Conflict about the Bible is one of the most divisive issues for Christians today.
For millions, an unquestioning, literal interpretation has become a stumbling block to faith, not a foundation for it. How can we move beyond biblical literalism to find a more authentic way to engage with sacred scripture?
Leading figure in biblical scholarship Marcus J. Borg offers a liberating new path. This insightful guide introduces a historical-metaphorical approach, providing new lenses for seeing the Bible not as a divine rulebook, but as a profoundly human response to God. Borg demonstrates how understanding the historical context of the biblical texts opens up a deeper meaning and appreciation for their power.
This work of profound theology is an essential resource for personal bible study, discussion groups, and anyone seeking to take the Bible seriously without taking it literally. It is an invitation to read the Bible again for the first time, finding in its pages a more mature and compelling faith for the twenty-first century.
This book lays the foundation for a new way of reading scripture:
- Biblical Criticism: Learn how modern biblical scholarship, far from destroying faith, can illuminate the ancient meanings of the text and make them come alive.
- History and Metaphor: Discover the crucial difference between history remembered and metaphorical narrative, and why understanding this distinction is key to reading the Bible with intellectual integrity.
- A Human Response to God: Move beyond seeing the Bible as an inerrant divine product to appreciating it as the powerful, human story of two ancient communities and their experience of God.
- Postcritical Naivete: Explore a path beyond both childhood literalism and adult skepticism to a mature ability to hear the biblical stories as true, even while knowing they may not be factually so.
About the Author :
Marcus J. Borg (1942-2015) was a pioneering author and teacher whom the New York Times described as "a leading figure in his generation of Jesus scholars." He was the Hundere Distinguished Professor of Religion and Culture at Oregon State University and canon theologian at Trinity Episcopal Cathedral in Portland, and he appeared on NBC's The Today Show and Dateline, ABC's World News, and NPR's Fresh Air. His books have sold over a million copies, including the bestselling Meeting Jesus Again for the First Time, Reading the Bible Again for the First Time, Jesus, The Heart of Christianity, Evolution of the Word, Speaking Christian, and Convictions.
Review :
"Borg... has a knack for clarifying difficult theological issues and writing in a pensive style that is extremely accessible to Christian laity and seekers of all stripes. Almost single-handedly, he opened up new avenues of thought for lapsed or nonbelievers interested in re-visioning the Christianity of their childhood." - Spirituality and Practice
"A highly readable and succinct introduction to biblical criticism." - Publishers Weekly
"[A]n accessible book, almost entirely devoid of scholarly jargon but filled with scholarly insight." - Christian Century
"Borg writes passionately about the enduring values of the Bible. The engaging historical details he includes make familiar stories read like new. Whether you read the Bible religiously or rarely, this book is thought-provoking." - Christian Science Monitor
"Borg's analysis is profound, challenging and engrossing; it will enable readers to use scripture creatively once again and truly make it a bridge for the divine." - Karen Armstrong, author of A History of God
