An Online Lecture by Dr. Bart Ehrman

Other Virgin Births
in Antiquity

Exploring historical accounts of individuals believed to be born of a god and a mortal.

Course cover

Was the virgin birth of Jesus truly unique, or part of a wider ancient phenomenon?

Course Overview

Uncover the Truth Behind Ancient Virgin Birth Accounts

Search the internet and you’ll find a definitive answer: No! Others were also said to heal the sick, cast out demons, control the weather, raise the dead, and ascend to heaven — and were said to be born of a Virgin too! But what does an expert who has studied the ancient sources say?

This 50-minute lecture was recorded live on the 14 Dec 2022 together with a Q & A session you won't want to miss.

Topics Covered in This Lecture Include:

  • What does it mean to say that someone was born of a virgin? It’s obvious, right? Wrong!
  • Apart from Jesus, who else in the ancient world was said (literally) to have a god for his father but a mortal for his mother?
  • What do our sources say about the miraculous births of famous figures — Hercules, Romulus, Alexander the Great, Apollonius of Tyana, and others?
  • Were their mothers virgins? If so, what makes Jesus different? If not, why would Christians come up with the radical idea of a virgin birth?

Your Instructor

Bart Ehrman

James A. Gray Distinguished Professor of Religious Studies Emeritus · University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

Bart Ehrman
Bart D. Ehrman is the James A. Gray Distinguished Professor of Religious Studies Emeritus at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, where he taught from 1988 until his retirement in 2025. Recognized internationally for his scholarship on the New Testament and early Christianity, Professor Ehrman has written or edited thirty-five books, including six New York Times bestsellers. His college-level textbook The New Testament: A Historical Introduction to the Early Christian Writings has remained the best-selling text in the field for more than twenty-five years. His scholarly works have been published by Oxford, Harvard, Yale, and other premier academic presses, and his books have been translated into twenty-seven languages, reaching millions of readers worldwide.

Lecture Content

Course Curriculum

1

Other Virgin Births in Antiquity Lecture & Q&A

80 MIN
  • 50-minute lecture by Dr. Bart Ehrman
  • 30-minute recorded Q&A session

Included With Enrollment

Lifetime Access & Bonus Materials

Registration Includes Lifetime Access to the 1-Lesson Online Course complete with:

Main Lecture

Other Virgin Births in Antiquity

The full 50-minute lecture by Dr. Bart Ehrman.

Q&A Session

Recorded Q&A Session

A 30-minute recorded Q&A session from the live event.

Lesson Guides

PDF Lesson Guides

Reflection Questions

Questions for Reflection

Reading List

Additional Reading List

A curated list to dive deeper into the topic.

Audio Downloads

Listen On The Go

Audio versions of the content for convenient listening.

Transcripts

Lesson Transcripts

Full transcripts of the lecture and Q&A.

Self-Assessment

Self-assessment Quiz

Bonus Lecture

Did the Christmas Story Really Happen?

Lecture 3: Where Did the Later Legends of Jesus' Birth Come From? And Why Were (and Are) They So Influential?

Charity Donation

$1 Donated to charity: water

A portion of your purchase supports clean water initiatives.

Course Enrollment $24.95

Enroll in "Other Virgin Births in Antiquity - Online Lecture" today. For $24.95, you receive lifetime access to all 1 lecture with Professor Ehrman and all companion bonus resources.

See What Most Scholars Miss in Ancient Virgin Birth Narratives

Get 1 online lecture, the Q&A recordings, audio downloads, and 10 bonus resources. Lifetime access.

Frequently Asked

Questions & Answers

Is this a LIVE course?

This lecture & 'Q & A' was recorded LIVE on the 14th of December 2022. If you purchase this lecture after the live lecture date you will be watching a recorded event. In either case, you will have lifetime access to the lecture and Q & A session. You will also receive advanced notifications of new live lectures and online courses.

Are any other discounts available?

Yes, if you watch Dr. Ehrman's "Misquoting Jesus" show on Youtube or listen to the podcast, you'll find a discount code in there.

Do you offer a money-back guarantee?

Absolutely! If you don't love the seminar, send us an email and we will refund 100% of your investment. You will have 30 days from the date of your purchase.

Alternatively, this course is available through The Biblical Studies Academy (BSA), our premium membership and training community.

Backed by a 30-day money-back guarantee · Lifetime access to all course materials

$1 from your purchase is donated to charity: water.