Belief

God has started the world and left man alone to run it

Deism - Attitude

Since man is on his own, God did not communicate with him

There is no supernatural revelation

Deism - Result

Man must find humanistic and rationalistic explanations for biblical miracles

Documents of the JEDP Theory

J - Jahwist

E - Elohim

D - Deuteronomist

P - Priestly

Where was the J writer from?

Southern Kingdom (850 B.C.)

Where was the E writer from?

Northern Kingdom (750 B.C.)

Formation of JE

Redactor (editor) joined the two documents around 650 B.C.

Background of P document

As Israel’s religion evolved, authors contributed to Pentateuch by recording the advancement

Date - 570 B.C.

Concern - Israel’s religion holiness code (Leviticus 17-26)

Background of D Document

Josiah’s reform - He and Hilkiah wrote Deuteronomy (D) and said they found it in the temple

Responses to JEDP Theory

It ignores/rejects inspiration

It ignores passages that teach Mosaic authorship

It approaches Scripture from a rationalistic point of view instead of a submission of faith

It uses the evolutionary method of development regarding Scripture

It does not allow the same author to use different names when referring to God

Documents of Moses’ time support Mosaic authorship

Some of the foundational principles of the view are debated

The literary unity of Genesis hampers the view that the book has multiple sources which are tied together by a final redactor

It ignores/rejects

Inspiration

It ignores passages that teach

Mosaic authorship

It approaches Scripture from a rationalistic point of view instead of

a submission of faith

It uses the evolutionary method of development regarding

Scripture

It does not allow the same author to

Use different names when referring to God

Documents of Moses’ time support

Mosaic authorship

Some of the foundational principles of the view are

debated

The literary unity of Genesis hampers the view that

The book has multiple sources which are tied together by a final redactor

Progressive Revelation (Prof’s view)

God reveals himself over a progress of time

Israel’s religion - given intact at Sinai as opposed to evolving over a long period of time