#016: Is Jesus God? (HOTW: Bart Ehrman)

Is Jesus God? Our conversation with Bart Ehrman in this episode leads us to explore this question of Christ’s Deity. What are the implications if Jesus was—or was not—God? Plus, more hilarious Heretic Hotline messages and other surprises.

Show Notes

• 00:24 – Introduction and word from show sponsor Unfundamentalists.
• 03:45 – Text from the hotline. “Was there a podcast where someone mentioned a verse from the Q’ran about Jesus?”
• 05:20 – The sacrificial and non-violent nature of God.
• 08:00 – Similarities with violent Old Testament verses and Isis.
• 10:49 – Introduction to special guest heretic of the week Bart Ehrman.
• 11:49 – Bart explains why people view him as a heretic or an apostate.
• 13:12 – Bart’s study of Greek and his changing views of biblical inerrancy.
• 14:45 – Jesus as a historical person and the sermon on the mount.
• 17:01 – Can you follow the ethical teachings of Jesus and still be a Christian?
• 20:21 – Books in the New Testament that should or shouldn’t be included.
• 23:10 – Bart’s defining moments of change in belief and a mistake in Mark’s gospel.
• 26:38 – How Jesus became God.
• 29:10 – Bart’s take on the essence of love and the transcendence of reality.
• 31:15 – Bart’s new book, The triumph of Christianity.
• 35:35 – The disciples and the rabbinical style teaching of Jesus.
• 39:19 – Mary Magdalene and historical writings.
• 40:21 – Gospel accounts.
• 41:15 – Literalism and Literal truths.
• 43:20 – When Jesus became God in the gospels. Progressive understanding.
• 45:45 – Is Jesus God?
• 48:20 – Jesus’s humanity.
• 49:20 – Jesus came to reveal who the Father is.
• 50:25 – Humans as divine. The image and likeness of God.
• 53:01 – Jesus understanding his identity.
• 55:18 – Jesus’s uniqueness.
• 57:00 – All things are in Christ.
• 59:55 – We are the same essence as Jesus.
• 1:02:54 – Christ as the source of our being.
• 1:07:08 – The incarnation of God in the flesh.
• 1:08:45 – What if Jesus isn’t God?
• 1:09:40 – Cosmic Christ. Christ as the sum total of existence.
• 1:12:05 – Resurrection and no fear of death.
• 1:14:48 – Are we divine as humans?
• 1:17:12 – Truths about Christ are truths about us.