Argues that recent research into the historical Jesus should help believers reach a new and more sustaining faith.

Of the many recent books on the historical Jesus, none has explored what the latest biblical scholarship means for personal faith. Now, in Meeting Jesus Again for the First Time, Marcus Borg addresses the yearnings of those who want a fully contemporary faith that welcomes rather than oppresses our critical intelligence and openness to the best of historical scholarship. Borg shows how a rigorous examination of historical findings can lead to a new faith in Christ, one that is critical and, at the same time, sustaining.

Believing in Jesus does not mean believing doctrines about him, Borg writes. Rather, it means to give one's heart, one's self at its deepest level, to . . . the living Lord.

Drawing on his own journey from a naive, unquestioning belief in Christ through collegiate scepticism to a mature and contemporary Christian faith, Borg illustrates how an understanding of the historical Jesus can actually lead to a more authentic Christian life––one not rooted in creeds or dogma, but in a life of spiritual challenge, compassion, and community.

In straightforward, accessible prose, Borg looks at the major findings of modern Jesus scholarship from the perspective of faith, bringing alive the many levels of Jesus' character: spirit person, teacher of alternative wisdom, social prophet, and movement founder. He also reexamines the major stories of the Old Testament vital to an authentic understanding of Jesus, showing how an enriched understanding of these stories can uncover new truths and new pathways to faith.

For questioning believers, doubters, andreluctant unbelievers alike, Meeting Jesus Again for the First Time frees our understanding of Jesus' life and message from popular misconceptions and outlines the way to a sound and contemporary faith: For ultimately, Jesus is not simply a figure of the past, but a figure of the present. Meeting that Jesus––the living one who comes to us even now––will be like meeting Jesus again for the first time.

It is impossible to read this beautifully written book and remain unenlightened by the results of Jesus research, or untouched by the power of Jesus' way. -- Elizabeth A. Johnson,
author of She Who Is A book of rare excellence. -- L. William Countryman, The Church Divinity School of the Pacific Borg provides an account of contemporary Jesus scholarship--told in simple language for lay readers--and of his personal struggle to find authentic, mature faith. Highly recommended. -- Library Journal In this small, but eloquent and learned book, Borg . . . directs his readers, especially those who have found no meaningful image of Jesus, away from confessed doctrines about Jesus (what the gospels and the churches say about Him) and toward a relationship with the Spirit of God. -- Publishers Weekly Borg has done a great service for all of us in drawing upon contemporary research to present a fresh and imaginative picture of Jesus that has profound implications for our contemporary faith. -- Praying Borg Liberates 'Jesus' from the rigidity of fundamentalism and the aridity of intellectualism. He also graciously liberates readers from the shackles of what many have thought they were supposed to believe about Jesus if they were to remain Christians. . . . What a relief to see Jesus in a totally new light. -- Alan Jones, dean, Grace Cathedral Just the sort of book on Jesus that we really need--a classy wedding of first-rate biblical research and solid spirituality in beautiful, clear English that makes it a pleasure to read. -- Sandra M. Schneiders, Graduate Theological Union, author of The Revelatory Text In every generation there is a handful of writers of whom it can be said,'Read everything they write.' Marcus Borg is one of these today: a writer of rare lucidity, original scholarly insights, profound spirituality, and the universal capacity to connect it all to life in the present . . . -- Walter Wink, Auburn Theological Seminary