Who Wrote the Bible?

This 100+-minute documentary represents a quest by British theological scholar Robert Beckford to put the derivation and composition of the Bible into perspective for viewers of this Channel 4 (UK) presentation. He seeks to answer questions about how the books of the Bible were written, by whom, in what social and political context, and in what sequence. To what extent were they historically accurate? Were historical discrepancies material to their credibility and to Judeo-Christian traditions? Naturally, he starts with the first five books of the Old Testament, the Pentateuch (Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, and Deuteronomy), all of which were supposedly written by Moses.

His coverage of the remaining books in the OT is less exhaustive, but he examines the four Gospels as closely as he does the Pentateuch. His comments on Saul of Tarsus, later known as the apostle Paul (who wrote the bulk of the NT), highlight the issues and ambiguities surrounding the rise of early Christianity.

Beckford visits the Holy Land, Europe, the UK, and the USA in order to situate ancient Biblical sites, temples, churches, and museums, where he interviews Jewish, Christian, and Islamic scholars, believers, and practitioners. His style is infectiously engaging (indeed, distractingly impassioned at times), and his commentary nuanced and articulate. He is, for the most part, a pleasure to listen to.

But depictions of Beckford's comings and goings became tedious about mid-way through the film. Endlessly recurring shots of Beckford in cars, trucks, planes, and afoot — transporting himself from one backdrop locale to another, presumably to emphasize to what lengths he had gone to conduct his research first-hand — wound up calling more attention to the huge carbon footprint he was leaving than to his assiduity. Though he seldom revealed how much he himself took Biblical narrative to heart, he did steer suspiciously clear of scripture alluding to the exceptional warmth of Carbon-Emitters' Hell.

Of necessity, too, given the visual format and the imperatives of television, he could not go into as much depth as one might have wished (e.g., the development of the King James Bible). Doubtless he was entirely capable of doing so.

Still, because the Bible is so central to world culture, for non-scholars who are curious about the Bible as historical or literary artifact, or those here below who merely seek a more complete overview, this documentary is worth the investment of time. The interviews themselves are well structured and tightly edited. Viewers leave it with greater awareness of Biblical chronology and controversies — if not with as many crisp, definitive answers as the opening sequences lead them to expect.

This film is what a Christian should refer to as the Antichrist. The commentary is completely one sided as expected of liberal academia forcing their demonic and Godless worldview on impressionable young minds. The Old Testament is oral history and is Hebrew. The New Testament is literally the words of Jesus Christ as relayed by the apostles. The Holy Trinity is real and any person who truly gives themselves to the Lord, and accepts the FACT that Jesus is God ( The Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit are one, and when Jesus left after forty days he promised "the Comforter" would remain, which is the Holy Spirit, which is the voice of God you discern or hear. Academia can try to prove all the so called and disputable facts they want, but Faith means believing in what cannot be seen. Reject this film and review it as such if you do believe in Our Lord Jesus Christ because it is blasphemy.

I remember my Sunday School days, and listening to the lessons by whatever instructor we had on that particular Sunday, and being being bored out of my skull, and thinking how great it would be if I could go home and watch that Godzilla movie, or go ride my bike down the street. I wanted to be doing something that was a little more engaging than pasting two plastic pieces together to make a crucifix.

As you might guess I didn't much buy into any of the history established by the bible. That's not to discount a lot of the forward thinking philosophies of how to better treat one's fellow human being that are written therein, but a lot of the stories made me scratch my head. As a historical document, one conveying factual accounts of what happened, the best biblical scholars believe the bible to be hit and miss, though its more ardent supporters will remain staunch in their convictions.

Doctor Robert Beckford tries to approach the authorship and purpose of the bible's writings in a very heartfelt and informative way. He's not seeking the destruction of Christian philosophy, but is in earnest of discovering how the main proliferator of the faith (the Bible itself) came into its present form, and whether there might or might not be something missing, or perhaps has malformed or mishapped the writings of Christianity.

Who was the primary author? Was there more than one author? And if so, then who were they? What were their thoughts? Why did they include certain things and exclude others? Why are some of the passages in the bible seemingly contradictory in terms of authorship? Dr. Beckford, a devout Christian and Theologian, like the devout scholar that he is, searches for the answers. Like an archaeologist trying to piece together fragments of pottery from some ancient civilization, Dr. Beckford asks the experts on the biblical writings what they know, and compares notes.

The result is a very compelling and engaging documentary that takes us from the origins of the first writings scrawled out in the deserts of the Sinai, up through the Roman Empire, to Great Britain, and finally, the United States. The additions, truncations, spin, and various iterations of stories passed down through the generations, are interwoven into what is known, here in the United States, as the "King James".

Questions regarding the exclusion of Mary of Magdalen, the Dead Sea Scrolls, the political and social forces that pushed and pulled against one another to ultimately shape and form the book that we know today, are explored. Not in great depth mind you, but to a degree of thoroughness that allows the viewer to follow with their own pursuits should they find themselves stirred or otherwise motivated to do more research.

Beckford's style is engaging. But more importantly, it is non-judgmental even though Beckford himself, as clearly stated in his program, has his own devout beliefs. It was his goal to help negotiate an understanding between his devout faith and his scholarly side, and to share that with millions more who struggle with the same questions regarding the fashioning of the bible, and the issues that arise from some of its more puzzling aspects. In this, Dr. Beckford has achieved his goal with flying colors.

Whether you're a devout believer or an atheistic cynic, this program is for you. Whether you're a Christian, Muslim, Jew, or even Hindu, Shinto, Wiccan, or pursue some other deity, this program will allow you to see for yourself the fascinating story behind the creation of the bible. It will educate the viewer, and will help shed light on issues that Christians and non-Christians alike struggle with when it comes to their faith.

Enjoy :-)