Who wrote the Bible?

Quick answer

God is the ultimate Author of the Bible and used humans to accomplish His work.

WHAT DOES THE BIBLE SAY?

God is the ultimate Author of the Bible, using about forty human writers—Moses, David, Solomon, Matthew, Luke, Paul, Peter, etc.—over 1,500 years to record His inspired words. Both the Old and New Testaments affirm that Scripture is God’s Word, breathed out by Him and written down by people who were carried along by the Holy Spirit (2 Peter 1:21). While individual authors’ personalities and styles appear in the Bible, God directed every story, sentence, and word to reveal His heart and plan for humanity. Knowing this, we should read the Bible, not just for information, but for transformation, allowing God’s truth to shape our lives. Regular engagement with Scripture deepens our faith, guides us through life, and draws us into a personal relationship with God.

FROM THE OLD TESTAMENT

More than 400 times, the Bible attributes words directly to God Himself (e.g., Exodus 20:1; Deuteronomy 5:4; Psalm 12:6; Isaiah 55:11).
The Bible also identifies itself as the Word of God dozens of times (e.g., Psalm 119; Proverbs 30:5; Isaiah 40:8; 55:11; Jeremiah 23:29).
The Word of God is said to proceed from the mouth of God in Deuteronomy 8:3.

FROM THE NEW TESTAMENT

Though the Bible had about forty "authors" during the 1,500 years it took to write, it was God Himself who inspired, or instructed, those people to write what they wrote. "All Scripture is breathed out by God," says 2 Timothy 3:16.
The New Testament also identifies the Bible as the Word of God (John 17:17; Romans 10:17; Ephesians 6:17; Hebrews 4:12).
Matthew 4:4 also says that the Word of God proceeds from God’s mouth, meaning He is the author of it.
Many of the men who wrote Scripture were aware of God's work through them. Peter wrote, "For no prophecy was ever produced by the will of man, but men spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit" (2 Peter 1:21).
When Matthew wrote about his time with Jesus, he was writing from memory. But even Jesus foretold that the Holy Spirit would help him write it (John 14:26). Matthew's Gospel includes the way Matthew wrote—his vocabulary, grammar, syntax, and style—but it also includes everything God wanted him to record and nothing He did not.
For much of the Bible, we know the individual people God used to pen each book. But for some other portions, such as Hebrews, we do not know. We don't know for sure who wrote it, but we can know that God directed the way it was composed.

IMPLICATIONS FOR TODAY

Theologians say both that God inspired the men who wrote the Bible and that the Bible was written by inspired men of God. When you read the Bible, you can see the individual personalities of each of these people. However, it is also clear that an overarching Director was not only stitching the entire thing together, but directing each of the stories, sentences, and words. When we read the Bible, we are not just reading human ideas or ancient literature, but God’s very Word, spoken to us across time. God’s Word reveals to us who He is and His plan for humanity. The Bible reveals to us God’s heart and purposes.

Knowing this, we should read not just for information, but for transformation—letting God’s truth shape our thoughts, actions, and relationships. Trusting that every word is purposeful, we can rely on the Bible as our guide for wisdom, comfort, and direction in a complex world. By regularly immersing ourselves in God’s Word, we grow in understanding and deepen our faith. Reading the Bible as God’s living Word invites us into a personal relationship with Him and equips us to live faithfully each day.

UNDERSTAND

God is the ultimate Author of the Bible.
God inspired about forty human writers over 1,500 years to record His words.
Because the Bible is God’s inspired Word, we are called to read it, not just for information, but for transformation.

REFLECT

How does knowing that God personally inspired the Bible’s human authors affect the way you approach reading Scripture?
How have you experienced the Bible transforming your thoughts, actions, or relationships when you read it as God’s living Word?
How can you cultivate a deeper trust that every word in the Bible is purposeful and relevant for your life today?

ENGAGE

How do the individual personalities and styles of the Bible’s human authors enhance or challenge your understanding of Scripture as God’s Word?
What practical steps can we take to ensure we read the Bible, not just for information, but for real transformation in our daily lives?
How does the idea of an “overarching Director” shaping the writing of the Bible influence our view of Scripture’s authority and reliability?