Misquoting Jesus with Bart Ehrman Where Was Christianity on its 100th Birthday?
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Sep 17, 2024 Bart Ehrman is a renowned expert in Christianity and its historical context. He dives into the transformation of Christianity a century after Jesus' death, questioning whether it was a small, persecuted group or a widespread movement. The discussion touches on the diversity within early Christianity, conflicts among beliefs, and the evolution of writings. Bart also speculates on how Jesus might react to the profound shifts in his followers' practices and identities, making for a thought-provoking exploration of faith's journey.
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Diverse Christianity 100 Years Post-Jesus
- Christianity 100 years after Jesus was highly diverse with drastically different beliefs and practices among groups.
- Diversity ranged from strict Jewish law followers to groups denying the Jewish God entirely.
Early Christian Population & Spread
- Around the year 130, there were roughly 20,000 to 30,000 Christians mostly within the Roman Empire.
- Christianity was an urban phenomenon with limited influence in rural areas, which made up most of the empire.
Apocalyptic Beliefs in Early Christianity
- Apocalyptic beliefs persisted in some Christian groups but were fading and becoming disputed.
- Disagreements existed on literal vs. metaphorical interpretations of Jesus’ return and the millennium.