Bart Ehrman interpreted: how one radical New Testament scholar understands another

256 Pages·2018·2.144 MB·English

by  Ehrman, Bart D.;Price, Robert M

BART EHRMAN INTERPRETED
How One Radical
New Testament Scholar
Understands Another
robert m. price

pitchstone publishing
,
durham north carolina

BART EHRMAN INTERPRETED
Pitchstone Publishing
Durham, North Carolina
www.pitchstonepublishing.com
Copyright © 2018 by Robert M. Price
All rights reserved
Printed in the USA
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Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
Names: Price, Robert M., 1954- author.
Title: Bart Ehrman interpreted : how one radical New Testament scholar
understands another / Robert M. Price.
Description: Durham, North Carolina : Pitchstone Publishing, 2018. | Includes
bibliographical references.
Identifiers: LCCN 2017058143 (print) | LCCN 2018002214 (ebook) | ISBN
9781634311595 (epub) | ISBN 9781634311601 (ePDF) | ISBN 9781634311618 (
mobi) | ISBN 9781634311588 (pbk. : alk. paper)
Subjects: LCSH: Ehrman, Bart D. | New Testament scholars.
Classification: LCC BS2351.E47 (ebook) | LCC BS2351.E47 P75 2018 (print) |
DDC 220.6092—dc23
LC record available at https://lccn.loc.gov/2017058143
Cover photo by Dan Sears
Dedicated to Lori and Kevin Carlisle,
A Pair of Beloved Friends, Spiritual Family, and Savvy Theologians

CONTENTS
Introduction: Hopefully Not Misquoting Bart 9
1. Apoplectic Prophet 15
2. Agnostic Apologist 65
3. When I Get That Feeling I Want Textual Healing 141
4. Blessed Are the Cheese Makers 167
5. No Talk of God Then, We Called You a Man 205
6. The Way, the Truth, and the Lie 233
About the Author 255
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INTRODUCTION
HOPEFULLY NOT MISQUOTING BART
Bart D. Ehrman has performed a great service by introducing many new
readers to crucial questions of biblical criticism in a series of books both
scholarly and popular. In this his work recalls that of Edgar J. Goodspeed
and Robert W. Funk, both of whom were great scholars but refused to
barricade themselves in the academic ivory tower. Concerned neither to
protect the faithful from the discomfort of critical challenges nor to protect
themselves from the ire of the faithful, these scholars insisted on “taking it to
the streets.” Unafraid of controversy, they knew their work would offer relief
and new hope to many who loved scripture but could no longer suppress their
questions (“doubts”) about it. Professor Ehrman has not avoided controversy
but has even invited it by his refusal to hide behind diplomatic and equivocal
language. My goal in the present book, Bart Ehrman Interpreted, is to expound
on and to evaluate his work under six headings: the apocalyptic Jesus, the
Christ Myth theory, textual criticism, oral tradition, the evolution of New
Testament Christology, and scriptural forgery (“pseudepigraphy”).
Throughout, my approach will be irenic and collegial, rejecting polemics.
I will defend Dr. Ehrman’s work against conservative/apologetical attacks
upon it. I will also suggest a number of points at which he seems to me
insufficiently or inconsistently critical in his judgments. I believe and hope this
book will prompt much fruitful and positive discussion of Professor Ehrman’s
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