God's Ghostwriters: Enslaved Christians and the Making of the Bible

From biblical scholar Candida Moss, an account of how enslaved people created, gave meaning to, and spread the New Testament, shaping Christianity's foundations in subtle and profound ways. For two thousand years, Christian tradition and scholarship have credited New Testament authorship to Matthew, Mark, Luke, John, and Paul. However, behind these named figures were unnamed, enslaved coauthors and collaborators who produced the earliest manuscripts: making parchment, taking dictation, and refining the apostles' words. As Christianity grew, enslaved missionaries traveled across the Mediterranean and along dusty roads to spread the faith to Rome, Spain, North Africa, and into history. These enslaved contributors significantly impacted Christianity's spread, the development of foundational Christian concepts, and the Bible's creation, yet their role has been largely overlooked. The book reveals implications for understanding Christianity and interpreting individual biblical texts, examining how enslaved people shaped the Bible and all of Christianity. Winner of the 2026 Grawemeyer Award in Religion and a 2025 Nautilus Book Awards Silver Winner.