Marcus J. Borg: Speaking Christian: Why Christian Words Have Lost Their Meaning and Power - And How they Can be Restored (New York: Harper Collins, 2011)

I have read quite a few of Marcus Borg’s books, and I am tempted to describe this book as a “watered down” version of Meeting Jesus Again for the First Time. Borg and I share some similar theological perspectives, and it is always good to read words with which I agree, but this book seems like a repetition of themes that Borg has explored in other books. He is accurate in his etymologies of words, but he doesn’t seem to make a very strong case for the use of his favorite definitions in our contemporary situation. He doesn’t always choose the most ancient meaning, nor does he spend much time reflecting on context. Furthermore, a book about Biblical words, it seems to me, deserves a bit more discussion of translation issues.

I think this book would be good for discussion groups and book clubs that haven’t spent much time exploring Borg. It is easy to read and his conclusions are clear. But for fans of serious theology, he has left us wishing for a bit more.