#313 — Apocalypse

In this book, Bart Ehrman explores the historical developments that led to the affirmation at the heart of Christianity: Jesus was, and is, God. Ehrman reveals how Jesus’s divinity became dogma in the first few centuries of the early church. The book sketches Jesus’s transformation from a human prophet to the Son of God exalted to divine status at his resurrection, highlighting the visions of Jesus’s followers after his death as a crucial factor in this transformation. Ehrman’s work is based on eight years of research and is written for both secular historians of religion and believers alike.

Bart Ehrman's "The Triumph of Christianity" delves into the historical factors that contributed to the religion's dominance. Ehrman examines the social, political, and religious landscape of the Roman Empire, analyzing the interplay of various factors that led to Christianity's success. He explores the role of missionary activity, the exclusivity of Christian beliefs, and the impact of social networks in spreading the faith. The book also addresses the common misconceptions surrounding Constantine's role in the rise of Christianity. Ehrman's work is known for its rigorous historical analysis and accessible style.

In 'Misquoting Jesus', Bart D. Ehrman provides a detailed account of the textual criticism of the New Testament. He explains how the earliest surviving manuscripts of the Bible were copied by hand, often by amateur scribes, and how these copies introduced various textual variants. Ehrman discusses both accidental and intentional changes made to the manuscripts, including alterations to de-emphasize the role of women in the early church, to harmonize different portrayals of Jesus, and to oppose certain heresies. The book also includes Ehrman's personal reflections on how his study of Greek manuscripts led him to abandon his ultra-conservative views of the Bible. Despite the variations, Ehrman and other scholars agree that these changes do not affect the essential Christian beliefs.