Ehrman argues central to Jesus’s teaching was the need to repent in preparation for the coming Kingdom of God. Those who returned to God would be graciously forgiven for their transgressions, with no penalty or payment required. After Jesus’ death his followers reversed his teaching, maintaining that God did not freely forgive sins but required … Jesus Elements: To Be or Not To Be?

The Bible includes numerous references to eyes being opened, beyond the account of Adam and Eve in Genesis 3:7 (where their eyes were opened to their nakedness after eating the forbidden fruit). These instances often symbolize gaining physical sight, spiritual insight, awareness, or divine revelation. Think of a lover who is unwittingly in a toxic … Open Your Eyes

Bart Ehrman recently hosted the 2025 NINT conference on the Historical Jesus made up of an elite team of New Testament specialists. The conference was aimed at an audience who are not themselves PhD New Testament specialists. I have provided brief summaries of some of the presentations that were particularly interesting to me and my … Blogging Index for my Reflections on the 2025 New Insights into the New Testament Conference

SUMMARY In this lecture Ehrman is inquiring into the literacy of Jesus.  Most people in that time couldn’t read unless they belonged to a wealthier class, and even fewer could write, as that was taught at a more elite level of education, and beyond mere copying even more elite still.  Ehrman thinks Jesus may have … Reporting From Ehrman’s New Insights into the New Testament 2025 Conference Part 7: Was Jesus Literate? A Second Lecture with Bart Ehrman

Last time in the Analysis section about Ehrman’s first talk we thought about the lens of the Absurd with the example of God making a covenant with Abraham to have a great line of descendants, and then telling him to kill his son Isaac.  Abraham was the paragon of faith because he tried to sacrifice … (2/2 Further thoughts on Ehrman’s Presentation) Reporting From the NINT New Testament 2025 Conference Part 6: A Core Teaching of Jesus. And Why His Followers Abandoned It with Bart Ehrman

Speaker: Bart Ehrman Topic: A Core Teaching of Jesus. And Why His Followers Abandoned It Overview: Central to Jesus’s teaching was the need to repent in preparation for the coming Kingdom of God. Those who returned to God would be graciously forgiven for their transgressions, with no penalty or payment required. After Jesus’ death his … Reporting From Ehrman’s New Insights into the New Testament 2025 Conference Part 6: A Core Teaching of Jesus. And Why His Followers Abandoned It with Bart Ehrman

One of the key foundations of the historical Jesus is the crucifixion, and this has come out in the conference. One thing I have been thinking about is Livesey and the possible lateness of Paul’s letters, and so perhaps the early Q source presents an original Jesus construct without a salvific cross or resurrection. Crucifixion … (2/2) Halftime Show: Intermission Reflections at Ehrman’s NINT Conference

Here are some thoughts that the first group of presenters were a catalyst for in my thinking: In the 2nd temple period generally and more specifically around the time of Jesus, many thought the Jewish elite were corrupt.  Corruption among the Jewish elite—particularly the priestly aristocracy (Sadducees and high priests) and some Pharisee leaders—was a … Halftime Show: Intermission Reflections at Ehrman’s NINT Conference

Speaker: Paula Fredriksen Topic: Turning the Tables on the ‘Purification’ of the Temple Overview: E.P. Sanders in Jesus and Judaism challenged the idea that Jesus was somehow objecting to the way the temple was being run when he upset the tables of the pigeon sellers and of money changers. Rather than focus on what Jesus … Reporting From Ehrman’s New Insights into the New Testament 2025 Conference Part 5: Turning the Tables on the ‘Purification’ of the Temple with Paula Fredriksen

Previously I did a brainstorm / activating prior knowledge here: Jesus and the Law: Prep for the Joel Marcus Lecture Overview: It is difficult to pin down the attitude of the historical Jesus to the Mosaic Law, since our main sources, the first three (Synoptic) Gospels, have all been influenced by the anti-Torah attitude of … Reporting From Ehrman’s New Insights into the New Testament 2025 Conference Part 4: Jesus and the Law with Joel Marcus