How Early Christians Used “Heresy” as a Weapon

What did it mean to be a “heretic” in early Christianity, and who had the power to decide? In this video, historian Dr. Paula Fredriksen explains how disputes over belief, authority, and identity shaped the earliest Christian communities. Far from being purely theological disagreements, accusations of heresy often reflected political struggles over leadership, legitimacy, and influence.

This conversation introduces themes from Dr. Fredriksen’s new online class, Ancient Christianities: The First 500 Years, which examines how diverse and contested early Christianity really was.

🔗 Resources & Links
Join Dr. Fredriksen for her class "Ancient Christianities”: https://www.bartehrman.com/500yrs/?affiliate=bibleandarch

📺 Watch our last interview with Dr. Fredriksen:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mNMn_zcUp8g

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🎙️ Credits
Guest: Dr.Paula Fredriksen
Produced and Edited by Jordan Jones