8 Bible Myths Many Christians Believe

3. Links Mentioned in this Episode:
- https://www.bartehrman.com/johncourse - our brand-new course with Dr. Hugo Méndez - Decoding the Gospel of John: Symbols, Signs, and Salvation will be recorded live on August 29th and 30th. Early bird pricing ends on August 8th and as always use discount code MJPODCAST for a special additional discount.

Episode Outline:
0:39 Bart on what made biblical arguments feel convincing when he was evangelical
2:12 Claim 1: “Jesus is actually Yahweh”
4:15 Philippians 2 and why having God’s name is not the same as being God
6:25 Claim 2: Jesus is secretly present with Yahweh in the Old Testament
9:04 “Let us make man” and why Genesis is not talking about Jesus
10:21 Claim 3: the Old Testament clearly predicts Jesus everywhere
13:24 Why Christians find Jesus in passages that are not actually about him
14:11 Course announcement: Hugo Mendez on decoding the Gospel of John
16:16 Claim 4: there are no contradictions in the Bible
18:33 Claim 5: contradictions in the Old Testament do not matter for Christians
20:25 Claim 6: manuscript differences in the New Testament are insignificant
23:09 Why textual variants matter even if they do not destroy major doctrines
25:24 Claim 7: Paul and Jesus basically taught the same thing
27:22 Claim 8: the Gospels are based on eyewitness testimony, therefore they are reliable
31:48 Bonus Q&A: Luke’s census, manuscripts, Matthew 27:25, apostolic succession, and the peacemakers beatitude
41:32 Final summary: many common Christian claims about the Bible do not stand up historically

Episode Description

From claims that Jesus is Yahweh to the belief that the Gospels are flawless eyewitness accounts, many popular Christian teachings reflect later tradition more than what the biblical texts actually say. Drawing on his experience as a former evangelical and a leading critical scholar, Dr. Bart Ehrman examines these beliefs through historical, textual, and linguistic evidence.

The discussion begins with the growing evangelical claim that Jesus is Yahweh. Bart explains that this idea misunderstands how the New Testament portrays the Father and the Son. In Psalm 110, frequently quoted by New Testament authors, “The LORD,” referring to Yahweh, speaks to “my Lord,” clearly distinguishing the two figures. Confusion often comes from English translation conventions: the divine name Yahweh appears as “LORD” in capital letters, while Jesus is commonly called “Lord.”

The conversation then turns to the Christian practice of finding Jesus in the Old Testament. When God says, “Let us make humankind in our image” in Genesis 1, is he speaking to Jesus or the Trinity? Bart explains that the historical context points instead to the ancient concept of a divine council, a group of supernatural beings addressed by God elsewhere in the Hebrew Bible, including the Book of Job.

Bart and Megan also examine Isaiah 53, the famous passage about the “suffering servant.” Christians often interpret it as a prediction of Jesus’s suffering and death for humanity’s sins. Within Isaiah itself, however, the servant is explicitly identified as Israel, a nation portrayed as suffering because of and on behalf of other nations.

The episode also addresses biblical contradictions and manuscript variants. Some believers argue that every apparent discrepancy can be harmonized, but Bart points to conflicts ranging from whether Jesus permitted his disciples to carry a staff to the different dates assigned to his death in Mark and John.

Throughout the episode, Dr. Ehrman emphasizes that confronting these historical realities does not necessarily destroy faith. Instead, it can encourage a more informed and honest engagement with the Bible. A faith grounded in evidence and knowledge, he argues, is stronger than one dependent on avoiding difficult questions.

Three Key Takeaways from This Episode:

1. Context Is King: Interpretations such as Jesus being Yahweh or appearing at creation become more complicated when the Bible’s original historical, cultural, and linguistic contexts are considered. Translation conventions and ancient ideas such as the divine council are essential for understanding these passages.

2. The Bible Is Not a Monolith: Biblical authors express different perspectives and theologies. Jesus and Paul differ on salvation and the law, while Luke presents an understanding of forgiveness and atonement that is distinct from Paul’s.

3. Historical Claims Require Historical Evidence: Claims about biblical inerrancy or the Gospels’ eyewitness origins must be evaluated through evidence rather than later theological tradition.

Also watch these episodes:

Do James and Paul Contradict Each Other?
Missing Manuscripts: Uncovering the Original Gospels' Text

Why Do Some Christians Tell God What He Can and Cannot Do?
Missing Manuscripts: Uncovering the Original Gospels' Text

Was Jesus Born of a Virgin?
Missing Manuscripts: Uncovering the Original Gospels' Text