Peter J Williams vs Bart Ehrman • The story of Jesus: Are the Gospels historically reliable?

Agnostic Bible scholar Bart Ehrman and Christian Bible scholar Peter J Williams debate the reliability of the accounts of Jesus' life, death and resurrection.

Episode 3 | Season 2 of The Big Conversation

The Big Conversation is a unique video series from Unbelievable? featuring world-class thinkers across the Christian and atheist community. Exploring science, faith, philosophy and what it means to be human. 

The Big Conversation Season 2:

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The Big Conversation is produced by Premier in partnership with the Templeton Religion Trust
 

[wzsmart]

Hey Justin, atheist viewer here. Just wanna tell you that I’m very impressed with your unbiased and skillful moderation of these debates. I’ve watched several and never see you show your “team colors” so to speak. I know you’re Christian yourself but you seem like a real lover of truth and healthy debate. Hats off to you.

[Herodotus]

This is SUCH a better conversation than Ehrman's debate with Justin Bass. Peter J Williams is a worthy opponent.

[silverwolfmonastery]

Justin and the people that create the Unbelievable? show... as an atheist, I thank you for being able to create a format where people discuss things rationally and kindly. Justin, you do a fantastic job of moderating.

[strynevanzelk]

Love listening to Bart Erhman and N.T. Wright, please make a debate between them happen!

[Israel..]

I love the subtle tension hovering beneath the surface. Battle is a deep metaphor.

[sniffingdogartofficial]

Really amazing conversation. I tend to find Erhman a lot more credible because he's more analytical, but I think it's important to note that he's not saying he's an atheist because of his view of scripture. It's entirely possible to believe in God without thinking the Bible is a historical document.
This video should have far, far more views.

[jacuz]

Peter can't answer definitively Ehrman's simple question: Do you believe the Bible is inerrant? Peter obviously does. Thus Peter is disingenuous, and hypocritical. He need say yes and be done with it. Ultimately, imo, he sounds confused, uncertain about his position.

[baniyaminabas]

moderator really done great moderator job ...

[drzaius]

Excellent conversation, thank you! I’m an atheist, and I love respectful conversations with theists who don’t straw man their debate partner. That’s my biggest pet peeve.

[weepingwillow]

Aside from great debate, i was equally amazed about the size of the table they choose to make this debate. Didn’t you?

[chokin]

Bart is a combination of intellectual kindness and toughness that I really like. By the second half of the debate Bart had Peter so against the ropes that it was difficult to watch. Bart pressing the point home and getting to the details unrelentingly is what caught Peter off guard.

[strive]

This moderator is the best I’ve ever seen.

[SkyHawksGamers]

This should have been longer! Great discussion :)

[fripster]

That was brilliant. Thank you to all involved in producing this debate. It makes a refreshing change to the (unfortunately) usual mudslinging. Subscribed.

[saadhaider]

Being muslim. Great moderation by host. I mean he is involved and concluding each remark spot on. Well both scholars desrve respect. Bart ofcourse had much weight in his argument.

[timhrklittimothyherrickvid]

what a wonderful discussion. I think there's a big difference between discrepancy and contradiction. I wish we had another hour at least.

[ethtt]

Bart's posture is something to aspire to.

[jdm]

I'm a follower of Jesus, and I think its safe to say Peter was horribly outmatched and lost this debate. I appreciate Barts candor in admitting that his arguments don't really have much more to do with anything outside of the biblical inerrancy claim. American Christianity is so badly plagued with thumping inerrancy to the point that many of them apply it as gospel, which its not. The bible can have errors and Jesus can still be absolutely everything he said he was. That may muddle epistemology a bit, but thats a different story altogether. I enjoyed this conversation a lot.

[RAADRAEIR]

I'm a muslim, and I enjoyed this discussion. Hope it was longer and delved deeper into the topic. Also, hope all who debate, including myself, are as sincere, gentleman-like and respectful as these two. Great moderation too.

[sisteranonymous]

This wasnt a conversation or debate, this was a beat-down.... That Peter guy was no match for Bart, he mumbled & stumbled his way pathetically to the end when ended up grovelled up in a corner stuttering bs.