Evolution of the Word: The New Testament in the Order the Books Were Written (2012 Borg), book

Evolution of the Word: The New Testament in the Order the Books Were Written (2012) is a book by Marcus J. Borg.

Abstract

<Analyzes the New Testament chronologically through each book of the Bible, detailing how the core values of Christianity took shape and developed over time.>--Publisher description

"Everyone knows the New Testament begins with the Gospel of Matthew, but how many know Matthew was actually one of the later books to be written? (It wasn't even the first Gospel!) But Evolution of the Word is not your typical New Testament. Marcus J. Borg, esteemed Bible scholar and bestselling author, shakes up the order of the New Testament as we know it by putting the books in a completely new order—the order in which they were written. By doing so, Evolution of the Word allows us to read these documents in their historical context. For the first time, see how the core ideas of Christianity took shape and developed over time. Borg surveys what we know of the Jewish community of Jesus followers who passed on their stories orally. Into this context emerges the apostle Paul, whose seven authentic letters become the first collected writings that would later become the New Testament. Borg offers helpful introductions for each book so that as we read through these biblical documents, spanning over a century in time, we see afresh what concerns and pressures shaped this movement as it evolved into a new religion. In this groundbreaking format, Borg reveals how a radical and primitive apocalyptic Jewish faith slowly became more comfortable with the world, less Jewish, and more pre- occupied with maintaining power and control. Evolution of the Word promises to change forever how we think about this historic work ... By presenting the New Testament books in the order they were written, bestselling Bible scholar Marcus Borg reveals how spiritually and politically radical the early Jesus movement began and how it slowly became domesticated. Evolution of the Word is an incredible value: not only are readers getting a deeply insightful new book from the author of Speaking Christian and Jesus, but also the full-text of the New Testament—and one of the only Bibles organized in chronological order and including explanatory annotations that give readers a more informed understanding of the Scripture that is so close to their hearts and lives. "--Publisher description.

Editions

Published in New York, NY: HarperOne, 2012.

Contents

A chronological New Testament -- Before anything was written -- Paul and his letters -- Time line -- New Testament. 1 Thessalonians : the first letter of Paul to the Thessalonians ; Galatians : the letter of Paul to the Galatians ; 1 Corinthians : the first letter of Paul to the Corinthians ; Philemon : the letter of Paul to Philemon ; Philippians : the letter of Paul to the Philippians ; 2 Corinthians : the second letter of Paul to the Corinthians ; Romans : the letter of Paul to the Romans ; Mark : the Gospel according to Mark ; James : the letter of James ; Colossians : the letter of Paul to the Colossians ; Matthew : the Gospel according to Matthew ; Hebrews : the letter to the Hebrews ; John : the Gospel according to John ; Ephesians : the letter of Paul to the Ephesians ; Revelation : the revelation to John ; Jude : the letter of Jude ; 1 John : the first letter of John ; 2 John : the second letter of John ; 3 John : the third letter of John ; Luke : the Gospel according to Luke ; Acts : the acts of the Apostles ; 2 Thessalonians : the second letter of Paul to the Thessalonians ; 1 Peter : the first letter of Peter ; 1 Timothy : the first letter of Paul to timothy ; 2 Timothy : the second letter of Paul to Timothy ; Titus : the letter of Paul to Titus ; 2 Peter : the second letter of Peter