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An Interview with Dr. Candida Moss Who helped make the Bible we read today? Professor Candida Moss brings overlooked enslaved workers into view, from the secretaries behind Paul's letters to the copyists and readers who preserved and interpreted Christian texts. Discussing her book, God's Ghostwriters, she explores how slavery shaped early Christianity, including stories about Jesus, martyrdom, and hell. This compelling conversation invites us to read familiar texts differently and give credit to people whose contributions have remained largely invisible. Candida Moss is the Edward Cadbury Professor of Theology at the University of Birmingham and a prominent public scholar of the New Testament and early Christianity. Her research explores martyrdom, ancient slavery, and the relationship between bodies and power. Her book, God's Ghostwriters: Enslaved Christians and the Making of the Bible, won the 2026 Grawemeyer Award in Religion. It brings attention to the enslaved secretaries, copyists, and readers whose overlooked labor helped shape Christian scripture. She also contributes to major media outlets, including CBS, BBC, and National Geographic. A complete transcript is available on the show notes page at: https://earlychristiantexts.com/candida-moss-enslaved-workers/

The category of "Gnosticism" has shaped how generations of scholars have understood a remarkably diverse collection of ancient writings. Michael A. Williams, author of the influential Rethinking Gnosticism, joins Shirley Paulson to trace the history of that category, reconsider assumptions about the Nag Hammadi writings, and explore what emerges when we read the texts individually. Their conversation offers a more nuanced picture of ancient readers, diverse interpretations, and the surprisingly hopeful worlds some of these writings reveal. Michael Williams is Professor Emeritus of Comparative Religion and Near Eastern Languages and Civilization at the University of Washington in Seattle, where he was a faculty member since 1976. His PhD is from Harvard University, and his two highly important and influential books are The Immovable Race: A Gnostic Designation and the Theme of Stability in Late Antiquity and Rethinking Gnosticism: An Argument for Dismantling a Problematic Category. He's the author and coeditor of several other books and articles, including two volumes of essays: Charisma and Sacred Biography and Innovation in Religious Traditions. His work has led him to an increasing suspicion of many conventional generalizations about "gnosticism." Related research interests have included scribal practices and ancient book manufacture and the cultural significance witnessed in the selection and arrangement of content in codex manuscripts that contain multiple writings. A complete transcript is available on the shownotes page at https://earlychristiantexts.com/beyond-gnosticism/

An Interview with Dr. David Franfurter  What did people in the ancient world mean by "magic"? And why might some have viewed Jesus as a magos—a healer who used sacred words, gestures, and ritual power? In this fascinating conversation, Dr. David Frankfurter helps us move beyond modern assumptions about magic and religion. Together we explore healing, exorcism, sacred names, vowel incantations, and the ways ordinary people sought help, hope, and power in the world of early Christianity.  Dr. David Frankfurter is the William Goodwin Aurelio Chair of the Appreciation of Scripture at Boston University and one of the world's leading scholars of ancient Mediterranean religions. His research focuses on Jewish and Christian apocalyptic literature, ancient magical texts, popular religion, and religious life in Roman and late antique Egypt. Particularly known for his work on the relationship between religion, magic, violence, and cultural change, Frankfurter has helped reshape scholarly understanding of how ordinary people practiced religion in the ancient world.  He is the author of numerous influential books, including Religion in Roman Egypt, Evil Incarnate, and Christianizing Egypt, as well as editor of the landmark Guide to the Study of Ancient Magic. His award-winning scholarship has been recognized by both the American Academy of Religion and the American Society of Church History.

An Interview with Dr. Karen Winell Is the Kingdom of God a place, a rule, a future hope—or something more? Dr. Karen Wenell challenges familiar assumptions by exploring the Kingdom as sacred space that is lived, performed, and experienced among people. Through a rich discussion of biblical texts, embodiment, ethics, and community, she offers fresh ways of understanding one of Jesus's central teachings and why it continues to matter in everyday life today. Dr. Karen Wenell is a Senior Lecturer in New Testament and Theology in the Department of Theology and Religion at the University of Birmingham, UK. Her research centers on biblical texts and their reception, particularly where texts become resources for ethical reflection and action. Of her three books, Locating the Kingdom of God: Performing Sacred Boundaries (The Library of New Testament Studies, Bloomsbury Publishing) is the focus of this Bible and Beyond podcast interview. Her most recent articles have appeared in the Journal of Feminist Studies in Religion and Biblical Interpretation: A Journal of Contemporary Approaches. A complete transcript is available on the shownotes page, https://earlychristiantexts.com/kingdom-of-god

An Interview with Dr. M. David Litwa What did ancient Hermetic spirituality have in common with early Christianity? In this conversation, Dr. M. David Litwa introduces the Hermetica—ancient Egyptian spiritual writings centered on Hermes Trismegistus—and explores their influence on concepts such as spiritual rebirth, divine consciousness, salvation through gnosis, and humanity's relationship to the divine. Shirley Paulson and Litwa discuss why early Christians found these writings compelling and how Hermetic ideas still speak to modern seekers interested in spiritual progress, self-knowledge, and transcendence. David Litwa, PhD, is an American scholar of ancient Mediterranean religions and early Christianity. His research examines deification in early Christian thought, the gospels in Greco-Roman literary contexts, and alternative Christian movements in the second and third centuries. Of the many books, the newest one, Heremetica I, is featured in this podcast interview. He has served as an organizer with the North American Patristics Society and a referee with the Journal of Early Christian Studies. Find a complete transcript on the show notes page here: https://earlychristiantexts.com/hermetica David will be presenting a live seminar on Hermetica I, Monday evenings. June 8 - August 10, 2026. Learn more and register here.

An Interview with Dr. Benjamin DeVos This episode reexamines Simon Magus, a controversial figure from the book of Acts, and his evolving role in early Christian tradition. Moving beyond the familiar story, it explores how later texts—especially the Pseudo-Clementines—transform Simon into a complex philosophical rival to Peter. Along the way, the discussion uncovers themes of truth, rhetoric, power, and moral ambiguity, challenging simple labels of heresy and revealing a far more nuanced picture of early Christianity. Dr. Benjamin De Vos is a researcher and teacher within the Faculty of Arts and Philosophy at Ghent University in Belgium and is affiliated with the University of Regensburg and the Beyond Canon project. His particular research interest is in the figure of Simon Magus. This involves Neoplatonic philosophy, concepts of truth, and important forms of communication, such as myth and dialogue. He is the author of a volume with Cambridge University Press, as well as several articles and book chapters and edited volumes (with Mohr Siebeck en Groningen University/Barkhuis (on Truth-dynamics in Early Christianity)).

An Interview with Rev. Dr. Bridget Mary Meehan What is "gnosis," and does it belong within Catholic tradition? In this conversation, Rev. Dr. Bridget Mary Meehan—bishop in the Roman Catholic Womanpriests movement—shares how inner, experiential knowing of God has long shaped Christian mysticism. From the Gospel of Mary to Teresa of Ávila, she explores how forgotten voices and lived experience challenge hierarchy and renew faith, offering a vision of a more inclusive and Spirit-led church today. Rev. Dr. Bridget Mary Meehan is a bishop in the Association of Roman Catholic Women Priests (ARCWP) and a prophetic leader in the global movement for women's equality in the Church. She is also a certified minister in the Federation of Christian Ministries, co-founder of People's Catholic Seminary, and Dean of the Masters in Divinity and Doctor of Ministry programs at Global Ministries University. She was ordained in 2006 as one of the first eight Roman Catholic Women Priests in the U.S., and in 2024, she ordained three deacons and three priests at the historic "Ordination on the Tiber" in Rome, a landmark public witness for women's ordination. Printed transcript is available on the show notes page: https://earlychristiantexts.com/gnosis-womanpriest-inner-awakening/

An Interview with Shawna Dolansky Historian Shawna Dolansky invites listeners to rethink the story of Eve in Genesis. Rather than a villain responsible for humanity's fall, Eve may be the story's protagonist—reasoning, choosing, and moving history forward. Dolansky explores how ancient readers understood the Eden story, how later interpreters—from Ben Sira to Augustine and Milton—reshaped it, and why recovering the story's ancient Near Eastern context can change how we understand Genesis today. Professor Shawna Dolansky is an historian who specializes in the emergence of the Hebrew Bible within its ancient Near Eastern context. Her work cuts across disciplinary boundaries of religious studies, literature, history, anthropology, and archaeology. Current research interests include a study of the history of Adam and Eve in popular culture and re-thinking the figure of Jezebel in the Hebrew Bible in light of historical and archaeological considerations. Both interests are part of a larger digital humanities graphic history project, "Women of the Ancient World," which is coming soon to woawhistory.com. Dr. Dolansky will be presenting during the upcoming virtual conference "New Insights into the Hebrew Bible (NIHB)" offered by Bart Ehrman. NIHB is a three-day virtual conference (March 20-22, 2026) for people interested in serious biblical scholarship. The conference brings together leading experts to present focused, insightful talks on Genesis. Registration is open now. Click here for registration and more information.

An interview with Nathan Houstin Nathan Houstin discusses the often-overlooked role of Joseph as the father of Jesus based on his reading of the New Testament, the Infancy Gospel of Thomas and the Gospel of Philip (which depicts Joseph as the carpenter of the cross!). Taken together, these texts illuminate Joseph's portrayal and significance in the context of Jesus' dual parentage. They highlight theological implications, the nature of fatherhood, and how these concepts resonate in contemporary understandings of family. Nathan Houstin is a doctoral student in New Testament and Early Christianity at Loyola University Chicago. He holds a Master of Divinity from the Lutheran School of Theology at Chicago. Prior to his theological studies, Nathan worked in healthcare as a respiratory care practitioner, and he continues to practice this profession beside his doctoral work. His scholarly interests range from gender studies, health and medicine in Antiquity to infancy gospels and Nag Hammadi texts.

In this Bible and Beyond podcast episode, Shirley Paulson interviews Dr. Karen L. King, a prominent scholar of the early text, the Gospel of Mary. In this podcast, Shirley and Karen explore the portrayal of Mary Magdalene as a leader and the implications for women's roles in early Christianity. They also discuss themes of identity, the nature of sin, the journey of the soul, and the concept of the good in relation to ethical living. Dr. King's insights highlight the relevance of the ancient teachings in contemporary spiritual and social contexts. Dr. Karen L. King is the Hollis Research Professor of Divinity, Harvard University's oldest endowed professorship (1721), and is the first woman to hold this chair. Her particular interests are in discourses of difference (orthodoxy and heresy), gender studies, and religion and violence. She completed her Ph.D. in History of Religions: Early Christianity at Brown University.  She also studied in Berlin at the Free University (West) and with the Koptisch-Gnostische Arbeitskreis (Coptic-Gnostic Working Group) at Humboldt University (East). She has received numerous awards for excellence in teaching and research. A written transcript is available on the show notes page here:  https://earlychristiantexts.com/karen-king-mary-magdalene

An Interview with Dr. Meredith J. C. Warren How did anti-Jewish interpretations become embedded in readings of the New Testament? In this Bible and Beyond Podcast episode, Shirley Paulson speaks with biblical scholar Meredith Warren about "Judeophobia"—its historical context and the responsibility of modern Bible readers. Drawing on her new co-edited volume, Judeophobia and the New Testament, Warren explores how later interpretations distorted ancient texts—and how reading critically and kindly can help prevent harm today. Dr. Meredith J. C. Warren is a Senior Lecturer in Biblical and Religious Studies at the University of Sheffield, editor-in-chief of The Journal of Interdisciplinary Biblical Studies, and author of several other insightful works. She is known for her views on the New Testament and early Judaism, and has been featured by media outlets including The Washington Post and BBC radio. This podcast interview highlights the book she co-authored with Eric Vanden Eykel and Sarah Rollens. A transcript is available here: https://earlychristiantexts.com/anti-jewish-readings-distort-new-testament/

An Interview with Dr. Ward Sanford Dr. Ward Sanford recounts the dramatic history of the ancient Romans' destruction of the Jewish Temple in Jerusalem. His historical novel weaves fictional characters into well-researched events, bringing the story alive for modern readers. The full arc, from 63 CE to 70 CE, unfolds across four books. In this interview, he focuses on the forces at play in the first volume, covering 63 to 66 CE, when tensions between Rome and Jerusalem began to erupt. Before becoming a novelist, Dr. Ward Sanford enjoyed a 35-year career as a highly respected scientist with the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS). Now he brings the same intellectual rigor and curiosity to his research and writing. He is passionate about helping believers see the historical and cultural context of first century Judea in which the earliest Christian church struggled to survive. Dr. Sanford has also been a Christian counselor for the past 13 years. The Cry for Jerusalem series discussed in this podcast explores the spiritual tensions, political chaos, and prophetic significance of a nation on the brink, as seen through Josephus's eyes. Ward has also written dozens of highly popular blogs concerning the subject matter of first century Judea and related Christian apologetics. A complete transcript is available on the Bible and Beyond website.

An Interview with Dr. Tobias Nicklas Professor Tobias Nicklas explores the surprising world of Christian Apocrypha — stories and traditions that continued shaping faith far beyond the biblical canon. From the Infancy Gospel of Thomas to the Acts of John and the Acts of Paul and Thecla, these writings raise profound questions about Jesus's humanity and childhood, a suffering God, and the role of women and imagination in early Christianity. Their influence, Nicklas shows, still colors Christian memory and art today. Professor Tobias Nicklas studied Theology and Mathematics at Universität Regensburg, Germany, and he did his doctorate on the "Jews in the Gospel of John." His German post-doc focused on Christian Apocrypha including the Unknown Gospel on Papyrus Egerton 2, one of the most ancient witnesses of early Christianity. He has been teaching at the Universität Regensburg since 2007. In 2018 he—and colleagues—founded the Centre for Advanced Studies "Beyond Canon" at the same University. Tobias has authored several monographs, including The Canon and Beyond (Tübingen, 2024) and the book we discuss in the podcast, Reading Christian Apocrypha with Janet E. Spittler (Minneapolis, 2025). A complete transcript is available here: https://earlychristiantexts.com/beyond-the-canon/

Heresies, Power, and the Forgotten Voices of Early Christianity An Interview with Dr. Bart Ehrman Shirley Paulson talks with Bart Ehrman about his new course on early Christian heresies. Together they explore why "right belief" became a matter of life and death, how women and household voices were often silenced, and what these early debates reveal about power, diversity, and faith. Christianity is the only religion to have evolved on a foundation of right and wrong belief. Their conversation touches on Christianity's complex origins—and why those ancient arguments still matter today. Bart D. Ehrman is an American New Testament scholar renowned for his work on textual criticism, the historical Jesus, and the origins and development of early Christianity. One of his frequent themes is on the early Christian doctrinal battles, showing how orthodoxy and heresy shaped contemporary traditions. He is the James A. Gray Distinguished Professor at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, in the Department of Religious Studies and has authored over 30 books, but he is also a public scholar and reaches a broad audience beyond academia. A complete transcript is available on Early Christian Texts, https://earlychristiantexts.com/heresies-bart-ehrman/

An Interview with The Reverend Benjamin Wyatt This year marks the 1700th anniversary of the Council of Nicaea, a turning point in Christian history. In this episode, Rev. Benjamin Wyatt, Episcopal priest and author of Christ and the Council, joins Shirley Paulson to explore the controversies that led to the Nicene Creed, Constantine's role in enforcing unity, and why debates about Christ's divinity mattered so deeply. Their conversation sheds light on the messy, human realities behind doctrines still shaping Christianity today. The Reverend Benjamin Wyatt is an Episcopal priest, serving as the Priest-in-Charge at the Church of the Nativity in Indianapolis. He has run two podcasts on ancient Christianity, "The Road to Nicaea" and "In Simeon's Wake." Just in time for Nicaea's 1700th anniversary celebration, Ben's new book, titled Christ and the Council, published by Wipf and Stock, is forthcoming. He holds an M.Div. and S.T.M. from Yale Divinity School. Visit the podcast show notes page on the Early Christian Texts website for a complete transcript. https://earlychristiantexts.com/council-of-nicaea/