Why Jesus' Followers Abandoned This Teaching with Bart Ehrman

Summary

In this engaging discussion, Dr. Bartman explores a provocative topic from his upcoming talk at the New Insights into the New Testament Conference: the core teaching of Jesus and why his followers abandoned it. He argues that Jesus preached forgiveness based on repentance, not atonement through sacrifice, a teaching that shifted after his resurrection. The conversation highlights the contrast between Jesus’ original message and the later Christian doctrines, shedding light on how early followers interpreted his death and resurrection. Dr. Bartman encourages deeper reflection on the teachings of Jesus and their evolution in Christian theology.

Takeaways

• 😀 Jesus's core teaching was about **forgiveness** through repentance, not **atonement** through sacrifice.
• 😀 Jesus believed that the **Kingdom of God** was near and urged people to repent and prepare for it by living according to God's will.
• 😀 The concept of **atonement** (the idea that someone must pay a penalty for sins) developed **after** Jesus's death, primarily after his resurrection.
• 😀 Early Christian followers struggled to reconcile Jesus's crucifixion with their expectations of him as the **Messiah**, leading them to reinterpret his death as a necessary **sacrifice**.
• 😀 In the synoptic gospels, Jesus never says that belief in him is necessary for salvation; instead, he emphasizes living according to God's will.
• 😀 **Atonement** involves paying a penalty for transgression, while **forgiveness** involves letting go of wrongdoing without a penalty.
• 😀 **Paul's teachings** marked a shift toward the idea that Jesus’s **death** was required for reconciliation with God, which contrasted with Jesus's original message of forgiveness.
• 😀 The Gospel of **Luke** significantly alters the portrayal of Jesus’s death and excludes references to his death as a **sacrifice**, highlighting his **resurrection** instead.
• 😀 The shift from forgiveness to atonement became embedded in Christian thought, especially through the writings of **Paul** and the Gospel authors, like Mark and Luke.
• 😀 Despite the historical shift to atonement theology, modern Christian communities often overlook the original **forgiveness**-centered message of Jesus, not recognizing the subtle change in doctrine.
• 😀 The **discomfort** that early followers felt after Jesus’s death led them to creatively reconcile their shattered expectations by developing the idea of Jesus as a sacrificial figure.

Q & A

What is the core teaching of Jesus that Dr. Bartman discusses?

Dr. Bartman discusses Jesus' core teaching of forgiveness based on repentance. According to Jesus, people could be reconciled with God simply by turning back to Him and asking for forgiveness, without the need for a sacrifice or atonement.

How does Dr. Bartman distinguish between forgiveness and atonement?

Dr. Bartman explains that forgiveness, as taught by Jesus, involves no penalty—just repentance and God's forgiveness. Atonement, on the other hand, requires a penalty or sacrifice to pay for transgressions, which was later adopted by Jesus' followers after His death.

What role did the resurrection of Jesus play in the shift toward the atonement theology?

The resurrection of Jesus led His followers to reinterpret His death. Since they believed He had been raised by God, they concluded that His death must have been part of God's plan, leading to the belief that Jesus died for the sins of humanity—introducing the doctrine of atonement.

How does Dr. Bartman view the Gospels in terms of historical accuracy?

Dr. Bartman notes that scholars have recognized since the 18th century that the Gospels are not 100% historically accurate. Some events and teachings may have been adapted or created by the Gospel writers to fit their theological aims, making it essential for historians to critically assess what was likely said or done by Jesus.

Why does Dr. Bartman argue that Jesus did not teach the doctrine of atonement?

Dr. Bartman argues that Jesus did not teach atonement because He never stated that His death was necessary for reconciliation with God. Instead, Jesus emphasized repentance and God's forgiveness without requiring a sacrifice. Atonement theology developed after His death, particularly among His disciples.

What key point does Dr. Bartman emphasize regarding the Gospel of Luke?

Dr. Bartman emphasizes that the Gospel of Luke presents a different theological stance than the other Gospels, particularly regarding atonement. Luke's Gospel does not emphasize Jesus' death as a sacrifice, suggesting a closer alignment with the original teaching of forgiveness over atonement.

How did early Christians come to embrace the doctrine of atonement?

Early Christians embraced the doctrine of atonement after Jesus' death and resurrection. They reconciled Jesus' crucifixion with the need for a sacrificial death to atone for sins, leading to the widespread adoption of this belief in the writings of Paul and the Gospels.

What is the significance of Paul's teachings on the death and resurrection of Jesus?

Paul's teachings emphasized that Jesus' death and resurrection were central to the reconciliation of humanity with God. Unlike Jesus' teachings on forgiveness through repentance, Paul focused on Jesus' death as the necessary sacrifice for sin, which became the dominant Christian belief.

How did Dr. Bartman approach the topic of forgiveness versus atonement in his upcoming talk?

In his talk, Dr. Bartman plans to argue that Jesus' teachings centered on forgiveness, not atonement. He will show how the concept of atonement emerged after Jesus' death, particularly after His resurrection, and how this shift led to the traditional Christian understanding of salvation.

Why do most modern Christian communities overlook the distinction between forgiveness and atonement?

Dr. Bartman suggests that most modern Christian communities overlook the distinction because the doctrine of atonement became so deeply embedded in Christian theology after Jesus' death and resurrection. Over time, the idea of atonement became standard, and people no longer critically examine the difference between Jesus' original teaching on forgiveness and the later atonement theology.