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The Meaning of Jesus: Two Visions

3.84 of 5 stars 3.84 · rating details · 705 ratings · 82 reviews

Was Jesus born of a virgin? Did he know he was the Messiah? Was he bodily resurrected from the dead? Did he intentionally die to redeem humankind? Was Jesus God? 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.

Paperback, 320 pages

Published September 4th 2007 by HarperOne (first published December 30th 1998)

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Aug 05, 2008 Rae rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: religiosity

Basic questions about Christianity are examined...was Jesus born of a virgin? Did he know he was the Messiah? Was he God? Did he die to redeem mankind? The amazing thing to me is that any Christian scholar who professes to believe in Christ (Borg) would ever dare to ask these questions in the first place. The Jesus Seminar is, to me, a classic example of the "wolves" spoken of in the New Testament. They profess to be believers but use their "knowledge" to undermine people's faith in Christ. They...more

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Aug 09, 2011 Chauncey Lattimer added it · review of another edition

The Meaning of Jesus: Two Visions, co-authored by Marcus Borg and N.T. Wright is an excellent read for the student of N.T. interpretation/hermeneutics. By design, the book provides the reader with two quite different approaches (one is more traditional, the other more revisionist) to eight very important topics in ‘Jesus’ studies. Each of the essays provided by N.T. Wright utilized both scriptural and historical background information in a very logical presentation of his thesis. Borg, on the ot...more

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Oct 28, 2012 Bobbettylou rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Jesus asked his disciples, "Who do you say that I am?" Two of today's leading theologians, Marcus Berg and N. T. (Nicholas Thomas) Wright, give their answers in alternating chapters on eight different aspects of Christology.

I will admit that I relate more closely to Wright's views than Borg's, and find Wright's more readable. And admit further that half way through the book I gave up reading Borg's chapters. (The book was due back at the public library and I wanted to finish with it before I sta...more

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Oct 26, 2012 Charles Moody rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

This book is constructed as an alternating-chapter debate between two scholars. Their central topic is distinguishing those items in the Gospels and in Christian belief that can actually be traced to the life of the historical Jesus from those items that were creations of the early Christian church in the decades after Jesus’s death. This is anything but a dry and sterile debate; it leads them to disagree on topics that are seemingly critical and potentially explosive. For example, did Jesus act...more This book is constructed as an alternating-chapter debate between two scholars. Their central topic is distinguishing those items in the Gospels and in Christian belief that can actually be traced to the life of the historical Jesus from those items that were creations of the early Christian church in the decades after Jesus’s death. This is anything but a dry and sterile debate; it leads them to disagree on topics that are seemingly critical and potentially explosive. For example, did Jesus actually see himself as the messiah, ask his followers to believe in him as the messiah, and speak of his own approaching death as central to his mission? Marcus Borg argues that it is most likely that none of these elements of the Gospels are truly “history remembered,” reporting the words and teachings of Jesus, but rather were later creations, testimony by early Christians as to what they had come to believe. N.T. Wright defends a more traditional reading of the Gospels, concluding that Jesus did say these things. Did the disciples and others actually encounter a bodily resurrected Jesus in the weeks after his death? Wright believes so and explains why; Borg believes that these Gospel stories should be seen more as metaphors whose truth and power do not depend on their being literally factual.

Part of what was so appealing to me about this book was the respectful manner in which they conducted their debate. They showed respect both for each other’s beliefs and, by their measured conclusions and acknowledgment of uncertainty, for their topic. Some readers might be uncomfortable in having these matters of deep faith addressed as topics of historical inquiry, but if you are looking for that, I think you will find this lively intellectual exchange a very worthwhile read. For general readers like me without extensive background in New Testament scholarship, it provides an accessible but not simple introduction to these academic debates. Both authors write from a Christian perspective, but they expressly make it one of their purposes to appeal to non-Christian readers and place these debates about the historical Jesus within the public world of historical and cross-cultural study.
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Jan 25, 2012 Lee Harmon rated it 5 of 5 stars

Two of my favorite scholars, Marcus Borg and N. T. Wright, debate the meaning of Jesus. One is decidedly more conservative, but both are thoughtful and well-studied. And, raising hope for the future of Christianity, I would venture a guess that they are best friends despite their differences.

Wright believes the gospels are what they are “because their authors thought the events they were recording—all of them, not just some—actually happened.” This may sound self-evident to conservative Christia...more Two of my favorite scholars, Marcus Borg and N. T. Wright, debate the meaning of Jesus. One is decidedly more conservative, but both are thoughtful and well-studied. And, raising hope for the future of Christianity, I would venture a guess that they are best friends despite their differences.

Wright believes the gospels are what they are “because their authors thought the events they were recording—all of them, not just some—actually happened.” This may sound self-evident to conservative Christians, but it is not the way Borg sees it. Two terms he uses to describe gospel writing are “metaphor historicized,” and its complement, “history metaphorized.” Borg just can’t jump on board with a literal reading of the gospels; he describes this outdated way of reading the Bible with five adjectives: literalistic, doctrinal, moralistic, exclusivistic, and afterlife oriented. This view, he says, has ceased to work for a large number of people, who find that if they must take the Bible literally, they cannot take it at all.

According to Borg, the “single most important difference” between these two scholars is their opinion about whether or not Jesus saw himself as the messiah. Wright says yes, Jesus understood his role as central to the salvation of the Jewish nation and, by extension, the world. Borg says no, Jesus’ role as messiah grew after his death and resurrection, as the understanding of his followers evolved.

In my opinion, the single most important difference in the thinking of these two scholars is not Jesus’ self-understanding, but the manner of his resurrection. Wright says Jesus rose in body, and showed himself physically to his disciples. Never mind that this new body could somehow walk through walls and disappear at will. “Resurrection,” to a Jew, meant a physical rising in body. Wright argues that only an event of this magnitude could have triggered the devotion and dedication of the Jesus movement that continued on after his death. In contrast, Borg seems unconcerned with the empty tomb, and interprets the resurrection in a more spiritual manner. I’m oversimplifying his position, but Borg sees Jesus being “raised to God’s right hand” as simply meaning Jesus has captured the position of Lord in the lives in his disciples. He is “raised up” by his followers after his death.

As I said, these are two of my favorite Jesus scholars. I believe Borg and Wright encapsulate liberal and conservative Christianity at their basic levels, and studying the two in tandem helps us appreciate the arguments of both sides. Great book!(less)

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Jan 09, 2012 Ben De Bono rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: theology

The Meaning of Jesus is a fascinating debate between two of the big names in contemporary theology. Coming into this book, I've read a great deal of N.T. Wright but nothing previously about Marcus Borg. Both men are excellent writers and thinkers who agree that Jesus is hugely important both historically and presently. When it comes to details, however, they disagree on virtually every issue.

As a conservative evangelical I naturally agreed with Wright throughout the book. I expected that to be...more

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Aug 17, 2011 Tania Brzovic rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: christianity

I am not a theologian, and as such, I can't review or evaluate this book on that level. I am a Christian who was raised in the Anglican Church, and I've always been fascinated by questions of Biblical inerrancy. I approached this book as someone who clearly believes in Jesus as Son of God and Saviour, yet who is open to different ways of approaching the Bible.

Borg and Wright both make well written, clear arguments to explain their views around Christ both as a spiritual and historical figure. T...more I am not a theologian, and as such, I can't review or evaluate this book on that level. I am a Christian who was raised in the Anglican Church, and I've always been fascinated by questions of Biblical inerrancy. I approached this book as someone who clearly believes in Jesus as Son of God and Saviour, yet who is open to different ways of approaching the Bible.

Borg and Wright both make well written, clear arguments to explain their views around Christ both as a spiritual and historical figure. The authors addressed all the key questions about Jesus, and they didn't try to force the reader into accepting one point of view or the other; the book seemed to be meant to get people thinking and exploring these issues. Any book that can take such complex matters and create a book that is not dry or textbook-like should be applauded.

I thought the scholarship on both sides was sound, although both relied a bit more on their own previous works than I would have liked. A bibliography/list of works cited to go along with the notes would have been more appropriate. I thought the layout was a bit annoying - I'd have preferred a dialogue set up for each question, so that I could read the authors' differing views side by side, and it would've been easier to be clear on where they agreed and disagreed. As it was, I found myself going back and forth to see what each was saying on a particular subject.

This book may present a challenge to readers who have made up their minds about Jesus' identity either way. As someone who does have faith, I found it a good exercise to read something that asked me to set aside my beliefs, question, and be open to new possibilities/interpretations. I actually found that in some ways my faith was strengthened because Borg was able to give me a way to look at the things in the Bible I find contradictory that doesn't require me to completely abandon the Bible.

This book can be complex in parts, and it does assume a certain level of knowledge on the part of the readers' behalf. I don't know that it's a great book for a beginner. Anyone who is interested in the historical Jesus, regardless of what you believe about him, will find this book interesting, if challenging at times. I highly recommend it.

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May 29, 2009 Art rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

I am both confounded and very happy that these two very different theologians co-authored this book about Jesus. They go to great lengths to find common ground and to treat each others writing respectfully. In the preface they say it is because they are friends. That's just so wonderful. But they do not avoid their major differences, and this makes the book a lively (but friendly) debate.
Tom Wright brilliantly describes a faith in the resurrected messiah Jesus that is historically grounded and...more

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Sep 27, 2010 Teresa rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: owned

Borg and Wright are an odd pair because they represent distinctly different sides of the debate within Christianity about Jesus� s nature and identity. Borg's perspective is commonly described as revisionist, while Wright has a more traditional view. In this book, the two scholars take turns sharing their thoughts on Jesus's divinity, his life, his death, his resurrection, and so on.

What really stands out about this book is how the two men can argue so passionately, but respectfully about things...more

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Apr 01, 2013 Marvin Gumba rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: christian

My Thoughts On The Authors

1. Marcus Borg
a. I enjoyed reading Marcus Borg
b. Marcus' writing is very clean, concise, and easy to follow unlike Wright.
c. I appreciate the challenging that Borg brings to the table.

1. N.T. Wright
a. Wright unfortunately lost me most of the time. This wasn't because of my inability to understand the reading level. Every time the chapter would transition from Borg to Wright, I hoped that Wright would ease off of his fetish with creating sentences that resemble run-on's...more

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Mar 26, 2009 Matt rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: religion

Two Jesus scholars present their sometimes similar, more often conflicting accounts about Christ. Wright presents a classical "orthodox" view of historical Jesus, and Borg presents a liberal, view. I came to the book wondering why liberal scholars like Borg still bother to believe in Jesus at all (he does believe that Jesus existed and was crucified, but discounts a lot of the gospels as either a metaphor that has morphed into a historical meaning it was never intended to convey or made up accou...more

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Feb 12, 2013 Carolyn rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: theology-spiritual-religious

After reading three books by N.T. Wright and three books written by Marcus J. Borg, it was interesting to read the one they did together. It helped define the differences between these two Bible scholars, as with alternating chapters they shared very different perspectives. I recommend this book for persons who have read and enjoyed other books by these two fine authors. Wouldn't it be wonderful if all Christians could follow their example and remain friends even when their viewpoints of scriptu...more

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Jul 29, 2009 Phil rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: christianity

Possibly the most liberal and conservative Protestant theologians (who, incidentally, are best of friends)square off, each defending his stance on various aspects of Jesus, His life, mission, and death. I come to this area of intellectual and spiritual endeavor an absolute tyro, so every page WOWs me. After reading a chapter by Borg I find myself saying, "He makes a lot of sense," and when I finish a chapter by Wright on the same chapter, I find myself saying, "He makes a lot of sense." Rather t...more

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Apr 09, 2013 Rudy Dyck rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

This is an excellent book between two Christian heavyweights. Tom is conversvative while Marcus is very liberal. An excellent read to get the viewpoints on both sides of the equation.

The book tackles some strong topics - topics traditional Christians may not have even considered worth debating. They debate whether the virgin birth story was real, whether there was an empty tomb and how important a full resurection is, the composition of the new testament (Q theory, dates of writing, etc), etc. T...more

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Jun 21, 2009 Karen rated it 2 of 5 stars · review of another edition

I ploughed through this book,and parts of it were really very interesting. I felt like I was reading a book for an upper level college class. It stretched me. I think it would be a great book to read in a Sunday School class or a small group where readers could discuss it chapter by chapter. It's definitely NOT a summer beach read. I felt bad that Marcus Borg thought that Jesus' first miracle, turning water into wine during the wedding at Cana, was simply a metaphor. Waaaaaa!!!! I love that mira...more

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Nov 27, 2009 Joey rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: non-fiction, religion

I wish I had read more about the historical Jesus earlier in my life. If I had, I would better understand Jesus' mission and message. Although Wright and Borg have very different understandings for the implications of the historical Jesus and are willing to or unwilling to accept debatable aspects of Jesus life, I still come out of the reading with a greater respect for Jesus' mission and message. I consider this book to be another read that is helping me to deconstruct the evangelical and funda...more

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Oct 24, 2012 Jim rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: spirituality, mmm-2012

From the copy of the book I have, this is what the title states on the front:

The Meaning of Jesus: Two Visions: The Leading Liberal and Conservative Jesus Scholars Present the Heart of the Historical Jesus Debate

Yeah; it’s a bit long. N.T. Wright presents a more conservative viewpoint of the historical Jesus; Marcus J. Borg’s view is a bit more liberal.

At first, I got into the debate. But then it started to get pointless. Even when they disagree, they seem to agree. So often it seems like seman...more

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Jun 14, 2011 Rob rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

A worthwhile look at several of the major, foundational topics about who Jesus was and what His significance is, from the perspectives of two good friends who have significantly different views. Each topic (e.g. His teachings, His death, His resurrection, His divinity, His second coming, etc.) is addressed first by one author, then the other.

Though I generally agree more with Wright, I was surprised by the extent to which I could respect Borg's views. For example, prior to reading the book, I wo...more

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Dec 19, 2012 Tylor Lovins rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

This is Marcus Borg and N. T. Wright's exchange via book. It is useful if you want to understand where many Evangelical Americans see the historical Jesus debate to stand right now. I think, mostly, this book misses the point, however, in light of Bultmann's stuff on the meaning of faith. I would recommend Bultmann's Kerygma and Myth instead of this if one, in my opinion, wants to really understand the issues of the historical Jesus in a way that involves honesty without intellectual suicide. Al...more

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Oct 10, 2011 Peter Sullivan rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Well I finally finished it! haha! It only took me almost all year. This is not a super tough read, but it is written by two theologians so it's not a super light read either. I love to constantly have my notions about faith shaken up, to really ask myself why I believe what I believe. I am first and foremost a Christ follower, and I have tried very hard not to be roped in by the culture and dogma of the church but by what Jesus said and did. This book is a great read for someone who wants to be...more

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Jul 13, 2011 James rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

The Meaning of Jesus is an intriguing tête-à-tête between two friends with very different Christian worldviews. N.T. Wright is the Bishop of Durham who takes up the standard of orthodox Christianity and Marcus Borg is, to put it mildly, a very liberal Lutheran. Both argue well, and Borg is most fascinating when he lays out his methodology in analyzing and interpreting the written documents we have on Jesus (He focuses on the Gospel of Mark because it is the oldest of the written traditions, he d...more The Meaning of Jesus is an intriguing tête-à-tête between two friends with very different Christian worldviews. N.T. Wright is the Bishop of Durham who takes up the standard of orthodox Christianity and Marcus Borg is, to put it mildly, a very liberal Lutheran. Both argue well, and Borg is most fascinating when he lays out his methodology in analyzing and interpreting the written documents we have on Jesus (He focuses on the Gospel of Mark because it is the oldest of the written traditions, he discusses briefly the theoretical document called Q and it’s importance to Jesus’ analysis, and he explains double attestation in the synoptic Gospels and how that is his guiding light when discerning what historically happened). Otherwise most of Borg’s arguments for his non-traditional view of Jesus were unconvincing. One of the foundational points that Wright makes is that all historians bring their preconceived notions of Christ to the table and that no historical analysis is uncontaminated by it. This sounds flimsy at first, but when we see Borg disregard Jesus whenever He speaks about Himself in a Messianic way and when he dismisses all miraculous accounts of Jesus as actually occurring, even if they fit his criteria of his methodology, we see Wright’s point proved correct. (Borg claims that the Road to Emmaus was not an eyewitness account but a metaphorical perspective of Jesus and he disbelieves the Resurrection….well he would say it doesn’t matter if Resurrection actually happened, but what really matters is the metaphor of Jesus living on in our hearts after His death. Wright was at his best in the chapter where he defended the Resurrection).

I have to say I understand, at least a little more now, why N.T. Wright is kind of a big deal. Wright uses the historical perspective to argue an orthodox Christian view of Jesus and defends his belief in Jesus of Nazareth as the Jewish Messiah who we can believe in because it is historically credible and logically compelling (and he takes the non-traditional historical perspective to task!). One of his gems was a point he made regarding scholars dismissing Jesus as just another “messiah” in a long line of men claiming to be the Messiah of Israel, especially since all these “messiahs” had followers proclaiming their leader’s messiah-hood as well. Wright brilliantly argues that 1) This gives us reason to believe that Jesus would have thought of himself as a Messianic figure, so the language and title of Christ for Jesus of Nazareth were not late additions tacked on by Christian revisionists further on in history and 2) The “messiahs” of Jesus’ time were all killed for trying to rebel against Rome and when these “messiahs” were killed, their movement abruptly died as well. He brilliantly contends that first-century Jewish nationalists (Simon the zealot, one of Jesus’ twelve disciples, one of these rebel/freedom-fighters) were not going to waste their time with a dead messiah. The Messiah is the guy who is going to make everything right and reestablish Israel. Wright explains to us that when a messianic leader died another one would quickly take his place so that the revolution would not lose momentum. First-century Jews needed their leader to lead the way in overthrowing the ruling Roman government. In Wright’s words, “Life was too short and too hard” to pretend that their messiah was going to come and save them once he was dead. Yet, as Wright points out, we see in the “Jesus-messiah-movement” that His followers were proclaiming Him Messiah and King even after He died an especially embarrassing and scandalous death. In fact the movement prospered and grew until it became the dominant religion in that part of the world! Wright ends his point by saying that this Messiah doesn’t even slightly resemble the other “messiahs” of His time.

Unfortunately, I believe Wright is too generous when he calls his friend Borg a Christian. Borg has departed from the tenets of Christianity so much so that I wonder why he even bothers calling himself a follower of Jesus. He thinks all religions have equal say as to who God is and that Jesus is part of that pantheon of beliefs. He calls Jesus a “Jewish Mystic, a social prophet, a spirit teacher”…almost every title except Messiah and God (and when he calls Him God, he has to qualify it in a bizarre way). Borg believes the Christian religion’s definition of Christ should be some sort of rambling miasma of panentheist theology, where we are all like Jesus…to some extent. His view of “spirituality” is inconsistent with itself in that he believes a relationship to God is paramount, but he reduces Scripture with Christ in it as purely metaphoric in that it solely affects the person’s sensibilities. How can one have a relationship with the Divine if all spirituality is, is just a bunch of metaphors affecting the human being’s emotions? Scripture is reduced to pretty poetry and Jesus is just a symbol for what we can become by our own doing.

If you are interested in reading two heavy weights battle it out using historical perspective I suggest that you read this book.
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Apr 06, 2009 David rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: bible

This is a good book for those who desire to compare two different ways of understanding Jesus, Christianity and the Bible. The cover states that the two authors are the leading "conservative" and the leading "liberal" scholar in the historical Jesus debate. Perhaps true, though it would not be difficult to find scholars much more conservative than Wright and much more liberal than Borg.

I am a huge fan of NT Wright so it was not surprising that I found myself agreeing with much of what he wrote,...more This is a good book for those who desire to compare two different ways of understanding Jesus, Christianity and the Bible. The cover states that the two authors are the leading "conservative" and the leading "liberal" scholar in the historical Jesus debate. Perhaps true, though it would not be difficult to find scholars much more conservative than Wright and much more liberal than Borg.

I am a huge fan of NT Wright so it was not surprising that I found myself agreeing with much of what he wrote, and even anticipating what he was going to write since his chapters often echo other books. This was my first reading of Borg, so I tried to give him a fair shake.

Overall I found NT Wright to be much more convincing and consistent. Borg affirms that he emphasizes Jesus' context in ancient Judaism (p. 8) but does not seem to follow through on this. For example, Borg identifies Jesus as a Jewish mystic, a healer and exorcist, one who taught wisdom beyond convention, a social prophet, a movement initiator, even a messenger of the kingdom of God (ch. 4). The question is, which Wright asks (p. 49) - if a first century Jew was all of these things, at a time when many Jews claimed to be Messiah, can we imagine that Jesus and those around him did not wonder if he was the Messiah? The answer is clear - if Jesus was doing all those things, he had to at least wonder if he was the Messiah. Given all that Borg says, it makes no sense to deny Jesus thought he was the Messiah.

This contextual problem continues in the discussion of the cross. Borg admits that the idea of one's death having an atoning affect for others was present in the Jewish culture of Jesus' day and that it was very possible for a first-century Jew to think this. Yet he cannot affirm Jesus thought his death meant anything (p. 81). On the next page he writes that Jesus' death did not take him by surprise. Again, there seems to be a consistency issue. Wright takes Jesus in his first century context more consistently, while Borg admits he does not want Jesus to have seen his death to have any significance (p. 82). In the final chapter Borg takes Wright to task for Wright argues that faith has a large part to play in the historical discussion. Maybe Borg should take his own advice, for his faith that Jesus did not see himself as Messiah seems to influence how he interprets the history.

There were other points where Borg does not appear consistent. He says that it was against Jewish law to have a trial at night and it is impossible to imagine the Sanhedrin convening the night before Passover, which is one reason he sees the story made up (88). Yet I wonder why the early Christians, especially a community of mostly Jewish-Christians, would make up something that they probably knew was practically impossible. Borg says that resurrection is not a resumption of previous existence (which Wright and Christian orthodoxy would agree with), it is an entry into a new kind of existence (131). But Wright shows in his chapter on resurrection (and his magnificent book The Resurrection of the Son of God) that this new kind of existence is a bodily new life, a life after life after death. Would the theology of resurrection which Borg gives, that Jesus continues to live somewhere and his disciples experienced him, give reason for them to overthrow all Jewish belief in only a future resurrection to say Jesus is arisen in the present? Again there is a disconnect here.

Another place where Borg fails to be consistent with the context, and perhaps to let his own faith shine through, is when he notes that if Jesus thought of himself as God we could question his mental health (p. 146). He says that he does not think people like Jesus have an exalted perception of themselves. The only problem is, if Jesus truly was God in the flesh in some way, it is no longer a delusion. And Wright shows that there were first century categories for a Jewish prophet (messiah) to see himself as God's representative, even believing his appearance in Jerusalem was the divine visit so many Jews were waiting for.

I should give Borg credit for his chapters were thought provoking and I do agree with him on other things, for example his description of the meaning of the cross and easter: rejection and vindication of Jesus, revelation of the way, revelation of the love of God, sacrifice for sin. Whatever the cross and resurrection means, it includes at least these things. I also appreciated Borg's critique of the idea that God is out there somewhere and he occasionally comes here to perform a miracle or something. The truth is that God is always here and always interacting with creation, not just sometimes in miracles. Borg argues that God is always "right here" and "more than right here". Wright agrees with Borg on that statement.

The chapter on the virgin birth was helpful, especially because I had never read Wright on this topic before. He brings up some good points. For example, no one had ever seen Isaiah 7:14 (the virgin shall conceive) as a messianic text so the argument that Matthew made it all up to fit that text makes no sense (besides the fact, if that were the case, why doesn't Luke quote that text?). Also, he notes that there are no pre-Christian Jewish traditions that the messiah would be born of a virgin. The only parallels were to pagan stories. The stories in Matthew and Luke are very Jewish so it begs the question, why would the writers borrow from pagans, especially with the risk of offending their Jewish audience and, as Wright says, "making Jesus out to be a pagan demigod" (176). Wright also cautions us not to make more of the birth stories than the Scripture does: they are not there to prove Jesus is sinless or to prove that Jesus was divine.

What I found most interesting in Borg's treatment of this topic is that after illustrating the numerous differences in Matthew and Luke's stories he seems to reject Jesus' birth in Bethlehem (in favor of Nazareth) because they agree on it (181-2). Because Bethlehem was home to King David and because Micah 1:2 promises the future Messiah will born there is enough reason to reject it as made up. But this seems to be taking suspicion to great lengths and simply ignoring the other possibility: Jesus really was born in Bethlehem which is why both gospels have him there.

The final chapter is a great conclusion as both spend time summarizing where they have differed most and then illustrating what their theology of Jesus means for Christian life. In many ways, they end up in similar places. This reflects that though very different, they are not worlds apart. I certainly find Wright's case more compelling and consistent, and I found my first reading of Borg interesting though I disagree with many of his points.

I highly recommend this book for pastors or students who seek to understand differing views on Jesus in the academy.

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Apr 20, 2009 Trevor rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2009

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 thei...more 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! (less)

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Oct 31, 2007 kelly rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition Recommends it for: anyone interested in religion and history

This is a fascinating debate about the historical Jesus between renowned liberal and conservative scholars Marcus Borg and N.T. Wright, respectively (both of whom also happen to be close friends).

The book presents one essay by each of them in response to a question or topic ("How do we know about Jesus?", "The Death of Jesus", "Was Jesus God?", etc.)
At the heart of the matter is their disagreement about whether the truth of a gospel story is dependent on it being grounded in a particular histori...more

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Jan 02, 2011 Stephanie Levan rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: theology

This was one of those books that took awhile to get through. Had to put it down every couple of chapters to digest it all. However, N.T. Write and Marcus Borg do a great job of respectful debate on their interpretations of who Jesus is and was.

I will say that I don't think they are really very far from each other on a lot of issues -- but they use different phrasing to describe the same phenomenon sometimes. I found that amusing :)

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Jun 11, 2007 Basmah rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: religion

So far this book is a bit dense and feels scattered. I guess it's because there are two authors and they alternate chapters - each posing different sides to each argument. I dunno, I feel like I get so lost in the verbose text that I keep missing the point each person is making. I don't want fall into the trap of making assumptions or passing judgment about the state of either person's beliefs regarding the Prophet Jesus (Isa alay'his-salaam), so I'll stop here, but I might have to give this ano...more

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May 03, 2012 Carlos Rincon rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: historical-jesus

Excellent book about historical Jesus, with two competing views of the same subject. Even though i agree mostly with N.T. wright, i really like Marcus Borgs writing style, both are serious students of history and are deeply engaged in the most current studies of the second temple Judaism, in general good book to read. Marcus is the liberal voice in the book and Wright is the conservative voice.

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May 22, 2012 Thomas rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Presents the traditional Christian view on a number of points (was the resurrection a literal event, was Mary a Virgin, why did Jesus die, etc.) as well as Borg's more contemporary view. The authors clearly disagree, but treat each other with respect. We read this in the UCM book club a number of years back.

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May 02, 2012 Bob rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Professor Borg and Professor Wright offer their unique (and sometimes opposing) views regarding both the Meaning of Jesus and the historicity of certain claims made by scriptures and the collection of saints who've journeyed the corridors of time and space in faith.

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Jul 29, 2011 Linda Sunderland rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: christian

Two Christian scholars with opposite viewpoints, Borg and Wright respectfully discuss the significance of Jesus in the Christian faith. This is an excellent book for those interested in the debate about Jesus that has dominated Christianity for the last 20-30 yrs.

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About Marcus J. Borg

Borg was born into a Lutheran family of Swedish and Norwegian descent, the youngest of four children. He grew up in the 1940s in North Dakota and attended Concordia College, Moorhead, a small liberal arts school in Moorhead, Minnesota. While at Moorhead he was a columnist for the school paper and held forth as a conservative. After a close reading of the Book of Amos and its overt message of socia...more Borg was born into a Lutheran family of Swedish and Norwegian descent, the youngest of four children. He grew up in the 1940s in North Dakota and attended Concordia College, Moorhead, a small liberal arts school in Moorhead, Minnesota. While at Moorhead he was a columnist for the school paper and held forth as a conservative. After a close reading of the Book of Amos and its overt message of social equality he immediately began writing with an increasingly liberal stance and was eventually invited to discontinue writing his articles due to his new-found liberalism. He did graduate work at Union Theological Seminary and obtained masters and DPhil degrees at Oxford under G. B. Caird. Anglican bishop N.T. Wright had studied under the same professor and many years later Borg and Wright were to share in co-authoring The Meaning of Jesus: Two Visions, an amicable study in contrast. Following a period of religious questioning in his mid-thirties, and numinous experiences similar to those described by Rudolf Otto, Borg became active in the Episcopal Church, in which his wife, the Reverend Canon Marianne Wells-Borg, serves as a priest and directs a spiritual development program at the Trinity Episcopal Cathedral, Portland, Oregon. On May 31, 2009, Borg was installed as the first canon theologian at Trinity Episcopal Cathedral.

Marcus J. Borg is Canon Theologian at Trinity Episcopal Cathedral in Portland, OR. Internationally known in both academic and church circles as a biblical and Jesus scholar, he was Hundere Chair of Religion and Culture in the Philosophy Department at Oregon State University until his retirement in 2007.

Described by The New York Times as "a leading figure in his generation of Jesus scholars," he has appeared on NBC's "Today Show" and “Dateline,” PBS's "Newshour," ABC’s “Evening News” and “Prime Time” with Peter Jennings, NPR’s “Fresh Air” with Terry Gross, and several National Geographic programs. A Fellow of the Jesus Seminar, he has been national chair of the Historical Jesus Section of the Society of Biblical Literature and co-chair of its International New Testament Program Committee, and is past president of the Anglican Association of Biblical Scholars. His work has been translated into eleven languages: German, Dutch, Korean, Japanese, Chinese, Indonesian, Italian, Spanish, Portugese, Russian, and French. His doctor's degree is from Oxford University, and he has lectured widely overseas (England, Scotland, Austria, Germany, Belgium, Hungary, Israel and South Africa) and in North America, including the Chautauqua and Smithsonian Institutions.(less)

More about Marcus J. Borg...

Books by Marcus J. Borg

Meeting Jesus Again for the First Time: The Historical Jesus and the Heart of Contemporary Faith

The Heart of Christianity: Rediscovering a Life of Faith

Reading the Bible Again for the First Time: Taking the Bible Seriously but Not Literally

The Last Week: What the Gospels Really Teach About Jesus's Final Days in Jerusalem

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