CS1 - So who "signed" the texts of the Bible? Exactly how is "one's mind renewed by the Word of God given that almost no two Christian groups agree on what that means? Why do you say 66 books. 1.5 billion Christians believe there are 73 books and a smaller but much older group of Christians say there are 83 books. Please suggest who is "right and who is wrong." Archeological findings indicate that the Book of Joshua is virtually all fiction. There is no evidence of massive invasion or massive destruction of Jericho as it was destroyed by earthquakes long before any potential attack. Archeology and paleography demonstrate there was no ability to write literary Hebrew until the 8th century. Thus this is long after these people could have "written" anything "biblical" Those who lived long before any Hebrew literary writing could have happened include:
Only a few other proto-Hebrew inscriptions have been found, and they date from around 1,100 BC. However, there is no archeological evidence that the those living in Canaan had the ability to write literary Hebrew. Textural experts see archaic spellings and letter types indicating there is reason to believe that by 780 BC or so, literary writing was a possibility. This was about 200 years or more after the life and times of important characters. The Kings, Prophets and Judges that lived before the invention of literary writing include:
Patriarchs & Leaders
Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Moses, Joshua
Kings of Judah - Southern
Saul, David, Solomon, Rehoboam, Abijah, Asa, Jehoshaphat, Jehoram, Ahaziah, Athaliah, Jehoash
Kings of Israel – Northern
Jeroboam I (founder), Nadab, Baasha, Elah, Zimri, Tibni, Omri, Ahab, Ahaziah, Joram, Jehu, Jehoahaz, Jehoash (Joash)
Prophets – North and South
Elijah, Elisha, Amos, Jonah, Hosea, Joel, Isiah & Mica lived on the cusp of literary Hebrew
Judges (saviors)
Othniel, Ehud, Shamgar, Deborah, Gideon, Tola, Jair, Jephthah, Ibzan, Elon, Abdon, Samson, Eli, Samuel, Joel, Abiah, Amariah and Zebadiah, Abimelech
Additionally, from an archeological perspective Egypt ruled Canaan from about 1,500 BC until abou 1,200 BC when the great Bronze Age collapse happened and Egypt retreated Canaan to fight the sea people. By 1100 BC Egypt was back in control of Canaan. The Egyptians put a group of Sea People on their northern coast around 1150 BD they became known as the Philistines. Detailed archeological studies have demonstrated there was a large migration into the highlands of Israel of several thousands of people. There were a few hundred new villages of about 600 people per village. Thus there no evidence of millions of Israelites invading during this period. Egypt quickly regained control of Canaan by 1,100. In Genesis 13:17-18 “When Pharaoh released the people, God did not lead them by the way to the land of the Philistines, although that was nearby, for God said, “Lest the people change their minds and return to Egypt when they experience war.” So God brought the people around by the way of the desert to the Red" The Philistines did not arrive in Canaan until 1150 at the earliest yet God is warning the fleeing Israelites to avoid the Philistines. Using this clue, there is no archeological, paleontological or epigraphical evidence for Moses and his millions.