The Historical Jesus and the Heart of Contemporary Faith
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Meeting Jesus Again for the First Time intimately explores our feelings about wanting a contemporary faith while simultaneously inviting our own critical thoughts of historical scholarship instead of repressing the academic side of faith. Unlike typical books on the historical Jesus, Marcus J. Borg takes an in depth look at personal faith and how the most recent studies in biblical scholarship impacts that faith.
Now, in Meeting Jesus Again for the First Time, Marcus Borg addresses the yearnings of those who want a post modern Christianity that welcomes rather than oppresses our critical intelligence and openness to the studies of historical scholarship. Borg shows how a rigorous examination of historical findings can lead to a new faith in Christ, one that is critical and, at the same time, sustaining.
Drawing on his own journey from a naïve, unquestioning belief in Christ through collegiate skepticism to a mature and contemporary Christian faith, Borg illustrates how an understanding of the historical Jesus can actually lead to a more authentic Christian life—one not rooted in creed or dogma, but in a life of spiritual challenge, compassion, and community.
What the Book Is About
In this novel, Marcus Borg explores his journey of belief in the form of a clear, well thought out discussion where he goes into great detail explaining his though process on every topic that he covers. Borg makes sure not to waste a word within this insightful and straightforward book.
Borg examines his own personal faith, noting how it began as an unquestioning devotion to Christ but evolved through time. Like many other people, Borg’s belief wavered to collegiate skepticism, but after truly understanding the historical Jesus his faith transformed into a more mature form of post modern Christianity. By studying the findings surrounding modern Jesus scholarship from an angle of faith, Borg exemplifies how the comprehension of the historical Jesus can turn into a more evolved understanding of contemporary faith.
There are many levels to Jesus’ character that Borg is able to explore and shed light onto, including Jesus as a spirit person, social prophet, teacher of revolutionary wisdom, and also as a movement founder. Borg writes:
“Believing in Jesus does not mean believing doctrines about him, rather, it means to give one’s heart, one’s self at its deepest level, to… the living Lord.”
In straightforward, accessible prose, Borg looks at the major findings of modern Jesus scholarship from the perspective of faith, bringing alive the many levels of Jesus’s character: spirit person, teacher of alternative wisdom, social prophet, and movement founder. He also reexamines the major stories of the Old Testament vital to an authentic understanding of Jesus, showing how an enriched understanding of these stories can uncover new truths and new pathways to faith.
Book Contents
Borg’s incredibly thought-provoking writing uncovers an enhanced understanding of new truths as well as new ways to find your personal faith. The preface of this book begins with a section titled “The Truth of Easter,” and the chapters of the book in order are:
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Meeting Jesus Again
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What Manner of Man? The Pre-Easter Jesus
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Jesus, Compassion, and Politics
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Jesus and Wisdom: Teacher of Alternative Wisdom
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Jesus, the Wisdom of God: Sophia Become Flesh
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Images of Jesus and Images of the Christian Life
If you are curious about learning more about yourself and your faith then you would be performing a disfavor to yourself by not reading Borg’s book. Borg’s writing frees the knowledge of Jesus’ life and common misconceptions in order to form a method of creating a sound and modern faith for the reader, no matter what their religious standing may be.
Click on one of the links below to read more about how Jesus is a figure of the present just as much as he is a figure of the past and buy this in depth book on understanding a modern Jesus. Meeting the modern Jesus is a new experience for many people, which is why learning more about post modern Christianity is important. Borg aims to show readers how a deeper understanding of historical Jesus can make you feel even closer to Him and form a more contemporary faith. To find out more about the Marcus J. Borg Foundation, click here.
Study Guide
For those who would like help in understanding the context of Meeting Jesus for the First Time, please download the study guide to follow along with while reading. It would also be greatly appreciated if you could please offer any feedback you have on the guide once you’ve downloaded it. Thank you!
Where to buy this book