{"id":15789,"date":"2026-03-10T15:23:45","date_gmt":"2026-03-10T21:23:45","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/theway.davisinterests.com\/wp\/?p=15789"},"modified":"2026-03-11T04:17:55","modified_gmt":"2026-03-11T10:17:55","slug":"hidden-christianity-a-bart-ehrman-interview","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/theway.davisinterests.com\/wp\/hidden-christianity-a-bart-ehrman-interview\/","title":{"rendered":"Hidden Christianity: A Bart Ehrman interview"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">This post contains a link to an interview of Bart Ehrman about the &#8220;hidden&#8221; Christianity that many, including many preachers, do not share with their congregation. Below the link is a ChatGPT summary of the transcript of the interview. The transcript is in his directory in Dropbox.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-4-3 wp-has-aspect-ratio\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"Bart Ehrman interview - Hidden Christianity\" width=\"640\" height=\"480\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/cU_26Pn3Bwg?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe>\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Analytical Outline of the Interview &#8211; <em>(Separating the Interviewer\u2019s Questions from Ehrman\u2019s Claims)<\/em><\/h4>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\">1. The \u201cHidden\u201d Nature of Critical Biblical Scholarship<\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Interviewer\u2019s Question\/Claim<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>The views Ehrman presents are commonly taught in seminaries but are largely unknown to ordinary Christians.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Why are these ideas not widely communicated?<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Ehrman\u2019s Response<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Scholars have generally failed to communicate effectively with the public.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Pastors often learn historical-critical perspectives in seminary but do not teach them in church.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Possible reasons:\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Concern that congregations might react negatively.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Difficulty translating historical scholarship into devotional teaching.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Uncertainty about how to introduce these ideas.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\">2. Differences in the Resurrection Narratives<\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Interviewer\u2019s Question\/Claim<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>The Gospels contain contradictions; the resurrection accounts are used as an example.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Ehrman\u2019s Claims<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>The accounts differ on several points:\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Number and identity of women at the tomb.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Timing of the stone being rolled away.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Whether one man, two men, or an angel appears in the tomb.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Whether the disciples meet Jesus in Galilee or Jerusalem.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Some differences are minor details, while others reflect distinct theological agendas of the Gospel writers.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\">3. Theological Disagreement Within the New Testament<\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Interviewer\u2019s Question\/Claim<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Matthew and Paul seem to disagree about the role of the Jewish law.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Ehrman\u2019s Claims<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Matthew presents Jesus as affirming the continuing authority of the Mosaic Law.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Paul teaches that salvation comes through faith in Christ rather than through observing the law.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>These differences likely reflect different audiences and theological perspectives.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\">4. Authorship of the Gospels<\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Interviewer\u2019s Question\/Claim<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>The Gospels may not have been written by Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Ehrman\u2019s Claims<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>The Gospels themselves do not identify their authors and are written anonymously.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>They were likely written:\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>30\u201350 years after Jesus\u2019 death.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>In Greek by educated Christians.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Probably not by Jesus\u2019 original disciples, who were Aramaic-speaking and likely illiterate.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\">5. Pauline Authorship of New Testament Letters<\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Interviewer\u2019s Question\/Claim<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Did Paul actually write the letters attributed to him?<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Ehrman\u2019s Claims<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Scholarly consensus identifies:\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Seven authentic Pauline letters.<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Three letters almost certainly not written by Paul<\/strong> (1\u20132 Timothy, Titus).<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Three disputed letters<\/strong> (<a href=\"https:\/\/theway.davisinterests.com\/wp\/the-bible\/new-testament\/ephesians\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Ephesians<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/theway.davisinterests.com\/wp\/the-bible\/new-testament\/colossians\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Colossians<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/theway.davisinterests.com\/wp\/the-bible\/new-testament\/thessalonians-1-2\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">2 Thessalonians<\/a>).<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\">6. Forgery and Pseudonymous Writing<\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Interviewer\u2019s Question\/Claim<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Was writing under another person\u2019s name an accepted ancient practice?<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Ehrman\u2019s Claims<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Ancient sources generally condemned forgery rather than accepting it.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Some New Testament writings are likely pseudonymous (written under a false name).<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Scholars sometimes prefer the term <em>pseudepigraphy<\/em> rather than calling them \u201cforgeries.\u201d<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\">7. Sources Behind the Gospels<\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Interviewer\u2019s Question\/Claim<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>If the Gospels were written later, how can historians know anything about Jesus?<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Ehrman\u2019s Claims<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Gospel authors relied on oral traditions passed down for decades.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Stories changed as they circulated orally.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Matthew and Luke likely used Mark as a written source, explaining many similarities among the Synoptic Gospels.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\">8. Formation of the New Testament Canon<\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Interviewer\u2019s Question\/Claim<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Popular claims (e.g., from <em>The Da Vinci Code<\/em>) say Constantine decided which books were included.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Ehrman\u2019s Claims<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>The canon developed gradually over several centuries through debate.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>The first surviving list of the current 27 New Testament books appears in <strong>Athanasius\u2019s Easter letter in 367 CE<\/strong>.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\">9. Diversity of Early Christianity<\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Interviewer\u2019s Question\/Claim<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Early Christianity was not unified but contained competing beliefs.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Ehrman\u2019s Claims<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Early Christianity had significant diversity in beliefs about:\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>God<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Jesus<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Salvation<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Christian practice<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Some groups even believed in multiple gods.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>The form of Christianity that became orthodox eventually emerged as dominant, particularly associated with Rome.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\">10. Development of Major Doctrines<\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Interviewer\u2019s Question\/Claim<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Doctrines such as the Trinity and the divinity of Jesus were defined later.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Ehrman\u2019s Claims<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>The doctrine of the Trinity is not explicitly stated in the Bible but developed later through interpretation.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>The understanding of Jesus as fully divine appears most clearly in the Gospel of John and represents a theological development beyond the earlier Synoptic Gospels.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\">11. Ehrman\u2019s Personal Beliefs<\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Interviewer\u2019s Question\/Claim<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Ehrman is an agnostic; does his scholarship lead to that position?<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Ehrman\u2019s Claims<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>His agnosticism stems from the philosophical problem of suffering rather than historical study of the Bible.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Many scholars who accept the same historical conclusions remain practicing Christians.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>This post contains a link to an interview of Bart Ehrman about the &#8220;hidden&#8221; Christianity that many, including many preachers, do not share with their congregation. Below the link is a ChatGPT summary of the transcript of the interview. The transcript is in his directory in Dropbox. Analytical Outline of the Interview &#8211; (Separating the [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":4,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[131,33,105,146],"tags":[94,97,73],"class_list":["post-15789","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-biblescholarship","category-christianity","category-scholars","category-theology","tag-bible-devl","tag-jesus","tag-paul"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/theway.davisinterests.com\/wp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/15789","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/theway.davisinterests.com\/wp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/theway.davisinterests.com\/wp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/theway.davisinterests.com\/wp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/4"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/theway.davisinterests.com\/wp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=15789"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/theway.davisinterests.com\/wp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/15789\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":15792,"href":"https:\/\/theway.davisinterests.com\/wp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/15789\/revisions\/15792"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/theway.davisinterests.com\/wp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=15789"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/theway.davisinterests.com\/wp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=15789"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/theway.davisinterests.com\/wp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=15789"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}