Ecumenical dialogue is important. One problem in discussions between Christians has been the failure to recognize that each group quotes different Biblical authors. We all know that Paul is a Protestant, for example, but few recognize that Paul himself can be divided between early Paul (hyper-Calvinist) and late Paul (Presbyterian).
Theologians, of course, have long known that Obadiah was a papist, but the rest of us have been clueless. For example, the shift of Jeremiah from Calvinism to Catholicism over the course of his life explains a great deal about the text.
Many problems related to our ignorance of denominational affiliation would be solved if the Biblical players came with a program. I have provided you one with a one sentence reason for the designation. If you need more information you will to wait for Fred Sander’s upcoming tome All The Writers in the Bible and Their Church Homes .
I have tried to use the most mainstream designations, but of course like any work summarizing scholarship these are tentative conclusions
Denominational Affiliation for Writers of the Bible
Moses (if he authored the Pentateuch): Catholic
Why? Central authority figure who likes ritual and many rules, some about sex.
Alternate Theory:
JEPD (if Pentateuch edited):
J: Baptist
Why? Has Seven Day Creation Account and God is often angry, but also likes to eat.
E: Pentecostal
Why? Dislikes J and normal ministers.
P: Seventh Day Adventist
Why? The only mainstream Christian group interested in his work.
D: Orthodox
Why? Adds a bunch of stuff the other authors ignored and refuses to be integrated with the rest.
Joshua: Catholic
Why? Likes crusades and building shrines.
Author of Judges: American Episcopalian
Why? Every man does what is right in his own eyes.
Author of Ruth: Home Church Movement
Why? Book appears to be about religion, but really about getting married.
Samuel: Calvinist
Why? If God hasn’t chosen you or rejects you, you are through.
Court Chronicler: Anglican
Why? Only Christian group interested in sustained sucking up to monarchs.
Ezra: Southern Baptist
Why? Has a great church building program.
Nehemiah: American patriot.
Why? Builds walls.
Esther: Pentecostal
Why? Good looking women leaders.
Mordecai: Pentecostal
Why? Guy willing to work with good looking women leaders.
Job: Calvinist
Why? Stuff happens, don’t complain.
Psalms:
David: Catholic
Why? Monarchical praise band.
Others: Wesleyan
Why? Non-monarchical praise band.
Solomon (Proverbs): Evangelical
Why? Advice fits on church sign.
Solomon (Ecclesiastes): Burned out evangelical
Why? Knew Creator in days of youth, but now writes emo and self-referential one man drama.
Solomon (Song of Solomon):
Alternate Theory for Song of Solomon:
Allegorical Reading: Catholic or Orthodox
Why? It is all about the Church.
Literal Reading: Charismatic
Why? God loves fun!
Isaiah: Evangelical
Why? Because he could find the Gospel anywhere.
Alternate Theory for Isaiah:
Isaiah I: Calvinist
Why? Loved faith and hated his leaders.
Isaiah II: Lutheran
Why? Wrote stuff suitable for organ music.
Isaiah III: Dispensationalist
Why? Cared more about future Israel than present.
Jeremiah (Jeremiah) : Calvinist
Why? Dour.
Jeremiah (Lamentations): Catholic
Why? Sad, but gets a lot of art of it.
Ezekiel: Orthodox
Why? Weird symbols nobody really understands.
Daniel: Dispensationalist
Why? Weird symbols nobody really understands related to the future.
Hosea: Baptist
Why? It is all about second chances.
Jonah: Anglican
Why? Does some good despite himself.
Micah: Calvinist
Why? The news is bad now, but someday it will be better.
Nahum: Wesleyan
Why? Bad cities will be destroyed.
Obadiah: Catholic.
Why? Shortest homily in Christendom.
Habakkuk: Calvinist
Why? Stuff gets destroyed, but the just live by faith.
Zephaniah: Pentecostal
Why? There is a better language coming!
Haggai: Baptist
Why? Urges giving to the building program.
Zachariah: Dispensationalist
Why? Things stink, but when the Messiah comes they will be great!
Malachi: Calvinist
Why? Ends the epoch mad about giving.
New Testament
Matthew: Messianic Jew
Why? Jesus, the Jewish Messiah, let me explain it to you in detail.
Mark: (source of scholarly controversy)
Mark (camp one): Evanglical
Why? Short and action packed message that gets quickly to the good news.
Mark (camp two): Catholic
Why? Short and action packed homily that gets quickly to the Petrine confession.
Luke (Evangelist): Catholic
Why? Cares to name Mary.
Luke (Acts): Pentecostal
Why? Contains praying in tongues, controversy, and missions!
John (Evangelist and Letter Writer): Orthodox
Why? Cares less about details of history than mystic theology.
John (Revelator): Dispensationalist
Why? Action packed focus on the End.
Paul: (Early, see Galations) Hyper-Calvinist
Why? Read it.
Paul: (Middle Period, see Romans) Dutch Reformed
Why? Mellower and more academic Calvinism.
Paul: (Late Period, see II Timothy) Presbyterian
Why? Very mellow and more concerned about heritage than present.
Author of Hebrews: traditional Anglican
Why? Lots of mysterious concepts (angels!) and appropriated pagan vocabulary given Jewish meanings ends up saying what everyone else is saying only in a weird way.
James: Catholic.
Why? Luther hated him.
Peter: (I Peter) Catholic
Why? Uses his authority to straighten out the universal church.
Peter: (II Peter) Evangelical
Why? Realizes there is no way to straighten out the messed up church until Jesus returns.
Jude: Tridentine Catholic
Why? Old school anger and language straightens out the young people.
All the writers of the Apocrypha are either Roman Catholic or Orthodox. Nobody cares which.
Time is short, so I’ll be direct: FIRST THINGS needs you. And we need you by December 31 at 11:59 p.m., when the clock will strike zero. Give now at supportfirstthings.com.
First Things does not hesitate to call out what is bad. Today, there is much to call out. Yet our editors, authors, and readers like you share a greater purpose. And we are guided by a deeper, more enduring hope.
Your gift of $50, $100, or even $250 or more will bring this message of hope to many more people in the new year.
Make your gift now at supportfirstthings.com.
First Things needs you. I’m confident you’ll answer the call.
