During the course of my travels as a truck driver, I meet all kinds of individuals. One such individual is Tom B., who has a very different view of the Bible than I do. As best as I could understand his position, I responded to his misinterpretation of who wrote the Pentateuch - (Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, and Deuteronomy) - which consists of the first five books of the Bible. .
Tom claims that the five books were written by three different persons and one editor who put them together. I believe along with most Bible scholars, theologians, and historians that Moses wrote the first five books of the Bible.
Tom seems to indicate that the five books, “Show development of religion.” This implies that what is written is not of God with divine authority, but man’s supposition and with no more authority than anyone else’s writing. With Moses as the author, divine authority is established and not any development of religion, but a revelation of God, from God, about Himself. Furthermore, at the end of the book of Deuteronomy we read, “And there arose not a prophet since in Israel like unto Moses whom the Lord knew face to face” (Deut. 34:10).
By claiming that anyone else other than Moses wrote the first five books of the Bible is to deny its divine authority. Jesus said, “If you do not believe Moses’ writing, how will you believe what I say?” (John 5:46, 47). You and your teacher are not only not believing Moses’ writing, but also not believing his authorship. How then will you believe what Jesus has said or that He even said what He did say?
In a written response to Tom, I asked him if he ever repented of his sin and invited Jesus into your heart. I recommended that he do so. The simple sample prayer that I suggested to him to pray is, “Lord Jesus Christ, forgive me of my sin and come into my heart”. Scripture says that whoever shall call on the name of the Lord he shall be saved, Romans 10:13; Joel 2:32.
Getting saved would help in understanding scripture. It also keeps one out of perdition, the Lake of Fire, eternal damnation, and separation from God.
