How Jesus Became God: The Exaltation of a Jewish Preacher from Galilee

Bart Ehrman, a historian of early Christianity, asks how a Jewish preacher from Galilee who was crucified by the Romans came to be worshipped as God. He argues that Jesus did not claim to be divine himself, and that the belief developed in stages after his death. Ehrman looks at the resurrection traditions, early Christian exaltation and incarnation christologies, the beliefs of figures such as Paul, and the debates of the fourth century that produced creeds. He also discusses how ancient people understood the boundary between humans and gods, which was less fixed than modern readers assume.

The book is for general readers interested in the history of Christianity, whether they are believers, sceptics or simply curious. Ehrman writes as a historian rather than a theologian, and the book gives a clear survey of scholarship and the sources.

Deep and contemplative; a moderate read.

Best for readers like The Deep Diver. Which reader are you?