An In-Depth Webinar

Jesus the Actual Son of Joseph

Explore New Testament and historical evidence challenging the traditional virgin birth narrative, suggesting Jesus as Joseph's biological son.

Course cover

What if everything you thought you knew about Jesus's birth was wrong?

Course Overview

Uncover the Historical Truth Behind Jesus' Birth

Delve into the core question of Jesus' parentage by analyzing the accounts in Matthew and Luke. This course reveals not only the widely-known virgin birth narrative but also lesser-explored passages that hint at a biological link to Joseph.

Investigate explicit statements and narratives in Mark and John, challenging the established virgin birth narrative and presenting a compelling belief in Jesus as the son of Joseph, driving our examination of Jesus' parentage.

Actively consider hints in Paul's early writings and alternative traditions from later Christian, Jewish, and pagan sources, illuminating the unusual aspects of Jesus' birth and actively supporting the argument that challenges the notion of his virgin birth.

Key Questions Covered

  • Why is Jesus' virgin birth mentioned only in two passages of the NT; why don’t the other authors (such as Paul, or the authors of Mark and Luke) mention it? Was it simply not important? Didn’t they know?
  • Why do three of the Gospels explicitly call Joseph Jesus’ “father”?
  • Is it possible that Luke’s entire story of the virgin birth (Luke chapters 1-2) was not original but only added to the Gospel later?
  • Why do the two genealogies of Jesus trace their lines down to “Joseph,” and not to Jesus? Did their authors assume that Jesus stood in that genealogical line? If not, what’s the point of giving a genealogy that he is not related to?
  • If over time Christian scribes changed the texts of the Gospels to emphasize that Joseph was *not* the father of Jesus and Christian storytellers devised narratives to show he wasn’t, does that show that they were arguing the point against earlier Christians who thought otherwise?
  • Are there any stories in our NT Gospels that make almost no sense if Mary was a virgin?
  • Why did belief in the Virgin Birth become so central to Christian thinking if it is not an idea mentioned, let alone stressed, by most of the NT writings?

Your Instructor

Dr. Bart Ehrman

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

Dr. Bart Ehrman
Bart D. Ehrman is the James A. Gray Distinguished Professor Emeritus of Religious Studies 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 three 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. Beyond the classroom, Professor Ehrman is a widely recognized public scholar. He has produced nine acclaimed courses for The Great Courses, in addition to numerous online courses available through BartEhrman.com. His books and courses have sold more than two million copies. He also writes for his charitable blog, The Bart Ehrman Blog, which has raised millions for organizations addressing poverty, homelessness, and hunger. In addition, he hosts the weekly podcast Misquoting Jesus with Bart Ehrman, available on YouTube and all major podcast platforms, where he brings cutting-edge biblical scholarship to a global audience.

Course Curriculum

Course Curriculum

1

Uncovering Jesus' Parentage in Matthew and Luke

50 MIN
  • Analyze accounts revealing both the virgin birth narrative and passages hinting at a biological link to Joseph.
  • Explore widely-known and lesser-explored passages in Matthew and Luke.
2

Challenging Narratives: Jesus as Son of Joseph in Mark, John, and Other Traditions

50 MIN
  • Investigate explicit statements and narratives in Mark and John that challenge the virgin birth.
  • Consider hints in Paul's early writings and alternative traditions from later Christian, Jewish, and pagan sources.
  • Illuminating unusual aspects of Jesus' birth to support arguments against the notion of his virgin birth.

BONUSES!

Included With Enrollment

Registration Includes Lifetime Access to the 2-Lesson Online Course complete with:

Bonus Resource

One recorded 30-minute Q&A session

Bonus Resource

PDF lesson guides

Bonus Resource

Questions for reflection

Bonus Resource

Additional reading list to dive deeper

Bonus Resource

Audio downloads for listening on the go

Bonus Resource

Transcripts of the lessons

Bonus Resource

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?

Course Enrollment $39.95

Enroll in "Jesus the Actual Son of Joseph" today. For $39.95, you receive lifetime access to all 2 lectures with Dr. Ehrman and all companion bonus resources.

From Course Participants

What Students Are Saying

As always, Bart does a superb job. I learn something interesting every time I listen to one of his courses.
SC
Scott C TexterCourse Participant

See What Most Readers Miss in the Lineage of Jesus

2 lectures, Q&A recordings, audio downloads, and 8 bonus resources. Lifetime access.

Frequently Asked

Questions & Answers

Is this a LIVE webinar?

This 2 x 50-minute lecture webinar & 'Q & A' was recorded LIVE on the 10th of December 2023. 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. Bart also offers a discount to paid members of his blog at ehrmanblog.org.

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.