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How Jesus Became God cover art

How Jesus Became God

By: Bart D. Ehrman, The Great Courses
Narrated by: Bart D. Ehrman
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Summary

The early Christian claim that Jesus of Nazareth was God completely changed the course of Western civilization. What exactly happened, such that Jesus came to be considered God?

To ask this question is to delve into a fascinating, multilayered historical puzzle - one that offers a richly illuminating look into the origins of the Western worldview and the theological underpinnings of our civilization. This fundamental historical question and its complex answer speak penetratingly to the spiritual impulses, concerns, and beliefs that have played a seminal role in our world, even as they reveal the foundation of history’s most global religious movement, and fresh insights into the Western world's single most influential human being.

Tackling all of these matters and more, Great Courses favorite Professor Ehrman returns with the unprecedented historical inquiry of How Jesus Became God. In 24 provocative lectures, Professor Ehrman takes you deep into the process by which the divinity of Jesus was first conceived by his followers, demonstrating how this conception was refined over time to become the core of the Christian theology. A distinguished scholar of Christianity and New York Times best-selling author, Professor Ehrman develops the inquiry with meticulous research and in-depth analysis of texts. In these lectures, Ehrman reveals that the theological understanding of Jesus as God came about through a complex series of factors and events, each of which must be understood in order to grasp this most extraordinary and historically pivotal story.

In the enthralling inquiry of How Jesus Became God Professor Ehrman lays bare the diverse elements that combined to produce both an astonishing true-life story and one of history’s most significant developments. Join a renowned biblical scholar in grappling with this pivot.

PLEASE NOTE: When you purchase this title, the accompanying reference material will be available in your Library section along with the audio.

©2014 The Teaching Company, LLC (P)2014 The Great Courses

What listeners say about How Jesus Became God

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Unconvincing polemic

What disappointed you about How Jesus Became God?

I am not a theologian but I do have an honours degree in History and have had some training and experience in sources and analysis. As a non-expert, I found the author's arguments tenuous at best and unconvincing generally.

He comes across as trying to fit facts to his theory and he struggles. From what I can gather Dr Ehrman is a rather eccentric academic and not widely accepted by his peers. Well what's new; academics fight! However I was disappointed by the lack of depth and the real effort he seems to make in selection of facts and their interpretation to suit.

I found the book disappointing for these reasons. I know there are a number of academic critiques of Dr Ehrman's work which have found his work wanting so I suppose if you buy this and give it a listen you owe it to yourself to give them a hearing too.

What does Professor Bart D. Ehrman bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you had only read the book?

I enjoy his natural presentation and he has a pleasant speaking voice

What character would you cut from How Jesus Became God?

N/A

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8 people found this helpful

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Jesus the god explained

Prof B Erhman is very passionate about the subject and keeps you interested even as a lay person with little knowledge I love listening to his lectures and books
This is no exception

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7 people found this helpful

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Excellent exposition of Christian doctrine

Really enjoyed this. Essential companion for anyone reading the New Testament who wants to know how it came to be.

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5 people found this helpful

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Another fantastic Ehrman course

This is my third of the Great Courses given by Professor Ehrman and it continues at the same level -- absolutely first rate. Both the lecturing style and the material made me want to keep listening. This course covers both the period around Jesus' life and subsequent developments in Christianity over the next few centuries. A detailed summary of the content, including titles of each lecture, can be found on the Great Courses web site. For me it provided a highly revealing account of this key period in Christian history and I highly recommend it.

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4 people found this helpful

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excellent

interesting I knew so little but I thought I knew so much before reading this book

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3 people found this helpful

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Excellent course

Excellent content and narration. Very enlightening and informative. As with all of Prof. Ehrmans books and lectures, could not stop listening.

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3 people found this helpful

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Sound Theology

Great theological and historical content applied. Narration is not word perfect but has a engaging tone.

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Eye opening stuff

What did you like most about How Jesus Became God?

Clear, very authoritative with a powerful message. His personal journey from ultra conservative fundamentalist to agnostic is very interesting too.

What was one of the most memorable moments of How Jesus Became God?

How many animals is Jesus riding when he enters Jerusalem?

Have you listened to any of Professor Bart D. Ehrman’s other performances? How does this one compare?

No

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

Yes, but very long.

Any additional comments?

He has a slightly hectoring style, which give away his Texas preacher roots. It's fine and engaging for a while but after a couple of hours you feel like a break. There's only so much zeal and gusto one can take! Nevertheless, an engaging speaker who clearly knows his subject inside out.

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Highly recommended.

I have listened to this twice now and will, no doubt, come back to it a third time.

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2 people found this helpful

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Boring and devoid of substantial evidence.

I was sourly disappointed by this lecture, having recently listened to the Great lecture on Africa, from Lucy to Mandela. I was looking forward to another evidence-based journey (this time) into the world of Jesus Christ or at least the early Christians. Instead I got boring references in mythology.

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1 person found this helpful