Documentary hypothesis: Difference between revisions

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{{see also|Authors of the Bible}}
{{see also|Authors of the Bible}}
The Documentary Hypothesis was originated by [[Julius Wellhausen]] in 1876, with his work, ''Die Komposition Des Hexateuch in Der Jungsten Diskussion''.<ref>McKim, D. (2007). [http://books.google.com/books?id=oFLGroLOKq8C&pg=PA1030&lpg=PA1030 Dictionary of Major Biblical Interpreters]. pp. 130-131.</ref> The hypothesis is based upon the belief that that the Pentateuch is inconsistent in its writing,<ref>Cheyne, T., & Black, J. (Eds.). (1899). "[http://books.google.com/books?id=KuMPAAAAYAAJ&pg=PR24&lpg=PR24#v=onepage&q&f=false Hexateuch]." In Encyclopaedia Biblica (Vol. II, pp. 2045-2058).</ref> and shows signs of multiple authors, rather than one. This has in turn led to the theory that the Pentateuch is the result of four different authors, who supposedly wrote the book centuries later than the Biblical Moses.  As a general framework, the proposed authors are:
The Documentary Hypothesis was originated by [[Julius Wellhausen]] in 1876, with his work, ''Die Komposition Des Hexateuch in Der Jungsten Diskussion''.<ref>McKim, D. (2007). [http://books.google.com/books?id=oFLGroLOKq8C&pg=PA1030&lpg=PA1030 Dictionary of Major Biblical Interpreters]. pp. 130-131.</ref> The hypothesis is based upon the belief that that the Pentateuch is inconsistent in its writing,<ref name=biblica>Cheyne, T., & Black, J. (Eds.). (1899). "[http://books.google.com/books?id=KuMPAAAAYAAJ&pg=PR24&lpg=PR24#v=onepage&q&f=false Hexateuch]." In Encyclopaedia Biblica (Vol. II, pp. 2045-2058).</ref> and shows signs of multiple authors, rather than one. This has in turn led to the theory that the Pentateuch is the result of four different authors, who supposedly wrote the book centuries later than the Biblical Moses.  As a general framework, the proposed authors are:


* J: Yahwist source
* J: Jehovist/Yahwist source
* E: Elohist source
* E: Elohist source
* D: Deuteronomist source
* D: Deuteronomist source
* P: Priestly source:  
* P: Priestly source:


The hypothesis is entirely interpretive, and has no historical evidence supporting claims for sourcing from multiple documents, apart from the analysis of the Bible undertaken by the hypothesis.<ref>
==Traditional Views==
==Traditional Views==
Traditionally, [[Moses]] was considered the author of the [[Pentateuch]] (first 5 books of the Christian [[Bible]] and Jewish [[Tanakh]]. Jewish tradition held that Moses was the author of the Pentateuch.<ref>Hirsch, E.G., & Jacobs, [http://www.jewishencyclopedia.com/view.jsp?artid=176&letter=P Pentateuch]. JewishEncyclopedia.com.</ref> In Deuteronomy 31:24-26 it says Moses wrote the words of the Law in a book, that was then put in the [[Ark of the Covenant]]. In 2 Chronicles 34:14 it says Hilkiah found a book of the Law of the Lord given by Moses and the book of Nehemiah<ref>The Bible. Nehemiah 8:14; 9:29.</ref> says the Law was given by Moses, a claim repeated in the [[New Testament]]'s Gospel of John.<ref>The Bible. John 8:17.</ref>  
Traditionally, [[Moses]] was considered the author of the [[Pentateuch]] (first 5 books of the Christian [[Bible]] and Jewish [[Tanakh]]. Jewish tradition held that Moses was the author of the Pentateuch.<ref>Hirsch, E.G., & Jacobs, [http://www.jewishencyclopedia.com/view.jsp?artid=176&letter=P Pentateuch]. JewishEncyclopedia.com.</ref> In Deuteronomy 31:24-26 it says Moses wrote the words of the Law in a book, that was then put in the [[Ark of the Covenant]]. In 2 Chronicles 34:14 it says Hilkiah found a book of the Law of the Lord given by Moses and the book of Nehemiah<ref>The Bible. Nehemiah 8:14; 9:29.</ref> says the Law was given by Moses, a claim repeated in the [[New Testament]]'s Gospel of John.<ref>The Bible. John 8:17.</ref>  
==Alleged Inconsistencies==
As the basis for the hypothesizing, and upon which the assumption is made that the Pentateuch could be of Mosaic authorship, are a number of alleged inconsistencies, including:
* Genesis 1&2: The criticism is that two conflicting stories called [[doublets]], separate accounts, are presented in the beginning chapters of Genesis.<ref name=biblica />
* Genesis 20&26:<ref name=biblica />
==Criticism==
==Criticism==
Rabbi Dovid Gottlieb<ref>Gottlieb, D. [http://www.dovidgottlieb.com/comments/Who_Wrote_The_Bible.htm Who Wrote the Bible? - Critique].</ref> 


==German Influence==
==German Influence==

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See also: Authors of the Bible

The Documentary Hypothesis was originated by Julius Wellhausen in 1876, with his work, Die Komposition Des Hexateuch in Der Jungsten Diskussion.[1] The hypothesis is based upon the belief that that the Pentateuch is inconsistent in its writing,[2] and shows signs of multiple authors, rather than one. This has in turn led to the theory that the Pentateuch is the result of four different authors, who supposedly wrote the book centuries later than the Biblical Moses. As a general framework, the proposed authors are:

  • J: Jehovist/Yahwist source
  • E: Elohist source
  • D: Deuteronomist source
  • P: Priestly source:

The hypothesis is entirely interpretive, and has no historical evidence supporting claims for sourcing from multiple documents, apart from the analysis of the Bible undertaken by the hypothesis.Cite error: Closing </ref> missing for <ref> tag In Deuteronomy 31:24-26 it says Moses wrote the words of the Law in a book, that was then put in the Ark of the Covenant. In 2 Chronicles 34:14 it says Hilkiah found a book of the Law of the Lord given by Moses and the book of Nehemiah[3] says the Law was given by Moses, a claim repeated in the New Testament's Gospel of John.[4]

Alleged Inconsistencies

As the basis for the hypothesizing, and upon which the assumption is made that the Pentateuch could be of Mosaic authorship, are a number of alleged inconsistencies, including:

  • Genesis 1&2: The criticism is that two conflicting stories called doublets, separate accounts, are presented in the beginning chapters of Genesis.[2]
  • Genesis 20&26:[2]

Criticism

Rabbi Dovid Gottlieb[5]

German Influence

See also: Alfred Rosenberg and Positive Christianity

Like the Q Source hypothesis claimed by critical scholars to have been used as a basis by the authors of the Mark and Luke Gospels, (see Johannes Weiss, Christian Hermann Weisse and Friedrich Schleiermacher), the Documentary Hypothesis found its roots in 19th century Germany, where it would ultimately be popularized by Nazi Germany during the Holocaust, as noted by author Ken Collins:

"The Nazis, borrowing from the growing scholarly consensus that the Torah consisted of myth and legend, used this scholarly climate to invalidate both Judaism and the Old Testament. The Nazis promoted a revised form of Christianity called Deutsches Christentum, in which they replaced the Old Testament with Germanic myths and legends. Deutsches Christentum never caught on with the public, but since it epitomized the beliefs of the leadership of the Nazi party, it contributed to the martyrdom of a number of famous German Christians."[6]

References

  1. McKim, D. (2007). Dictionary of Major Biblical Interpreters. pp. 130-131.
  2. 2.0 2.1 2.2 Cheyne, T., & Black, J. (Eds.). (1899). "Hexateuch." In Encyclopaedia Biblica (Vol. II, pp. 2045-2058).
  3. The Bible. Nehemiah 8:14; 9:29.
  4. The Bible. John 8:17.
  5. Gottlieb, D. Who Wrote the Bible? - Critique.
  6. Collins, Ken (1993). The Torah in Modern Scholarship. www.kencollins.com. Retrieved on 2011-03-12.Robinson, B.A. (2007-08-21). [http://www.religioustolerance.org/chr_tora1.htm The Documentary Hypothesis on the identity of the Pentateuch's authors]. ReligiousTolerance.org. Retrieved on 2011-03-12.