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

Scholarly yet readable

Dr.Ehrman has a way of presenting his views in a way the average Layman can understand them. he presents history as history without embellishment. I would recommend this book to anyone who wants a concise and cogent discussion of how Jesus was exalted to the position of God.

Excellent

Supers analysis and historical review. Likely will generate much anger from beloveds who choose not to approach it and listen with an open mind.