Misquoting Jesus with Bart Ehrman Was Jesus Really Born in Bethlehem?
Dec 10, 2024
Bart Ehrman, a six-time New York Times bestselling author and Bible scholar, joins Megan Lewis to unravel the surprising complexities surrounding Jesus' birth narrative. They discuss the discrepancies between Matthew and Luke's accounts, raising questions about the historical accuracy of Jesus' birthplace in Bethlehem. The duo explores the logistical challenges of Mary’s journey while pregnant, and whether the nativity story serves more as a theological tool rather than an accurate historical account. They invite listeners to rethink traditional nativity tales.
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Bethlehem or Nazareth?
- Matthew's Gospel implies Jesus' family lived in Bethlehem, then relocated to Nazareth.
- This contradicts Luke's narrative where they lived in Nazareth and traveled to Bethlehem for a census.
Contradictory Journeys
- Matthew says Jesus' family fled Bethlehem to Egypt, then to Nazareth.
- Luke claims they returned to Nazareth after a census in Bethlehem.
Census Implausibility
- The census described in Luke is historically inaccurate.
- No empire-wide census occurred under Caesar Augustus, and Quirinius wasn't governor when Herod was king.