Bart D. Ehrman

Bart D. Ehrman
Name	Bart D. Ehrman
Birth date	1955-10-05
Birth place	Raleigh, North Carolina
Occupation	Scholar, author, professor
Alma mater	Gordon College, Westminster Theological Seminary, Princeton Theological Seminary
Employer	University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

Bart D. Ehrman is an American New Testament scholar, textual critic, and historian of early Christianity who has written for both academic and general audiences. He is known for work on the transmission of the New Testament, the development of early Christianity, and debates about the historical Jesus, pagan Hellenism, and Second Temple Judaism. Ehrman has taught at Princeton Theological Seminary and the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, and his publications engage topics related to Paul the Apostle, Gospel of Mark, Gospel of Matthew, Gospel of Luke, and Gospel of John.

Early life and education

Ehrman was born in Raleigh, North Carolina and raised in a family associated with evangelical Protestantism in the United States. He attended Gordon College (Massachusetts), studying under influences tied to conservative Eschatology streams and later enrolled at Westminster Theological Seminary, where he encountered scholarship connected to Reformed theology and debates involving figures like R.C. Sproul and institutions such as Ligonier Ministries. He completed doctoral studies at Princeton Theological Seminary under scholars associated with historical-critical approaches shared by faculty linked to the study of Koine Greek, Septuagint, and the literature of Second Temple Judaism such as the Dead Sea Scrolls research community.

Academic career

Ehrman joined the faculty of Princeton Theological Seminary as part of a cohort of scholars in New Testament studies and later accepted a position at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, where he became a professor in the Department of Religious Studies. His career intersected with debates involving institutions like Society of Biblical Literature, publishers such as Oxford University Press, HarperCollins, and academic networks connected to the study of Patristics, the work of Origen, Irenaeus, and textual critics following methods pioneered by figures like Karl Lachmann and Tischendorf. He has supervised graduate students who engaged with topics linked to Q source, Marcion of Sinope, and the transmission history highlighted by manuscripts such as Codex Sinaiticus and Codex Vaticanus.

Research and scholarly contributions

Ehrman’s scholarship focuses on textual criticism of the New Testament and the history of early Christianity in the context of the Roman Empire, especially in regions influenced by Hellenism, Judaea, and the sociocultural networks evident in letters of Paul the Apostle. He has analyzed variant readings in papyri like P52 and the interplay between canonical formation involving councils and controversies similar to those addressed in studies of the Council of Nicaea and debates about the Canon of the New Testament. Ehrman has written on the rise of orthodoxy and heresy with reference to Marcionism, Gnosticism, and figures such as Tertullian, Arius, and Athanasius of Alexandria. His work connects manuscript evidence from repositories like the British Library and the Vatican Library to theoretical frameworks invoked by scholars such as Bruno Bauer and Elaine Pagels.

Books and popular writings

Ehrman has authored numerous monographs and trade books including titles that address textual corruption, authenticity, and historical Jesus studies, published by houses including Oxford University Press, HarperCollins, and Basic Books. His books discuss topics like the authenticity of Pauline epistles, the historicity of sayings in the Gospels, and the development of doctrine with references to works by E.P. Sanders, N.T. Wright, John Dominic Crossan, and Marcus Borg. He has appeared in media engagements alongside programs produced by outlets such as the BBC, PBS, and popular podcasts that discuss intersections with archaeology projects in Israel and scholarly debates dating to the era of Constantine I. His trade publications often contrast with specialist monographs in journals such as the Journal of Biblical Literature and Vigiliae Christianae.

Reception and criticism

Ehrman’s work has attracted praise from some scholars who cite his clarity and engagement with manuscript evidence, including those in the traditions of historical Jesus research and proponents of the Quest for the historical Jesus, while drawing critique from others aligned with conservative Evangelicalism and defenders of traditional textual reliability such as proponents associated with Westminster Theological Seminary alumni. Critics have engaged his conclusions on textual variants, authorship of New Testament books, and assertions about intentional alteration of texts by scribes in forums like the Society of Biblical Literature meetings and reviews in periodicals including First Things and The Christian Century. Debates often invoke comparative work by scholars like Richard Bauckham, Dale C. Allison Jr., and Larry Hurtado concerning Christology, manuscript traditions exemplified by Textus Receptus, and methodological questions raised by proponents of canonical criticism.

Personal life and beliefs

Ehrman has written about a personal theological journey from an evangelical upbringing through studies in Westminster Theological Seminary and Princeton Theological Seminary to descriptions of agnosticism and skepticism about supranatural claims, connecting his narrative to discussions involving rationalism and the intellectual legacies of figures such as David Hume and Thomas Aquinas. He resides in Chapel Hill, North Carolina and participates in public lectures hosted by institutions like Duke University and the Library of Congress; his public-facing positions have been discussed in popular venues alongside commentators from The New York Times and The Washington Post.

Category:American biblical scholars Category:New Testament scholars Category:1955 births Category:Living people