Bart Ehrman Debate

This post pertains to your question about why I’d listen to a Bart Ehrman debate but not want to read his book. First off, I didn’t listen to the debate to hear Mr. Ehrman, I listened to hear to hear the Christian apologists form their ideas. Along the way I learned Mr. Ehrman was a fine man, educated, nice personality, and that his message was less than inspiring. Knowing that about him, I have no interest in becoming less inspired by reading his books.

Your suggestion about reading Mr. Ehrman’s book to see if the Bible is accurate reminds me of the story of Ahaziah, king of Judah, in 2 Kings 1. Ahaziah fell through the lattice of his house and the fall put him in bed. So he sent his messengers to Ekron a Philistine city to ask their god Baal-zebub if he would get well. The LORD sent the prophet Elijah the Tishbite to intercept the messengers and ask them, “Is it because there is no God in Israel that you are going to inquire of Baal-zebub, the god of Ekron?” A hundred men died before the LORD sent Elijah to tell the king that because he went to Baal-zebub he would die in his bed.

My going to Mr. Ehrman’s book to check if the Bible is accurate would be like me going to Baal-zebub the god of Ekron for information.

There is a God in Israel and in the Bible and I have no interest in checking with Mr. Ehrman to see if he thinks my assessment of the facts are true (to him).