Shinobi

In "Demon Haunted World" Carl Sagan mentions that the Deuteronomy book was forged. Does anyone know of other biblical books that were forged? Is the whole bible forged?

Peter Kirby

I think that the following books of the NT are likely pseudonymous:

Ephesians
2 Thessalonians
1 Timothy
2 Timothy
Titus
James
1 Peter
2 Peter
Jude

Some books are anonymous but given incorrect attribution, such as the Gospel of Matthew.

For information on these books of the NT, see Early Christian Writings.

Others, of course, disagree.

best,
Peter Kirby

Celsus

With respect to Deuteronomy, the consensus is that it was written under the court of King Josiah c. 621 BCE, who "rediscovered" this book of the Law. As for the rest of the Old Testament, no one actually knows who wrote any of the books (except for some of the extremely late ones like Sirach). They may well trace back to their namesakes, but there is no way to prove it one way or another. For books like Joel or Amos though, if Joel and Amos didn't write it, then one of their followers probably did. For books like Daniel however, there is absolutely no evidence that Daniel existed, let alone wrote the sources for the book. Ditto Esther and other Hellenistic works.

Joel

CX

I read Demon Haunted World several years ago, but I don't remember this assertion. Forged in what sense? The name itself means "second law" (DEUTEROS NOMOS). It was, according to tradition, "discovered" in the temple (sort of like the Book of Mormon). Some, like Israel Finkelstein, take this to mean that it's discoverers were actually its authors, but ultimately this is unproveable either way.

Vinnie

Since asked to weigh in, I find Kirby's list for the NT to be pretty accurate.

I am much less studied in the OT but I don't think Moses wrote the first five books

Vinnie