This book is about how ancient Jews, Romans, and Greeks commonly had semi-gods or people who were human but elevated to God status or God-like creatures that come down in human form to earth.

This is to help us understand how it’s not a stetch that Jesus “became God”.  However Jesus didn’t start off as a demigod and then later get elevated.  He was very early GOD – the one and only.

Ehrman will argue Jesus’ disciples did NOT think he was God during his life, but it was the resurrection that made them think this. This is how he got from being an apocalyptic prophet to the Almighty God so quickly.  There was no gradual elevation over time.

Starts book telling story of a man who was born a virgin,his birth was foretold, did miracles in his life and healed people, and other similar things to Jesus’ life.  Of course he’s talking about Apollonius, who had a great following in 2nd century.

Jesus and John the Baptist were false prophets, both warning of the pending coming of the kingdom and preaching repentance.  John said it was coming soon.  The ax is already at the root of the tree (and ready to chop it down).  Jesus said some of his disciples would to die before “all these things take place.”  It’s interesting the same statements are made in John when the disciples have already died, so it would make Jesus look like a false prophet.  Paul and the disciples were apocalyptics too.  Paul thought even he would be alive when judgment day arrived (I Thes 4:17, I Cor 15:51-53.). So Paul is a false prophet too.

It WAS for power that the disciples preached so adamantly.  They were told they would sit on 12 thrones and judge the 12 tribes.  Luke 22:30.  That’s some pretty serious power.  It’s interesting he’s talking to Judas there too, which makes it almost something Jesus certainly said since it makes him look like a false prophet.