If Jesus Never Called Himself God, How Did He Become One?

Terry Gross is the host and co-executive producer of Fresh Air, an interview format radio show produced by WHYY-FM in Philadelphia and distributed throughout the United States by National Public Radio (NPR). She interviews Bart on April 7th, 2014 and prepares the discussion to reflect on Bart's book "How Jesus Became God: The Exaltation of a Jewish Preacher from Galilee." The discussion addresses topics such as the major difference between the first three gospels — Matthew, Mark and Luke — and the last gospel, John. On how Roman emperors were called "God." On the emergence of the Trinity. On the difference between history and the past and on the empty tomb and the resurrection, just to name a few.

Bart D. Ehrman is the James A. Gray Distinguished Professor at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. He came to UNC in 1988, after four years of teaching at Rutgers University. At UNC he has served as both the Director of Graduate Studies and the Chair of the Department of Religious Studies. A graduate of Wheaton College (Illinois), Professor Ehrman received both his Masters of Divinity and Ph.D. from Princeton Theological Seminary, where his 1985 doctoral dissertation was awarded magna cum laude.

Fresh Air with Terry Gross, the Peabody Award-winning weekday magazine of contemporary arts and issues, is one of public radio's most popular programs. She holds a master's degree in communications from the University at Buffalo, The State University of New York.

Copyright © Bart D. Ehrman and Fresh Air. All Rights Reserved. Unauthorized use, re-posting and/or duplication of this media without express and written permission from Bart D. Ehrman and Fresh Air is strictly prohibited.

[azad]

Bart Erman studied bible for 30 years before he left Christianity. Many ignorant commenter who criticize Bart Erman is not even 30 years old.

[Waltham]

As Mark Twain said of the Bible, "It is full of interest. It has noble poetry in it; and some clever fables; and some blood-drenched history; and some good morals; and a wealth of obscenity; and upwards of a thousand lies."

[livingstranger]

As an exChristian, I know logically Christianity is untrue, but emotionally I have the hardest time letting go. I can’t help but feel like I’ve lost such a big part of my identity and history.

[muhilan]

All these christians are literally pulling quotes from the gospel of John with Ehrman adresses in the interview. Like did y'all even listen?

[DC-wpoj]

The Jews were expecting a Messiah. There is NO indication of a man-god in the OT. Or that a man-god would die for your sins. Christianity is full of contradictions, confusions.

[AGRANT]

the comments are comical. this man has spent many years, countless hours, studied the different languages, earned a PhD in biblical studies, and Cletus from the trailer park with a GED wants to refute him.

[Doriesep]

Terry Gross is a marvelous interviewer.

[srinivassc]

You can't go to the level of understanding the broad angle of prophets. Christ incarnated as Jesus and walked the earth. If you accept or don't accept, Jesus is not at loss

[cestmarrant]

best ehrman interview. intelligent questions and the interviewer knew how to keep out of the way and let bart answer the questions.

[colerainfan]

All you upset and indignant responders have no shot at knocking down Ehrman---he is too damn learned on the topic.  Spouting bible verse alone is not a realistic rebuttal.  You "know" the bible is truth because, simply "know".  No proof, no logic, is required (or available) for your belief.   

[bayuaniarto]

Simple question to Trinitarian: if God is trinity since the beginning, why Adam, Noah, Moses, Abraham did not worship God as the trinity since the beginning? Why trinity is only known since the 1st century ad?

Does God subject to time? that he is changed throughout history (time)?

First...Jew worship One God... then... Christian worship Trinity... later on... Muslim worship One God - there is something wrong in the middle (Christian's worship) isn't it?

[bobbyatkins]

What people need to realize is that though HE may have not personally called HIMSELF GOD; HE never rebuked anyone that did.

[gary]

Such an interesting man. I could listen to him all day.

[tonycamisi]

Jesus is not "God" people. This is the biggest misconception in all of Theological History.

[amylucas]

I have just recently found you & your I love them!
It's painfully obvious that you know what your talking about. It's sad that so many are in denial of the truth.
I'm gonna watch every video you have.
Thank you for sharing your knowledge.

[robertschlesinger]

A superb discussion with Prof. Ehrman, a leading expert on ancient Christianity. He is the leading authority on the subjects discussed. Father John Dominic Crossan, another great historian of early Christianity has written that Jesus' body certainly remained on the cross until it decomposed and rotted, and was finally eaten by wild dogs, as was the rule at the time. The books by Father Crossan were best sellers and are readily available.

[biggregg]

The 374 down votes are telling. A historian that takes his craft very seriously, presents objective evidence in his presentation, yet people can't handle it. What's not to like.

[prakkari]

Here is the quote from Josephus about saving not one but three of his companions from the cross. Only one survived thoug.
"I was sent by Titus Caesar with Ceralius and a thousand riders to a certain town by the name of Thecoa to find out whether a camp could be set up at this place. On my return I saw many prisoners who had been crucified, and recognized three of them as my former companions. I was inwardly very sad about this and went with tears in my eyes to Titus and told him about them. He at once gave the order that they should be taken down and given the best treatment so they could get better. However two of them died while being attended to by the doctor; the third recovered.”

[chuckschillingvideos]

I take issue with Ehrman's assumption that the only way Pilate would have released the body of Jesus shortly after his crucifixion was strictly an act of kindness to Jesus's followers. The politics of Judea at that time were extraordinarily complicated and it is just as possible that Pilate allowed them to take his body down and bury it in order to send a message to the Jewish elders that, though he allowed them to execute Jesus, that he wasn't about to allow them to dictate to him in all aspects of his rule.

[rodthesaj]

I have to disagree with Prof. Bart on his conclusion that Pilate would not have allowed Jesus' body to be taken from the cross and given a decent
burial based mainly on Pilate's reputation as a brutal and merciless governor. Bart believes Jesus was buried in a common grave among other crucified criminals. Bart also thought that Pilate would not have made an exception in Jesus' because he despised the Jews as unruly people to govern. I think Bart's premises are superficial and a little sloppy.
I believe the gospel accounts on this burial issue are more believable due to the following reasons:
First. Pilate, during the trials, found Jesus, innocent and was actually willing to release him. To dramatically emphasize his position, he publicly washed his hands to show he didnt want the blood of Jesus on his hands and conscience.
Second. Pilate's second attempt was during the annual observance of releasing a Jewish prisoner by the Romans as a gesture of political benevolence towards their subjects. The Jewish crowd would be allowed to choose between two prisoners who they favored for release. Pilate was hoping the crowd would choose Jesus out of pity at the sight of his bloody face and body over Barabbas, a boisterous and violent criminal with some notoriety. Jesus lost out because the crowd was orchestrated by the Jewish leaders in a mock trial in the middle of the night. The followers of Jesus who were present were badly outnumbered and could just watch frustrated and helpless the staged trial.
Third. As governor of the region, he also represented the Roman emperor in an ambassadorial capacity among the people's elite composed of rich and influential leaders like the Sadduccees, the Pharisees, rich merchants, rabbis, scribes and members of the Sanhedrin like Gamalieil, joseph of Arimathea and Nicodemus. Pilate moved and mixed with them in important state functions. Even even as a governor, he needed the cooperation and support of Jewish leadership who could easily go over his head and go directly to the emperor in Rome to air their grievances and put him on the carpet. Pilate was actually afraid of them for this reason
Fourth. Jesus had his own growing following among the people besides his apostles and close disciples. He was very popular as a healer preacher and teacher and even a miracle worker. In others words, he was not a nobody. There would have been a public outcry over his body.
Fifth. When joseph of Arimathea requested to be given Jesus' body for burial, Pilate could not have refused Joseph of Arimathea, a prominent figure in Jewish society, thus realizing the extent of Jesus' influence in higher siciety with whom Pilate must have good public relations.
Pilate even assigned two Roman soldiers to guard Jesus' tomb per request of the Jewish leaders.
Here I rest my case.