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113 of 117 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
what you'd expect, January 25, 2007
Marcus Borg, professor at Oregon State University, is one of a very few prominent New Testament scholars who writes for the everyday Christian, who declares his passion for a vibrant faith, who shares personally from his own experience, who is unapologetic but irenic in presenting his views, and on top of it all an excellent writer. Although I have my disagreements with him at any number of places, I have previously enjoyed his other popular books, Meeting Jesus Again for the First Time (1994), Reading the Bible Again for the First Time (2001), and The Heart of Christianity (2003). If you have read these previous books, you won't learn much new by reading Jesus. The book began as a modest revision of Jesus: A New Vision (1987), but has been marketed as a new book because the revisions were so extensive.
Borg promotes what he repeatedly and irritatingly calls "mainstream scholarship," as if others who are not part of his club are best disregarded. He does a good job of incorporating that movement's strengths, and at times admits where and why some issues are complex, opinions divided, and the choices more like a subjective art. But he ignores the corrosive tendencies of extreme historical criticism, along with the best evangelical scholarship that has interacted with it (unlike in his book co-authored with NT Wright, The Meaning of Jesus; Two Visions, 2000). What he calls the "emerging Christianity" of mainline denominations positions itself in clear contrast to conservative evangelicalism. The latter, Borg believes, is wrongly preoccupied with biblical literalism, the afterlife, and believing right doctrines. Emerging Christianity, he argues, is "way-centered" instead of belief-centered. Whereas evangelicalism represents a "defensive rejection" of the Enlightenment, his vision attempts a "discerning integration."
Central to Borg's method is his effort to distinguish between "history remembered" or "pre-Easter memory," in the sense of events in the life of Jesus that really happened, and "post-Easter metaphor," in the sense of the constructions of later Christians. The former constitutes the real voice of Jesus, the latter the voice of the community. Implicit in his distinction is the insinuation that the "voice of Jesus" enjoys an epistemological privilege over the "voice of the community." Many, of course, have observed this wedge driven between the "Jesus of history" and the "Christ of faith." Borg tries mightily to resist that tension: "A historical-metaphorical way of reading the gospels does not see them as fantasy or exaggeration or deception, but as the testimony and witness and convictions of Jesus's followers" (p. 49). Or again, "The metaphorical meaning of language is its more-than-literal, more-than-factual meaning. Metaphor refers to the surplus of meaning that language can carry." Fair enough. But Borg never addresses what a believer ought to do if, as would be the case with him, she thinks that the later believers were simply wrong when they claimed that Jesus was God in the flesh and that the Easter tomb was empty. Borg rejects the historicity of both beliefs; the best he can say is that either way it does not matter (p. 279, 287). That's hardly a satisfying answer. It does matter, according to Paul (1 Corinthians 15:12-19).
Borg shines when he expounds how Jesus reveals the character or nature of God (compassion), and his passion or will for the world (justice). I especially appreciated his exposition of the centrality of the kingdom of God, and his demonstration of how God's kingdom is both deeply personal and explicitly political. If Jesus is Lord, and Borg passionately confesses that He is, then Caesar and imperial powers are not lord. In his subversive wisdom and teaching Jesus challenges all such idolatrous principalities, powers, and authorities. Praying the Lord's prayer for this kingdom to come is, then, a way of confessing what earth would be like if God and not the state powers were in charge. And that is truly good news.
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188 of 199 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
challenged...yet, wonderfully excited, November 17, 2006
Okay...once I started this book I could not put it down. I just finished it and I don't know what to think about it. I would have to say I'm very contemplative right now. This is a fantastic book, but, dependant on where you are in your journey of faith, you may find it a bit disturbing. I learned so much and it was such a wealth of knowledge. The reason I find it disturbing, even a bit offensive, is because it challenges, persuasively, I might add, alot of the Christian norms. I'm telling you, it addresses probably every subject. These include: scripture, miracles, the virgin birth, the deity of Christ, the resurrection and more. The New Testament was a human process mixed with history remembered and early Christian belief about Jesus containing metaphorical meaning. Therefore, miracles, other than healings and exorcisms, were purely metaphorical stories. The virgin birth was a metaphorical tale opposing Roman imperialism. The deity of Christ...Jesus was not divine, essentially he was just a prophet. And the ressurecton did not physically occur, but, happened through visions and experience. I am not saying this is bad, but, for me, it was a big pill to swallow. I mean, it's still caught in my throat and I'm still trying to work it down. I would, however, refrain from reducing this fantastic contribution as simply that. When it comes to Jesus, He paints an incredible, personal and passionate Jesus.
Jesus was a Jewish peasant who was deeply compassionate and fought for justice. As a mystic, Jesus was deeply rooted in an experiential knowledge of God and what God's character was. Jesus was in line with other Jewish prophets, like Isaiah and Jeremiah. The Spirit of God was upon him and did mighty deeds through him. Through the Spirit, he had power and authority, so much so, people could sense and experience it. To a mainly Jewish auience, he announced God's justice, he told subversive stories, said controversal wisdom statements, challenged his hearers and taught them the way they could return to where they belonged. He ate and associated himself with the social outcasts of his day. He fought and called for them to leave the dark and blind broad way of life and to journey onto the narrow enlightened way through death, resulting in a new life and new being. He challenged the empire, through nonviolent resistance and prophetic acts, that selfishly oppressed, enslaved and exploited the people. He was then put to death because he protested against the regime. He then resurrected and was vindicated by God. He brought transformation of life and brought us a revelation of who God is and His love for the world.
Again, this book is fantastic, yet challenges you at times. I would encourge anybody to get this book. I would also recommend, "Jesus and the Victory of God" by N.T. Wright...fantastic portrait, as well.
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50 of 51 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
The Emerging Paradigm's Jesus, February 3, 2007
In Marcus J. Borg's most recent book, Jesus: Uncovering the Life, Teachings, and Relevance of a Religious Revolutionary, we are presented with a through and comprehensive version of Jesus from the emerging paradigm that views the Bible through a historical-metaphorical lens. According to Borg, the story of Jesus is not about the popular notions of sin, salvation, and the afterlife; it is more transforming than this, more revolutionary, and more enlightening. In Jesus, He argues that Jesus was a Jewish mystic who was intoxicated with and close to God. This Jewish mystic did not follow the status quo of conventional practice and thought, but rather used subversive wisdom to teach the way or path which resulted in a new way of being. This path was the way, and it was about centering oneself in God and God's passion. Jesus's passion led him to critique the domination system of his day through non-violent resistance and indictments of injustice.
This book is clear and concise. The chaper layout is well done. Borg examines the historical context in which Jesus lived and then goes on to study the character and sayings attributed to Jesus. Borg's treatment of Jesus's passion for justice, and God's character is wonderful. He assumes nothing and uses evidence to back up claims. He supports his position through exposition of stories and parables attributed to Jesus. This is a great work that will make you think deeper about Jesus.
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