Bart D Ehrman

Bart D. Ehrman is an American biblical scholar specializing in the textual criticism of the New Testament, the historical Jesus, and the development of early Christianity. He holds a distinguished professorship at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and has authored or edited over 30 books, including several New York Times bestsellers. Ehrman has also produced numerous lecture series and maintains a blog that supports charitable causes. His academic career began after earning advanced degrees from Princeton Theological Seminary, where he studied under Bruce Metzger. He has taught at Rutgers University and has been a faculty member at UNC since 1988. His research delves into the transmission of biblical texts, often examining how theological disputes influenced their alteration, and the historical context of Jesus and early Christian beliefs. Ehrman's work is characterized by its accessibility to a general audience, though it has also drawn debate from various scholarly perspectives.

Ehrman's scholarly pursuits are primarily centered on the textual criticism of the New Testament, investigating the historical Jesus, and tracing the origins and evolution of early Christianity. His early research focused on the Greek manuscripts of the New Testament, exploring how theological conflicts shaped the way these texts were transmitted over time. Works like 'The Orthodox Corruption of Scripture' analyze how scribal changes might reflect early Christological debates, while 'Forgery and Counterforgery' examines literary deception and ancient accusations of pseudepigraphy within early Christian polemics. He has also written extensively for a wider readership on the historical Jesus, presenting him as an apocalyptic preacher, and on the development of Christian doctrines, including the afterlife. His work often engages with questions of historical existence, such as in 'Did Jesus Exist?', and examines biblical texts concerning eschatology, as seen in 'Armageddon: What the Bible Really Says about the End'.

Beyond his academic writing, Ehrman is actively involved in public discourse, regularly lecturing and appearing in media. He has created multiple lecture series for The Great Courses, making complex historical and textual analyses accessible to the public. His membership blog, 'The Bart Ehrman Blog,' directs all proceeds to charities addressing hunger and homelessness, having raised millions of dollars. Ehrman himself has transitioned from an evangelical background to agnosticism, citing the problem of suffering as a key factor in his loss of faith. He identifies as both agnostic and atheist, distinguishing these terms by stating that atheism concerns faith while agnosticism relates to epistemology. While he affirms the historical existence of Jesus of Nazareth, his Christological stance is historical rather than confessional, noting that Jesus did not claim divinity and did not teach postmortem reward and punishment as commonly understood.

Ehrman's popular works have been recognized for their accessibility and their effectiveness in engaging general readers, though they have also been described as polemical in tone. Some scholars have critiqued his arguments, suggesting he may overstate his case or present a skewed historical picture. For instance, reviews of 'Misquoting Jesus' have noted that while the introduction to textual criticism is strong, the portrayal of scribal activity might be overly negative. Similarly, assessments of 'How Jesus Became God' have pointed out that a polemical agenda can detract from a balanced historical perspective, with some critics characterizing his approach as 'counter-apologetics.' However, his work on forgery has been credited for its thorough documentation, even as the scope and definitions of forgery have been debated. Mainstream skeptical scholarship largely embraces positions similar to Ehrman's, while evangelical scholars have contested his depiction of scholarly consensus and offered counterarguments to his reconstructions.

“the problem of suffering became for me the problem of faith”

“I no longer go church, no longer believe, no longer consider myself a Christian”

“I simply didn't believe that there was a God of any sort”

“Atheism is a statement about faith and agnosticism is a statement about epistemology”

“he did exist, whether we like it or not”