Jesus Before the Gospels
How the Earliest Christians Remembered, Changed, and Invented Their Stories of the Savior
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Jesus Before the Gospels
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Narrated by:
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Joe Barrett
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By:
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Bart D. Ehrman
About this listen
The best-selling author of Misquoting Jesus, one of the most renowned and controversial Bible scholars in the world today, examines oral tradition and its role in shaping the stories about Jesus we encounter in the New Testament - and ultimately in our understanding of Christianity.
Throughout much of human history, our most important stories were passed down orally - including the stories about Jesus before they became written down in the Gospels. In this fascinating and deeply researched work, leading Bible scholar Bart D. Erhman investigates the role oral history has played in the New Testament - how the telling of these stories not only spread Jesus' message but helped shape it.
A master explainer of Christian history, texts, and traditions, Ehrman draws on a range of disciplines, including psychology and anthropology, to examine the role of memory in the creation of the Gospels. Explaining how oral tradition evolves based on the latest scientific research, he demonstrates how the act of telling and retelling impacts the story, the storyteller, and the listener - crucial insights that challenge our typical historical understanding of the silent period between when Jesus lived and died and when his stories began to be written down.
As he did in his previous books on religious scholarship, debates on New Testament authorship, and the existence of Jesus of Nazareth, Ehrman combines his deep knowledge and meticulous scholarship in a compelling and eye-opening narrative that will change the way we read and think about these sacred texts.
©2016 Bart D. Ehrman (P)2016 HarperCollins PublishersListeners also enjoyed...
What listeners say about Jesus Before the Gospels
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
- N. Bowdren
- 04-08-18
eye opening .
if only all the fanatical religious people from all faiths could hear this book ,it may help change there ridiculous beliefs.
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Overall4 out of 5 stars
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Performance4 out of 5 stars
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Story4 out of 5 stars
- Stuart A. McIntosh
- 29-09-22
Not answers as much as fuel for more questions
Having read another Ehrman book explaining how the 27 books in the New Testament largely weren't written by who they purport to be and that some had agendas and orthodoxy that what pushed instead of authenticity. This book explains how oral tradition and memory recollections can be fraught with inaccuracies, contradictions and, again, agendas and orthodoxy. I can't believe how many people have died in the name of the books and messages of the New Testament. I now need to find a book looking at established historical facts to provide context.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- e
- 04-07-16
Powerful
An historical investigation of the life of Jesus through the literature of the canonical and non-canonical gospels. Explored in depth and would be of interest to both liberal Christians and non-believers as it offers a number of intriguing perspectives on Jesus and Christianity utilising many academic disciplines including psychology and what we know about human memory and anthropology.
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1 person found this helpful
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Overall4 out of 5 stars
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Performance3 out of 5 stars
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Story4 out of 5 stars
- Fiaz
- 20-12-18
Scattered but enlightening
At times disjointed in its flow, yet raises questions that leaves one wanting more. The Memory recollection part felt bolted on; but only yielded its value at the end, Unique and fascinating.
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