Many authors wrote the first five books of the bible
Documentary hypothesis
An act of God; something not explainable by natural laws
Miracle
The period of Israel’s history dominated by Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, and Joseph
Patriarchal
When a story’s details help pinpoint its actual historical setting
Situates
When something doesn’t seem to belong to the time period it has been assigned to
Anachronism
Biblical narratives have no historical basis (all fiction)
Biblical nihilism
Biblical narratives, though loosely based on real people or events, are mostly fiction
Biblical minimalism
Researching the author/ source and purpose of biblical texts
Higher criticism