Bart Ehrman & Jesus, Interrupted - Commonwealth Club

On Monday, March 21, 2011 Bart Ehrman gave a lecture at the San Francisco Commonwealth Club of California, underwritten by The Bernard Osher Foundation. Moderator was Alan Jones, Dean Emeritus, Grace Cathedral. The appearance was largely related to Bart Ehrman's printed release of "Jesus, Interrupted." Bart Ehrman takes you on a journey to the ancient world and the forgery battles that have raged through the centuries. Ehrman contends in the lecture that the New Testament is riddled with contradictions about the life of Jesus and his significance. He provides compelling evidence that early Christianity was a collection of competing schools of thought and that the central doctrines we know today were the inventions of theologians living several centuries after Christ.
Video discussed on Bart Ehrman's Foundation Blog: ehrmanblog.org/...
Bart D. Ehrman is the James A. Gray Distinguished Professor at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. He came to UNC in 1988, after four years of teaching at Rutgers University. At UNC he has served as both the Director of Graduate Studies and the Chair of the Department of Religious Studies. A graduate of Wheaton College (Illinois), Professor Ehrman received both his Masters of Divinity and Ph.D. from Princeton Theological Seminary, where his 1985 doctoral dissertation was awarded magna cum laude.
© Copyright 2011. Bart D. Ehrman and Craig A. Evans. All Rights Reserved. Unauthorized use, re-posting and/or duplication of this video without express and written permission from Bart D. Ehrman is strictly prohibited.

[@rayjr96]

Bart is the heavyweight champion of NT scholars. Undefeated! He helped in my transition out of religion and Christianity, I owe him a big thank you. I wasn’t looking to leave but the truth shall set you free.

[@elainejohnson6955]

8:40 to get passed the "Pop quiz" that Bart talks about at the beginning of just about every lecture he gives.

[@mtpanchal]

It's funny you mentioned it.

[@arthurmontana8791]

I wish Christian scholars were as honest as Dr. Ehrman. Frankly, I've never heard one who I can discern as intellectually honest

[@philosophyjunkies6693]

Dale Allison is good but he is more introverted and has fewer videos on youtube.

[@DesignWonk]

Beautiful. "If you were in charge, would I be safe?" I'm not a believer, but that's an unassailable litmus test. What a thoughtful member of the clergy.

[@jlynn732]

Bart always comes across as the most honest and sincere in these debates

[@raysalmon6566]

Not really Bart has drifted

[@coosoorlog]

Is this a debate though? (no, this isn't)

[@rsr789]

@@raysalmon6566 Has he? How?

[@Davieboy-dovbear]

For a better and COMPLETE understanding of what is Christianity and who is Jesus, look for Rabbi Tovia Singer or Rabbi Michael Skobac, here on youtube. Bart D. Ehrman is either a con man or an idiot.

[@tebogomartinmasegela887]

Wow, I love this guy. I wish a lot of africans can be exposed to his material.

[@raymondmanamela5998]

Tebogo I'm following these presentations and I learned a lot

[@omnipitous4648]

Tebogo, I think a lot of people should be exposed to this material full stop.

[@samiawad6525]

Omnipitous e

[@majmage]

@Isak Woldemichal Are you saying _you're_ well-studied in the Bible? Well then you should have no problem naming ONE mistake Ehrman makes in this talk, right? (Why wasn't such a mistake mentioned in your original post?)

[@rlittlejohn2772]

Yes he is great but most of my brothers and sisters are Southern baptist and their brains have been frozen in faith and fear. I have 4 of his books

[@a-86-zmusic81]

Bart's Usual Introduction - 4:00 Lecture starts - 8:20

[@ispinozist7941]

Starts at 8:40 (if you want to skip past the introduction and the story Bart starts every lecture with)

[@MyQuadell]

Bless you, my son. You are doing the work of God.

[@UnimatrixOne]

It's not a lesson from Bart Ehrman without Armadillo Grill's starting story.

[@JosephNordenbrockartistraction]

Thank you Bart Ehrman for asking people to be more intellectually honest and less bias.

[@autodidact2499]

" ... and less biased ... " not " ... and less bias [sic]." "Biased," the adjective, not "bias," the noun.

[@slumberzzzz]

I love this guy His lectures are so succinct and informative Must have taken a lot of effort

[@Davieboy-dovbear]

For a better and COMPLETE understanding of what is Christianity and who is Jesus, look for Rabbi Tovia Singer or Rabbi Michael Skobac, here on youtube. Bart D. Ehrman is either a con man or an idiot.

[@susanmcdonald9088]

Great, great discussion, thank you

[@ingloriousbetch4302]

@@Davieboy-dovbear if someone wants the facts and nothing but, the last person to go to is a religious fundie

[@Carelock]

Lee Strobel is not an atheist turned christian. He already was doing a skit in his church where he put the bible “on trial.” He didn’t do most of this research, and it all began right before his book was released in 1998.

[@Shermanbay]

Although my interest is more in the Ehrman camp, I was impressed with Dr. Jones' demeanor and his insightful and respectful contribution to the dialogue. And his erudite English accent didn't hurt!

[@rebkong]

Shermanbay RESPECT THE BRITISH KENNY ROGER. HE THE INTELLIGENT.

[@helmutgensen4738]

Dr Alan brings out the best in Dr Bart

[@CyeOutsider]

Good lecture and some good follow up questions. Thanks for posting.

[@AriMalatesta]

Just the presentation is magnifically elegant. I thank you.

[@smoothmicra]

The 'moderator' with the white hair and beard deal gets on my nerves. I'd rather hear questions from the audience.

[@markdoldon8852]

The majority of the questions seem to have come from the audience. For the purposes of the radio show I assume, the had the moderator read them out. That is preferable, in my mind, since he is able to word the questions clearly, something the random audience member struggles with. Plus we have to deal with the time consuming process of passing around the mic.

[@AaronParker1977]

I'm consistently frustrated with people who understand the facts but deny their implications. Why doesn't evolution undermine Genesis? Why doesn't a forgery in a bible undermine it's value for moral teachings? Why doesn't the problem of evil undermine a god? I find Christians who are ambivalent to these questions are some of the most frustrating, albeit polite, I encounter.

[@taurak84]

Aaron Parker I disagree with your assessment that a forged document can not contain moral teachings. I would merely state that it undermines the credibility that the preachment are from a divine source.

[@AaronParker1977]

Scot McDonald I agree. You're perfectly within your rights to claim the book has good moral value, but at the same time, it has horrible moral teachings. Once you claim it's from a deity, that's when you lose. The bible has as much moral good as the Quran, and both are as terrible as the last.

[@AaronParker1977]

LucidityNow I'm not a christian, nor religious, " >>>I very sincerely doubt that. "but macro evolution is and always has been on very shaky ground, especially primate > human evolution.">>>No it hasn't, and no it isn't. Evolution by natural selection has been profoundly verified. "Darwin expected there to be thousands of missing link fossils found during the 20th century and said his theory was counting on it.">>> There are hundreds of thousands of transitional fossils. Darwin predicted it, and voila, we've found them. If you don't accept the theory of Evolution, you're uneducated, it's as simple as that. Yes, Evil does undermine an all good, and all powerful god. Either the god cannot do anything about human suffering, or he won't. If a book that contains known forgeries is being used to teach morality, it *does* undermine it's moral authority.

[@CyeOutsider]

+Aaron Parker Because the capacity for humans to make up reasons for why facts are wrong is endless.

[@Hayzeus1]

@SuperDukka plz till me more

[@Henri79]

Thank you for these videos. Very interesting and educational.

[@balisong46]

"I guess that's why I'm a theologian and not a New Testament expert." Wow. Kinda says it all right there and he didn't even realize the irony. You'd think if those books were truth with a capital T, you'd want to be an expert in them...

[@Gumikrukon]

Very interesting. I don't agree with the argument that theology and history are two different "games", and one doesn't have influence on the other. I think facts are the only game in town (be it facts about history, or science), and they should be the starting point of any conversation.

[@tomatensalat7420]

In a sense I agree, but I think it's important to concentrate on the part's of believes, that actually influence other people. There are part's of a believe, that I can't understand like the idea of an afterlife, that aren't in them selves harmful. So, I think his approach is a more realist's approach.

[@vietfunmk]

I really like how he answers about Jesus existence question... God blesses this man

[@mbnall]

Bart for President

[@Horus070]

I really enjoy him .. but the first 5-10 min I have to pass about that student quiz pop stuff .. otherwise it’s a great listening

[@GoodWoIf]

There's an uneasy tension between the Moderator and Ehrman, and it makes me feel like this wasn't an ideal match up. I thought maybe it was cos he's a theologian whilst Bart is a historical scholar, but Ehrman talks about his theologian friends to the point it seems like it shouldn't be that hard to find one who gets on well with a scholar.

[@andyroberts6810]

Dear adjudicator, It's not about you. You need to hear this.

[@jdmitchell6559]

He's a Theologian, of course he thinks it's all about him.

[@SuperGinamo]

It’s a big worry among Christians that there are problems with the Bible..kind of sad!

[@sahmad120967]

I really love this lecture and Q&A. Thanks...

[@Fireoncityy]

Why does that theologian host Dr. Jones seem so hostile towards Dr. Ehrman

[@anonicesare5799]

Good work, fellas.

[@72kbobert]

This is so good. Wow. My hat is removed for you, sir.

[@rod798]

What a smarmy moderator.

[@markloveless1001]

Both these men are way too serious for this, but when the interlocutor asked "Can you imagine a religion being made from, say, Star Wars?" he could suddenly feign choking, and Bart would say "I find your lack of faith disturbing".

[@windspirit3990]

If he had studied further that day, he would have found there was no discrepancy. Just goes to show, extreme pessimism, and scholarship does not go hand in hand. One really cant make critical judgments about something they really don't understand. The Theology is just as important as it's history.

[@LarsPallesen]

"Just goes to show, extreme pessimism, and scholarship does not go hand in hand." I think the word you are looking for is critical thinking. And yes, it's actually considered a good thing in scholarship - unlike in fundamentalist church societies where I'm guessing you have received your "education" about the New testament.

[@othmanahmad85]

The truth finally prevails. Many many years before the emergence of prof Bart Ehrman, the late Sheikh Ahmad Deedat had eloquently unveiled the misquotations, lies, fabrications, contradictions, forgeries and innovations found in the bible. Thanks to professor Ehrman for reaffirming. What an amazing co-incident.....!!

[@takispapas9887]

I think that the Nicean Council was skeptical about including too "fictional" accounts in the canon. Like Peter s apocalypse. Even John s apocalypse which almost didn t make it in the canon. Let s not forget that Christianity was not yet all powerful, and that schools and philosophers were still very active. People who would heavily doubt and debate Christian stories and "miracles".

[@prisonss]

Bart for pope

[@jamesdonaghy4008]

why do fundamentalist believe the bible is gods word when those who wrote it can't agree what Jesus said or did our even went when he died what time what day what his last words were if he claimed he was gods son or not who wrote the gospels when how long after the events they describe.

[@raysalmon6566]

The gospels were written by the apostles Of who.could not have been more closer to the events.

[@kingmosesix432]

Also add to that what ever they said whats their chain of narration.

[@kingmosesix432]

@SuperDukka nailed it!!!

[@julietrae8665]

I PRETTY MUCH SAID EVERY WORD YOU SAID LAST NIGHT WHILE LYING IN BED..WOW! AT LEAST A FAIL SAFE.. MM MM MMM

[@mojoman2001]

@@raysalmon6566 -- definitely not written by disciples of Jesus. Authors of the gospels never met Jesus.

[@Verdelufe]

Anyone who is planning to go into a religious celibacy should watch.

[@adna-qv4bn]

"When I stop valuing my life?" Wont you ask the so many priests and "intellectuals" who made a career of attacking and propagandizing Islam how they manage?

[@addalavenkataratnam5449]

why the gospel written in the name of peter, inaddition to peter 1 and 2, not added in the bible?

[@johnrohde5510]

I don't think Peter had a secretary but we do hear iirc in the Socratic dialogues, that wealthy Athenians had slaves who would record the wise words of the sophists for which their masters were paying large sums of money.

[@1Rokyro]

Nothing in the text, i.e. internal evidence, points to the author of Mark being Peter's secretary.

[@ISLAMislam-od5lc]

in ISLAM both matter , the writer/speaker and the writing , so the crucified jesus can not be the messiah since messiah means simply king of the jews , and the previous not only never mad it but has been killed in the most humiliating manner . Always good to see honesty and objectivity .

[@baptistboy2882]

The video title led me to believe this was about his book Jesus, Interrupted. Not his book forged. I am going to start FORGED soon, but this video isn't what I wanted. Still a good video though.

[@rlittlejohn2772]

You dont have to be a doctor to recognise some of the obsurdities. Made of clay of the ground, born of a rib, virgin birth, walking on water etc. Son of a sky God, yet there is a geneology. Rudolf had a red nose, yeah yeah

[@worthdoss8043]

Just WHERE IS Prester John???

[@bee-yq3wb]

Does anyone else feel that the other guy was kinda condescending?

[@murk4heart]

Wish I understood why Christians and these historians ignore the influence of Kabbalah in St. John .. the book of revelation . Ezequiel and the book of Genesis ..

[@Hayzeus1]

I'm looking for a realistic enlightenment, understanding and reaching Heaven's Gates for my own Eternal Bliss I need the knowledge / guidance don't get me wrong I know the basics but even wise man will tell you knowledge is the key.

[@housemusic9005]

The professor’s comment regarding Islam was quite condescending. To say that when he stops valuing his life is when he’ll consider investigating the Quran is rude!!!!

[@versioncity1]

"when he stops valuing his life"? So you think valuing one's life is a negative thing?

[@CyeOutsider]

Rude but true.

[@tbateman9902]

Everyone knows Joan Of Ark was Noah's mother.

[@ihatetheparty6340]

Few poplw understand that there are TWO VERSIONS of Paul being let down by a basket from the wall of Damascus. And so I ask you, which is correct; 1) Acts 9:23-25, or 2) 2nd Corinthians 11:32. Was it: 1) "the Jews", or wasn't it really King Aretas of Nabatea (Petra = Arabia) who was really chasing Paul? In Galarians 1:17-20, Paul swears that "by God"--he just came from Arabia! Perhaos Paul should be renamed as "The Father of World Anti-Semitism", for he openly slandered Moses, Jews, and the 10 Commandments, which he called "a MINISTRY OF DEATH, CARVED IN STONE"--commandments that Jesus always praised as an "index of righteousness". Wasn't Paul actually always AGAINST RELIGIOUS LAWS, which Jesus himself conformed to? And wasn't he a Pharisee, one of the group of hypocrites Jesus always WARNED ABOUT? Paul was Roman butt-kisser, for he was a Roman citizen and he not only knew that by he was even a travelling companion of King Herod's half-brother, MANAEN (ACTS 13:1)--the same Herod who condemned Jesus.

[@LarsPallesen]

Paul is very open about the fact that he started out as a persecutor of Christians and didn't see the light until he ... well, saw the light. He basically spent the rest of his life making amends for those transgressions against " the people of God's Church" as he called the Christians later.

[@jamesbinns8528]

Jesus and Paul taught two different theologies. Jesus was a practicing Jew and simply a teacher or perhaps a reformer. Paul invented a new religion.

[@dd.oliver]

Muslims around, listen to this: 41:14 over and over again, and ask yourselves about your quran.

[@s007mar]

Good that every one appreciates the professor, manly Didat Ahmad says the same thing but every one was against him. Simply because hi is Muslm.

[@readbooks777]

marco skotti good point

[@JohnSmith-ms4xd]

oh please, ahmed deedat had nothing on the scholarship of ehrman, and was himself a snakeoil salesman for his religious nonsense

[@othmanahmad85]

John Smith - Many many years before the emergence of prof Bart Ehrman, the late Sheikh Ahmad Deedat had eloquently unveiled the misquotations, lies, fabrications, contradictions, forgeries and innovations found in the bible. Thanks to professor Ehrman for reaffirming. What an amazing co-incident.....!!

[@Napoleonic_S]

@@othmanahmad85 And what is Islam if not yet another fabrication based on the other 2 Abrahamaic religions that ripped off so many other Mesopotamian and Mediterranean religions before them?

[@bellycurious]

I have some difficulties in taking someone seriously when they spot bullshit in others religion but not in their own. This suggest that they are biased. Doesn't matter what their religion is.

[@julietrae8665]

PETEER COULD HAVE HAD A SCRIBE, RIGHT? HIS TESTIMONY.

[@dougmurphy1777]

Funny story about Star Wars being a religion: here in Australia, we have a census every 5 years in which the whole adult population is surveyed. Some years ago, someone suggested nominating "Jedi" as one's religion in the question asking about one's religious affiliation. It became somewhat of a movement on the internet - people probably still do it do this day.

[@UnimatrixOne]

There are some cuts, why?

[@hoopoe3093]

The Jews and Christians got Jesus all wrong. Jews rejected him as the Messiah. The Christians made him into son of god/trinity/god. The Muslims view him as the mighty messenger of Allah, was not crucified, was not god/son of god. He was given the Gospel, sent only to the Jews, but it was lost and corrupted, he will return End of Time!!!

[@addalavenkataratnam5449]

apostolic constitution written in 380ce

[@prisonss]

Bart was born from a virgin, he is the biblical God. Thanks Bart...would be interesting to hear your 10 commandments

[@shawnchong8468]

The bible is full of such bizarre myths. The account given by Dr. Erhman pertaining to the angels as tall as our heaven is a typical example of naivity. It is clearly evident from the description of the writer who lived 2 thousand years ago, has virtually no knowledge of the universe. It is difficult for one to comprehend how highly educated individuals who has immense knowledge of science, could actually take such myths at face value.

[@Phobos_Anomaly]

Boy Wonder What are you talking about? That's his entire point, that the ignorant ancient people's wrote and believed these absurd things. I'm not sure I know what you are trying to say.

[@paulgemme6056]

Because of one man's ( Adam's ) disobedience ( sin ) every other human is under the curse of sin which is spiritual death. Because of one man's ( Jesus Christ ) obedience ( the one who never sinned ) he has broken the curse and gives life ( spiritual life - eternal life ) to those who believe and receive by faith. He ( Jesus ) now makes that person righteous in the eyes of the Father because that person now has excepted the righteousness of Christ as the only way to enter the kingdom of light. The only way to enter the kingdom of light is by being born again ( born of the Spirit ). The only one's that will suffer eternal torment are the one's who refuse to believe the truth. Romans 5:19 King James Version (KJV) 19 For as by one man's disobedience many were made sinners, so by the obedience of one shall many be made righteous. John 14:6 Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me. John 3:18 He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God. Galatians 1:4 Who gave himself for our sins, that he might deliver us from this present evil world, according to the will of God and our Father: 1 John 2:2 And he is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world. John 1:29 The next day John seeth Jesus coming unto him, and saith, Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world.

[@mojoman2001]

Nonsense.

[@panchovilla9965]

TIME IS FUNNY ......I WOULD LIKE IF THE GOOD DOCTOR GOT INTO FOOD AND THE INFLUENCE IT HAS HAD THREW-OUT TIME UP TO NOW

[@marshallonemusic2012]

The Book of Revelation? Bart if you don't Have the Holy Spirit of God who is the Author that move these Holy man to write them how are you ever going to understand the mystery of godliness???? ● standing outside of my gate of my house and trying to tell me about my doorway, hallway, kitchen, livingroom, dining room, bathroom recreation room is a dumb stupid way to know me? Come on in you are invited Jesus is the doorway, now walk in yo see my father, Holy Spirit movements

[@MrJMont21]

You came to know about the Holy Spirit of God possibly through the bible, but how do you know that you can only understand the bible if you have the Holy Spirit, if you only know the Holy Spirit as a result of reading the bible?

[@muttleycrew]

What a pompous, self important, arrogant comment that is. “How can you possibly know god as well as I do unless you agree with me about what’s true?” Is an obnoxious, nonsense form of public preening, it is intellectual masturbation without the intellectual part, it is definitely not an actual argument

[@malajamesaaaa]

The problem with (English only knowing) people is that they refuse to learn any other language! You cann NEVER be. A non believer, atheist or agnostic if you know the Bible in its original languages. ! Hebrew and Greek!

[@jessewallace12able]

Please debate John MacArthur, that guy is telling lies left and right

[@kirstenpatel]

May I ask, as I'm slightly confused, I was under the impression that you were a born again christian? however you say that you are an agnostic?

[@jamesbinns8528]

Kirsten, In the introduction Bart explains that he came to a place of disbelief. He explains why also.

[@Midrac61]

The whole discussion becomes irrelevant when, as I, you're an atheist and do not believe in a god. The NT as the OT are as from that point become fantasy.

[@zaldssans7412]

I admire Bart's courage since the very first time I learned about his works. But answering the question about turning his attention to another book, e.g. the Quran by saying if he stopped to value his life, then he'll do it. That's kind of cowardly since there are so many bible scholars as well as atheists who have strong negative criticism of the Quran. I hope he's just joking.

[@bee-yq3wb]

It's half joke and half not. The difference between criticizing the Bible and criticizing the Quran is no one is going to kill you for criticizing the Bible. Also he's a New Testament scholar, not a quranic scholar.

[@mojoman2001]

He also should cure cancer, whenever he gets a chance.

[@malajamesaaaa]

Just go and study the meaning of Genesis 1:1 in Hebrew! Then you will becomea believer!

[@EvieDoesYouTube]

Just that verse? The meaning in Hebrew is identical to the meaning in English

[@vincebuckley1499]

So Acts claims Peter was illiterate....... but Acts was a forgery. CHECKMATE ATHEISTS!

[@1Rokyro]

Eh? Was Acts supposedly written by Peter or something? BTW, Acts isn't a forgery. It's simply awful history.

[@santonigeek]

once u lied u need to cover it up with another lies

[@pauldirac3203]

O

[@donaldholz5393]

Bart Ehrman wrote his book "Jesus Interrupted" claiming all these contradictions that are in the bible. I went through the first two dozen and showed that none of them were contradictions. That was enough to convince me he is not a bible scholar even though he claims to teach the New Testament in a College.

[@addalavenkataratnam5449]

HOW CAN WE BELIEVE THAT THE GOSPELS, AS THE AUTHORS THEMSELVES DIDN'T REVEAL THEIR NAMES AND FORGED IN THE NAMES OF the DISCIPLES?

[@ars_gravitatis5858]

I love Bart Ehrman and have immense respect for him and his work. But his argument for Jesus historicity that he gives here fails. I says that no one would make up a story about the Messiah that had him killed by the authorities, since this went against all expectations for what the Messiah would do. I understand the point he is trying to make. But obviously it would not be possible to make up a story where the Messiah had come and overthrown the Romans and set up Gods Kingdom on earth when that obviously had not happened. The Romans were still around. Things were still shit. Thus IF one was to make up, or have visions of, a story one COULD NOT meet the expectations on the Messiah since it be obvious to everyone that it was untrue. Now, of course, Jesus is said to have conquered the greatest force of all time: DEATH. So in a sense this Messiah DID fullfil the expectations, but in a more poetic way. Most Jews however looked at this story and said: "Nah. Not our guy." It was mostly the Greek-speaking gentiles that really found this appealing later on.

[@amirmohammed395]

“When I stop valuing my life “ that is a very unfortunate statement, there are many who have critiqued Islam and Quran academically. This kind of statements advances the idea of a violent Islam, and serve as a feedstock for Islamophobia.

[@jasondandan2937]

Biased questions by the so-called moderator/host. dimbulb. lol

[@LethalBubbles]

I would love to hear more about the neoplatonic philosopher Iamblichus. I think religion should've taken his "Theurgy" route instead of Christianity. I wish we could still be pagans.

[@stevepolanco9887]

Ehrman states there is no reference in Jeremiah in regards to selling of land and pieces of silver? Another incorrect claim by Ehrman.... "And Jeremiah said, The word of the LORD came unto me, saying, Behold, Hanameel the son of Shallum thine uncle shall come unto thee, saying, Buy thee my field that is in Anathoth: for the right of redemption is thine to buy it. So Hanameel mine uncle's son came to me in the court of the prison according to the word of the LORD, and said unto me, Buy my field, I pray thee, that is in Anathoth, which is in the country of Benjamin: for the right of inheritance is thine, and the redemption is thine; buy it for thyself. Then I knew that this was the word of the LORD. And I bought the field of Hanameel my uncle's son, that was in Anathoth, and weighed him the money, even seventeen shekels of silver. And I subscribed the evidence, and sealed it, and took witnesses, and weighed him the money in the balances." (Jeremiah 32:6-10)

[@vbin9081]

Yes. He is very misleading. He will state a fact, followed by lies. I guess he thinks we're too dumb to check the scriptures.

[@Gwynbuck]

I like Ehrman, however, he does come up with some contradictions: how come Paul doesn't have a last name, but Judas Iscariot does?

[@muttleycrew]

“from Latin Iscariota, from Greek Iskariotes, said to be from Hebrew ishq'riyoth "man of Kerioth" (a place in Palestine)” It’s not a surname in the way, say, Buckley is a surname.

[@NoelComiX]

I feel a bit sorry for Bart. It seems he has not been able to shake his fundamentalist literalism and has thrown the baby out with the bath water in terms of Christianity. He, or his publishers, seem to be pandering to fundamentalist atheist skepticism and bitterness to sell books. I'm not saying what he's writing is or isn't true, that's debated. My beef is the way he presents the material at times, with a tone of resentment and condensation. He seems to be seeking the evangelical fellowship he once had by running to atheist communities and for some reason he is still bitter. Maybe I'm misinterpreting. I just don't see why understanding historiocity of the Bible, which was comprised over time, or peoples hardships articulating with the ultimate concept of God, means that one should reject Christianity. Jesus preaches following the spirit over the letter of the law in the New Testament. I hope Dr. Ehrman remembers that.

[@EneriGiilaan]

+ElPocho DelMundo Just one bit of 'clarification'. Many people that call themselves atheists don't claim that the statement 'there is no god' is necessarily true/proved either. The logic is that, anyone that thinks that theists have not made their case for their positive claim 'there is god' - is an 'a-theist'. In that view the theist-atheist distinction is about belief. The gnostic-agnostic is about knowledge. Thus many (most?) 'atheists' are actually 'agnostic atheists'.

[@deborahkriss5170]

+Noel ComiX I agree with your observation.

[@drdgregory]

+Noel ComiX Please study the 16 crucified messiahs prior to Jesus before you speak about anything. Especially Horus, prior to Jesus, who has over 180 exact parallels with Jesus. Born on Dec 25, of a virgin, had 12 followers, born in a manger/barn, followed a star, died and rose again 3 days later, etc. Please read up before you speak or write.

[@ianrwood21]

+Noel ComiX The most important thing you wrote is 'Maybe I'm misinterpreting' - you sure are mate. Ehrman's only concern is to discern the truth of what happened. If he was so keen to join the atheist skeptics like you claim, why did he write a book arguing that they were wrong and that Jesus did in fact exist.

[@jonfromtheuk467]

@ElPocho DelMundo gnosticism deals with what you know ( from the Greek word gnosis for knowledge I believe) and Theism/atheism is what someone BELIEVES and is a sub set of gnosticism . So someone can be an "agnostic atheist" - someone who doesn't claim to KNOW that a god doesn't exist , but believes none do, and also someone can be an "agnostic theist" - doesn't claim to know for a fact if god exists but believes one/they do. Also Bart in one lecture says he is an "agnostic with atheistic leanings"

[@ladillalegos]

With this degree of skepticism he probably does not believe in any history or even news, anecdotes his wife etc.

[@mojoman2001]

Extraordinary claims require extraordinary evidence.

[@MuhammadAbdullah-lx6tg]

THANK YOU Prof Bart D Ehrman. The truth is the truth. Jesus said, "the truth will set you free". if a religion base on so much lies, we should stay away from that religion. Christianity base on so much lies. Islam is the only true religion, please check out about Islam

[@MuhammadAbdullah-lx6tg]

***** Prof Dr Bart D Ehrman did not call Jesus a lie, but he has explained that the Bible has no original texts, so the Bible is nor a reliable books

[@MuhammadAbdullah-lx6tg]

***** fine, and thank you. Please explain it to the Christians

[@ZiggyStardust49]

+Muhammad Abdullah We agree Christianity is a lie, so what gives your religion more credibility? A religion that copied a lot of its ideas as well as Judaism and was used to justify the forced conversion of other Civilizations... mostly due to taxing the worship of rival gods. To the military conquest of Syria, Persia, Israel, Lebanon, Egypt and Northern Africa etc. And its prophet (peace be upon him) completely illiterate, just as the Christian prophet. Not to objectify Muslims in particular, I don't buy into the weak minded propaganda that we're at war with Islam, Christian extremism is a far more serious threat.

[@MuhammadAbdullah-lx6tg]

Jacob W Rossi Please read ALQURAN completely, you can find out for yourself

[@LarsPallesen]

Actually Jesus (Yeshua) was the 4th most common male name in Israel around the time Jesus lived, so yeah there were plenty of persons called Jesus.

[@apollotwin3523]

Same arguments over and over. If I don’t know better I might believe what he says. But he takes sentences out of context to build his arguments which won’t stand a real debate. Simply; The life of Jesus, his words, healing power, death and restriction “ which all books are in agreement with” is more important than the few different between them. It’s more important to know why Jesus said “ I am the only way to the father” rather than spend a life time studying was it Friday or Thursday they caught him... although it might a good debate but we loose the substance and the most important part of that story. Studying Jesus life and words leave you with only 2 choices: believe in him that he is God in flesh or reject him. But you can’t say Jesus was a good man and to go about your life as there was nothing. This Dr arguments about anything but substance. Why there is different in story telling between Mark, John; Luke and Mathew? Simply because all see it from different perspective. But again they all agree on who Jesus is ( his life and resurrection). If this Dr has any prove that there was no resurrection, Bring it!

[@eyesee9715]

How Do You Respond to Bart Ehrman? // Ask NT Wright kzbin.info/www/bejne/bn-0ioKgh76EfZo

[@DavidJioo]

Maybe the Bible is not perfect. But Jesus could still be God-incarnate. No historian/scientist can disprove the resurrection, even if the Bible does not tell the perfect story about it. The Bible might be a book that is not perfect but that does not say anything about Jesus: if he was God, if he saved us. The fact that the Bible is not perfect does not proof that Jesus was not God.

[@stevepolanco9887]

The moderator is as big a joke than Erhman. 😂

[@CyeOutsider]

Sounds like someone is buthurt.

[@julietrae8665]

SHIELD OF FAITH, SHOES OF TRUTH AND THE GOSPEL, BREASTPLATE OF RIGHTEOUSNESS, HELM OF SALVATION, AND SWORD OF THE SPIRIT...I DON'T THINK A "BORN AGAIN" CHRISTIAN, WOULD SACRIFICE FAITH FOR CRITICAL THINKING..DID YOU HAVE THE HOLY SPIRIT? DID ..YOU..HAVE..THE HOLY SPIRIT? I ASK AGAIN, DID YOU HAVE, THE HOLY SPIRIT? IF YOU HAD IT, YOU WOULD HAVE BEEN BORN OF THE SPIRIT, NOT OF WHAT MEN WRIT DOWN. SATAN GOT HIS HANDS ON THAT BIBLE IN A LOT OF PLACES. IF YOU HAD EXPERIENCED THE BAPTISM OF THE HOLY SPIRIT, THERE'S NO WAY YOU'D NEED A BIBLE, ONLY TO KNOW ROME "RE-WROTE ALOT OF IT...YOU WASN'T BORN AGAIN. YOU WERE A THEOLOGIAN, SCHOLAR, MAYBE A BELIEVER FOR A WHILE..

[@bozhidarbalkas7269]

There is no truth; for truth to be the eternal and never-changing truth, everybody must know it. In other words, no one can teach it. If anyone teaches it, he behaves like a criminal! And there is no God; for God to be the God, everybody must know him. God also cannot be thought!!! It's still ok to believe in God but try not to conflate your belief in God and the 'holy' books; them and priestly classes and classes and believers. These are much different entities from one another. God, eg, is not insecure or afraid; Bible is a massive mess; priests are mostly mad, angry, frustrated, ignorant, scared scammers; and believers are somewhat less confused, angry, frustrated than priests! So, just stick with God and you'd save self a lot of anguish, painful doubts, anger, time, money....for God does not need money!

[@Hayzeus1]

What do you know that you are not saying?

[@julietrae8665]

Magdalen IS A LAST NAME GOOFY!

[@AngelSanchez-zp7uj]

No mr. Goffo is just a geographical location look for city of magdala

[@bruceblosser384]

Saying that the figure christ must have been a real story, because nobody would have made up such a ridiculous story, seems to be a pretty lame excuse! It is like saying that Dante's Inferno must have been a true story, because nobody would have made up such a far fetched story! Well he did!!! And The Inferno is a work of fiction!

[@ralphciardella9705]

I took his class while I was at Rutgers back in the mid 1980s. Very nice guy. He’s come a long way since then.

[@matmason1977]

Bart, this was a fascinating talk and I was particularly impressed with how you responded to the questions at the end. Recommended viewing.

[@TheSymphonyOfScience]

I wonder why this king of videos don't have more views..... People are watching worthless things today...

[@Elbonio]

I do wish Dr Alan Jones would shut up more and let him talk though!

[@arthurmontana8791]

I wish Christian scholars were as honest as Dr. Ehrman. Frankly, I've never heard one who I can discern as intellectually honest.

[@psyekl]

I normally skip the Q&A portion due to the simplicity and predictability of the questions and common audience. In this case I'm glad I stuck around.

[@MegaAli213]

Dr. Bart D. Eahrman is the most legitimate New Testament scholar in Tew Testament Historical analysis and texual criticism. He is unmatched in his intellectual integrity and academic scholarship. What, would we ever do without his honest scholarship. And I say this as a Muslim and Gulf war veteran.

[@stevenfeduk8627]

Ehrman's face, with the bringing up of Lee Strobel, is gold. Wish I could at least become familiar with all those those pop quiz questions. Thanks for sharing this!

[@jdmitchell6559]

His latest quiz is at: ehrmanblog.org/pop-quiz-first-year-students/ it looks like he's added a question since this talk and changed a couple of questions - there are 12 questions now.

[@billkeon880]

Poor, poor moderator, having his bubble burst. “Bart, aren’t you now being a literalist like you were when you were a fundamentalist”?

[@jimmorrison1553]

Disrespectful he doesn’t refer to Bart as Dr Erhman while he has PhD displayed on his name tag.

[@paxmule]

They're peer-level guys; he doesn't have to kiss his @$$....

[@neuropsychdoc6341]

Outstanding lecture and follow-up discussion. Thank you.

[@UnimatrixOne]

They will believe as long as they want to believe and they don't want to give up their worldview - no matter how much evidence speaks against it!!