Listen free for 30 days
-
The New Testament
- Narrated by: Bart D. Ehrman
- Series: The Great Courses: Christianity
- Length: 12 hrs and 27 mins
- Lecture
- Categories: Religion & Spirituality, Christianity
Add to basket failed.
Add to wishlist failed.
Remove from wishlist failed.
Follow podcast failed
Unfollow podcast failed
Listen with a free trial
Buy Now for £32.79
No valid payment method on file.
We are sorry. We are not allowed to sell this product with the selected payment method
Listeners also enjoyed...
-
The Old Testament
- By: Amy-Jill Levine, The Great Courses
- Narrated by: Amy-Jill Levine
- Length: 12 hrs and 10 mins
- Original Recording
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
The Old Testament - written in ancient Israel by many different authors over the course of a thousand years - has had more meaning to more people than any other book the world has known. In a series of 24 lively lectures, Professor Levine explores selected passages from the texts known as the Old Testament, the Hebrew Bible, and the Tanakh, revealing how fresh research and findings from scholars of archaeology, cross-cultural studies, and comparative religion can deepen your understanding.
-
-
Engaging and Interesting but Drags in Places
- By Jonathan on 29-10-14
-
Understanding the Old Testament
- By: Professor Robert D. Miller II, The Great Courses
- Narrated by: Professor Robert D. Miller II
- Length: 11 hrs and 5 mins
- Original Recording
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
The Old Testament is one of the foundational texts of Western civilization, and is among the most impactful and widely read books in world history. In 24 enthralling lectures, Professor Miller guides you through a core selection of the major books of the Old Testament, inviting you to probe their meaning and relevance in incisive and thought-provoking commentary. In Understanding the Old Testament, you’ll take a revelatory look at this epically impactful document, finding its deeper historical and religious meanings, as well as its sublime literary treasures.
-
-
interesting and helpful, but I wanted more...
- By Alan Myers on 17-06-20
-
The Dead Sea Scrolls
- By: Gary A. Rendsburg, The Great Courses
- Narrated by: Gary A. Rendsburg
- Length: 12 hrs and 21 mins
- Original Recording
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Whether complete or only fragmentary, the 930 extant Dead Sea Scrolls irrevocably altered how we look at and understand the foundations of faith and religious practice. Now you can get a comprehensive introduction to this unique series of archaeological documents, and to scholars' evolving understanding of their authorship and significance, with these 24 lectures. Learn what the scrolls are, what they contain, and how the insights they offered into religious and ancient history came into focus.
-
-
Excellent: Much More Than The Dead Sea Scrolls
- By Jonathan on 29-03-15
-
Lost Christianities
- The Battles of Scripture and the Faiths We Never Knew
- By: Bart D. Ehrman
- Narrated by: Matthew Kugler
- Length: 13 hrs and 25 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
The early Christian Church was a chaos of contending beliefs. Some groups of Christians claimed that there was not one God but two or twelve or thirty. Some believed that the world had not been created by God but by a lesser, ignorant deity. Certain sects maintained that Jesus was human but not divine, while others said he was divine but not human.
-
-
fascinating
- By Lou on 08-03-21
-
Jesus, Interrupted
- Revealing the Hidden Contradictions in the Bible
- By: Bart D. Ehrman
- Narrated by: Jason Culp
- Length: 12 hrs and 5 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Picking up where Bible expert Bart Ehrman's New York Times best seller, Misquoting Jesus, left off, Jesus, Interrupted addresses the larger issue of what the New Testament actually teaches...and it's not what most people think. This is the book that pastors, educators, and anyone interested in the Bible have been waiting for, a clear and compelling account of the central challenges we face when attempting to reconstruct the life and message of Jesus.
-
-
Should be a "must listen to" for every adult!
- By Dawn on 24-01-15
-
How Jesus Became God
- The Exaltation of a Jewish Preacher from Galilee
- By: Bart D. Ehrman
- Narrated by: Walter Dixon
- Length: 10 hrs and 35 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
In a book that took eight years to research and write, leading Bible scholar Bart D. Ehrman explores how an apocalyptic prophet from the backwaters of rural Galilee crucified for crimes against the state came to be thought of as equal with the one God Almighty Creator of all things.
-
-
Highly recommend!
- By Amazon Customer on 27-09-20
-
The Old Testament
- By: Amy-Jill Levine, The Great Courses
- Narrated by: Amy-Jill Levine
- Length: 12 hrs and 10 mins
- Original Recording
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
The Old Testament - written in ancient Israel by many different authors over the course of a thousand years - has had more meaning to more people than any other book the world has known. In a series of 24 lively lectures, Professor Levine explores selected passages from the texts known as the Old Testament, the Hebrew Bible, and the Tanakh, revealing how fresh research and findings from scholars of archaeology, cross-cultural studies, and comparative religion can deepen your understanding.
-
-
Engaging and Interesting but Drags in Places
- By Jonathan on 29-10-14
-
Understanding the Old Testament
- By: Professor Robert D. Miller II, The Great Courses
- Narrated by: Professor Robert D. Miller II
- Length: 11 hrs and 5 mins
- Original Recording
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
The Old Testament is one of the foundational texts of Western civilization, and is among the most impactful and widely read books in world history. In 24 enthralling lectures, Professor Miller guides you through a core selection of the major books of the Old Testament, inviting you to probe their meaning and relevance in incisive and thought-provoking commentary. In Understanding the Old Testament, you’ll take a revelatory look at this epically impactful document, finding its deeper historical and religious meanings, as well as its sublime literary treasures.
-
-
interesting and helpful, but I wanted more...
- By Alan Myers on 17-06-20
-
The Dead Sea Scrolls
- By: Gary A. Rendsburg, The Great Courses
- Narrated by: Gary A. Rendsburg
- Length: 12 hrs and 21 mins
- Original Recording
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Whether complete or only fragmentary, the 930 extant Dead Sea Scrolls irrevocably altered how we look at and understand the foundations of faith and religious practice. Now you can get a comprehensive introduction to this unique series of archaeological documents, and to scholars' evolving understanding of their authorship and significance, with these 24 lectures. Learn what the scrolls are, what they contain, and how the insights they offered into religious and ancient history came into focus.
-
-
Excellent: Much More Than The Dead Sea Scrolls
- By Jonathan on 29-03-15
-
Lost Christianities
- The Battles of Scripture and the Faiths We Never Knew
- By: Bart D. Ehrman
- Narrated by: Matthew Kugler
- Length: 13 hrs and 25 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
The early Christian Church was a chaos of contending beliefs. Some groups of Christians claimed that there was not one God but two or twelve or thirty. Some believed that the world had not been created by God but by a lesser, ignorant deity. Certain sects maintained that Jesus was human but not divine, while others said he was divine but not human.
-
-
fascinating
- By Lou on 08-03-21
-
Jesus, Interrupted
- Revealing the Hidden Contradictions in the Bible
- By: Bart D. Ehrman
- Narrated by: Jason Culp
- Length: 12 hrs and 5 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Picking up where Bible expert Bart Ehrman's New York Times best seller, Misquoting Jesus, left off, Jesus, Interrupted addresses the larger issue of what the New Testament actually teaches...and it's not what most people think. This is the book that pastors, educators, and anyone interested in the Bible have been waiting for, a clear and compelling account of the central challenges we face when attempting to reconstruct the life and message of Jesus.
-
-
Should be a "must listen to" for every adult!
- By Dawn on 24-01-15
-
How Jesus Became God
- The Exaltation of a Jewish Preacher from Galilee
- By: Bart D. Ehrman
- Narrated by: Walter Dixon
- Length: 10 hrs and 35 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
In a book that took eight years to research and write, leading Bible scholar Bart D. Ehrman explores how an apocalyptic prophet from the backwaters of rural Galilee crucified for crimes against the state came to be thought of as equal with the one God Almighty Creator of all things.
-
-
Highly recommend!
- By Amazon Customer on 27-09-20
-
Understanding the New Testament
- By: The Great Courses
- Narrated by: Professor David Brakke
- Length: 12 hrs and 5 mins
- Original Recording
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Join Professor David Brakke, an award-winning Professor of History at The Ohio State University, for Understanding the New Testament. In these 24 eye-opening lectures, he takes you behind the scenes to study not only the text of the New Testament, but also the authors and the world in which it was created. You will explore Jewish lives under Roman occupation, reflect on the apocalyptic mood of the first and second centuries AD, witness the early Christians’ evangelism beyond the Jewish communities, and witness the birth of a faith that continues to shape our world today.
-
-
enjoyable
- By Amazon Customer on 07-03-21
-
Jesus
- Apocalyptic Prophet of the New Millennium
- By: Bart D. Ehrman
- Narrated by: Tom Parks
- Length: 12 hrs and 40 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
In this highly accessible discussion, Bart Ehrman examines the most recent textual and archaeological sources for the life of Jesus, along with the history of first-century Palestine, drawing a fascinating portrait of the man and his teachings. Ehrman shows us what historians have long known about the Gospels and the man who stands behind them. Through a careful evaluation of the New Testament (and other surviving sources, including the more recently discovered Gospels of Thomas and Peter), Ehrman proposes that Jesus can be best understood as an apocalyptic prophet.
-
-
Very Clear
- By Not Bob on 15-07-21
-
Introduction to Judaism
- By: Shai Cherry, The Great Courses
- Narrated by: Shai Cherry
- Length: 12 hrs and 4 mins
- Original Recording
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
As a religion, culture, and civilization, Judaism has evolved in surprising ways during its long and remarkable history. In this series of 24 lectures, Professor Cherry explores this rich religious heritage from biblical times to today. From the first lecture on the Torah to the last on the Jews as the Chosen People, this course is packed with truly fascinating information.
-
-
very good
- By LeliBug on 09-02-16
-
The Iliad of Homer
- By: Elizabeth Vandiver, The Great Courses
- Narrated by: Elizabeth Vandiver
- Length: 6 hrs and 4 mins
- Original Recording
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
For thousands of years, Homer's ancient epic poem the
Iliad has enchanted readers from around the world. When you join Professor Vandiver for this lecture series on the Iliad, you'll come to understand what has enthralled and gripped so many people. Her compelling 12-lecture look at this literary masterpiece -whether it's the work of many authors or the "vision" of a single blind poet - makes it vividly clear why, after almost 3,000 years, the
Iliad remains not only among the greatest adventure stories ever told but also one of the most compelling meditations on the human condition ever written.
-
-
Great Lecture Series
- By Naomi Skilling on 18-10-17
-
The Foundations of Western Civilization
- By: Thomas F. X. Noble, The Great Courses
- Narrated by: Thomas F. X. Noble
- Length: 24 hrs and 51 mins
- Original Recording
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
What is Western Civilization? According to Professor Noble, it is "much more than human and political geography," encompassing myriad forms of political and institutional structures - from monarchies to participatory republics - and its own traditions of political discourse. It involves choices about who gets to participate in any given society and the ways in which societies have resolved the tension between individual self-interest and the common good.
-
-
Loved it - I'll be ordering more
- By First Impressions on 21-09-16
-
The Roman Empire: From Augustus to the Fall of Rome
- By: Gregory S. Aldrete, The Great Courses
- Narrated by: Gregory S. Aldrete
- Length: 12 hrs and 41 mins
- Original Recording
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
The Roman Empire: From Augustus to the Fall of Rome traces the breathtaking history from the empire’s foundation by Augustus to its Golden Age in the 2nd century CE through a series of ever-worsening crises until its ultimate disintegration. Taught by acclaimed Professor Gregory S. Aldrete of the University of Wisconsin-Green Bay, these 24 captivating lectures offer you the chance to experience this story like never before, incorporating the latest historical insights that challenge our previous notions of Rome’s decline.
-
-
Enjoy Gregory S. Aldrete as a narrator
- By smjm on 01-02-19
-
Introduction to the Qur’an
- By: Martyn Oliver, The Great Courses
- Narrated by: Professor Martyn Oliver
- Length: 5 hrs and 48 mins
- Original Recording
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Often, much of what is misunderstood about Islam is the result of a lack of information - and some dangerous and prolific myths. To combat these myths and better understand the complex Islamic tradition, Dr. Martyn Oliver, a senior professorial lecturer at American University, presents 12 in-depth lectures to provide you with a multifaceted approach to Muhammad, Islam, and the revelation known today as the Qur'an.
-
-
Skips the contentious parts
- By mcfc on 02-08-20
-
The Pagan World
- Ancient Religions Before Christianity
- By: Hans-Friedrich Mueller, The Great Courses
- Narrated by: Hans-Friedrich Mueller
- Length: 12 hrs and 34 mins
- Original Recording
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
In The Pagan World: Ancient Religions Before Christianity, you will meet the fascinating, ancient polytheistic peoples of the Mediterranean and beyond, their many gods and goddesses, and their public and private worship practices, as you come to appreciate the foundational role religion played in their lives. Professor Hans-Friedrich Mueller, of Union College in Schenectady, New York, makes this ancient world come alive in 24 lectures with captivating stories of intrigue, artifacts, illustrations, and detailed descriptions from primary sources of intriguing personalities.
-
-
Educational and entertaining.
- By Kindle Customer on 26-05-20
-
Forged
- Writing in the Name of God - Why the Bible's Authors Are Not Who We Think They Are
- By: Bart D. Ehrman
- Narrated by: Walter Dixon
- Length: 9 hrs and 43 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
It is often said, even by critical scholars who should know better, that “writing in the name of another” was widely accepted in antiquity. But New York Times bestselling author Bart D. Ehrman dares to call it what it was: literary forgery, a practice that was as scandalous then as itis today. In Forged, Ehrman’s fresh and original research takes readers back to the ancient world, where forgeries were used as weapons by unknown authors to fend off attacks to their faith and establish their church.
-
-
Informative and enjoyable
- By Amazon Customer on 08-04-11
-
Did Jesus Exist?
- The Historical Argument for Jesus of Nazareth
- By: Bart D. Ehrman
- Narrated by: Walter Dixon
- Length: 11 hrs and 11 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Large numbers of atheists, humanists, and conspiracy theorists are raising one of the most pressing questions in the history of religion: "Did Jesus exist at all?" Was he invented out of whole cloth for nefarious purposes by those seeking to control the masses? Or was Jesus such a shadowy figure - far removed from any credible historical evidence - that he bears no meaningful resemblance to the person described in the Bible?
-
-
Good book but poor evidence
- By kl342 on 23-09-16
-
Christianity
- The First Three Thousand Years
- By: Diarmaid MacCulloch
- Narrated by: Walter Dixon
- Length: 46 hrs and 29 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Once in a generation, a historian will redefine his field, producing a book that demands to be read or heard - a product of electrifying scholarship conveyed with commanding skill. Diarmaid MacCulloch's Christianity is such a book. Breathtaking in ambition, it ranges back to the origins of the Hebrew Bible and covers the world, following the three main strands of the Christian faith.
-
-
Jesus, this is interesting
- By Mr on 15-02-15
-
A History of the Bible
- The Book and Its Faiths
- By: John Barton
- Narrated by: Ralph Lister
- Length: 21 hrs and 57 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
The Bible is the central book in Western culture, yet extraordinarily there is no proper history of it. This exceptional work, by one of the world's leading Biblical scholars, provides a full account of how the different parts of the Bible came to be written; how some writings which were regarded as holy became canonical and were included in the Bible, and others were not; what the relationship is of the different parts of the Bible to each other; and how, once it became a stable text, the Bible has been disseminated and interpreted around the world.
-
-
Profoundly important new account of the Bible
- By Kl Love on 20-01-20
Summary
Whether taken as a book of faith or a cultural artifact, the New Testament is among the most significant writings the world has ever known, its web of meaning relied upon by virtually every major writer in the last 2,000 years. Yet the New Testament is not only one of Western civilization’s most believed books, but also one of its most widely disputed, often maligned, and least clearly understood, with a vast number of people unaware of how it was written and transmitted.
But now a distinguished religious scholar is available to help you gain a carefully reasoned understanding of not only the New Testament itself, but of the individuals and communities who created its texts.
Drawing on modern biblical scholarship, recent archaeological discoveries, and careful literary analysis - and approaching his subject purely as a historian, with belief or disbelief suspended - Professor Ehrman has crafted a series of 24 fascinating lectures that trace the history of the New Testament and the early Christian faith community. He discusses not only the 27 books included in the New Testament, but also many of the significant texts that were excluded as he addresses key historical questions around the issues of authorship, circumstance, audience, content, meaning, and historical accuracy.
"Our ultimate goal," he notes, "is to come to a fuller appreciation and understanding of these books that have made such an enormous impact on the history of Western civilization and that continue to play such an important role for people today."
PLEASE NOTE: When you purchase this title, the accompanying reference material will be available in your Library section along with the audio.
More from the same
Author
What listeners say about The New Testament
Average customer ratingsReviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
- Jonathan
- 23-11-14
Utterly Compelling
A lecture course about the New Testament may sound a bit dry, but in the hands of Professor Ehrman it is the audiobook equivalent of a page-turner. This course is history not theology and would work equally well for Christians and non-Christians. The lectures progress through the New Testament discussing the historical basis and relevance of the material; for more detail on the content I recommend looking at the Great Courses website which has a list of lecture titles. My interest in the bible is as a cultural and historical source, and I found the insights provided by these lectures absolutely fascinating. I cannot recommend this course highly enough. One final point -- there is another Great Courses lecture series called "Great Figures of the New Testament" which has a slightly different focus but if you are deciding between the two I strongly recommend Professor Ehrman's course.
14 people found this helpful
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
- Bilberry
- 10-12-19
Excellent
Pragmatic, reasonable, well delivered, enjoyed it a lot
Makes me want to read more about this and Im atheist
3 people found this helpful
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
- A. K. Love
- 03-11-19
Well presented
Scholarly examination of the New Testament. Presented in an easy listening manner. Well worth the listen.
3 people found this helpful
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
- James McGhee
- 02-08-20
prospective
educational thought provoking
interesting good 👍 listening 👌 looks at new testament in a different light
2 people found this helpful
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
- Neil and Helen sheppard
- 06-06-19
Bart Erhman
Loved it. it was clear and concise as well as extremely informative. Very happy to recommend this book/lecture.
2 people found this helpful
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
- Claire
- 15-06-18
Fascinating and Educational
I bought this after reading Ehrman's recent book, "The Triumph of Christianity", and really enjoyed his unique perspective. Every lecture on this course was packed full of information, but never felt over-loaded. I have a library full of Great Courses audiobooks, and this is among the best!
Would highly recommend!
2 people found this helpful
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
- Kerry
- 31-07-21
Interesting
I did think this was a book not a lecture series. But I really enjoyed this format.
The information was presented in a clear and understandable manner.
I learnt a lot of new information and a different way to look at the new testament.
1 person found this helpful
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
- Martin De Court
- 24-12-15
It's an atheists view
Would you try another book written by The Great Courses and Bart D. Ehrman or narrated by Professor Bart D. Ehrman?
Christians Beware: this course is given by an atheist looking to dismiss the Christian message.Professor Ehrman's atheism may distress some Christian readers but he is a respected scholar and for those with a strong faith there is some content the robust believer will find helpful. One wonders who else might be interested, in fact. Why would an agnostic or atheist waste their time on such an in-depth study of the New Testament?
Any additional comments?
Ehrman presents his own arguments clearly but does not really consider many of the alternatives to his viewpoint. He implies that Christianity chooses to overlook many of his challenges whereas they have been tackled often over the centuries. For example, Pope Benedict XVI's books 'Jesus of Nazareth' deal with the inconsistencies in the resurrection narratives. Differing accounts from various reporters are hardly proof of falsehood and who would expect the evangelists to be neutral in their portrayal of events when objectivity eludes most historians! For all but the most ardent of biblical fundamentalists this is hardly an impediment to faith.
26 people found this helpful
-
Overall
- T J Jacobs
- 02-04-22
Brilliant and often surprising
Having read other works by Ehrman, I was happy to know this set of lectures was I completely hands, and Ehrman does a fine job in de!ivering a historically critical account.
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
- Jacob K. Boitel-Gill
- 24-10-21
Superb and accessible survey of the new testament
One of my favourite great courses (I've listened to about 10). Bart Ehrmann is a wonderful guide, engaging and accessible. The course is pitched at the perfect level, so that you don't need any specialist understanding of the bible to reap its many rewards.
It's stuffed with both interesting nuggets such as who the number 666 was referring to in the book of revelations, as well as profound insights like the assessment of Jesus probably having been an apocalyptic preacher.
Would highly recommend to anyone with an interest in the new testament.
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story

- Nancy
- 02-03-19
I wasn't even interested...
I thought I should listen to this book, since my brother married a very religious woman. I was brought up Catholic, but still knew very little about The New Testament and wasn't even sure if I was interested. This book was fascinating, the teacher had a great delivery. I read the PDF to my Mother who was amazed at the content. Well worth listening to. I think almost anybody would find this course really interesting and well worth their time.
75 people found this helpful
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story

- RGO
- 27-07-19
A rigorously and down to earth summation of what we know from a historical perspective...
This is a great course for those just beginning and wanting a historical/Literary criticism of what we know today from scholars. NOT THEOLOGIANS, APOLOGISTS OR DEVOTIONAL INTERPRETATION.
I find it interesting how those who only want the “truth” to be their truth, write comments that try to undermine or discredit scholars like Ehrman, yet their criticism only reflects their ignorance.
Ehrman goes out of his way many times to reiterate that his perspective and objective is from a historical/literary criticism point of view.
He is a master teacher and a voice that should be upheld and included in any study of the Christian sacred texts.
24 people found this helpful
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story

- Wurm
- 03-10-13
Excellent Historical Critical Perspective
A fantastic course on New testament history conducted by Bart Ehrman. This work addresses such questions as:
Who wrote the Gospels?
When were the Gospels written?
In what order were the Gospels written?
What discrepancies are in the Gospels and why?
Who the wrote the Pauline epistles?
How can we tell who wrote these books?
Ehrman is erudite and well-regarded among Biblical scholars. This work does not disappoint and I highly recommend this and other Great Courses by Bart Ehrman.
Note: This work is from a historical-critical perspective, not a devotional perspective. It is academia, not religion.
136 people found this helpful
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story

- Des W
- 31-08-19
Excellent!!!
Just a wonderful HISTORIC review of the new testament. Finished the lecture and immediately started the journey again. Can not recommend this enough, Bart Ehrman lays out a very concise historic view that is so clear anyone can get on board.
13 people found this helpful
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story

- Antonio M.
- 23-09-19
great overview of new testament
Keeping in mind that the author is agnostic, the arguments are always consequencial and well exposed. Many common sense ideas about new testament are dissected, still a good completion that is missing would be a recap of the teachings of Jesus that are supposed to be filologically reliable.
11 people found this helpful
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story

- Perfectly Imperfect
- 01-09-20
Absolute waste of time...save your money!
This supposed expert is completely clueless and presents only fringe, unverified theories...no actual facts! It is obvious that this 'professor' has an agenda and it is not an unbiased presentation of the New Testament nor to provide any facts supporting the veracity of the amazing works in the New Testament. The professor states that Jesus never claimed to be the Messiah or the way to God... obviously, he does not understand John 14. He claims that many books written by Paul are forgeries because of his use of different words. He completely ignores the fact that the New Testament was actually written down closer to actual events than any major document we have from antiquity. This professor plays the part of a Pharisee very well! He also claims that Paul probably did not know anything about Jesus and that possibly there are two religions, Jesus Christianity and Paul's Christianity. He claims Jesus said we are saved by works and followed the Jewish traditions only! I will certainly concede that there are unknowns in the New Testament but this was a complete set of ridiculous claims. This was supposed to look at the New Testament from a historical perspective. The professor belittles Like and does not even mention the fact that Luke was the ONLY historical source about an entirely lost civilization (Hittites) until they were rediscovered in the early 1900s. I feel strongly that the only goal is this book was to promote doubt and lead students away from anything other than thinking the New Testament was total fiction.
10 people found this helpful
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story

- Paul
- 02-07-19
Skimps on Evidentiary Support at Logic's Expense
I love the Great Courses, but this one doesn't work. He breezes through arguments in a way that creates logical weak spots unnecessarily. It may be that there is more support for the claims, but it's not provided, so as an intro course or one designed to fill in your gaps, it's unsatisfying.
For example, he argued that there isn't any evidence that Luke wrote Acts because the part in Acts where he speaks in the first person was probably just copied directly from something Luke actually write. But he gives no evidence for assuming some other Luke document is out there in the face of Occam's razor suggesting the more direct conclusion---that the author was speaking in the first person because he was the author.
Likewise, he argues that the synoptic gospels don't corroborate each other because they all arise from a single source, known as Q. This is a common belief in the field, but the only evidence he gives the listener for the existence of Q is how closely the three books align. So his argument is essentially that the three books don't corroborate each of because they corroborate each other so closely that there is probably some other document out there they source from. Again, that's fine, but without providing additional evidence for Q to exist, it doesn't survive Occam's razor and is likely to strike listeners as unsatisfying.
If you want a more rigorous and only slightly more lengthy study, I recommend NT Wright's biography of Paul. It gives you a better view of the historical Jesus, historical Paul and analysis of the Epistles.
71 people found this helpful
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story

- Kris Heap
- 18-03-15
Should have a different title
The information was great but most of the lecture was spent looking at discrepancies in what we consider the New Testament today. A better title would be "Finding the Original New Testament" or "Inconsistencies in the New Testament". All in all, it was really interesting, just not what I thought it would be.
117 people found this helpful
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story

- Kelly
- 18-02-15
Very interesting!
The narrator does a fantastic job of addressing a controversial subject with care. Keep in mind that this is a historical discussion of the New Testament, not a theological discussion.
28 people found this helpful
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story

- Tad Davis
- 13-01-17
Incisive
Bart Ehrman is my favorite writer on New Testament topics, and fortunately he is also an engaging teacher. The result here is a first-rate introduction to the history and content of the New Testament. Of particular interest are his account of the four gospels and his interpretation of Revelation (which he sets firmly in the context of Roman history). I've read a lot on this subject over the years, but Ehrman always manages to surprise me with new information or incisive analysis. Depending on what you're looking for, this may be an excellent addition to your library; but you should note that Ehrman is writing as an historian, and his approach is more skeptical than some people of faith will be comfortable with.
28 people found this helpful