Misquoting Jesus with Bart Ehrman
Faking It: Is the Bible Full of Forgeries?
Nov 15, 2022
Explore the concept of forgery in the New Testament and the moral judgment of forgery in ancient times. Discuss the debate over canonization and authorship, highlighting the tension between historical and theological perspectives. Learn about pseudopigraphy in ancient writings and the importance of identifying forgeries. Discover the importance of open-mindedness, considering different viewpoints, and evaluating historical evidence. Also, get updates on Bart's online courses and explore frustrations in discussions and the current political climate.
45:42
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Quick takeaways
- Pseudopigraphy was a common practice in ancient times, including early Christianity, and the New Testament has books suspected to be pseudopigraphal, highlighting the need to evaluate historical evidence.
- Epictetus' statement about the challenge of changing someone's mind when they are imprisoned by their views is relevant today, demonstrating the importance of considering opposing viewpoints for reasoned conversations and finding common ground based on shared facts.
Deep dives
Pseudopigraphy and Forgeries in the New Testament
Pseudopigraphy, or the practice of writing books under a false name, was widespread in the ancient world, including early Christianity. The New Testament has books that are suspected to be pseudopigraphal, such as 1st and 2nd Timothy and Titus, which many scholars believe were not written by Paul. Ancient authors, including Christian ones, used pseudopigraphy for various reasons, such as gaining credibility or spreading their ideas. The issue of forgery and misattribution is debated among scholars, but it is important to evaluate the historical evidence and not simply dismiss it based on personal beliefs. Further research can be found in Bart Ehrman's book 'Forged' and his blog.
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