Misquoting Jesus with Bart Ehrman

Listening to the podcast today and I wanted to say i also read “Jesus before the gospels”. Liked it very much. I’ve read 8 books and taken 7 Great Courses by Bart and while not being Christian, have an interest in 100 BCE to about 400 CE and Bart is a quality provider of info.

I’ve listened to Misquoting Jesus and I have to say, there’s a serious problem with how Ehrman presents himself and his work. While he frames himself as an objective scholar uncovering textual corruption, the podcast often leans into sensationalism, cherry-picking examples, and overstating what the evidence actually shows. The biggest issue is that he portrays debates as settled when they’re not. He frequently misrepresents mythicist arguments, sets up straw men, or ignores contrary scholarship, giving listeners the impression that anyone questioning Jesus’ historicity is “foolish” or uninformed. That’s not honesty—it’s a rhetorical strategy that protects institutional Christianity while appearing critical. In reality, Ehrman has done excellent textual work, but his public persona sometimes crosses into grifting, monetizing controversy and exaggeration rather than presenting the historical debate fairly. Listeners deserve transparency: there are serious scholars and historians who challenge his framework, yet he rarely engages them in depth. If your goal is critical thinking and honest scholarship, Misquoting Jesus should be taken with a huge grain of salt, not as the final word.

I’ve listened to Bart and read several of his books since I discovered his work two years ago. As a non academic with an interest in historical literature, I find his work accessible and thought provoking. As a former Christian raised in the church, I find his scholarship has enriched my understanding of the Bible, and the subsequent motivations of religious, social and political movements that affect us all. Highly recommended.

This podcast is fantastic. The interview framework of Bart’s and Megan’s banter allows anybody with even the slightest interest in the historicity of the Bible and the New Testament to learn and understand scholarly topics.