Misquoting Jesus with Bart Ehrman How Did Scribes Change the Gospel of Mark?
Dec 2, 2025
In this engaging discussion, Bart Ehrman, a renowned New Testament scholar and bestselling author, explores the many ways scribes altered the Gospel of Mark. He reveals the fascinating differences among manuscripts, from accidental mistakes to deliberate theological changes. Bart debates the controversies surrounding phrases like 'Son of God' and the reasons behind the non-original longer ending of Mark. Listeners will also gain insight into textual variants that reflect deeper themes, such as the portrayal of Jesus's emotions and the significance of changes in his familial description.
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Bart's Listening And Rereading Habit
- Bart D. Ehrman listens to each new episode every Tuesday while driving to teach his classes.
- He rereads sections of his books occasionally to see what he could improve and learns a lot from revisiting old work.
We Don't Have Mark's Autograph
- We lack the original Gospel of Mark and only have manuscripts beginning ~200 CE, with complete copies only from ~375 CE.
- Combining Greek manuscripts, ancient translations, and church-fathers lets scholars reconstruct what Mark likely wrote in most places.
Reconstruct Texts From Diverse Witnesses
- Use multiple evidence types: Greek manuscripts, early translations (Latin, Syriac, Coptic), and church-father quotations to reconstruct texts.
- Cross-check differing witnesses from varied times and places to increase confidence in original readings.
