Saturday, December 28, 2013

"How Jesus Became God"


Apostate atheist Bart Ehrman has a forthcoming book. Since it hasn't been published yet, I'll just comment on the blurbs:

“How did ancient monotheism allow the One God to have a ‘son’? Bart Ehrman tells this story, introducing the reader to a Jewish world thick with angels, cosmic powers, and numberless semi-divinities. How Jesus Became God provides a lively overview of Nicea’s prequel.”
PAULA FREDRIKSEN, DISTINGUISHED VISITING PROFESSOR, THE HEBREW UNIVERSITY, JERUSALEM, AND AUTHOR OF JESUS OF NAZARETH, KING OF THE JEWS
“ In this lively and provocative book, Ehrman gives a nuanced and wide-ranging discussion of early Christian Christology. Tracing the developing understanding of Jesus, Ehrman shows his skills as an interpreter of both biblical and nonbiblical texts. This is an important, accessible work by a scholar of the first rank.”
MICHAEL COOGAN, AUTHOR OF THE OLD TESTAMENT: A HISTORICAL AND LITERARY INTRODUCTION TO THE HEBREW SCRIPTURES



http://www.harpercollins.com/books/How-Jesus-Became-God-Bart-D-Ehrman/?isbn=9780061778186

This suggests that Ehrman is basing his conclusions on Second Temple Jewish literature and Hellenistic Judaism. If so, that's not Ehrman's field of expertise. 

Also, is Ehrman a "scholar of the first rank"? Due to his association with the late Bruce Metzger, and I think some people treat him as Metzger's successor. But he's certainly not in Metzger's league. 

Finally, Paula Fredriksen has her own ax to grind. For instance, she was an outspoke critic of Mel Gibson's The Passion of the Christ. Cutting Jesus down to size suits her interfaith agenda. 

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