Reading the Bible Again For the First Time: Taking the Bible Seriously But Not Literally

Borg argues that the Bible is not divine but points to the divine. It is a lens to see the world. He shows how some passages in the Bible "don't work" or are outdated or proved to be plain wrong. While not being a literalist, he does believe a sacred life can be found in the Christian tradition. One of his major beliefs is that the Bible lays down a struggle between the common man and greedy empires, what he says started in Isreal's revolt against the "agrarian Empire Egypt." For Borg, Christianity rocks the status quo. It cannot be politically conservative and side with those in power if it is to be authentic. My favorite section is his analysis of Ecclesiastes in which he rejects both the nihilism and "common wisdom" many attribute to this profoundly ambiguous book. He argues that Ecclesiastes, like the Chinese philosopher Lao-tzu in The Tao is encouraging us to celebrate life and live in the present: "To do whatever you do with your might suggest living strongly, not tentatively; living fully, not holding back." This captures Borg's life-affirming interpretation of the Bible, which must be lived. Belief for Borg is secondary; it's only valuable if it points to a sacred way of living. I will now read his other books.

As a pastor from a conservative, evangelical background, I have increasingly become uneasy with traditional ways of understanding the scriptures that I love. Marcus Borg has opened, for me, a whole new way of understanding and reading the scriptures. His "metaphorical" approach blesses something in me that has been jelling for a long time and is helping me find the scriptures more exciting, meaningful, and spiritual than ever before. The idea that everything does not have to be understood literally to have powerful metaphorical and spiritual meaning is something I find quite liberating. I can't say I agree with everything Dr. Borg writes, but I like a lot of it, and am still reflecting on much of the rest of it. Plus, he has freed me to reflect more meaningfully on the meaning of scripture and to preach more creatively in sermons, without feeling like a heretic for doing so. His approach to the scriptures has freed me to hear the scriptures spiritually in a way I never had before. If you're a Christian and not afraid to think new thoughts about the Bible, and you're hungry for some new angles on the faith, this book is fascinating. It is written with warmth and humility. Dr. Borg seems, himself, to be very spiritually minded, even though his approach to scripture and Christian faith may be quite new to many. This is a good book and I recommend it to those open to grow and reflect in new ways.

I have read a number of Borg books and find them all interesting. This book is, however, special. It is a very good overview of the Bible. His theme of taking the Bible seriously but not literally is right on. By getting to the real meaning I am able to get by the incredible parts of the Bible and to let the deeper truth inform my life. I would suggest that you read the Epilogue first. Borg confirms in this his deep belief in God and Christ. He hears and shares three primary convictions with the major voices of the Bible. 1. A deep sense of the sacred. God is not only real but knowable 2. Our lives are made whole by being in relationship with God. Christian Faith is not about believing but about faithfulness to this relationship. 3. God is a God of justice and compassion. Not just campassion for caring for victims but understanding and addressing why there are victims. His vision of the Christian life is tied up in the twin commandments of "love the Lord with all your heart and soul, mind, and strength" and "love your neighbor as yourself.

Despite his penchant for catchy titles, Borg is arguably amongst the most accessible Christian theologians writing today. He has the disquieting ability to read the poorly framed questions in my mind, state them crisply, and then provide clear, studied, and believable answers. And he is a careful researcher: in some chapters, the length of the notes section almost matches the length of the text itself. Occasionally I was left with the sense that Borg rushed his writing in this book; some chapters ended before I was ready to leave the topic. And he made only passing reference to the NT epistles that were not written by Paul. Nevertheless, his discussion and interpretation of Revelation alone was worth the price of the book. If you are new to Borg's work, I would suggest starting with Meeting Jesus Again for the First Time. It will give you an excellent grounding in the central tenets of the faith. And you may find some surprises there. Reading the Bible...... then expands the beachhead to cover the core text of the faith.

I have read the books "The God We Never Knew" and "Meeting Jesus Again" by Marcus Borg and this new book is a wonderful addition to those. All of these works have been mind and spirit opening. I could not put this one down after I bought it.This book is very intelligently written and the concepts are articulated in a manner that opens the Bible to deeper understandings. Borg brings the Bible to life and reading it in a metaphorical way, within the proper historical framework, enables one to unearth the deep spiritual treasures that are within.I do not want to go into a deep theological discourse on my beliefs. This is not the place. But I will echo the author's words and agree with him when he says that God is bigger than, or trancends any religion, or any book. I want to move closer to an experiencial relationship with God, not one based on requirements of faith or dogmatic belief. My challenge remains the same. Read any of the books by Marcus Borg...it will change your life...if not that...at least your perspective.