The First Christmas: What the Gospels Really Teach About Jesus's Birth (Hardcover)

by Marcus J. Borg (Author), John Dominic Crossan (Author)
Key Phrases: predestined child, imperial theology, earth peace among those whom, Holy Spirit, Old Testament, Son of God (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Review
"With meticulous scholarship and accessible language, "The first Christmas"... uncover(s) the genuine meaning of...the Birth of Jesus." -- The Progressive Christian

Review
"With meticulous scholarship and accessible language, "The first Christmas"... uncover(s) the genuine meaning of...the Birth of Jesus." (The Progressive Christian )

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Product Details

• Hardcover: 272 pages
• Publisher: HarperOne (October 9, 2007)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0061430706
• ISBN-13: 978-0061430701
• Product Dimensions: 8.3 x 5.5 x 1.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 9.1 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.9 out of 5 stars See all reviews (27 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #27,201 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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  #5 in	Books > Religion & Spirituality > Authors, A-Z > ( C ) > Crossan, John Dominic
  #8 in	Books > Religion & Spirituality > Christianity > Holidays > Christmas
  #16 in	Books > Religion & Spirituality > Authors, A-Z > ( B ) > Borg, Marcus

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

43 of 47 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Bor4g and Crossan Publish Another Winner, November 9, 2007

By	H. Alan Elmore (Greenville,, SC USA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

Marcus Borg and John Dominic Crossan are famous for taking current biblical scholarship and making it readable for the general public. The First Christmas is an excellent example. It is an easy to read version of current belief about the Birth Narratives in the Gospels of Matthew and Luke. It is not a devotional book.
Few Bible academics even imagine that the Birth Narratives are historical. However, to use the word "myth" has too many connotations. Borg and Crossan use the term "parables" for these accounts. Although there is some similarity, the differences are great. Christmas combines the two accounts, and nobody is aware of it.
This book calls the Birth Narratives "parabolic overtures," meaaning that they are intentional parables, intended to tell the general approach to Jesus that is taken in each Gospel, Matthew and Luke. The comparison is excellent reading.

18 of 20 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Christmas Riches , December 28, 2007

By	Scott Elliott "Scott Elliott" (Melbourne, FL) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

Marcus Borg and John Dominic Crossan explore Matthew and Luke's Christmas narratives in this provocative-can't-put-down book. They place the stories in historical context and then thoughtfully explore the rich symbolism and meaning of the Gospel accounts of events surrounding the birth of Jesus. The results are new and powerful meanings to the Christmas stories for the modern ear-- stories that for two-thousand years have beckoned humankind away from the pursuit of peace though violence and toward God's call to the pursuit peace though non-violence and justice for all. THIS A GREAT BOOK THAT IS WELL WORTH THE READ!

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Great book for study groups!, December 30, 2007

By	Pat MacHugh "mama rev" (Berkshires, MA, USA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

A wonderfully researched and complete look at the biblical accounts of the first Christmas stories - and their place in our faith journeys today. A bit tedious in spots, and redundant in others, but overall very informative, interesting, and enlightening. Some in our study group found the language a bit academic at times, but all found it worth reading, and discussion was lively and exciting.