Bart Ehrman vs Craig Evans, Jan 19 2012

On January 19, 2012 Bart Ehrman and Craig Evans squared off in debating the question "Does the New Testament present a reliable portrait of the Historical Jesus?"

I guess how you answer this question depends on how you define "reliable". Almost any biblical scholar will tell you that it is not historically accurate. The amount of discrepancies makes it impossible to claim that it is historically accurate. If the question is "Does the New Testament give us an accurate picture of the events of Jesus' life", the answer is most certainly no. If the question is "Does the New Testament give us something from which we can glean information about Jesus and his teachings" then some debate can be had. Both debaters interpret the question differently, and the discussion is entertaining. Ehrman makes his points quickly and well (and repeatedly) and Evans spends his time arguing semantics and employing fallacies (Appeal to Authority is his favourite). Evans starts first, and his presentation is quite dry, so bear with it. There are audio problems (loud static clicks) during Evans' opening statement, they only last a few minutes.

The debate format:

Opening statements: 25 minutes each
Rebuttal: 5 minutes each
Dialogue: 30 minutes
Questions from the Audience: 30 minutes
Closing statements: 5 minutes each

The debate was held as the first annual "Religion Soup" series of events, sponsored by local religious groups. http://www.religionsoup.ca


Enjoy!

Category:

Education

Tags:

• Bart
• Ehrman
• Craig
• Evans
• Does
• the
• New
• Testament
• present
• reliable
• portrait
• of
• Historical
• Jesus
• Craig A. Evans
• Bart Ehrman
• Bart D. Ehrman

[MagnumDB]

That AWFUL crackling microphone sound makes this video just about completely unwatchable.

[SmilingSkeptic]

@MagnumDB It only lasts a few minutes. I hope you were able to nut up and tough it out and are not permanently scarred by the experience.

[PobjedaIstine]

@JesusOrMuhammad 3. The videos that you have on your channel, and the future videos you will upload, may seem like some sort of evidence to you ('scholar' that you are) but to anybody familar with these topics, they are just bigotry and a pathetic attempt to discredit the character of the Prophet Muhammad (pbuh). All this, because his life and teachings are testimony to the corruption of the pagan Greco-Roman elite to that of the pure monotheistic teachings of Jesus (pbuh).

[djwishwon]

@crucisnh Then, for the time being I will suspend judgment on your contention. However, there are a couple of things. One is the Ehrman might have a extremely stringent standard, and might be intentionally hard as it supports his view. From what I have read of his I would have to say you would have to throw away most knowledge of textual history under his criterion he used for the Bible. Two, Evans is a highly respected historical scholar and didn't get that respect by being soft.

[PobjedaIstine]

@djwishwon This comment is no.3 ,comment 1 and 2 are not on the front page.Go on the back and see no.1 and 2 and read it in the context.My comment is the answer to Jesus or Muhammad's comments.Peace.

[crucisnh]

@djwishwon I can't give you specifics without watching the debate again (which I don't mind doing, just not this instant). However, in a general sense, as I recall, my gripe with the people who debate Dr Ehrman on historicity of the NT is that their standards of historical data simply aren't as exacting as Dr Ehrman's, and seem to be left intentionally soft because it supports their view of the NT. If they held to tougher standards, they'd inevitably come to Ehrman's side of things.

[djwishwon]

@crucisnh I do find it a bit hard to take seriously someone who says Dr. Evans has a "sloppy standard of historicity". Even though I hold to Evan's view and not Dr, Ehrman, I would never say something silly that a professional historian like Ehrman has a weak view of history. So, what did Evans say that shows his view of historicity is weak? You need to actually quote if you plan to attack a scholar right at the very source of where they make their bread as professionals.

[djwishwon]

@PobjedaIstine Sorry but not everything people say is related to Muhammad somehow. This is a debate about the New Testament not about Islam, which should be obvious.

[DoctorFreed]

evans sounds like kermit the frog!

[iamasickman]

@PobjedaIstine pbuh wtf ruh lol tgif

[JesusOrMuhammad]

@Sockpuppet2012 All scholars including Ehrman were stupid fools for taking a Bible study for years? 

[JesusOrMuhammad]

@Sockpuppet2012 So what ur saying is that Ehrman is a uneducated fool for studying the Bible?

from all the books u mentioned none of them contains around a 100 fulfilled prophecies except the Bible and which book is historically the most accurate and rich in details and confirmed by archaeology? Thats right the Bible