Bart D. Ehrman's Blog, page 32

How Do We Explain Human Moral Codes: So Similar Yet So Different?

Here is another selection from the draft of my book, which, at this still early point, I am calling The Origins of Altruism: How the Teachings of Jesus Transformed the Moral Conscience of the West.  This bit is the introduction to my chapter 6, which deals with how the early Christians began to change and soften [...]

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How I Begin My Book on Jesus, Ethics, and Altruism

I’ve decided to excerpt a few bits of my book that is now in draft, to see what you think.  Here’s how I’m planning to being it (the start of the Introduction) ****************************** Most people I know are moved by news of tragedy.  A terrible earthquake, a drought, a famine, a flood, displaced people, innocent [...]

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Another Reason for Thinking Jesus Called Himself the Messiah

I now can mount a second argument for why Jesus almost certainly called himself the messiah during his lifetime.  Remember: by that I do not mean that Jesus wanted to lead a military rebellion against the Romans to establish himself as king.  On the contrary, I think Jesus was not a supporter of a “military [...]

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Blog Fundraiser: The Origins of Altruism Pre-Publication Manuscript Sneak Peek

I'm just about finished (finally) with a reasonably polished draft of my next book, The Origins of Altruism: How the Teachings of Jesus Transformed the Moral Conscience of the West.  I would like to turn the moment into a fund-raising opportunity for the blog. Unlike our other fundraisers, where we suggest a donation amount but accept [...]

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Could Moses Have Been Thutmose, the Overseer of Borderlands? Platinum Post by Serene

Here is a creative proposal for the true identity of Moses by Platinum Member Serene.  She has a daring thesis!  What do you think of it?  Tell us your response and your views! And remember: you as a Platinum member not only get access to all Platinum posts written by other Platinums, but you also [...]

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Why Should We Think Jesus Called Himself the Messiah?

This thread is about whether Jesus considered himself to be the Jewish messiah.  My view is that Yes, he did.  But he meant something very specific by that, and it is not what most people (Christians and non-Christians) today mean by it. Recall what I have tried to show thus far.  There were various expectations [...]

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Albert Schweitzer and the Apocalyptic Jesus

In the current thread I’m trying to establish that Jesus believed he was the messiah.  I have pointed out that his followers would not have considered him the messiah because they believed he had been raised from the dead (since the messiah was not supposed to die and rise again) unless they had already considered [...]

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Jerusalem Through the Ages! Interested in an Expert Discussion?

Are you interested in the amazing and important history of Jerusalem, from the ancient world till today?  I am!  I am pleased to announce a special event being put on by my Department of Religious Studies. a panel discussion of the new book by my colleague Jodi Magness: Jerusalem Through the Ages: From Its Beginnings to [...]

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An Imagined Dialogue for the Dispute Between Paul & Barnabas in Acts Part 4 by Angus Nisbet

We come now to the final post by Angus Nisbet on the dispute recorded in the NT between Paul and Barnabas, in which he tries to reconstruct what may have really happened (covered up by the NT reporting).  Is it possible that Barnabas actually lashed seriously into Paul and became his enemy?  Is it possible [...]

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What Would an Apocalyptic Jew (Jesus!) Mean By Calling Himself Messiah?

In this thread I am trying to argue that Jesus understood himself to be the messiah.  So far I have made one of my two main arguments, with the understanding that *both* arguments have to be considered in order to have a compelling case.  So the first prong doesn’t prove much on its own.  But [...]

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