100,000+ Books, Games & Puzzles in-stock 🇳🇿

Auckland Bookstore open Sunday 8:30am-5:00pm 📚

Love Thy Stranger

How Jesus Transformed Our Moral Conscience
Brief Description
When you hear of a devastating earthquake thousands of miles away, you might reach into your pockets to make a donation. That’s the fault of an itinerant Jewish preacher from an obscure backwater of the Roman Empire, otherwise known as Jesus Christ.Early Christians, like their fellow... Read More
Format: Hardback
$4999
Pre-order
Releases 1st September 2026 (Approx. Date) Pre-order  "Love Thy Stranger" now to secure your copy from our first shipment

Found a better price? Request a price match

How an apocalyptic Jewish preacher changed what it meant to be a good person forever

How an apocalyptic Jewish preacher changed what it meant to be a good person forever

Book Hero Magic formatted this description to make it easier to read. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! Description

When you hear of a devastating earthquake thousands of miles away, you might reach into your pockets to make a donation. That’s the fault of an itinerant Jewish preacher from an obscure backwater of the Roman Empire, otherwise known as Jesus Christ.


Early Christians, like their fellow Roman citizens, had much in common with us: a good life was one in which you could provide for your family, care for your friends and contribute to your community. Bart D. Ehrman asserts Jesus’s moral revolution was both simple and impossible: you should love strangers as much as you love your family. And you should forgive those who wrong you freely. Most of us will never live up to these ideals. But much of the good we do comes from the fact we feel we ought.


By demanding we love, Jesus came to trouble our consciences, not to salve them.

Book Details

INFORMATION

ISBN: 9781836431824

Publisher: Oneworld Publications

Format: Hardback

Date Published: 16 April 2026

Country: United Kingdom

Imprint: Oneworld Publications

Audience: General / adult

DIMENSIONS

Width: 153.0mm

Height: 234.0mm

Weight: 250g

Pages: 288

About the Author

Bart D. Ehrman is the James A. Gray Distinguished Professor of Religious Studies at the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill. His previous books include Heaven and Hell and The Triumph of Christianity. He has contributed to Time, The New Yorker and The Washington Post, among others.

Also by Bart D. Ehrman

View all
  • How Jesus Became God
    New York Times bestselling author and Bible expert Bart Ehrman reveals how Jesus’s divinity became dogma in the first few centuries of the early church. The claim at the heart of the Christian faith is that Jesus of Nazareth was, and is, God. But this is not what the original disciples believed during Jesus’s lifetime—and it is not what Jesus...
    Paperback
    $3999
    In Stock
    Ships tomorrow
  • Journeys to Heaven and Hell
    New York Times bestselling scholar’s illuminating exploration of the earliest Christian narrated journeys to heaven and hell. “[An] illuminating deep dive . . . An edifying origin story for contemporary Christian conceptions of the afterlife.”—Publishers Weekly From classics such as the Odyssey and the Aeneid to fifth-century Christian apocrypha, narratives that described guided tours of the afterlife played a major...
    Paperback
    $4099
    Available
    Ships in 3-4 weeks
  • God's Problem
    One Bible, Many Answers In God's Problem, the New York Times bestselling author of Misquoting Jesus challenges the contradictory biblical explanations for why an all-powerful God allows us to suffer.
    Paperback
    $5400
    Available
    Ships in 2-3 weeks

More from Religion & Spirituality

View all
  • New Release
    2027 Witch's Diary - Southern Hemisphere
    From the bestselling authors of Spellcasting, which has now sold over 250,000 copies worldwide, comes the essential witchy journal to plan your days, harness magick, and connect with higher powers. Features include: 8" x 6" (8" x 12" open) Beautiful glossy gold gatefold cover Compact size, perfect to carry in your bag and keep on you throughout the day 12-month...
    Paperback
    $1999
    Elsewhere:
    $2299
    In Stock
    Ships tomorrow
  • New Release
    2027 Lunar and Seasonal Diary - Southern Hemisphere
    Renowned witch Stacey Demarco helps you get the most out of the moon phases and seasons. This planner includes lunar timings and explanations of the moon phases and their impact on us along with practical magical suggestions to work with the energies of each season.Features include: • 8"" x 6"" planner (8"" x 12"" open) • Spiral binding allows the pages to...
    Paperback
    $2999
    Elsewhere:
    $3799
    In Stock
    Ships tomorrow
  • NKJV, Gift and Award Bible, Leather-Look, White, Red Letter, Comfort Print
    Commemorate a special accomplishment or event with a gift to be treasured for years to come. The popular and reliable New King James Version with the enhanced readability of Thomas Nelson’s custom NKJV font is now the perfect gift. The NKJV, Gift and Award Bible is a great way to recognise someone for a job well done. This special-occasion Bible...
    Paperback
    $1800
    Elsewhere:
    $2000
    (1)
    In Stock
    Ships tomorrow
  • Braiding Sweetgrass
    Braiding Sweetgrass by Robin Wall Kimmerer is a graceful and illuminating study of the wisdom of the natural world, bringing together the knowledge of modern science with the teachings of Indigenous cultures. At its heart, the book explores the interconnectedness between humans and nature, offering profound insights on how this relationship can foster a deeper ecological consciousness. As a botanist...
    Paperback
    $2200
    Elsewhere:
    $2600
    (2)
    In Stock
    Ships tomorrow
  • The King Is Coming
    Bestselling author John Bevere challenges Christians to take a fresh and honest look at one of the most often misunderstood and avoided truths of the Christian faith—the second coming of Jesus. Through personal testimony, biblical accuracy, and practical guidance, readers will be inspired to live a life of spiritual vigilance as they prepare for the glorious return of our King....
    Paperback
    $2999
    Elsewhere:
    $3500
    In Stock
    Ships tomorrow
  • NIV, Holy Bible, Economy Edition, Paperback, Comfort Print
    Hope for your everyday life. The New International Version of the Bible is today’s most popular modern-English translation. This low-cost Bible, featuring extra helps that are ideal for evangelism and an easy-to-read Comfort Print® typeface, is perfect for churches and ministries looking to distribute God’s Word in bulk through their outreach events. Features include: The full text of the accurate,...
    Paperback
    $1000
    Backorder
    Ships late August
  • The Practice of Not Thinking
    Bestselling author and Zen priest Ryunosuke Koike teaches us how to reconnect with our five senses and move towards enlightenment. What would happen if we learnt to look instead of see, listen instead of hear, and feel instead of touch? With remarkable clarity, Ryunosuke Koike shares the ways we can incorporate Zen practice into our daily life, resulting in a...
    Paperback
    $2100
    Elsewhere:
    $2600
    In Stock
    Ships tomorrow
  • The Screwtape Letters
    A milestone in the history of popular theology, The Screwtape Letters by C. S. Lewis is an iconic classic on spiritual warfare and the power of the devil. This profound and striking narrative unfolds as a series of captivating letters penned by Screwtape, a senior devil in the Infernal Civil Service, to his eager but inexperienced nephew, Wormwood. Wormwood is...
    Paperback
    $1900
    Elsewhere:
    $2200
    (1)
    In Stock
    Ships tomorrow
  • NIV, Gift and Award Bible, Leather-Look, Pink, Red Letter, Comfort Print
    Bibles make great gifts! This leather-look NIV Gift and Award Bible is economically priced so you can share the life-changing Word of God with more people. Perfect for special events or acts of kindness, this gift Bible is arranged in two columns with the words of Jesus in red, along with a presentation page for gift-giving, maps, and other Bible...
    Paperback
    $2200
    In Stock
    Ships tomorrow
  • Mere Christianity
    Mere Christianity by C. S. Lewis is a profound literary work that offers a compelling and articulate exploration of the Christian faith. This timeless classic emerged from a series of radio talks given by Lewis during the dark days of World War II, where he aimed to demystify the essence of Christianity and present a logical case for its core...
    Paperback
    $1900
    Elsewhere:
    $2200
    In Stock
    Ships tomorrow
  • The Orthodox Study Bible, Hardcover
    The Orthodox Study Bible, Hardcover is an invaluable resource for anyone interested in deepening their understanding of the Scriptures through the lens of ancient Christian traditions. This comprehensive study Bible represents a groundbreaking effort to present the Bible of the early church to the modern world, reflecting the rich heritage and profound spiritual wisdom of Orthodox Christianity, which is the...
    Hardback
    $5999
    Elsewhere:
    $7000
    In Stock
    Ships tomorrow
  • New Release
    The Prosperous Heart
    Cameron is a veteran of the modern self-care movement — THE NEW YORK TIMES Discover the true meaning of prosperity and abundance in this uplifting and beneficial guide — PUBLISHERS WEEKLY Create a sense of security and wealth in your life by applying Julia Cameron's bestselling Artist's Way techniques to the topic of prosperity. How do we keep a roof...
    Paperback
    $3799
    Elsewhere:
    $4500
    In Stock
    Ships tomorrow

Why buy from us?

Book Hero is not a chain store or big box retailer. We're an independent 100% NZ-owned business on a mission to help more Kiwis rediscover a love of books and reading!

Service & Delivery

Service & Delivery

Our warehouse in Auckland holds over 100,000 books, toys, board games and puzzles in-stock so you're not waiting for your order to arrive from overseas.

Auckland Bookstore

Auckland Bookstore

We're primarily an online store, but for your convenience you can pick up your order for free from our bookstore, which is right next door to our warehouse in Hobsonville.

Our Gifting Service

Our Gifting Service

Books make wonderful thoughtful gifts and we're here to help with gift-wrapping and cards. We can even send your gift directly to your loved one.