Strange Title - decent book

So this book is about the Bible not really just about Jesus. Professor Ehrman does I think play up the "contradictions" in the Bible - for example when he goes into how no two copies of the New Testament agree he cites horrifying statistics for how many discrepencies there are in the manuscripts before admitting most of these are due to spelling differences because there was no standardised spelling at the time.

I do think it is more informative to read the Bible "critically" - that for example the author of a book might actually be an editor who had various manuscripts and oral sources they were trying to weave together into a single whole and sometimes the different sources don't quite fit together and we need to recognise that.

It is also useful to acknowledge that there are differences in the various manuscripts and since we don't have the originals it is quite possible that the manuscripts we do have themselves contain similar differences from the originals, however if you read and understand a Bible book, you can decide for yourself if it sounds coherent or not, and one option if things don't always make sense is that there was some corruption of the text, so it is up to you to decide what the author was most likely trying to say.

So I found this a useful and informative book but Ehrman can be a bit of a showman in trying to "shock" us into what he wants to say are some sensational discrepancies but what are actually quite sensible points that help us to understand the text better.

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Excellent book

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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Sanity with good humour and honesty.

Sanity at last!!! I have been trying to join up these dots for years, in ministry and for my own quest, and here is a scholarly and sensible account of all the issues that stand in the way of swallowing all these impossibilities ‘before breakfast’. Clearly set out and without the arrogance of a Dawkins. Reading is perfect.

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Phew! Should be read in every church

Hard to argue with Prof. Ehrman's reasoned and carefully presented scholarship. Beautifully clear; a shame that the deeply indoctrinated won't ever appreciate or even consider the questions raised by this

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2 people found this helpful

Simply Outstanding

I am not good at expressing my thoughts into words. this book has done an exceptional job for me.

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Wow. So much information I didn’t know.

This book is amazing. I asked my pastor in my church about the bit where the disciples ask Jesus where he is going in John though and a couple of chapters later, Jesus saying that none of them asks where he is going. It felt like I had committed a mortal sin! He kind of explained though, after a while, that the disciples weren’t sincere when they asked where he was going and that is why Jesus denied them ever asking…. maybe that’s true? Part of me feels like maybe I shouldn’t be listening to this book, but I can’t help it.

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1 person found this helpful

Revealing

An informative journey through the happenings of early Christianity with great examples and anecdotes.

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Should be a "must listen to" for every adult!

I always feel like an uninformed idiot after reading Bart Ehrman. Yet I am an educated, open minded and well traveled adult. I guess I am almost angry that I've allowed myself to be so easily brainwashed... His easy to read style and depth of information never disappoints.
While listening with my headsets on my partner had to deal with sudden explosions of "What!", laughter and slaps to the forehead. It just gets to you that strongly.
If you are at all worried about it damaging your faith then listen to the last chapter first. It certainly won't unless you want it to!
The reader is perfect. A great voice that one never tires of. I fear if I ever got to meet Mr. Ehrman I'd be shocked to hear his voice!
Now that my 15 hours are over I must immediately download another!

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6 people found this helpful

very insightful

This book has helped me in understanding why there are many contradictions in the 'good book'.

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1 person found this helpful

great but...

Casts aside arguments that Jesus is a myth with a bizarre anecdote about a story that appears in the new York times. He has no explanation for the silence of Paul. Bart ehrman is a scholar but not when it comes to this.

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