logo
episode-header-image
Sep 2024
44m 8s

How to Detect a Forgery: The Secret Gosp...

Bart Ehrman
About this episode

New manuscripts discoveries in Biblical studies are often outed as forgeries, But sometimes -- rarely -- they turn out to be authentic.

How do scholars distinguish between fact and fiction, especially when they only have access to photographs or copies? Is it possible for a text to pass all authenticity tests and still be a clever forgery?

Today we're back with Dr. Morton Smith and the Secret Gospel of Mark to discuss he discovered an actual ancient document with unknown information about Jesus, or turned up a forgery of some kind, or possibly even forged it himself.

Up next
Mar 10
Did Jesus Invent Charity?
Bart's newest book, Love Thy Stranger, will be released on March 24th - but really, how much can you say about Jesus' impact on the moral conscience of the west? As it turns out, quite a lot - and this week, we'll be getting into exactly what you can expect to read. 
42m 21s
Mar 3
Did Jesus Invent Modern Morality? Exploring Ancient Ethics
The difference between right and wrong and how to live a good life has been a matter of debate for millennia. In the ancient world, different schools of philosophers subscribed to different theories - but were these discussions something that Jesus would have been aware of? Today ... Show More
54m 34s
Feb 24
Love Thy Stranger: The Radical Origins of Western Compassion
What did it mean to be a good person in the ancient world, and what did ancient cultures say about how we should treat one another? Today, Dr. Bart Ehrman joins me to discuss Jesus' teachings, the cultural norms of his time, and how early Christians changed his message. 
36m 10s
Recommended Episodes
Jul 2024
#77 Bart Ehrman - What is the Gospel of Judas?
<p>Bart Ehrman is a New Testament scholar focusing on textual criticism of the New Testament, the historical Jesus, and the origins and development of early Christianity. He was one of the first people in the world to see the rediscovered manuscript of the Gospel of Judas, when h ... Show More
1h 50m
Aug 2025
How Do I Know the Bible Is True? (Open Forum)
<p>It’s very common for people, even those who want to live the Christian life, to feel they have to check their brains at the door if they’re going to believe.</p> <p>Often, we hear this basic approach to the Bible: the gospels were written down after years of legends, so we don ... Show More
48m 51s
Oct 2024
Are the New Testament Eyewitness Accounts Reliable? Part 2
In this episode of the Cold-Case Christianity Podcast, J. Warner reviews the evidence for the reliability of the New Testament eyewitness accounts. What are the criteria we use to determine if eyewitnesses are reliable? Do the authors of the New Testament Gospels measure up? J. W ... Show More
27m 59s
Oct 2024
Are the New Testament Eyewitness Accounts Reliable? Part 1
In this episode of the Cold-Case Christianity Podcast, J. Warner reviews the evidence for the reliability of the New Testament eyewitness accounts. What are the criteria we use to determine if eyewitnesses are reliable? Do the authors of the New Testament Gospels measure up? J. W ... Show More
27m 59s
Jun 2024
Lectio The Case for Jesus: Are the Gospels Biographies?
<p>Do the Gospels tell us the truth about Jesus? Or should we view them as folklore, fables, or legends? Dr. Pitre demonstrates how the Gospels are best understood as ancient biographies, and, consequently, as reliable sources of historical information about Jesus.</p> <p><p>&nbs ... Show More
34m 45s
Sep 2025
Problems with your Bible (Mark 16:9-20) : Christian Daily Devotional Bible Study and Prayer
To become a follower of Jesus, visit: https://MorningMindsetMedia.com/MeetJesus (NOT a Morning Mindset resource) ➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖ A brief video covering this issue (that I think is very good) can be found here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B9RsHnb7huk - My description follows… The w ... Show More
7m 30s
Aug 2025
John: Of Scars And Skeptics
Skepticism is NOT a fruit of the Spirit. In John 19, Jesus died. In John 20, He was resurrected. And after that, He appeared to His apostles in the Upper Room. However, one was missing. And he didn’t believe the other ten. The ‘doubts’ of Thomas will be the focus of today’s study ... Show More
24m 20s
Feb 2025
The Agrapha: The Lost Sayings Of Jesus?
In this episode of The Catholic Talk Show, Ryan & Ryan explore the unwritten and lost sayings of Jesus know as the Agrapha (ἄγραφον) and whether or not they are the authentic words of Christ. Episode 311: In this episode, we will discuss: • What Are The Argapha, Or Unwritten Wor ... Show More
1h 2m
Sep 2024
#932 Cringe Takes on What Jesus REALLY Looked Like - Trent Horn
In this episode, Trent rebuts extreme positions on what Jesus looked like and examines the theological implications of that issue. 
7m 53s
Mar 2025
#97 Kipp Davis - What Are the Dead Sea Scrolls?
<p>Kipp Davis (<a class="yt-core-attributed-string__link yt-core-attributed-string__link--call-to-action-color" href="https://www.youtube.com/@DrKippDavis">‪@DrKippDavis‬</a>) is a post-doctoral fellow at the University of Agder in Kristiansand, Norway, where he specialises in th ... Show More
2h 15m