Product Description

In "The Meaning of Jesus" two leading Jesus scholars with widely divergent views go right to the heart of these questions and others, presenting the opposing visions of Jesus that shape our faith today. In alternating chapters, Marcus Borg, the most popular revisionist voice on Jesus and a member of the Jesus Seminar, and N.T. Wright, the most prominent standard-bearer for the traditional stance and an outspoken critic of the Jesus Seminar, present their views of who Jesus was, what he taught, and what he did. Candid, spirited, and thoughtfully debated, this compelling discourse will stimulate fresh ideas and intense dialogue among anyone concerned with what it means to be a Christian today. This new edition will include an updated dialogue from the two authors and other bonus materials.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #162884 in Books
• Published on: 2007-08-01
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 320 pages

Customer Reviews

A Theological Tennis Match between Star players!
Wow! What a match! Reading the Meaning of Jesus is like sitting at Centre Court in Wimbledon seeing two tennis greats volleying with all their might! Enjoyable and exciting reading, as you wait to see how the other author will return the serve!

There are 8 parts in the book, with two chapters per part. Borg plays for the more progressive (or liberal) side, while Wright represents the more conservative side, but both are devout Christians. The good thing is that there is no hostility between them as they argue their points with respect, humour and clarity.

In part one Borg serves, and Wright returns, the Bible: Metaphorical vs Historical?
In part two, the historical Jesus: Jewish Messiah or Jewish Mystic?
In part three, the question is the Death of Christ: political martyr, or something more?
In part four, the Resurrection: was it the actual same body of the historical Jesus, or some kind of Visionary experience?
In part five, was Jesus God?: What was the defining moment - his Birth or his Resurrection?
In part six, the Virgin Birth: A Metaphor about great things, or a Literal event?
In part seven, the Return of Christ: a Failed expectation or an Alternative interpretation?
In part eight, the Christian Life: a Life of Love vs a Life of Love?

Throughout the book, I would find myself agreeing with one author, only to be challenged by a view I had never considered! Wright and Borg are both very good writers, but Borg is a bit more readable while Wright can be slightly 'wordy'. However, you will find that both of them have very good arguments for their case.

Some reviewers have said "Don't bother with Wright", or "Forget Borg, he's wrong". I would suggest that you don't support one or the other just because they agree with your views, but look at the arguments objectively.

I can honestly say, that my interpretation of the meaning of Jesus has been affected by the arguments presented in this book - an apt title for such an impactful book. The good thing, is that in the end, both authors believe that the purpose of being a Christian is to love others, and bring social justice to this world. And that is one thing we can all agree on!

Answered my questions concerning the use of metaphor.
I thoroughly enjoyed this book. It answered almost all my questions how the early church interpreted the meaning of Jesus and how we today have turned their writings into things that we are taught to believe as fact. Borg's understanding makes so much more sense than to have to believe some of the things the church requires us to believe to be Christian. Most of what he stated in this book I had already come to believe through prayer, reading, studying, and searching for the truth. He just put it in language that I could understand and which made perfect sense. Hopefully he will write more books like this for those of us who want to make Jesus and our faith more real to our everyday lives.

Read the Borg half of the book... it is illuminating
Borg is the liberal one, Wright is more of the conservative one. My beliefs are closer to Wright's, but, by God, his writing style is so stilted consisting mostly of jargons ("eschatology", "exegetical" "Epicureanism" - and that's just for the letter E) and long, windy paragraphs. In contrast, Borg language is lucid and intelligible.