EDITORIAL GUIDELINES
At Bart Ehrman Professional Services, we are dedicated to providing the highest quality, most accurate information about the history and literature of early Christianity. While Bart does not personally write these articles—and may not always agree with the viewpoints presented—we take great care to ensure the content meets the following high standards:
#1 - TWO TYPES OF CONTENT
We publish two categories of written content:
- Scholarly Articles: Authored by contributors with advanced academic qualifications (typically PhDs or the equivalent), these pieces represent the main editorial voice of BartEhrman.com.
- Community Contributions ("Voices from the Academy"): Selected posts from the Biblical Studies Academy (BSA) community. These reflect the insights and experiences of engaged learners and are clearly labeled as such. They offer thoughtful, respectful perspectives that spark discussion—even if not written by professional scholars.
#2 - AUTHOR QUALIFICATIONS
Scholarly Articles
Contributors to our main article library must demonstrate expertise in the field of biblical studies, early Christianity, or a closely related discipline. We generally require a PhD or equivalent academic standing, though we may consider exceptional experience or publication history on a case-by-case basis.
Voices from the Academy
These articles are written by active BSA members and selected based on thoughtfulness, clarity, and community engagement—not academic credentials. They are clearly marked as community contributions and include a disclaimer that the views expressed are those of the author.
#3 - ALL CONTENT IS PROOF-READ FOR ACCURACY & HIGH QUALITY
It's imporant for readers to be able to trust the information they read online.
When we provide information on BartEhrman.com, we are keenly aware of this responsibility, and we don't take it lightly. That's why we do all of the following when posting an article:
- We quote, reference, and cite third-party expert sources
- We check all of our articles for grammatical accuracy
- We ensure all statistics or quotes are up-to-date and accurate
- We try our best to provide clear and concise information related to the subject matter
Our goal is a great reading experience you can trust. To that end, all our content is first written by a qualified contributor, then reviewed by our editorial staff.
#4 - ALL CONTENT MUST BE RELATED to biblical studies, Jesus, or christianity
It probably goes without saying you won't find articles about politics, cute kittens, or how to repair your kitchen faucet on BartEhrman.com.
Here are some of the topics we may discuss on this site:
- The Historical Jesus
- The Gnostic Gospels
- How We Got the Bible
- The Life and Writings of Paul
- Who Wrote the Gospels?
- Heaven and Hell
- Greco-Roman Religions and Culture
- Judaism in Jesus' Day
- Forgery in Antiquity
- Did Jesus Exist?
- The Hebrew Bible
- Women in Early Christianity
- Early Christian Heresies
- Christian Apocrypha
#5 - COMMITMENT TO CRITICAL HISTORICAL ANALYSIS
We are dedicated to approaching our content from a critical historical perspective rather than a religious standpoint. We believe in fostering a respectful and inclusive environment that welcomes diverse beliefs and backgrounds.
Our team consists of writers and editors with various backgrounds, ensuring a multi-faceted approach to the topics we explore. We strive to present information that is accessible and valuable to readers of all faiths or those without any religious affiliation.
Our aim is to facilitate discussions and delve into the historical aspects of subjects such as the life of Jesus, the New Testament books, and the rise of Christianity. By prioritizing critical analysis, we encourage an open exploration of these topics, inviting individuals with different beliefs to engage in meaningful conversations.
We are committed to maintaining a respectful stance toward all beliefs and religions, and our articles are designed to be informative and useful to a broad audience, including both Christians and non-Christians.
#6 - CONTENT ORIGINALITY
We believe in delivering original and valuable content that engages and informs our readers. Our team of dedicated professionals, including content managers, writers, and editors, ensures that each piece of content is carefully crafted to meet our high standards.
In our pursuit of excellence, we may at times leverage advanced tools and technologies to streamline fact-checking processes, enhance accuracy, and enrich the overall quality of our articles. We invest in innovative solutions that aid our team in research, analysis, and resource gathering. However, we want to assure our readers that while we embrace technology, our content always reflects the expertise and insights of our experienced team. Our writers and editors bring their extensive knowledge, critical thinking, and meticulous research skills to each article.
If you have any questions about our editorial standards, please visit our Contact Us page.