FREE ESSAY ON NOT WHO WROTE IT BUT WHAT GETS ACRROSS

NOT WHO WROTE IT BUT WHAT GETS ACRROSS

In order to understand how the Pentateuch came to be we must take in account the culture
of the author, or perhaps more appropriately, the authors. In the ancient times, writers
were characterized by the nonentity of their writings. Instead of concerning themselves
with minute details, they focused on the moral implications of the events involved. The
same can be said about the foundation of the Catholicism, which is the connection of
Scripture and Tradition in order to understand the true implications of the Word of God.
Applying this theory to the reading and composition of the Pentateuch is crucial
understanding its authorship. Modern writers are more concerned with factual accuracy of
their works-in regard to time and place-as opposed to the message at hand. In our times,
works are done from analysis and then conclusion. Both known and unknown authors wrote
the Bible. These authors were inspired; whether we know who they are is of little
importance.
In a study of ancient texts, it was found that there was not a single name for God. In
fact, such names varied throughout the different texts. Mosaic means a mixture,
assortment, or a variety of. But Mosaic in terms of authorship explains the use of the
different divine names of God in some texts called Elohim and in others as Yahweh. The
books of the bible are composed of a large number of pieces knitted together to structure
one divine truth. A simple reading of Genesis easily shows the truth of the Word and the
impossibility of single authorship.
Evidence that Moses could not have of written all the texts in the Pentateuch is evident
to the reader, and instead, many different writers made contributions to the writings. An
example of this would be the number of animals Noah took into the ark. In Gen. 6:19
"...from all living creatures, from all living things. You must take two of each kind
aboard the ark...". Noah is told to take two of every kind of living creature-one male
and one female of every creature. However, Gen. 7:2 reads, "Of every clean animal you
must take seven pairs, a male and it's female...". Seven pairs of clean animals and birds
are required-fourteen of all creatures. Certainly Moses would not of made this mistake if
he were the sole author.
Another problem with crediting Moses as the sole author of the Pentateuch is how he could
have written about his own death. It is clear that a number of authors used notes of
Moses, and gathered other sources, in order to compile these events into the present
texts.
The documentary Hypothesis states that two people are writing about same event at the
same time. In this instance, this is incorrect because one person cannot say that God
ordered for two of each creature to be preserved and then say fourteen of each creatures
would have been brought on the ark with Noah. Therefore, this hypothesis is not
supported. 
The fragmentary hypothesis evaluates that the Pentateuch is composed of a large number of
texts, later compiled by a smaller number of people later. It is told over and over but
once this happens it is rendered void as things can be changed in order to satisfy the
desired effect.
The only logical choice is supplemental hypothesis as it takes into account all of these
variables. The differentiation in terms of the names of God, names of cities, and minute
differences found within the text. The supplemental hypothesis takes the Pentateuch as
fully united group of works. These works are then put together from various sources to
compile one entity or message conveyed to the reader. These are ways that these grouping
of text could have been put together, changes in the divine name, the linguistic usages,
and the diversity of ideas supported by history of scholarship of these texts. 
As I said earlier the importance of understanding the context in which the Pentateuch was
written is crucial to the understanding of the text. Moreover this is demonstrated
through the use of the supplementary hypothesis. Because the texts themselves represent a
larger group of works the importance is not the "accuracy" of the works but the message
it conveys-The Word of God.