Jesus: Man, Messenger, Messiah · Conclusion & Fair Use
How to cite Ehrman without misrepresenting him
Handle with care. Do not quote Ehrman for: the Gospel of Barnabas, 'periklytos' in John, Jesus never existing, or the Qur'an being confirmed by manuscripts. He holds none of these positions, and citing him for them will end the conversation.
In short
- 1.Say what he actually argues, name the chapter, and stop there.
- 2.Always include his own caveat that most variants are insignificant.
- 3.Never imply he supports Islam, the Qur'an, or the Gospel of Barnabas — he does not.
- 4.Never attribute to him the claim that Jesus never existed; he has written a book arguing the opposite.
The claim being examined
Ehrman is quoted in dawah more than any other scholar, and misquoted more than any other scholar.
The Islamic position
Evidence is the foundation of the Islamic case; misusing a source destroys that foundation faster than any counter-argument.
Analysis
The standard to hold to: use Ehrman for what he is expert in — the manuscript tradition of the New Testament — and represent his conclusions at the strength he states them. Trained Christian apologists (Daniel Wallace, James White, Michael Kruger) have built careers on catching misuse of Ehrman, and every overstatement you make is an opening for them. A precise, qualified citation is far harder to answer than an exaggerated one.
From the Qur'an
Q 17:36
وَلَا تَقْفُ مَا لَيْسَ لَكَ بِهِۦ عِلْمٌ
And do not pursue that of which you have no knowledge.
Sources
Bart D. Ehrman · Daniel B. Wallace · Bart D. Ehrman, *Misquoting Jesus: The Story Behind Who Changed the Bible and Why* (HarperSanFrancisco, 2005), Introduction and Conclusion, pp. 1-15, 207-218
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