Misquoting Jesus with Bart Ehrman The Wild Wild West of Early Christianity
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Jun 17, 2025 Paula Fredrickson, a former professor at Boston University now teaching at the Hebrew University, shares her insights into early Christianity's chaotic origins. She dives into the interplay of competing beliefs, hidden gospels, and theological squabbles that defined the first 500 years. From the grumpy Church Fathers to the colorful world of pagan interactions, Fredrickson reveals that Christian diversity is not a modern issue but rather deeply rooted in history. This witty conversation offers a fresh perspective on the bickering yet beautiful family tree of Christian thought.
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Diversity in the New Testament
- The New Testament shows significant diversity with contentious debates among early Christians about beliefs and practices.
- Different gospels offer conflicting narratives, reflecting varied theological perspectives from the first centuries.
Impact of Non-Canonical Texts
- Non-canonical Christian texts reveal even greater diversity in early Christianity beyond the New Testament.
- These excluded texts were often denounced by church fathers but indicate widespread and varied Christian beliefs.
Church Fathers' Truth Exclusivity
- Early church fathers aggressively defended their version of Christian truth, viewing competing beliefs as false.
- This exclusivity mirrors similar philosophical battles about truth in the pagan world.
