Resources on authorship of the books

Hello Friends,

I am looking for some resources that might delve into the subject of "Who wrote it?" Are there any good resources that look into the writing style, language, historical factors, tradition, etc. to give us some data on knowing who wrote what? For example, I know of two schools of thought for the Gospel of John - that it was John himself, or one of his students. I'd like to read the evidence for each so that I can at least know where either side is coming from (preferably from a conservative standpoint).

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Comments

JT (alabama24)

Good, exegetical commentaries will tackle this subject, and should provide a bibliography for further study. I don't know of a single resource which covers the entire bible, but there are volumes which tackle certain authors or groups of books. Are you most interested in John, or were you thinking more generally?

Ben Hein

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/472546#Comment_472546

I'm thinking generally. I have plenty of good individual commentary sets that might approach each book individually - WBC, Pillar, IVP, etc....but I'd like to get it all in one place if at all possible.

DMB

I kind of agree with Alabama, since inevitably a considerable amount of evidence has to be lodged at the problem.

IF there were such a book, and IF it was objective, it'd probably be quite popular and very useful. Most of them are of the variety 'Matthew wrote Matthew and here's his style' vs 'Here's a writing called Matthew, and here's its layers of tradition'.

Yesterday I ended up in Obadiah, and I thought, well this'll be easy. Obadiah wrote Obadiah. Seven commentaries later, it still wasn't clear who or when someone wrote Obadiah.

You indicate you prefer a conservative viewpoint. Is it of any theological significance that te writing known as 'John' doesn't identify its author?

Kevin Maples

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/472556#Comment_472556

I would start with surveys. Like D.A. Carson intro to NT. Temper longman, intro to OT. They will give you a snapshot. Then you can go to commentaries for more info on certain books.

Ben Hein

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/472556#Comment_472556

You indicate you prefer a conservative viewpoint. Is it of any theological significance that te writing known as 'John' doesn't identify its author?

I think it would provide some theological significance, as for the example of John, I feel the numerous references to "the one whom Jesus loved", etc. in the book would strongly point to a John authorship. Those who might throw out John's authorship I would be tempted to say are loosely toying with scripture, however I'd want to weigh on their arguments before I'd say such a thing.

Robert J Smith

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/472565#Comment_472565

Bible Handbooks also cover that type of general information for the entire Bible. Such as:

The New Unger's Bible Handbook - http://www.logos.com/product/4502/the-new-ungers-bible-handbook

Willmington's Bible Handbook - http://www.logos.com/product/1766/willmingtons-bible-handbook

Kevin Maples

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/472586#Comment_472586

Willmington's Bible Handbook - http://www.logos.com/product/1766/willmingtons-bible-handbook

I really like this one. Good suggestion.

Unix

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/472591#Comment_472591

I often use the end-of-2011 Oxford Encyclopedia of the Books of the Bible. It's not in any Bible study software. Edited by Coogan.