Bart Ehrman published his responses to four questions from different readers in a post titled “Important Questions About Matthew and Paul” on January 20, 2026. Below is Claude.ai’s summary of the four questions and responses. The four are:
- “Den of Robbers”
- Mirroring in Matthew’s Temptation and Crucifixion
- Matthew’s written work was in Hebrew.
- 1 Thessalonians 2:14-16 – Interpolation?
Here’s a summary of the four Q&A items:
1. Jeremiah 7:11 and Matthew 21:13 – “Den of Robbers” The Hebrew term in Jeremiah means “person of violence” (used in only a few other Old Testament passages). The Greek Septuagint translated it as lestes, which can mean either “house robber” or “insurrectionist/guerrilla.” Context determines meaning—in both Jeremiah and Matthew, it appears to refer to financial rather than military activities. [Alternatively, Tabor says it should be interpreted as “schredders” of animals, opposing the animal sacrifices]
Jeremiah 7:11 (ASV): “Is this house, which is called by my name, become a den of robbers in your eyes?”
Matthew 21:13 (NRSV): “He said to them, ‘It is written, “My house shall be called a house of prayer,” but you are making it a den of robbers.'”
2. Mirroring in Matthew’s Temptation and Crucifixion The question explores whether Matthew intentionally mirrored Satan’s temptation (Matthew 4:6—jump from the Temple) with the mockery at the crucifixion (Matthew 27:40—come down from the cross). Dr. Ehrman finds this plausible, noting similar mirroring occurs elsewhere in the Gospels, such as Mark’s use of “schizo” (ripping) at both Jesus’s baptism and crucifixion.
Matthew 4:6 (NRSV): “and said to him, ‘If you are the Son of God, throw yourself down, for it is written, “He will command his angels concerning you,” and “On their hands they will bear you up, so that you will not dash your foot against a stone.”‘”
Matthew 27:40 (NRSV): “and saying, ‘You who would destroy the temple and build it in three days, save yourself! If you are the Son of God, come down from the cross.'”
3. Papias on Matthew’s Gospel Papias stated that Matthew “composed” (or “compiled”) sayings in Hebrew, which others then translated/interpreted. The Greek clarifies that Matthew’s written work was in Hebrew, not that he was arranging pre-existing Hebrew oracles.
4. 1 Thessalonians 2:14-16 – Interpolation? Dr. Ehrman doesn’t believe this passage is a later insertion. The phrase “wrath has come upon them” doesn’t necessarily refer to Jerusalem’s destruction (Paul uses similar language about pagans in Romans 1:18). The term translated “Jews” should be “Judeans,” indicating local persecution rather than collective blame for Jesus’s death.
1 Thessalonians 2:14-16 (NRSV): “For you, brothers and sisters, became imitators of the churches of God in Christ Jesus that are in Judea, for you suffered the same things from your own compatriots as they did from the Jews, who killed both the Lord Jesus and the prophets and drove us out; they displease God and oppose everyone by hindering us from speaking to the Gentiles so that they may be saved. Thus they have constantly been filling up the measure of their sins, but God’s wrath has overtaken them at last.”
Romans 1:18 (NRSV): “For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and wickedness of those who by their wickedness suppress the truth.”
