First published 2009
Biblical scholar Bart Ehrman continues his examination of Christian origins beyond his bestselling work on textual corruption. Ehrman presents evidence that New Testament authors held conflicting views about Jesus and salvation. He demonstrates that several New Testament books were written by later Christians using apostolic names fraudulently. The analysis reveals that Jesus, Paul, Matthew, and John promoted distinct religious systems rather than unified doctrine. Ehrman shows how core Christian beliefs like the suffering messiah, divine Jesus, and trinity emerged from later theological development rather than original teaching. These conclusions represent mainstream academic consensus across denominational lines, yet remain unknown to most believers. Ehrman explores why such scholarly findings rarely reach general audiences. The book addresses fundamental problems scholars face when reconstructing historical Jesus and his message.
Genres: history, religion, non-fiction, christianity, academic
Vibes: thought-provoking
Tropes: academic-investigation, historical-analysis
304 pages · Hardcover · HarperCollins (NY)