Misquoting Jesus with Bart Ehrman Did Jesus Believe in Heaven?
Feb 25, 2025
In this discussion, Bart Ehrman, a six-time New York Times bestselling author and Bible scholar, delves into Jesus’ perspective on heaven and the afterlife. He contrasts Jesus' beliefs with modern interpretations, exploring whether Jesus would recognize contemporary concepts of eternal paradise. The conversation touches on humanity's fear of death, the evolution of resurrection beliefs in early Christianity, and the significant role of apocalyptic Judaism. Ehrman also examines how the Gospels present varying views on the afterlife, highlighting shifts in theological understanding.
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Jewish Afterlife Beliefs
- Most Jews in Jesus' time believed death was the end, like many non-Jews.
- This dominant view throughout the Hebrew Bible saw humans as unified beings, ending with death.
Apocalyptic Afterlife View
- Apocalyptic Jews, including Jesus, believed in a physical afterlife, not a soul's departure.
- This involved bodily resurrection, with rewards in an earthly kingdom and punishments by destruction.
Jesus' Heaven
- Jesus' concept of heaven involved a resurrected physical body living in a restored paradise on Earth.
- This contrasts with the modern concept of a soul going to heaven, influenced by Greek philosophy.
