Lost Christianities: The Battles for Scripture and the Faiths We Never Knew by Bart D. Ehrman

This course examines the diverse Christian movements that existed before one version became dominant. Lecture 1 introduces the central question of why the Christianity that prevailed is only one of many early possibilities, covering the diversity of beliefs, lost scriptures, forgery, and the high stakes of deciding what counted as true faith. Lecture 2 explores the appeal and controversy of secret teachings, especially the Coptic Gospel of Thomas, and explains why questions of authorship, authenticity, and interpretation mattered so deeply. Lecture 3 traces early Christian Gnosticism, including divine realms, flawed creators, trapped souls, saving revelation, and the contrast between these systems and emerging proto-orthodox faith. Lecture 4 follows the development of proto-orthodox Christianity, focusing on how leaders, communities, creeds, and theological boundaries began to distinguish acceptable belief from heresy. Lecture 5 examines how proto-orthodox Christians and their opponents used writing as a weapon, from personal attacks and heresy catalogues to forged apostolic texts and disputes over who had the right to speak for Jesus and the apostles. Lecture 6 concludes with the formation of the proto-orthodox New Testament, the triumph of one Christian tradition over others, and reflections on winners, losers, tolerance, and what was gained and lost in the process.