After reading Spong’s newest book, it will be difficult to read Matthew or any of the Gospels in quite the same way. He’s done an amazing job of explaining how the book of Matthew was written as weekly liturgies for the Jewish Synagogue year. A wonderful book.” — Fred C. Plumer, President of ProgressiveChristianity.org

“This exciting book recovers the original meaning behind Matthew’s Gospel with profound implications for the way we look at Jesus and follow him today. Spong is a truth-teller who stands up to the ignorance spawned by a ‘Gentile Heresy’ that has hijacked the story of Jesus for too long.” — Matthew Fox, author of Original Blessing

“Jack Spong confounds biblical literalists by being profoundly biblical. This exciting book is liberating for those looking for a rational and authentic Christian faith that honors its biblical roots and an essential building block in the search for a new Christianity for a new world.” — Peter Francis, warden and director of Gladstone's Library, Wales

“A brilliant challenge to biblical literalism, Bishop Spong reveals the tragic consequences of idolatry of the written word and why it matters today. A timely, important book.” — Michael Dowd, author of Thank God for Evolution

“Delightedly publishing another book as he nears 85, Spong returns to a main theme of his career, the Jewishness of Christianity, denial of which, he holds, amounts to a heresy so malign that it will destroy Christianity in the twenty-first century…vibrantly accessible.” — Booklist

“Skewers historical readings of Matthew and turns the passages toward issues of dignity, social justice, and transformation . . . worthwhile read for the progressive layperson concerned with living out one’s faith and applying the Bible as a touchstone.” — Library Journal

“Spong offers a radical new way to look at the gospels.” — Publishers Weekly

“There is a powerful message that runs counter to the idea that faith offers nothing but a sweet and secure life.” — Religion Dispatches

“The release of Biblical Literalism - a Gentile Heresy brings him back to State of Belief to talk about his dive into a more contentious area of theology, his potentially-controversial use of the term ‘heresy’ and the future - and drive towards inclusiveness - of the progressive Episcopal community.” — State of Belief Radio

“For years-decades, really-the former Episcopal bishop of Newark, N.J., John Shelby Spong…has been proposing various controversial ways of understanding what Christianity is all about […] In his new-and, he says, perhaps final-book (he’ll be 85 years old in June), he’s at it again.” — Bill's 'Faith Matters' Blog

“If you’re keen for a deeper tracing of its history and inscription, then rush to get your hands on a copy of respected theologian Spong’s Biblical Literalism: A Gentile Heresy.” — Chicago Tribute Printers Row Journal

A brilliant challenge to biblical literalism, Bishop Spong reveals the tragic consequences of idolatry of the written word and why it matters today. A timely, important book.

For years-decades, really-the former Episcopal bishop of Newark, N.J., John Shelby Spong…has been proposing various controversial ways of understanding what Christianity is all about […] In his new-and, he says, perhaps final-book (he’ll be 85 years old in June), he’s at it again.

The release of Biblical Literalism - a Gentile Heresy brings him back to State of Belief to talk about his dive into a more contentious area of theology, his potentially-controversial use of the term ‘heresy’ and the future - and drive towards inclusiveness - of the progressive Episcopal community.

After reading Spong’s newest book, it will be difficult to read Matthew or any of the Gospels in quite the same way. He’s done an amazing job of explaining how the book of Matthew was written as weekly liturgies for the Jewish Synagogue year. A wonderful book.

Jack Spong confounds biblical literalists by being profoundly biblical. This exciting book is liberating for those looking for a rational and authentic Christian faith that honors its biblical roots and an essential building block in the search for a new Christianity for a new world.

There is a powerful message that runs counter to the idea that faith offers nothing but a sweet and secure life.

Delightedly publishing another book as he nears 85, Spong returns to a main theme of his career, the Jewishness of Christianity, denial of which, he holds, amounts to a heresy so malign that it will destroy Christianity in the twenty-first century…vibrantly accessible.

This exciting book recovers the original meaning behind Matthew’s Gospel with profound implications for the way we look at Jesus and follow him today. Spong is a truth-teller who stands up to the ignorance spawned by a ‘Gentile Heresy’ that has hijacked the story of Jesus for too long.

If you’re keen for a deeper tracing of its history and inscription, then rush to get your hands on a copy of respected theologian Spong’s Biblical Literalism: A Gentile Heresy.

Delightedly publishing another book as he nears 85, Spong returns to a main theme of his career, the Jewishness of Christianity, denial of which, he holds, amounts to a heresy so malign that it will destroy Christianity in the twenty-first century…vibrantly accessible.

03/01/2016
Theologian Spong, who served as the Bishop of Newark, NJ, from 1979 to 2000, has long worked to wrest Christianity from fundamentalism to something he considers both more aligned with our current state of knowledge and more faithful to the Gospel. Spong's (Why Christianity Must Change or Die) position is that for the last several centuries, the church has been misreading the Gospels. Using Matthew's account, Spong argues that synoptic gospels (i.e., Matthew, Mark, and Luke) are not ordered chronologically but follow an annual Jewish liturgical cycle and employ an interpretive technique known as midrash. That the synoptic texts were structured to fit into an established construct is compelling; however, it is gospel as midrash that is at the heart of Spong's discussion. With this principle, the author skewers historical readings of Matthew and turns the passages toward issues of dignity, social justice, and transformation. Unfortunately, Spong doesn't offer clear ideas or examples of midrash, leaving the reader to wonder how much is his interpretation of Matthew and how much is wishful thinking. VERDICT A worthwhile read for the progressive layperson concerned with living out one's faith and applying the Bible as a touchstone.—James Wetherbee, Wingate Univ. Libs., NC