How Jesus Became God

The Exaltation of a Jewish Preacher from Galilee

By: Bart D. Ehrman

Narrated by: Walter Dixon

In an audiobook that took eight years to research and write, leading Bible scholar Bart D. Ehrman explores how an apocalyptic prophet from the backwaters of rural Galilee crucified for crimes against the state came to be thought of as equal with the one God Almighty Creator of all things.

Ehrman sketches Jesus's transformation from a human prophet to the Son of God exalted to divine status at his resurrection. Only when some of Jesus's followers had visions of him after his death - alive again - did anyone come to think that he, the prophet from Galilee, had become God. And what they meant by that was not at all what people mean today.

As a historian - not a believer - Ehrman answers the questions: How did this transformation of Jesus occur? How did he move from being a Jewish prophet to being God? The dramatic shifts throughout history reveal not only why Jesus's followers began to claim he was God, but also how they came to understand this claim in so many different ways.

Written for secular historians of religion and believers alike, How Jesus Became God will engage anyone interested in the historical developments that led to the affirmation at the heart of Christianity: Jesus was, and is, God.

©2014 Bart D. Ehrman (P)2014 HarperCollins Publishers

Narrator ruins a great book

The only way to listen and understant the book (especially if English is no your native language) is to adjust the settings of the narration pace to x0,70. Was the guy in a hurry? Noone from the production team listened once to the final product?

Exceptional!

Once again, an exceptional book by one of the leading scholars in the field.

Broaden Your Perspective

I read this book to make certain that my perspective on early Christianity was appropriate. Ehrman is clearly a serious thinker and scholar. Well worth listening to for all people interested in the same.

Worth the time

if you are interested in the subject, you should give this a try. I've read 6 books on Christ in the last year, and this ranks very high. Well researched and a logical assessment.

Typical scholarly Ehrman excellence

What didn’t you like about Walter Dixon’s performance?

Sounded like a speed reading robot. Probably one of the worst narrations I've ever heard.

A deep examination of the theological evolution of Jesus’ divinity

This book focuses exclusively on the theological evolution/significance of Jesus’ divinity from his lifetime until council of Nicea. This narrow scope allows him to get deep into the topic as he explains the cultural/historical context of Jesus’ age, as well as how disciples/later followers of Jesus would typically have understood terms like “son of God” or “son of man”. Ehrman goes into some of his usual topics here (historical assessment of miracles, some textual criticism, etc). Eventually Ehrman gets deep into the Trinity, attempting to explain how many of the most famous apologists were thinking about this phenomenon, and how their views of orthodoxy have changed over time.

Ultimately Ehrman makes the case that Jesus’ divinity was understood differently to different people in different eras with unique theological and political motivations. He was the apocalyptic preacher messiah to his disciples and God himself to later evangelists. One of my favorite reads from an author who already had such a high bar. Narrator has a slightly boring voice, but articulates most of it pretty well. You get past it quickly.

A very complete research of a complicated issue

The author has a strong research base to make his point and it does it

Illuminating

I'm not a fan of history, but I'm glad I took the time to listen to this book. I always found it difficult to comprehend how people can literally believe that Jesus is God, but now I feel like I understand the progression of that belief. Thank you Dr. Ehrman

An Unorthodox Look at Jesuis Christ

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

In the early part of the fourth century in the First Ecumenical Council at Nicaea under Emperor Constantine Orthodoxy (meaning "Right Thinking") was established for the first time in the history of the Christian Church and imposed upon it's members. With the development of "Right Thinking" Heresy (meaning "Choice" and used in the sense of "...you choose to abandon Truth") was defined and outlawed.

But even later under the threat of death (Capital punishment for Heresy was established under two later emperors) this did not stop individuals from daring to seek God and the Bible to understand the Nature of God and His Christ for themselves. Rome was later overthrown by Barbarians from the North who had rejected the Orthodox teachings of the Trinity and who had embraced an "Heretical" teaching that was brought to them by missionaries from the region of Antioch sometime in the second century. Antioch, you may remember, was Paul and Barnabas' center of operations (The Book of the Acts of the Apostles) and for a short time after the destruction of Jerusalem in 70 A.D. it was the center of the Christian Church.

Heresy was later pronounced dead in the seventh century. It showed up again in the 10th century in the Holy Catholic Church during the Eucharist Controversy and was severally dealt with by the Pope. It was revived in the Reformation and was embraced by many of the "Radical" Reformers.

As late as Isaac Newton (17th century) individual continued to challenge Orthodoxy under the threat of death. Most of our countries founding fathers rejected the imposition of Orthodoxy and set out to establish a land free from religious oppression and they sought freedom to serve and worship God as they saw fit.

Professor Bart Ehrman of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill is an Historian, New Testament Textual Critic and Theologian and is the next major scholar to challenge Orthodoxy. This book represents his efforts to understand the scriptures in the light of early christian thought. I do not agree with his Theology but I find his Historical views, his research into the Greek Manuscripts and the insights he brings forward from his understanding of the Greek language to be enlightening. I highly recommend this book.

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

This book represents Prof Ehrman's personal search for cohesiveness in New Testament revelation. Many of today's scholars see the New Testament books as representative of an evolution of thought and teachings of God and His Christ. They see the Pauline Scriptures as representative of an early or primitive Christology whereas John's Gospel, written about three decades after Paul's letters, representative of a High Christology.

Some will find the challenge to Orthodox teaching a threat and may experience a strong visceral reaction to that challenge. This book represents his search and findings and I believe that we can all be enriched by the questions posed and the historical research represented in this tome.

Any additional comments?

This is a must for those who seek a further and deeper understanding of the New Testament revelation of God and Jesus Christ. This brings to the level of the average Christian, the non-academic, the discussions and arguments from academia on this vital topic. I do not agree with Prof Ehrman but I appreciate his life's work and I want to benefit as much as possible from it.

Belief in context

A fascinating and elucidating examination of the historical context that influenced and underpinned the development of the belief in and understanding of Jesus. Regardless of what your current understanding of Jesus and your personal beliefs are, this book is a masterful achievement, respecting both history and religion with equal measure of znderstanding, showing how our belief inevitably stems from historical context. The author’s humility, evident depth of knowledge and personal honesty are evident, as is his ability to present such complex subject matter in succinct and accessible manner. The audio narration is also excellent. Recommended.