About the First Five Books

What are the first five books of the Bible together called? Who wrote them? How do we know who wrote them? What is written about in those first five books?

NAMES FOR THE FIRST FIVE BOOKS

There are a number of different names that are commonly used to designate the first five books of the Old Testament. They are sometimes called the Pentateuch. This name comes from two Greek words that mean the "five volumes." These five books (Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, and Deuteronomy) are also called the Law. The Hebrew name for them is the Torah, the Hebrew word for "law." They are also called The Law of Moses or The Five Books of Moses.

WHO WROTE THE PENTATEUCH?

The human author of the Pentateuch was Moses. There is no introduction to the Pentateuch that tells us this directly. However, the following evidence shows us clearly that Moses is the author.

  1. EVIDENCE FROM THE REST OF THE PENTATEUCH: In a number of verses from books of the Pentateuch we are told that Moses wrote down what God had directed him to write. Look up these passages - [Exodus 24:4] [Exodus 34:27] [Numbers 33:1-2] [Deuteronomy 31:9]

  2. EVIDENCE FROM THE REST OF THE OLD TESTAMENT: Other books of the Old Testament besides the Pentateuch speak of Moses being the author of the Pentateuch. See these passages - [Joshua 8:31] [2 Kings 14:6] [Nehemiah 8:1].  There are many more such passages in the Old Testament which clearly speak of the Mosaic authorship of the first five books of the Old Testament.

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