Where did Satan actually come from?
Summary
Bart Ehrman explores the evolution of Satan from a minor, God-controlled adversary in the Old Testament to the Lord of Evil in Christianity. He explains how Jewish apocalyptic thought and Greek dualism influenced New Testament writers, leading to the later development of hell and demonic hierarchies. The episode also features Ehrman’s frustration with modern healthcare systems driven by capitalism.
Topics discussed
Sponsor: Grow Therapy and summer mental health
Introduction: The origins of Satan in the Bible
Satan in the Old Testament: Job and 2 Chronicles
The serpent in Genesis and the link to Revelation
Promotion: Free course on the origins of hell
Satan in the New Testament: Temptation and demons
Historical development: Dualism in Second Temple Judaism
Jesus' view of Satan and fallen angels
From resurrection to eternal torment in hell
Early Christian texts: Apocalypse of Peter and Gospel of Nicodemus
Bart's Soapbox: Frustration with modern healthcare systems
Conclusion and preview of next week's episode
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