Bart D. Ehrman

The Human Story Behind the Divine Book

In this New York Times bestseller, leading Bible expert Bart Ehrman skillfully demonstrates that the New Testament is riddled with contradictory views about who Jesus was and the significance of his life. Ehrman reveals that many of the books were written in the names of the apostles by Christians living decades later, and that central Christian doctrines were the inventions of still later theologians. Although this has been the standard and widespread view of scholars for two centuries, most people have never learned of it.

Jesus, Interrupted is a clear and compelling account of the central challenges we have when attempting to reconstruct the life and meaning of Jesus.

HOW MISTAKES AND CHANGES SHAPED THE BIBLE WE READ TODAY

World-renowned biblical scholar Bart Ehrman reveals the truth behind the many mistakes and changes that can be found throughout the Bible, including the following: The King James Bible was based on inferior manuscripts that in many cases do not accurately represent the meaning of the original text.

The favorite story of Jesus forgiving the woman caught in adultery (John 8:3-11) does not belong in the Bible. • Scribal errors were so common in antiquity that the author of the Book of Revelation threatened damnation to anyone who “adds to or” takes away” words from the text.

Praise for Misquoting Jesus

“Chrman’s absorbing story, fresh and lively prose, and seasoned insights into the challenges of recreating the tests of the New Testament ensure that readers might never read the gospels or Paul’s letters the same way again.”-Publishers Weekly (starred review)

In times of questioning and despair, people often quote the Bible to provide answers. Surprisingly, though, the Bible does not have one answer but many “answers” that often contradict one another. Consider these competing explanations for suffering put forth by various biblical writers:

The prophets: suffering is a punishment for sin
The book of Job, which offers two different answers: suffering is a test, and you will be rewarded later for passing it; and suffering is beyond comprehension, since we are just human beings and God, after all, is God