Who was Jesus? A cynic-like figure? A political activist? Professor Marcus Borg, a nationally known Jesus scholar, here offers an accessible guide through the growing maze of literature and research on Jesus. This state-of the art volume will be a welcome resource especially for libraries, research specialists and students.The book is divided into three parts. Part One deals with Jesus scholarship in the 1980s, focusing on the renaissance in Jesus studies during that period and summarizing the portraits of Jesus offered by North American scholars. Part Two examines issues in contemporary Jesus research, particularly questions related to the 'eschatological Jesus' and the 'politics of Jesus.' Part Three looks at the potential of current research for helping rethink Jesus' identity and the implications for the modern reader and the church. Jesus in Contemporary Scholarship represents a 'summing up' of current research and an illuminating and important contribution to the ongoing debate.Marcus J. Borg is Hundere Distinguished Professor of Religion and Culture at Oregon State University, a Fellow of the Jesus Seminar, and the author of the recently published Meeting Jesus Again for the First Time.