Love Thy Stranger

In Love Thy Stranger, New Testament historian Bart D. Ehrman explores the transformative impact of Jesus' radical commandment to love those who are strangers, contrasting it with historical views that prioritized loyalty to friends and family. Tracing its evolution from ancient moral thought through the early Christian debates, Ehrman highlights how this revolutionary ethic began to redefine the moral landscape and political frameworks of the Western world by the 5th century. With wit and insight, he connects this foundational teaching to contemporary discussions about the limits and challenges of love in today’s society.