Who wrote the Torah—and why does it sometimes appear to preserve more than one version of the same story?

This episode explores the Documentary Hypothesis: the influential theory that the Five Books of Moses were formed by weaving together several ancient sources, traditionally known as J, E, D, and P. We examine the Torah’s repeated narratives, changing names for God, different laws, and distinct theological voices—along with what modern scholars still debate about the classic theory.

Rather than treating biblical criticism as an attack on faith, this episode asks a deeper question: Can scripture possess a human history and still remain sacred?