The Real Mary: History vs Christmas Legend
Misquoting Jesus with Bart Ehrman
Ever wondered what Mary, the mother of Jesus, was really like—beyond the nativity scenes and stained glass? This week, Megan Lewis sits down with Dr. James Tabor to dig into the life of the “woman behind the Messiah,” exploring surprising theories about Mary’s origins, her possible royal and priestly lineage, and her true role in the earliest days of Christianity. Was she really just a humble villager—or something much more? Tune in for a lively conversation that blends historical detective work, ancient drama, and just a pinch of scholarly mischief to help you see Mary as you’ve...
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The Real Story Behind the Virgin Birth in Christianity
Misquoting Jesus with Bart Ehrman
Mary’s virginity is a central tenet in most (or all) Christian denominations - but when did the story develop? Today, Dr. Bart Ehrman joins me to talk about where the idea of a virgin birth might have come from, and when it was first introduced into the Christian canon.
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Is the Christmas Story a Myth?
Misquoting Jesus with Bart Ehrman
Did you know that the “Christmas story” everyone knows, with the shepherds and wise men, is actually an amalgamation of the accounts in the gospels of Luke and Matthew? Today, Dr. Bart Ehrman answers my questions about the inconsistencies in these two narratives, and whether they can be reconciled.
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How Did Scribes Change the Gospel of Mark?
Misquoting Jesus with Bart Ehrman
We have hundreds of manuscripts of the Gospel of Mark, and no two are exactly the same. From spelling errors to deliberate, theologically-driven changes, each scribe put their own mark on the gospel. Today, Dr. Bart Ehrman joins me to discuss the hows and whys of these rewrites.
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Missing Manuscripts: Uncovering the Original Gospels' Text
Misquoting Jesus with Bart Ehrman
We often talk about copies of the gospels, how different manuscripts differ from one another, and the implications of these differences - but we rarely talk about the original gospel manuscripts. Today on Misquoting Jesus, Dr. Bart Ehrman joins me to discuss what an original text actually is, and why they matter.
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Did Peter Really Found the Church in Rome?
Misquoting Jesus with Bart Ehrman
The Catholic tradition considers the apostle Peter to be the first Pope and the founder of the church in Rome, but what does the historical record say? Today, Dr. Bart Ehrman joins me to discuss where this idea came from, whether Peter was ever in Rome, and what historians know about the founding of early churches.
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Gnostic Christianity: The Beliefs That Shocked the Early Church
Misquoting Jesus with Bart Ehrman
Gnosticism is one of the most confusing and enigmatic early Christian groups, whose beliefs were considered secret knowledge meant only for a select few. Today, Dr. Bart Ehrman answers my questions about what Gnostics thought about Jesus - where he came from, what he was doing on earth, and whether or not he was divine.
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Bart Unplugged: Rapid-Fire Answers on the Apostle Paul
Misquoting Jesus with Bart Ehrman
Have you ever submitted a question to the Misquoting Jesus podcast? Ever heard the answer? Today, Bart and I are going to be doing an entire episode covering listeners questions on the topic of the apostle Paul - keep listening, and we might get to yours!
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Night of the Living Dead: Matthew's Forgotten Resurrection
Misquoting Jesus with Bart Ehrman
There are several resurrection stories in the New Testament - including, of course, Jesus himself, but what about the mass resurrection in the gospel of Matthew? Today, Dr. Bart Ehrman joins me to discuss why the righteous were raised from the dead when Jesus came for sinners, and what happened to them after their resurrection.
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Meet Marcion: The First Great Christian Heretic
Misquoting Jesus with Bart Ehrman
Marcion, founder of the 2nd century Christian group imaginatively called the Marcionites, had some beliefs that would be cause for stoning in the Life of Brian. This week, Dr. Bart Ehrman joins me to talk about what those beliefs were, Marcion’s own personal gospel, and what other christians thought about it.
info_outlineHas Christianity been a net positive or negative for humanity? If you wander into an online debate between an atheist and a Christian apologist, you may hear an enthusiastic discussion on just this topic, with the Christian arguing that Jesus’ teachings led to the development of charity, hospitals, and orphanages - among other things. Are claims like that correct? Today, Dr. Bart Ehrman and I continue our discussion on the influence of Jesus’ ethical teachings on the Western world, diving into just that question.