Friedman, Richard Elliott

Richard Elliott Friedman is an American biblical scholar and theologian renowned for his groundbreaking work on the Documentary Hypothesis and biblical authorship. His influential book "Who Wrote the Bible?" (1987) brought scholarly theories about the Torah's composite authorship to a general audience, examining how different textual sources (J, E, D, P) were woven together to form the Pentateuch. In "The Bible with Sources Revealed" (2003), Friedman presented the first color-coded translation showing these hypothetical sources within the biblical text itself. His work has significant implications for understanding divine revelation, biblical authority, and the relationship between historical criticism and religious faith. By demonstrating the human dimension of biblical composition, Friedman's scholarship challenges literalist interpretations while opening new avenues for theological reflection on how God might work through human authors and editors across centuries.