This is a collected set of lectures presented at the Smithsonian Institution in September of 1993. The book has been out for several years, and it's just my bad luck to have recently discovered it; I'm happy though, to live in a time when such information is open to the public, and open almost as soon as it is known.

The lecturers proceed through the phases of the life of Jesus-- or rather, chronologically as they would through the life of any person. The lectures deduce from archeological information the politics of the times, and reason to the kind of message Jesus must have delivered in order to attract a following. They are not afraid of the implications of, for example, the fact that Jesus came from Galilee. They dismiss with granite hard logic, the infancy narratives of Luke and Matthew as fiction, and then proceed to deal with the fact that Jesus' origins in Galilee meant certain things, and here in what they are.

The gospels are not dealt with as historical documents, but they are dealt with as texts that contain valuable information of the nature of Jesus message, (or at any rate, the public's reception of it) and therefore what made him attractive as a missionary figure. Several of the lecturers peel away layers of the texts to show different historical additions and interpolations. Jesus' eschatological message may not have been part of his original message after all, we learn.

This book is full of tightly packed prose, with little "paradigmatic" lecturese to wade through-- it's actually exciting to read. If you have the opportunity, you may read it in one setting.

I guess that the lectures must have come from notes, and not transcriptions, because they are chatty to different degrees. Some almost seem to be transcriptions, and some read like book chapters. I found this jarring at first, but as I read more, I found that it helped me distinguish among the lecturers, and that this was helpful.

My only reservation is Stephen J. Patterson's "Sources for a Life of Jesus." There is nothing new here. He gives the usual information about the historical question of the primacy of Matthew, the Markan Priority Hypothesis, the Q Hypothesis, the interpolation of Josephus, the Talmud Sanhedrin, etc. Anyone who has read a book on the historical Jesus before can skip this lecture.

And anyone with even a cursory interest in the Jesus of history should read this book.

Anyone wishing to get a brief overview of current trends in biblical scholarship as it focusses on the gospel narratives will find this book useful and enjoyable. Warning: fundamentalists will not like this book.

"Romancing the Holy" is a very gentle, pragmatic, non-judgemental book about ways - or "on-ramps" - to include the spiritual in daily life. Author Debra Farrington covers such topics as joining a faith community or church; exploring spiritual direction; undertaking lectio divina or reading as a source of spirituality; and making use of the Internet and faith communities on-line. While primarily of interest to those from the Christian tradition, this book is useful to all who are interested in cultivating the holy in day-to-day living.

Marcus Borg explores the spirit, culture and the life of the early Christian community. He writes that Jesus came to proclaim the kingdom of compassion as contrasted to the kingdom of holiness. His aphorisms, parables and actions as seen in the New Testament underscore this proclamation.

Borg's treatment of culture is one of the main features of this book. He explains cultures in transition, in conflict with each other. He sees Jesus as a prophet, sage and miracle worker, but most importantly as a leader of a reform movement with Judaism. Borg's Jesus reflects on the culture of holiness and sees how it creates unconscionable burdens for people. The son of God proclaims that his father does not demand holiness, but compassion. And in an important way compassion is more difficult than holiness, as holiness tends to be juridical. Compassion challenges people and their societies more fundamentally.

Part 1 of the book concerns the life of the Spirit as seen in the life of Jesus. Part 2 deals with Jesus and his culture. In this section Bork treats of the various ways Jesus is seen: as sage, prophet, reform movement leader. As he writes Borg tens to be quantitative. He breaks things down into compartments in order for the reader to understand a concept by its parts. It is easy to underline statements in this book.

While Bork does not seem to present new material, he utilizes research and explains it in ways that do not have the constant citing that other scholars apply. There are notes from each chapter, with annotations that explain more fully. Borg's style makes an easier read.

Great, readable, accessible book. Highly recommended for anyone with any curiosity about what is know historically about the life of Jesus. Borg writes about Jesus AND about Christ, carefully pointing out that actually believing or not believing in (for example) the bodily resurrection need not define one's Christianity. Reading Borg's interpretation of Jesus' teachings (which I find highly credible), it becomes quite clear why there is such a rift between "liberal" and "conservative" Christians (call them what you will).

What if Jesus didn't declare himself THE Son of God, but more A Son of God, meaning that through "imitating" Christ we too can becomes Sons of God? Borg discusses the context in which the gospels were written, gives possible explanations for their inconsistencies, and even discusses other texts (e.g. the Gospel of Thomas), which were as legitamate as M, M, L, or J, but didn't make it into the New Testament because their message didn't fit perfectly the Word the early Christian Church was attemtping to put forth.

A heck of a lot of information packed into 200 pages. Will likely make you thirst for further reading on the subject. Almost a "Jesus Primer" if you will.

Borg's Jesus is not one who is no longer relevant today, but instead one who is ESPECIALLY relevant today, if we decide to wade through the dogma and find out for ourselves how he lived, what he taught, and why he is still alive in so many to this day.

To put these comments in perspective, "Jesus, A New Vision" (published originally in 1987), is the third book by Dr. Borg that I have read; thus, I'm clearly a fan.

The first Borg book I read was "Meeting Jesus Again for the First Time," originally published in 1994 -- a book that covers almost the identical terrain as "Jesus, A New Vision."

It's important to realize, if you haven't read Borg before, that his books are based on mainstream biblical scholarship that is taught in seminaries of mainstream churches. He is not a radical, far-out religious liberal trying to undermine contemporary and/or traditional Christian theology.

To provide some idea of Borg's scholarship. This book's "Introduction - Clearing the Ground: Two Images of Jesus" extends a little over sixteen pages, the "Introduction's" Annotated End Notes (Footnotes) covers five pages, and should be carefully studied by those who may be particularly upset by some of the author's ideas.

The book is divided into two parts. Part One, Chapters 2-4, discuss Jesus and the Spirit, or Jesus and God. Part Two, Chapters 5-10, discussing Jesus and Culture; with the focus on the culture of the first century. Chapter 10, the author's conclusion is entitled, "The New Vision of Jesus: His Significance for Our Time." Borg's observations and conclusions are thoroughly documented. It seems difficult to imagine anyone quarreling with his conclusions.

I'm somewhat shocked that until learning about Borg in a newspaper article (last fall) announcing a local speaking engagement by Dr. Borg, which I attended, I had never heard of him. Again please note; this book was published in 1987, fourteen years ago. His writings and views have not been featured in either the mainstream press I've been reading and/or by clergy in the Protestant churches I've attended.

Also, I'm equally mystified as to why the electronic media have not done features on Borg and his views. With so much "air-time" to fill, why haven't they covered Borg? Fear? Fear of what?

This and other Borg titles are extremely easy to read, even for readers with a minimum of background in either the Hebrew Old Testament, or the Christian New Testament.

Borg's views are the most plausible, rationale approach to the historical Jesus of fact, faith and experience I've ever encountered. I consider this book to be a blessing and I urge every thinking Christian to read it and other writings by Dr. Borg.

Borg gave me insight into what I always knew that God wasn't just a benevolent dictator. The God of Grace is not just out there, but in our world among us, beside us, inside us, and around us at all times and in all places. I'm not sure I can buy into a lot his ideas on the Post-Easter Jesus, though. I enjoyed reading the book, but I think I was ready to read it. That is, I finally reached that point in my life that my faith journey demanded that I read it. I'm sure other people would have opposite reactions to the book. Therefore, I suspect that the book did just what the good professor expected it to do -- provide more questions that have no answers.

Marcus Borg, a distinguished scholar who has devoted himself to studies of the "historical Jesus," has written from his own experiences as a Christian, informed by a lifetime of scholarship, about our need to develop a personal relationship to God. In clear, precise, down-to-earth language, he manages to explain difficult concepts while outlining a reasoned, convincing approach to Christian faith. Every page conveys a sense of deep respect for, and faith in, a continuing and vital relationship to God. His theology can liberate us from magical thinking and narrow-minded literalism, and points the way to a continuing, ever-deepening relationship to God.

In a thoughtful, non-defensive manner, he describes a basis for deep religious faith fully consistent with our contemporary world view. I have never found a book on religious faith so helpful, so clear, and so inspiring for a modern reader. By liberating us from a "requirement-based" faith in a "monarchical" God, he has shown the way to a meaningful, day-to-day relationship to God as the foundation of our lives, the "ground of being" described by Paul Tillich.

His book is a gift to us that I am glad to have found, and I will follow the advice of William Wink, who wrote about another book of Borg's that we should read everything he writes. I wish everyone could read and reflect on the message of this book.

THE GOD WE NEVER KNEW covers three broad subjects. In the first section Borg describes both the God he learned about in his youth and also the God he came to know later in life.

In the next section the author explains why our image of God is important and how it influences our entire concept of the sacred.

In the last part of the book Borg explains that God is all around us. The sacred is not somewhere else. God is always in relationship to us and journeying with us. God yearns to be known by us.

The closing chapters resemble an instruction manual on how to open up to God. Borg includes here a clear vision of what we can expect from our own pilgimage with Jesus. This is what sets the author apart from most of the other Jesus Seminar scholars. Borg goes beyond the reconstruction of the historical Jesus to emphasize the rewards of seeking a relationship with the living God.The author suggests that the Christian life is about opening the heart now to the God who is already here. It is about entering into a relationship with God in the present that begins to change everything now.

The historical study of Jesus and Christion origins is discussed by six well-known scholars. In two succinct essays and the book's introduction Marcus Borg gives us some basic tenets of modern Jesus scholarship. There is, for instance, no such thing as a wholly objective perspective on Jesus. The Bible is the human product of two ancient societies. The gospels are products of early Christian communities and they reflect a developing tradition within those groups of people. Jesus' public life took place in the first third of the first century while the canonical gospels were written during the last third of the same century. In between the newly emerging faith was sustained largely by oral tradition. Most of the other contributors to this book are probably in agreement with the above statements even though they come to this discussion from widely different backgrounds.

For anyone interested in learning more about the work of the Jesus Seminar and contemporary Jesus scholarship this is as good a place as any to begin the journey. The diverse essays are mainly excellent. Most chapters are accompanied by questions and responses recorded during the actual scholarly symposium commemorating the 2000 anniversary of the birth of Jesus held at Oregon State University in 1996. The notes for each chapter are extensive and I find the list of resources at the end of the book to be very helpful for someone who is just beginning to become curious about the study of the historical Jesus.

Marcus Borg has written the introduction and two of the book's eight essays. I found it useful to read Borg's contributions first mainly because he describes with such clarity the basics of modern Jesus scholarship.

Allan Segal is a leading Jewish scholar and Huston Smith is a well-known philosopher and historian of religions. All of the book's six contributors seem to approach the subject from different vantage points. The result is a very stimulating reading experience.

This book is not geared toward those who are already familiar with the issues involved in the debate over who Jesus of Nazareth really was. Instead, it was written to introduce people to the discussion and give a general representation of the two opposing perspectives.

N.T. Wright presents the conservative view, which means that he believes the gospels give us generally reliable history, that Jesus made outrageous claims to divinity, performed miracles, rose from the dead, and is indeed divine as taught by traditional Christianity. Marcus Borg gives the liberal side. He believes the gospels contain far more myth than history, that Jesus did not claim anything out of the ordinary in regards to a unique relationship to God, and that he did not physically rise from the dead.

Neither writer is really able to give detailed arguments for their views because of the large amount of ground they attempt to cover in this book. I did like the book's format. Each section addressed a specific topic (reliability of gospels, divinity claims, etc.) with each writer devoting a chapter to the topic. They then rotated which writer was first for each topic. This prevented one person from always getting the last word.

If you're already familiar with the historical Jesus debate, then I'd give it two stars (and recommend passing on this one). However, if you're new to the issue I'd say its worthy of four stars and suggest it as a good introduction to a fascinating debate.

THE MEANING OF JESUS is an excellent introduction to the historical Jesus debate written by two respected Christian New Testament scholars. The conservative position is defended by N.T. Wright while the liberal position by Marcus Borg. The book itself consists of a series mini-debates on specific historical topics like historical methodology, the sayings of Jesus, the crucifixion, the resurrection, the incarnation, the virgin birth, the second coming, etc. Unfortunately, because the format of the book only allowed each scholar to write one statement (chapter) on each topic, there was no opportunity for each scholar to respond to the other's arguments. Still, I thought this book was an excellent introduction to the disagreements in NT scholarship between conservatives and liberals.

One other comment: as someone interested in the historicity of the resurrection, I found N.T. Wright's chapter on the resurrection very helpful. Although other conservatives have often argued that no first-century Jew could have believed that Jesus was risen from the dead and yet suppose that his corpse rotted in the grave, no other writer has explained that argument as clearly as N.T. Wright. I'm not sure if I agree with Wright's conclusion, but I appreciated the clarity Wright brought to the discussion.

Marcus Borg and N.T. Wright have written more than just an introduction or a summary to the Historical Jesus Debate. Although this book does summarize well the issues surrounding the increasingly controversial "Debate" between 'revisionist' historians/theologians, and more conservative believers, Borg and Wright make this book a significant contribution to the discussion.

The 'friendly' tone of the book is particularly striking and gives the reader the sense that these authors are more interested in dialogue than in debate, meaning that each is honestly interested in the contribution of the other, while coming to different conclusions. Despite this non-combative character of their discussion, Borg and Wright do not minimize the urgency and importance of these issues in the life of the church.

Wright's contributions are significantly more compelling than Borg's, while Borg makes some interesting points regarding what symbolic meanings might have been applied to the events surrounding Jesus' life. Wright, on the other hand, makes excellent arguments for the vital role of the crucifixion and resurrection to the Christian faith. He does not approach the text, as Borg does, with an anti-supernatural bias. Wright is also more interested in painting 'the big picture' of the life of Jesus, and His significance in the plan of God than he is offering token defenses of Christian dogma. Wright's eschatology is also refreshingly void of sensationalism and speculation. He is careful to let scripture tell its own story.

The final section of the book deals with "Jesus and the Christian Life", and is particularly good. Wright brings his previous arguments to conclusion by describing the broad implications of Jesus to our lives. He begins by describing "the two poles of Christian living in terms of worship and mission", and continues to elaborate on Jesus impact on our spirituality, daily living, politics, and healing.

The 8 parts of this book carry the folowing titles with a section from each author:

1. How do we know about Jesus
2. What did Jesus do and teach
3. The Death of Jesus
4. "God raised Jesus from the dead"
5. Was Jesus God?
6. The Birth of Jesus
7. "He will come again in Glory"
8. Jesus and the Christian life

I am grateful for Borg and Wright's contribution to the "Historical Jesus Debate" with this book, and I recommend it to scholars and students alike.

First let me say, I think it is appropriate to evaluate this book on the basis of how much it made me think, not on whether I agree with the author. I think that in writing this book, Borg set out to make people think about and question their image of Jesus and the Christian life, and hopefully as a result grow into a more enriching relationship with Christ. Borg did a superb job in fulfilling this purpose. I am a Christian, and this book really helped me understand Jesus and how I might better relate to Him.

Second, I will say that I don't think it is appropriate to criticize the book because the author did not provide convincing evidence to support his positions. That could not have been accomplished in 150 pages. Borg takes positions that differ from the orthodox dogmas of Christianity today, such as his argument that Jesus did not understand himself as the Messiah, or as God. Borg makes his arguments clearly and logically, and if the reader wants to see the evidence to back it up, I suggest reading other books by Borg and other fellows of the Jesus Seminar. Meeting Jesus Again for the First Time is short, straightforward, and non-academic enough to reach and interest the "average" Christian and motivate him or her to ask the right questions about the Christian faith. Hopefully, this book will be only the beginning of one's renewed quest for truth.

Borg begins by describing his own journey and the images of Jesus and the faith that he held at different ages. Many, including myself can relate to him. Like many, Borg went through a stage in which his Christianity was stale and irrelevant. The reason Borg gives, which I think accounts for back-slidings among many believers, is that the images of Jesus he grew up with did not speak to what he experienced as real life. I think that the faith of many ends up in this valley of dry bones, and unfortunately, the bones never live again. The church is trying vainly to reach these people. These dry-bones Christians try vainly to find revitalization of life and faith in the tired religion of their childhood, and some find revitalization in alternative belief systems. Meeting Jesus Again for the First Time should be a must-read for Christians who feel that their faith has dried out, and for people in the church who wish to reach them.

The last chapter, "Images of Jesus and Images of the Christian Life" is especially powerful. In my opinion, a full Christian understanding of Jesus is incomplete without coming to terms with the cross and the resurrection, and Borg does not disappoint his readers. The last chapter challenged me to a new understanding of the death and resurrection of Jesus, in the light of the whole message of the Bible, or what Borg calls the three "Macro Stories" of the Exodus, the Exile, and the Priestly Tradition. This message made the death and resurrection much more relevant to my faith.

I am so excited about this book, that I will recommend it to friends and family, lend my copy to others, and give the book as gifts. It is without a doubt, a refreshing call to revitalize our understanding of Jesus and the Christian faith.

Meeting Jesus Again for the First Time by Marcus J. Borg is a scholarly but deeply spiritual and understandable work about the "historical" Vs the "biblical" view of Jesus. The author is a Christian, although he was at various times agnostic and atheist. His work puts a radical spin on who Jesus was and what he had to say about God and while it pokes holes in some more commonly held conceptions of God and religion it is not, by any means, a cynical book. On the contrary it is deeply faith affirming! Borg's basic assertion is that our understanding of God and of the Christian life are benefited by understanding, not just the Jesus of faith but also, the Jesus of history. This book challenged and inspired me

Before I read this book, I had been "searching" for Jesus. About a year ago, I decided that I could no longer accept the Jesus that conservative Christianity preaches about. I had slowly begun to realize that the literalistic Jesus was no longer worth my time or devotion. I secretly wondered if I could still be a Christian without blindly assenting to impossible tales attributed to Jesus, especially myths like the "virgin birth." It suffices to say that I still had many questions about the man we call Lord, Savior, and Christ. Was he God? Was he the Son of God? If so, could he defy physics by resuscitating his own body? Did he really die for my sins? Borg's answers to these questions changed my faith forever.

Borg is a participant in the Jesus Seminar, a group of theologians who have tried to determine what words and actions attributed to Jesus are authentic. Their conclusions are fascinating. They've concluded that a bulk of what is recorded by the authors of the Christian Scriptures are not the words or actions of Jesus at all. According to Borg, ". . . the gospels are the church's memories of the historical Jesus transformed by the community's experience and reflection in the decades after Easter. They therefore tell us what these early Christian communities had come to believe about Jesus by the last third of the first century. They are not, first and foremost, reports of the ministry itself."

Since the Gospels were actually written about 60-90 years after Jesus' death, that leaves a lot of room for interpretation. Borg interprets Jesus in four different parts. He was a spirit person, a teacher of wisdom, a social prophet, and a movement founder. But most of all, he was supernaturally aware of God's love for us and gave us the abundant gift of grace! It doesn't matter what creeds or doctrines that I agree with. I hardly agree with every proposition that Borg sets forth, but that's not what matters at all. The only thing that counts is grace: the free gift that Jesus offered to us. What refreshing news!

Beyond the mythical framework of Biblical literalism, I found a Christ far greater than the one that I'd known in the past. This Christ is one that relies not in working physical miracles to spread his message, but by working miracles with his almighty ability to give us the love that comes from God. I don't call Jesus my "Savior" because he was supposedly born of a virgin and was nailed to a cross. I call him my Savior because his ability to love - perfectly - set him apart from any other human that ever lived. Finally, a Jesus that is worth our adoration!

I highly recommend Borg's book to anyone who is on a search for the living Jesus, because when you meet this Jesus, "the Jesus who comes to us even now," it will be like meeting Jesus again . . . for the first time.

(Also recommended: "This Hebrew Lord," John Shelby Spong)

The editors of this book add an interesting note at the end on the subject of the translation of the text. They point out that the sayings of Jesus contained in the book represent a 'paraphrase' since the principal of 'dynamic equivalence' was followed in producing their work. They do not seek a word-for-word translation but rather an overall meaning. Many scholars may be turned off by this approach.

The arguments for the existence of THE LOST GOSPEL Q put forth by Marcus Borg in the Preface are the most interesting and provocative part of this book. It is easy to understand why the work of the Jesus Seminar is challenged by skeptics. However, I do think it is important not to dismiss it too quickly before it receives the attention and scrutiny it deserves. THE LOST GOSPEL Q is a serious attempt to shed light on the historical Jesus.

This book is based on the theory that the Gospel of Mark was written before any of the other synoptic Gospels. The Gospels of Matthew and Luke were then written with the help of those from Mark and another unknown source which is called the Gospel Q. In 1838 a German noticed that there were many sayings of Jesus which were common to Matthew and Luke but not included in Mark. The Lost Gospel Q is comprised of these sayings. Adding fuel to the argument was the discovery in 1945 near the Upper Nile River in Egypt of a codex called the Gospel of Thomas. It contained 114 sayings of Jesus. Over one-third of these sayings were similar to those found in the Lost Gospel Q.

If you accept the idea of the probable existence of Q, then you can look forward to reading sayings of Jesus which were recorded and used by some of His earliest followers less than two decades after His death and resurrection.

This book is very well writen. It is done in a well thought out manner and the layout and discussion parts are excellent. It would be good to have a decent handle on recent theology, however. It will breach some answers and conclusions that will need prior knowledge for the reader. Dale Allison does a fantastic job with his argument and ideas. It is a great book for those considering the idea of the Apocalyptic Jesus.

In many ways this book has the feel of a history of social and political protest in the ancient world. Borg's emphasis on what he refers to as 'opposition to systems of domination' is repeated often and he points out in his chapter on Paul that Christianity is the only major religion whose most influential personalities were put to death by established authority. The clear implication then is that the messages of Jesus and Paul may be very threatening to systems of domination.

Borg believes that stories can be true without being literally and factually true. He also stresses that being Christian is not about believing in Christianity or the Bible. It is instead about having a deepening relationship with the God to whom the Bible points while living within the Christian tradition as a "sacrament of the sacred."

Despite his penchant for catchy titles, Borg is arguably amongst the most accessible Christian theologians writing today. He has the disquieting ability to read the poorly framed questions in my mind, state them crisply, and then provide clear, studied, and believable answers. And he is a careful researcher: in some chapters, the length of the notes section almost matches the length of the text itself.

Occasionally I was left with the sense that Borg rushed his writing in this book; some chapters ended before I was ready to leave the topic. And he made only passing reference to the NT epistles that were not written by Paul. Nevertheless, his discussion and interpretation of Revelation alone was worth the price of the book.

If you are new to Borg's work, I would suggest starting with Meeting Jesus Again for the First Time. It will give you an excellent grounding in the central tenets of the faith. And you may find some surprises there. Reading the Bible...... then expands the beachhead to cover the core text of the faith.

This book impressed me in so many ways that the best I can do here is give an overview. Firstly, Borg's attempt to contextualize the historical-metaphorical reading of the Bible is both brief and clear -- he succinctly relates mainstream Christianity's difficulties in reading the Bible literally to the rational approach of modernist thought. Though Borg believes that many of the stories in the Bible are not factual, he sees them as still being profoundly true -- packed with spiritual insights and vividly describing the essence of human interactions with the divine. Ultimately, _Reading the Bible Again_ demonstrates that believing in unlikely or impossible things is not the essence of faith at all. Instead, it recontextualizes faith as a passionate and dynamic relationship with God and cites the Bible an invaluable tool in shaping that relationship.

In the course of the book, Borg successfully shows how putting the Bible in its historical context can, surprisingly, make it much more relevant to the present. The chapter on the prophets is particularly insightful -- he portrays them as God-intoxicated social reformers who are deeply invested in the well-being of their society, much as we now see modern prophets such as Gandhi and Martin Luther King, Jr. At the close of the book, Borg takes even Revelation -- the book that has perhaps been most co-opted by a fundamental interpretation that strays far from the original intent of the text -- and makes John's message newly meaningful to a society still struggling with imbalances of political and social power.

_Reading the Bible Again_ could easily revolutionize mainstream Christianity's flagging faith. I highly recommend it to anyone who feels they lack a personal connection with the Bible. If literalism is the problem, Borg is certainly the cure.