Misquoting Jesus with Bart Ehrman

Delve into the challenges Christian scholars face when studying the New Testament, balancing faith and historical analysis. Listen as personal journeys reveal the intricacies of navigating academic rigor alongside personal beliefs. Discover intriguing perspectives from students in religious studies and the evolution of textual criticism from manual to computer-assisted methods. An upcoming conference promises engaging insights from top scholars, while discussions on the influence of bias challenge conventional approaches to biblical texts.

The genius of Luke’s Gospel is frequently overlooked by those who simply breeze through it or assume it is saying the same thing as Matthew and Mark. In fact, it is strikingly different. What especially matters are not so much the contradictions one finds, but the larger picture. Luke has radically edited Mark’s account in places to create a new portrait of Jesus. In this episode we see how he did it and what the end result is. Among other things, when you look carefully at the details of Luke’s account, you find that, unlike the other Gospels, here Jesus does not suffer during his passion and his death does not bring an atonement for sins. These are not minor differences. Why would Luke change the story so significantly? 

This discussion delves into the complex relationship between Jesus' predicted death and Christian belief. Scholars examine whether the Gospels authentically reflect Jesus' own intentions regarding his fate. The conversation highlights the differences among the synoptic Gospels and hints at the theological motivations behind these narratives. It questions whether Jesus truly viewed his death as inevitable or if this notion was shaped by early followers. The implications of these interpretations raise profound questions about the foundations of faith.

Discussing Christianity's growth in the Roman world, the podcast explores the exclusivity and evangelism that set it apart from traditional beliefs. It challenges theories on Christianity's rise, revealing the controversial origins of the New Testament Gospels. A scholar presents connections between the Old Testament and Gospel of Matthew, while discussions touch upon authors' personal faith transitions and misconceptions about leaving the Christian faith. The episode dives into Christianity's triumph in the Roman world, attributing it to evangelistic efforts and belief in the supremacy of their God.

Discover the intriguing origins of the Trinity in Christianity, exploring its historical significance and the debates that shaped its doctrine. Delve into the roles of early theologians and the pivotal decisions made at the Council of Nicaea. Uncover the intersection of archaeology and biblical studies as experts shed light on sacred sites linked to Jesus. Learn about the roots of the Catholic Mass and the tensions between Protestant and Catholic views. Finally, unravel the complexities behind the Gospel origins and the evolution of textual traditions.

The conversion of Emperor Constantine to Christianity is often pointed to as a turning point in the history of the religion - but would Christianity have continued on its upward trajectory without this conversion? Was Constantine’s conversion one of genuine religious conviction, or was it motivated by something else? Has his conversion been co-opted and over-emphasized by later Christian authors?

The New Testament is often studied in isolation, separated from other ancient writings. How did this division come about, and what do we lose by looking at it as something different? Dr. Robyn Walsh talks about what can be gained from placing the New Testament back into the canon of Classical Literature.

In this episode I interview one of the premier experts on the question, Dr. Josh Bowen, who has written two books on the matter; in our discussion he explains what the Bible really says about slavery and how we can put it's statements, assumptions, and laws in its own context instead of thinking that it fits comfortably in ours.

In this special edition of the podcast Bart interviews Joseph Lam, an expert on the languages, religions, and cultures of the Ancient Near East (and Bart's colleague at UNC), who has just produced a Wondrium Course on the Creation Stories in the Ancient World. Among other things they talk about the reasons for thinking Genesis contains two very different creation stories (side by side) and how other older stories from Mesopotamia appear to have influenced the author(s) of Genesis.