One of the country’s top biblical scholars, Bart Ehrman, returns to the subject of the historical Jesus in How Jesus Became God: The Exaltation of a Jewish Preacher from Galilee. Ehrman’s scholarship is always solid and his writing a model of clarity, even while his conclusions—as well as his stance as a nonbeliever—challenge and irritate more traditional Christian believers and scholars. A response book is forthcoming, and publisher HarperOne, which has had success with Ehrman previously, is smartly bringing out the book during the Lenten season, a time of reflection for Christians preparing for Easter.
Those who want to duck that debate altogether can instead opt for Women of Duck Commander by the female side of the Duck Dynasty, Kay, Korie, Missy, Jessica, and Lisa Robertson. Books by the hirsute reality TV hunting clan continue to fly, so this extension of the brand also underscores the faith (and female) element of the family story.