Reading the Bible Again For the First Time

Conflict about the Bible is one of the most divisive issues for Christians today. For millions, an unquestioning, literal interpretation has become a stumbling block to faith, not a foundation for it. How can we move beyond biblical literalism to find a more authentic way to engage with sacred scripture? Leading figure in biblical scholarship Marcus J. Borg offers a liberating new path. This insightful guide introduces a historical-metaphorical approach, providing new lenses for seeing the Bible not as a divine rulebook, but as a profoundly human response to God. Borg demonstrates how understanding the historical context of the biblical texts opens up a deeper meaning and appreciation for their power. This work of profound theology is an essential resource for personal bible study, discussion groups, and anyone seeking to take the Bible seriously without taking it literally. It is an invitation to read the Bible again for the first time, finding in its pages a more mature and compelling faith for the twenty-first century. This book lays the foundation for a new way of reading scripture: Biblical Criticism: Learn how modern biblical scholarship, far from destroying faith, can illuminate the ancient meanings of the text and make them come alive. History and Metaphor: Discover the crucial difference between history remembered and metaphorical narrative, and why understanding this distinction is key to reading the Bible with intellectual integrity. A Human Response to God: Move beyond seeing the Bible as an inerrant divine product to appreciating it as the powerful, human story of two ancient communities and their experience of God. Postcritical Naivete: Explore a path beyond both childhood literalism and adult skepticism to a mature ability to hear the biblical stories as true, even while knowing they may not be factually so. This unique book invites everyone—whatever one's religious background—to engage the Bible, wrestle with its meaning, explore its mysteries, and understand its relevance. Borg shows us how to encounter the Bible in a fresh way that rejects the limits of simple literalism and opens up rich possibilities for our lives.