Books Quote by Bart D. Ehrman
““This oldest Christology of all may be found in the preliterary traditions in Paul and the book of Acts, but it is not the view presented in any of the Gospels. Instead, as we will see at greater length, the oldest Gospel, Mark, seems to assume that it was at his baptism that Jesus became the Son of God; the next Gospels, Matthew and Luke, indicate that Jesus became the Son of God when he was born; and the last Gospel, John, presents Jesus as the Son of God from before creation.””
About This Quote
Source Book: The New Testament: A Historical Introduction to the Early Christian Writings, 2016
The passage outlines how early Christian texts differ on when Jesus became divine, ranging from baptism in Mark to pre‑creation in John.
In simple terms: Early texts disagree on when Jesus became divine.
Key Takeaway
Recognize varied theological origins.
Themes
theology
Christology
history
scripture
interpretation
Mood
analytical
thoughtful
Type
historical
scholarly
When to use this quote
- Academic study
- seminar discussion
- religious education
- interfaith dialogue
Key Concepts
Divine sonship
biblical criticism
historical development
Questions to Reflect On
- How do these differing views affect modern faith?
- What does this suggest about early Christian diversity?
A Different Perspective
Not all traditions agree on a single timeline for divine status.
