Below are the critical observations made by various scholars on the Testaments. It appears that while most scholars agree on the original language and approximate dating of the translated Testaments, there is disagreement about the Messiah in regards His identity and role. In the introduction to his book, Sinker indicates that the Testaments are "the utterances of the dying patriarchs, the sons of Jacob." He states that "they give some account of their lives, embodying particulars not found in the scriptural account, and build thereupon various moral precepts for the guidance of their descendants." Sinker goes on to say that the book's nature is Apocalyptic for the patriarchs forsee their children doing wickedly due to their being "stained with the sins of every nation," and the patriarc