The Bible For Normal People [Bible] Episode 308: Bill Schniedewind - The Scribes Who Wrote the Bible
Sep 1, 2025
Bill Schniedewind, a biblical studies professor and director at the UCLA Allen D. Levy Center for Jewish Studies, explores who truly wrote the Bible. He discusses the significance of scribal communities and how they shaped the biblical texts, revealing complexities behind authorship. The conversation also highlights the overlooked contributions of women in ancient scribal practices, emphasizing the need to appreciate diverse voices within scripture. Schniedewind's insights reveal the dynamic and collaborative nature of biblical authorship.
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Authorship Is A Hellenistic Assumption
- Ancient books often lacked named individual authors; the author paradigm is Hellenistic, not ancient Near Eastern.
- Bill Schniedewind argues the Hebrew Bible fits this older model where communities, not single authors, produced texts.
Red Ink Teacher, Black Ink Students
- At Kuntiladajrude excavations teachers wrote in red ink while students copied in black ink, showing classroom practice.
- Schniedewind uses this to demonstrate ancient scribal training mirrors later pedagogical conventions.
Scribal Communities Crafted Scripture
- Scribal communities, trained by apprenticeship, produced and preserved texts rather than lone authors.
- Each community developed its own idiolect and specialized literature that later editors incorporated into the Bible.
