Jesus, Interrupted
Encyclopedia
Jesus, Interrupted: Revealing the Hidden Contradictions in the Bible (And Why We Don't Know About Them) is a book by Bart D. Ehrman
, a New Testament
scholar at University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
. This work includes a narrative of Erhman's own progression in Biblical studies and beliefs, an overview of the issues raised by scholarly analysis of the Bible, details of a selection of findings from such analysis, and an exhortation regarding the importance of coming to understand the Bible more fully.
Regarding the importance of Biblical study, Erhman says in the preface, "This kind of information is relevant not only to scholars like me, who devote their lives to serious research, but also to everyone who is interested in the Bible -- whether they personally consider themselves believers or not. In my opinion this really matters. Whether you are a believer -- fundamentalist, evangelical, moderate, liberal -- or a nonbeliever, the Bible is the most significant book in the history of our civilization. Coming to understand what it actually is, and is not, is one of the most important intellectual endeavors that anyone in our society can embark upon." One particular statement from early on appears to summarize the development of the subject matter that Erhman attempts to cover in this volume: "Scholars of the Bible have made significant progress in understanding the Bible over the past two hundred years, building on archaeological discoveries, advances in our knowledge of the ancient Hebrew and Greek languages in which the book of Scripture were originally written, and deep and penetrating historical, literary, and textual analyses."
Rich Barlow of the Boston Globe,writes "...he repeatedly stresses that historical-critical study need not kill faith. And, honest scholar that he is, he admits that some of his contentions can be challenged."
.
Critics applauded Ehrman's writing ability.
The book also received a positive review from Dr James F. McGrath, Clarence L. Goodwin Chair in New Testament Language and Literature at Butler University
, Indianapolis. McGrath highly recommended the book, describing it as introducing "a wider audience to important aspects of the New Testament." McGrath wrote that "The information Ehrman presents is not at odds with Christian faith, although it is at odds with the claims that some Christians make about the Bible," echoing Ehrman's stated aims for the book.
Michael J. Kruger, Associate Professor of New Testament at Reformed Theological Seminary
called it "a book full of ironies" and "intellectual schizophrenia," stating that "it purports to be about unbiased history but rarely presents an opposing viewpoint; ironic that it claims to follow the scholarly consensus but breaks from it so often; ironic that it insists on the historical-critical method but then reads the gospels with a modernist, overly-literal hermeneutic; ironic that it claims no one view of early Christianity could be "right" (Walter Bauer) but then proceeds to tell us which view of early Christianity is "right;"..." Similar criticisms have been voiced by Ben Witherington, Professor of New Testament at Asbury Theological Seminary
describing Ehrman's claims as "not the voice of the critical consensus on the NT. He could be called the popular voice of one particular more liberal or radical interpretation of the data." Another criticism raised, which was also raised over "Misquoting Jesus," is that Ehrman implies that the information being presented is new, or groundbreaking. Bishop William H. Willimon
says, "He keeps presenting this stuff as if this is wonderful new knowledge that has been kept from you backward lay people and this is the stuff your preachers don't have the guts to tell, and I have."
Bart D. Ehrman
Bart D. Ehrman is an American New Testament scholar, currently the James A. Gray Distinguished Professor of Religious Studies at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill....
, a New Testament
New Testament
The New Testament is the second major division of the Christian biblical canon, the first such division being the much longer Old Testament....
scholar at University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill is a public research university located in Chapel Hill, North Carolina, United States...
. This work includes a narrative of Erhman's own progression in Biblical studies and beliefs, an overview of the issues raised by scholarly analysis of the Bible, details of a selection of findings from such analysis, and an exhortation regarding the importance of coming to understand the Bible more fully.
Regarding the importance of Biblical study, Erhman says in the preface, "This kind of information is relevant not only to scholars like me, who devote their lives to serious research, but also to everyone who is interested in the Bible -- whether they personally consider themselves believers or not. In my opinion this really matters. Whether you are a believer -- fundamentalist, evangelical, moderate, liberal -- or a nonbeliever, the Bible is the most significant book in the history of our civilization. Coming to understand what it actually is, and is not, is one of the most important intellectual endeavors that anyone in our society can embark upon." One particular statement from early on appears to summarize the development of the subject matter that Erhman attempts to cover in this volume: "Scholars of the Bible have made significant progress in understanding the Bible over the past two hundred years, building on archaeological discoveries, advances in our knowledge of the ancient Hebrew and Greek languages in which the book of Scripture were originally written, and deep and penetrating historical, literary, and textual analyses."
Rich Barlow of the Boston Globe,writes "...he repeatedly stresses that historical-critical study need not kill faith. And, honest scholar that he is, he admits that some of his contentions can be challenged."
Reception
Jesus, Interrupted became a New York Times best-seller, joining Ehrman's previous popular work of textual criticism Misquoting JesusMisquoting Jesus
Misquoting Jesus: The Story Behind Who Changed the Bible and Why is a book by Bart D. Ehrman, a New Testament scholar at University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. The book introduces lay readers to the field of textual criticism of the Bible. Ehrman discusses a number of textual variants that...
.
Critics applauded Ehrman's writing ability.
The book also received a positive review from Dr James F. McGrath, Clarence L. Goodwin Chair in New Testament Language and Literature at Butler University
Butler University
Butler University is a private university located in Indianapolis, Indiana. Founded in 1855 and named after founder Ovid Butler, the university offers 60 degree programs to 4,400 students through six colleges: business, communication, education, liberal Arts and sciences, pharmacy and health...
, Indianapolis. McGrath highly recommended the book, describing it as introducing "a wider audience to important aspects of the New Testament." McGrath wrote that "The information Ehrman presents is not at odds with Christian faith, although it is at odds with the claims that some Christians make about the Bible," echoing Ehrman's stated aims for the book.
Michael J. Kruger, Associate Professor of New Testament at Reformed Theological Seminary
Reformed Theological Seminary
Reformed Theological Seminary is a non-denominational, evangelical Protestant seminary. RTS's first campus remains in Jackson, Mississippi, United States though the school has expanded to include several additional campuses.-Founding:...
called it "a book full of ironies" and "intellectual schizophrenia," stating that "it purports to be about unbiased history but rarely presents an opposing viewpoint; ironic that it claims to follow the scholarly consensus but breaks from it so often; ironic that it insists on the historical-critical method but then reads the gospels with a modernist, overly-literal hermeneutic; ironic that it claims no one view of early Christianity could be "right" (Walter Bauer) but then proceeds to tell us which view of early Christianity is "right;"..." Similar criticisms have been voiced by Ben Witherington, Professor of New Testament at Asbury Theological Seminary
Asbury Theological Seminary
Asbury Theological Seminary is a multi-denominational, graduate institution that offers a variety of master degree and postgraduate degree programs through the schools of Biblical Interpretation and Proclamation, Theology and Formation, Practical Theology, World Missions and Evangelism, and...
describing Ehrman's claims as "not the voice of the critical consensus on the NT. He could be called the popular voice of one particular more liberal or radical interpretation of the data." Another criticism raised, which was also raised over "Misquoting Jesus," is that Ehrman implies that the information being presented is new, or groundbreaking. Bishop William H. Willimon
William H. Willimon
William Henry Willimon is a bishop in the United Methodist Church in the U.S., currently serving in North Alabama. He is best known as a theologian, writer, former Dean of the Chapel at Duke University, and as one of America's best known preachers...
says, "He keeps presenting this stuff as if this is wonderful new knowledge that has been kept from you backward lay people and this is the stuff your preachers don't have the guts to tell, and I have."
External links
- Jesus, Interrupted from HarperCollinsHarperCollinsHarperCollins is a publishing company owned by News Corporation. It is the combination of the publishers William Collins, Sons and Co Ltd, a British company, and Harper & Row, an American company, itself the result of an earlier merger of Harper & Brothers and Row, Peterson & Company. The worldwide...
- A review of Jesus, Interrupted by New Testament scholar Dr. James F. McGrath.
- A review of Jesus, Interrupted by New Testament scholar Michael J. Kruger.
- A review of Jesus, Interrupted by David Harding.
- Salon interview with Ehrman
- NPR interview with Ehrman
- CNN article on Jesus, Interrupted