The acclaimed Bible scholar and author of The Historical Jesus and God & Empire--"the greatest New Testament scholar of our generation" (John Shelby Spong) --grapples with Scripture's two conflicting visions of Jesus and God, one of a loving God, and one of a vengeful God, and explains how Christians can better understand these passages in a way that enriches their faith.
Many portions of the New Testament, introduce a compassionate Jesus who turns the other cheek, loves his enemies, and shows grace to all. But the Jesus we find in Revelation and some portions of the Gospels leads an army of angels bent on earthly destruction. Which is the true revelation of the Messiah--and how can both be in the same Bible?
How to Read the Bible and Still be a Christian explores this question and offers guidance for the faithful conflicted over which version of the Lord to worship. John Dominic Crossan reconciles these contrasting views, revealing how different writers of the books of the Bible not only possessed different visions of God but also different purposes for writing. Often these books are explicitly competing against another, opposing vision of God from the Bible itself.
Crossan explains how to navigate this debate and offers what he believes is the best central thread to what the Bible is all about. He challenges Christians to fully participate in this dialogue, thereby shaping their faith by reading deeply, reflectively, and in community with others who share their uncertainty. Only then, he advises, will Christians be able to read and understand the Bible without losing their faith.
"synopsis" may belong to another edition of this title.
The Bible introduces us to a loving Jesus who turns the other cheek, loves his enemies, and shows grace to all. But we also meet a warrior Jesus who leads an army of angels bent on earthly destruction. Which is the true Messiah? Should we all follow the nonviolent Jesus of the Sermon on the Mount or the vengeful, sword-wielding Christ of Revelation?
As one of the foremost biblical scholars of our day, John Dominic Crossan re-veals that running throughout the entire Bible--from Genesis to Revelation--are two conflicting revelations of God: one offering a radical, holy vision where every need is provided for and love and grace are extended widely; the other working to domesticate this radical vision by em-phasizing judgment and punishment and by propping up the status quo.
But one thing is clear, argues Crossan: one cannot pretend that the Bible provides a single, unified vision of God or Jesus. If one wants to discover the Bible's best and purest revelation of God, then Christians must measure the Bible by Jesus. And to find the best and purest revelation of Jesus, Crossan concludes, then we must look to the work of scholars who can point us to the teachings of the historical Jesus. Only then will we know how to read the Bible and still be a Christian.
"About this title" may belong to another edition of this title.
Shipping:
£ 2.12
Within U.S.A.
Book Description Condition: New. Seller Inventory # 26023975-n
Book Description Soft Cover. Condition: new. Seller Inventory # 9780062203618
Book Description Condition: New. Brand New. Seller Inventory # 0062203614
Book Description Condition: New. pp. 256. Seller Inventory # 26372591119
Book Description Condition: New. Buy with confidence! Book is in new, never-used condition. Seller Inventory # bk0062203614xvz189zvxnew
Book Description Condition: New. New! This book is in the same immaculate condition as when it was published. Seller Inventory # 353-0062203614-new
Book Description Paperback or Softback. Condition: New. How to Read the Bible and Still Be a Christian: Is God Violent? an Exploration from Genesis to Revelation 0.45. Book. Seller Inventory # BBS-9780062203618
Book Description Condition: New. pp. 256. Seller Inventory # 373487056
Book Description Paperback. Condition: New. Brand New! This item is printed on demand. Seller Inventory # 0062203614
Book Description PAP. Condition: New. New Book. Shipped from UK. Established seller since 2000. Seller Inventory # WB-9780062203618