Misquoting Jesus with Bart Ehrman

It is surprising that many scholars say that Revelation is not a violent book and was never meant to be. In their judgment, the controlling image of the narrative is Christ as the innocent "lamb who was slain," a non-violent Son of God who experienced violence inflicted by others. The book then teaches that non-violence is the way to eternal glory, and those who practice violence on earth will, in the end, experience what they themselves promote. Is that a plausible reading of the book? In this episode I argue that in fact it is precisely wrong, and that Revelation explicitly portrays a violent Christ who wreaks blood vengeance. Is that the Christ of the Gospels?

Does the Book of Revelation predict the end of the world? The book has been used repeatedly over the years and centuries to predict (and in some cases, re-predict) the end of the world. Yet here we still are. Maybe the problem is not that doomsday-readers of Revelation get this or that detail wrong (and so miscaluculate the date) but that book was never meant to be a blueprint for what would happen in our future. In this episode we look at how historians understand the book as a "revelation" meant for its own time, not as guidepost for what lies ahead of us now, 2000 years later.

In this interview I discuss with New Testament scholar the intriguing characteristics of this book that claims to present the truth of Jesus' "secret teachings" that alone can bring eternal life.

Christianity started out as a tiny sect of Jewish followers of Jesus, but within 400 years it was the dominant religion of the Roman world and a major political force. It had a rough start, however; Romans did not accept this new movement with open arms. But was Christianity an illegal religion? Did the followers of Jesus have to hide in the catacombs? Did the emperors consider it a threat to the social order? In this episode we talk about the early reception of Christianity, in particular the persecutions, in order to explode many of the myths one hears about the new faith in its early days.

Explore the astonishing diversity of early Christianity, where beliefs ranged from multiple gods to a malevolent Creator. Delve into the theological disputes among Gnostics, Ebionites, and Proto-Orthodox communities. Discover how Rome's influence shaped the rise of proto-Orthodoxy, overshadowing rival sects. Uncover the tension between academic freedom and societal pressures regarding Christianity today. The discussion also highlights fascinating apocryphal texts that shed light on non-canonical perspectives and the religion’s remarkable evolution.

Dive into Matthew's brilliant portrayal of Jesus as the Jewish Messiah, fulfilling the Law of Moses while challenging his followers to do the same. Discover the fascinating genealogy connecting Jesus to Jewish heritage and prophecies, as well as the unique narrative that distinguishes Matthew from other Gospels. Explore the complexities of early Christian perspectives and the tensions between Jewish and Gentile views on Jesus. Engage with insightful discussions on Middle Platonism and the diverse groups that shaped early Christianity.

This podcast explores what the Bible actually says about the afterlife, debunking common beliefs. It discusses Old Testament conceptions, the purpose of New Testament literature, and the influence of Roman ideas on the concept of multiple levels of heaven. Additionally, it delves into Dr. Ehrman's academic leave, the meaning of the title 'James A Gray Distinguished Professor,' and funding in academia. A preview of the next episode on the Gospel of Matthew is also provided.

There are hundreds of Bible translations available – but why so many and why are they different? When a biblical scholar decides to do a translation, which manuscripts do they choose to use, how to they know what the ancient words meant, and do religious considerations get in the way of accurate translations. Are there places where no one can agree on what the original text says? Jennifer Knust is a prominent New Testament scholar who helped lead the committee that recently produced an updated edition of the New Revised Standard Version. Here she discusses with Bart the problems and pitfalls of biblical translation.

What's wrong with the King James Version? Anything? Why don't we *all* use it? The KJV is the best known and arguably most elegant, aesthetically pleasing, and significant piece of English literature ever. But there are problems with it for anyone wanting to know what the biblical authors actually said. Some of the problems are today rather amusing, many are serious, and all are worth knowing about.

Many people say that the New Testament cannot be true because we don’t know exactly what the authors originally wrote, or because there are contradictions in it, or because some of the books were not written by their alleged authors, or because there are historical mistakes. But even if these things are true, does that mean the New Testament cannot be true – on some level?