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THE AUTHORSHIP OF DEUTERONOMY
FRIDAY, JULY 2
Deuteronomy 1:1-5

Matthew 4:4

 

“…Man shall not live by bread alone,
but by every word that proceedeth

out of the mouth of God.”

 

THE AUTHORSHIP OF DEUTERONOMY
 
The authorship of any book of the Bible has a bearing on its authenticity and also its inspiration. The authorship of Moses has been attacked by liberal critics. They usually argue that it was written by an unknown writer in the seventh century BC, i.e. about the time of King Josiah, and that Josiah used it to bring about reforms.
 
The arguments against Mosaic authorship are not valid because there are external and internal evidences that the book is the work of Moses. The following is from The Open Bible introductory notes: “The Old Testament attributes Deuteronomy and the rest of the Pentateuch to Moses (see Joshua 1:7; Judges 3:4; 1 Kings 2:3; 2 Kings 14:6; Ezra 3:2; Nehemiah 1:7; Psalm 103:7; Daniel 9:11; Malachi 4:4). Evidence from Joshua and 1 Samuel indicates that these laws existed in the form of codified written statutes and exerted an influence on the Israelites in Canaan. … Christ quotes it as God’s Word in turning back Satan’s three temptations (Matthew 4:4, 7, 10) and attributes it directly to Moses (Matthew 19:7-9; Mark 7:10; Luke 20:28; John 5:45-47). Deuteronomy is cited more than eighty times in seventeen of the twenty-seven New Testament books. These citations support the Mosaic authorship (see Acts 3:22; Romans 10:19). … Deuteronomy includes about forty claims that Moses wrote it. Read Deuteronomy 31:24-26… Deuteronomy fits the time of Moses, not Josiah…”
 
There are other passages that assert Mosaic authorship. The messages were delivered in the plains of Moab, east of Jericho, across River Jordan. Moses died at Mt Nebo thereafter. The book is not written in chronological order. It covers about one month and was written at the end of the forty-year period in the wilderness. It was written to encourage the people to believe and obey God so as to receive His blessings. The circumstances of its delivery tells that it is no doubt the Word of God written by inspiration of the Holy Spirit. Let us uphold its credibility.
 
THOUGHT: All words of Scripture are God’s words, down to the last dot.

PRAYER: Father, may I believe and uphold all Thy words.

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