What is the Priestly Source in Genesis?

A:

The five different sources believed to have written the first five books of The Bible were all anonymous, but have been given source names by modern scholars in order to facilitate discussion about those sources.

The Priestly Source (also known simply as 'P Source') is believed to have lived during or shortly after the Babylonian Exile, although an earlier view was that he might have lived just prior to the Exile. Although the Priestly Source may be referred to as 'he', this does not rule out the possibility that the Source was a college or group of like-minded persons.

Writings by the Priestly Source can easily be distinguished from those of the Yahwist ('J Source'), Elohist ('E Source') or Deuteronomist ('D Source') on stylistic and theological differences.

P used a comparatively late form of the Hebrew language, had a low level of literary style and focussed on the formal relations between God and society. There is a sense here of justifying the development of a theocracy, as happened after the death of the last king of Judah. The Priestly Source drew on the earlier works of J and E, changing details to suit the priestly point of view and used the names Elohim and El Shaddai to describe a remote and unmerciful God.