Most Useful Christian Books: Tier Chart
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 5 ก.ค. 2024
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Spurgeon's Morning and Evening: amzn.to/3KlrQnl
Matthew Henry Commentaries: amzn.to/3rNY4Br
Calvin's Institutes: amzn.to/3OefsqB
Berkhof Systematic Theology: amzn.to/3OyGMBh
Moleskin Notebooks: amzn.to/3OahwzM
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Watson A Body of Divinity: amzn.to/3rLJnyD
Chronicles of Narnia: amzn.to/3Dt9opb
Frame History of Philosophy: amzn.to/44FScbO
Holman Bible Dictionary: amzn.to/3DtNrGu
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"Legacy Standard Bible"
"The Valley of Vision" by Arthur Bennett
"Spiritual Leadership" by J. Oswald Sanders
"Spiritual Disciplines for the Christian Life" by Donald S. Whitney
"Truth for Life: 365 Daily Devotions" by Alistair Begg
"Christian Theology" by Millard J. Erickson
Apologetics books by Lee Strobel, J Warner Wallace, Gregory Koukl
"The Story of Christianity" By Justo L. Gonzalez
"The 1689 Baptist Confession of Faith in Modern English" by Stan Reeves
"The New American Commentary Set"
"The Baker Illustrated Bible Commentary"
"Sacred Marriage" and "Sacred Parenting" by Gary Thomas
"Family Driven Faith" Voddie Baucham
"Following the Master" by Michael J. Wilkins
"The Pilgrim's Progress" by John Bunyan
+1 for Whitney's book.
As a somewhat new Christian (born again in February of 2022, so I would describe myself as a “toddler” Christian), I have been looking to expand my Theological library, so this is remarkably helpful. I especially look forward to checking out Thomas Watson and the Systematic Theology you recommended. I so wish there was a PCA in my small town, but there isn’t, so these books will definitely help me on my walk. Thank you so much for this video and all that you do, Pastor Matt.
Essential Study Bible : ' The Fire Bible '.
Somewhat😄 when I think of my thirty years as a Christian, that sounds sooo new my sister🙂
I Praise God for his mercy on you🙏 It took me 5 more years to hear great reformed teaching and the doctrines of grace, the Puritans and the Protestant reformers so your blessed to be on a fast track. Matthew did an informative video recently comparing and recommending bibles, I suggest you watch that for a good breakdown. I have several of those as study bibles to compare information. Blessings to you and welcome to the family of Christ Christine 🥰✝️
@@Savedbygrace22 🥰 How kind. Thank you. ☺️
I think I saw the video you are referencing. I watch almost all of Pastor Matt’s videos and make a special point of watching the recommendation videos so I can find more resources to learn and grow. ✝️
@@glennishammont7414 thank you! I believe that next year I am going to switch over to the ESV from the NASB95 so I will check into this.
@@christinewerner6207 It is available with/in the following translations: KJV, MEV, NIV and ESV, from which I prefer the MEV version.
On the topic of confessions of faith, I'd recommend Chad Van Dixhoorn's Creeds Confessions and Catechisms book which includes a collection of Reformed confessions (including 1689) as well as the Augsburg confession. [Specifically: The Apostles’ Creed, The Nicene Creed, The Athanasian Creed, The Chalcedonian Definition, The Augsburg Confession, The Belgic Confession, The Thirty-Nine Articles of Religion, The Canons of Dort, The Westminster Confession of Faith, The London Baptist Confession, The Heidelberg Catechism, The Westminster Larger Catechism, and The Westminster Shorter Catechism] There are also historical introductions for each in the book. For other Lutheran confessions such as the Catechisms check out the readers edition of the Book of Concord
Yes, this resource has been helpful to me. I didn’t grow up in a confessional church, so confessions were foreign to me. I’ve now read all 13 of these articles all within this last month. And all to my soul’s comfort!
I appreciate your recommendations and agree with many of them, though I may want a little more Baptist representation! Still, I am surprised you didn't include John Bunyan's Pilgrim's Progress. If necessary, I would place it before C.S. Lewis's Chronicles of Narnia series.
Agree, though Lewis is still a must with mere Christianity
In 1990, I fell in love with Morning and Evening (Hendrickson edition). They have a lovely leather flex version that I've requested for my bday.
Great list, brother. I hope you struggled (at least a little) over Chronicles of Narnia vs. Pilgrim's Progress when it came to a fiction choice. As much as I love Lewis, not sure I would have had him beat out Bunyan.
100% agree. I think I missed that he picked Lewis over Bunyan on that section. I'm not much into any fiction so I don't think I was listening close enough there. I'm not even sure Tolkien shouldn't beat Lewis on that one!
Haven’t watched yet so idk if it’s mentioned: I’d prefer the Screwtape Letters if he had to go Lewis.
Wow….really enjoying this series¡! Blessings from Portugal!
Great recommendations! Thanks!
I had not heard of Chapel Library before you mentioned it. What an incredible ministry and resource. Thanks!
Pastor Matt, how can it be that the incredibly popular The Purpose Driven Life is not on your list? Hahahahahaha. I bought a copy toward later part of it's best seller run. About two thirds of the way in I had fully determined that the text was very repetitive, lighter than air and had absolutely no legitmate Scriptural foundation. Just another secularistic pop culture self help book that wasn't even useful by that low standard. The takeaway: the public at large is shallow and many Christians are easily misled.
I find multiple copies of that book in charity stores all the time. Apparently quite a few people have realized that the book is a waste of paper and ink, and have given it away along with those old clothes that no longer fit.
@@gregb6469 I don't remember if I dropped my copy off at Goodwill or simply deposited it in the rectangular non-recylclable bin. 😀
@@gregb6469it’s because they are given as gifts, and not read, so people give them away. Lol. My mother loves her copy though and has read it multiple times…
The problem is a lot of churches used it to grow their churches using crappy methods and made the churches a place of entertainment without substance
I have quite a few of the ones you mentioned. 👍🏼
I would recommend
and add Greg Bahnsen’s - Always Ready 📖
This was fun! What a great video idea!
I really enjoy your videos. This was helpful.
Have you thought about getting a Remarkable 2 tablet for doing note taking? I got one and been using it for my studies. Being able to highlight and markup and erase on the ESV journal pages is really nice.
this was very helpful. thank you!
Thanks. That was very encouraging. 😊
Great vid. I've had Calvin's commentary recommended to me many times. I don't know why I haven't gotten it yet.
how about pilgrim progress? where would you put this book in a tier system? how about Christian fiction tournament
What a great list. Very thoughtful considerations. And fortunately I have most of them already.
Thank you for this list. I have been trying to build my library beyond a good study Bible and Bible dictionary. I have been wanting a good (but easy to read ST book) I will check out the Berkof book. I just bought The Doctrine of Repentance by Watson. It’s my first foray into the world of the Puritans, someplace, I assure you, I never thought I would go. I have left this world of the Puritans to my older brother ( a ruling elder in a PCA church), and was quite happy to do so. Look at me now, dipping my toes into their writings. 😅 I loved the “book” so much that I bought several for friends this Christmas.
What about the KJV Reformation Heritage Study Bible?
I am just now almost done with the confessions of Saint Augustine, and I love it so much! I will be rereading. I also love Thomas Watson and Spurgeon. Everything I have read from Watson was incredible. I would add the valley of vision, and substitute some of the ones for pastors since I am not one. 😊
Great list!
Thank you very much for your highly informative videos. I appreciate you. Ashley Govender. Durban, South Africa
In Logos I have the complete Westminister Confession as a notebook. It was found in the Public secton of documents that are available. So I changed the icon for that notebook to make it unique and every verse mentioned I see it is in the Westminster confession. It comes in hand when just doing reading. I use most of the books you reference in Logos. I use to have them all until I gave it to my Nephew just rebuilding my library. Always looking for good ideas to have resources to read. And thanks for the reminder of some of the books I will need to pick up in the near future.
Sorry, brother, but Pilgrims Progress and Foxe’s Book of Martyrs absolutely must be on the third tier.
Well each person has their thing. We can all make our own list. He is only a man with a very educated opinion.
Man! I am agnostic, and I love your videos.
Being serious now, you've provided an excellent list. I'm going to start by ordering the two Calvin's when I get back from vacation in two weeks. That's been on my to do list for sometime. Too long.
This is a great video thank you
I think the Chronicles of Narnia is a great pick. Read the as a child, read them to my daughters years ago, now…at 64, reading them again and getting more benefit than ever! Great video Pastor Matthew!
BERKOFF is the BEST!!!
Great video Matt. I have all your items except for 3 items. I say I would generally agree with everything, except for the ESV translation. I use KJV and NAS. I do like the study notes in the ESV. Thank you for posting. Blessings in Christ.
I appreciate ESV, but I have to have verses like Acts 8:37 as more than a footnote.
I had one other thought on this subject which regards commentaries. We all encourage folks to buy the best commentary for each BOOK and to avoid commentary sets or series. But I have recently been re-thinking this as a result of my consistently positive experiences with the Tyndale commentary series. Many of these commentaries are often included in the "best of" lists you find on various websites. But the series as a whole has many great strengths. First, they are cost-effective (comparatively speaking) compared to other sets. They are consistently GOOD, and often better than good. They are very accessible to most readers. They are short but still thorough. I like the consistent framework of the commentaries.
It is more expensive and time-consuming to buy commentaries book-by-book. I think it is still the best way to do it, but for many readers out there they want to go further from a one-volume commentary but don't need the kind of technical exploration you get in the NICOT or NICNT and certainly don't want to deal with the price tag on those. I am beginning to think that the Tyndale commentaries are "safe" to recommend as a set for their quality, reasonable price, and likelihood of meeting the needs of the vast majority of Christians looking to beneift from commentary resources.
I am curious what your thoughts on this are if you have experience with that series of commentaries.
Agree about physical books. I think Screwtape Letters and the BCP always make my list.
BCP?
Book of common prayer
@@user-cs2qk4qw5q ahh obviously! Thanks I should have known
Coincidentally, I've got a copy of the 1961 (blue) Trinity Hymnal coming from ebay. Back a number of years, there was a Trinity Hymn learning tape that I used with great profit. I want to replicate that wonderful experience again.
Beeke's Reformed Systematic Theology.
1. Greek New Testament
2. Hebrew and LXX OT
3. Early Christian Writings (The Apostolic Fathers)
4. Irenaus - Against Heresies
5. Athanasius - On the Incarnation
6. Cyril of Alexandria - On the Unity of Christ
7. Basil the Great - Hexaemoron
8. Gregory of Nyssa - On the Soul and the Resurrection
9. Gregory of Nyssa - The Life of Moses
10. Maximus the Confessor - On the Cosmic Mystery of Christ
11. Maximus the Confessor - 400 Chapters On Love
12. John of Damascus’ writings
Love this list! The only thing I’m mad at is using Narnia (which I love) instead of Pilgrims Progress (The greatest Christian novel ever written bar-none). Other than that, great video, Pastor!
Being an avid note-taker, consider giving Obsidian a look. While you will need to type your notes, you are able to interrelate your notes with tags and links. This way, when you pull up a miscellany, you can see every note affiliated with that miscellany. It's an amazing tool for personal knowledge management. In fact, you might be able to talk to Reagan about it. I believe he leans towards Roam Research, but Obsidian is free and local.
Thanks for the video, they're always worthwhile!
I'm an Evernote junkie, but it's got shortcomings. Looking at Obsidian. Thx!
I concur on Obsidian. Similar functionality should be included in Logos Bible software. Obsidian is the Bible note-taker's digital best friend in my view.
Jonathan Edwards would have used Obsidian. It's awesome!
I was curious as to why you didn’t mention John frame?
What reason(s) are there for having a confession of faith or a catechism when we have The Word of God? I’ve never been to a church that practices that, and I don’t know what the need is. Can you explain that? Thanks 🙂
The Trinity Psalter Hymnal has the Psalter, many great hymns, and Reformed Confessions/Catechisms. If I could only have two books on an island, it would be the Bible and this.
I just purchased this. Excellent. Note they also released an App on the App Store. The best part of the App is they have audio tunes for every hymn so you can sing the Hymn yourself. Awesome
Fo those who blossomed outside Presbyterianism I highly recommend S. Lewis Johnson’s works. It’s all recordings and transcripts, but what a gold mine of theology.
Non-denom with basic statement of faith, but I can't really leave because I'm 17 and my parents take me there. ☹️
Great video. Even as someone who really doesn’t consider myself a Calvinist, he’s a Titan of faith whose ideas should absolutely be considered. As a more conservative Methodist I sometimes catch fire from both the Calvinist and Arminian sides, though lately I find myself keeping better company with most Calvinists than my fellow American Methodists 😅.
And YES to physical books. I love being able to access something quickly and free online, but I’m definitely more of a physical book/blank notebook type of guy. Of course I’m from probably the last generation of people who grew up writing everything out instead of using a computer.
Many thanks and God bless!
I've been a pastor for 30 years and I come from a long Presbyterian family tradition. However I don't think I would say that I shed a tear for those who are not in a confessional Church. I know what that means and I know there are no negative intentions behind it (as there are no negative intentions behind my comment either), but it can come off as arrogant and dismissive to the rest of the body of Christ. Just something to consider as we strive to reflect Christ's love and character every day. God bless!
Pilgrims Progress has to be on here somewhere. Maybe around Chronicles of Narnia?
Well guess i did ok i have 2 of these i love Matthew Henry now the other i have is the Esv study bible which i seldom use
Your list is a keeper, but I’d have to squeeze in Pilgrim’s Progress. Thanks!
That chart is so much better than business pyramid. 🤓👍🤟
What about Jermiah Bourroughs book Radical Jewel of Christian contentment
.. I know this vid is from awhile back, but if you have any clue why a 1 or 2 volume abridgment has never been done by someone yet of Calvin's commentaries, for budget buyers and space savers, or if there is a resource that attempts to come close to that project, drawing from much of his whole set, i'd appreciate the info.
Why not the reformation study Bible over the ESV study Bible?
If you read from the Majority Text NT, why do you recommend a translation made from the Critical Text?
For myself, it is because there really are no GREAT "MT" translations. I use Farstad/Hodges.
@@edodt4220 hopefully that will change!
Don’t go to Target …….. Lol! Bless you brother. 😊
you don't have anything on apologetics, either Mere Christianity, or the newer The Reason for God... would be a great addition to your list
Can you talk about Biblical Theology books compared or in addition to Systematic Theology books?
Example:
Biblical Theology: A Canonical, Thematic, and Ethical Approach by Andreas J. kostenberger, Gregory Goswell
Or
A Biblical Theology of the Old/New Testament by Roy B. Zuck
Verses
Christian Theology: Biblical, Historical, and Systemic by Adam Hardwood
This is a great list. I've read and appreciate most of these books. Probably more "useful" to church leaders than average Christians (e.g. pastors, elders, deacons, Sunday school teachers, Bible study group leaders), though of course average Christians would benefit from reading most of the recommended books. Here's my list, which is geared more toward the thinking layperson:
1. First tier:
* Bible. I'd say get at least two Bibles: a reader's Bible (e.g. ESV Reader's Bible) and a study Bible (e.g. ESV Study Bible). I think it's important to have a Bible one simply sits and reads in order to know the overarching story of the Bible, its most important theological ideas, its themes, symbols, motifs, and so on and so forth, as well as a Bible to really dig in and study. It should go without saying the most important point in reading and/or studying the Bible is to commune with God, to know and love the Lord our God. Be saturated in God's word. As Charles Spurgeon said of John Bunyan: "Why, this man is a living Bible! Prick him anywhere - his blood is Bibline, the very essence of the Bible flows from him. He cannot speak without quoting a text, for his very soul is full of the Word of God."
2. Second tier:
* Compare multiple modern English translations. There are free online places to do this like BibleGateway and Parallel Plus.
* Compare with other modern language translations if one can read another language like Spanish or Chinese or whatever. That said, if you have the ability to learn a language like Spanish or Chinese, then you have the ability to learn biblical Hebrew and Greek.
* The NET Bible's footnotes. Available for free online. The footnotes are a fantastic window into how translators think and work, into the biblical languages, short of learning biblical Hebrew and Greek.
* Logos (or a similar Bible software like Accordance). Download the basic free version of Logos Bible Software and use Logos' free tools. For example, Logos has: Text Comparison, Lexham Bible Dictionary, Bible Word Study Guide. Obviously they're not on par with academic biblical Hebrew and Greek lexicons like HALOT/CHALOT or BDAG, but these Logos tools are still super helpful to better know and love God's word.
3. Third tier:
* A good Bible commentary. I agree Matthew Henry's is a very edifying choice. A more scholarly one volume Bible commentary is the New Bible Commentary. It features contributions from Reformed scholars like Sinclair Ferguson, Don Carson, Alec Motyer, Desi Alexander, and many others. That said, the commentaries in a good study Bible like the ESV Study Bible are also helpful if sparse. Later one can move onto fuller length series like the Bible Speaks Today, the Tyndale Commentary series, the NT Pillar series, the NICNT, and many others.
* A good introductory systematic theology. Concise Theology by J. I. Packer is a solid primer. Likewise Packer's 18 Words, A Quest for Godliness (collection of some of his finest papers, with an emphasis on John Owen), and Knowing God, among others. I enjoyed Paul Helm's very practical trilogy published by the Banner of Truth in the 1980s: The Beginnings: Word and Spirit in Conversion; The Callings: The Gospel in the World; and The Last Things: Death, Judgment, Heaven and Hell. After reading introductory works like these, one can move onto more advanced work like Berkhof, Reymond, Letham. I also really love Fred Zaspel's The Theology of B. B. Warfield: A Systematic Summary, and of course reading Warfield himself is itself excellent. No one can love John Frame more than I do; I'd recommend almost anything and everything by Frame! Other theologians like Calvin of course, Turretin, and Bavinck are well worth reading. I'd place Cornelius Van Til somewhere in here if I could.
* A good biblical theology. Such as The Unfolding Mystery by Ed Clowney or Don Carson's The God Who Is There are for the absolute novice. I found Ian Vaillancourt's recent The Dawning of Redemption edifying as well as Michael Morales' Exodus Old and New. Tom Schreiner's The King in His Beauty is long but helps build a solid overview of the Bible. GK Beale and Benjamin Gladd's The Story Retold focuses on NT biblical theology with beautiful artistry. Jim Hamilton's God's Glory in Salvation through Judgment has quite a literary flair which is an important aspect too. Dominion and Dynasty by Stephen Dempster and Beale's The Temple and the Church's Mission are seminal academic works.
4. Fourth tier:
* Good biography. Some examples include: Augustine's Confessions; John Newton's own narrative; Charles Spurgeon two volume autobiography; Iain Murray's works on Martyn Lloyd-Jones; as well as a number of other biographies by Iain Murray (e.g. Spurgeon, JC Ryle, Jonathan Edwards); Martyn Lloyd-Jones' wife Bethan Lloyd-Jones's Memories of Sandfields; Don Carson on his father Memoir's of an Ordinary Pastor; Andrew Bonar's The Memoir and Remains of Rev. Robert Murray McCheyne; The Letters of Samuel Rutherford is one of my absolute favorites; William Bradford's Of Plymouth Plantation for those interested in Puritan New England; Arnold Dallimore's biography of George Whitefield; Eifion Evans' Daniel Rowland and the Great Evangelical Awakening in Wales; C. Everett Koop's Sometimes Mountains Move; JI Packer's A Grief Sanctified: Through Sorrow to Eternal Hope: Including Richard Baxter’s Timeless Memoir of His Wife's Life and Death; I suppose George Marsden's award winning biography of Jonathan Edwards, though I think it's a bit dry; and I can't go without mentioning John Frame's Theology of My Life.
* Good literature. The Pilgrim’s Progress by John Bunyan. CS Lewis' Chronicles of Narnia. I also enjoyed his The Screwtape Letters and (unlike most) The Pilgrim's Regress. Andrew Peterson's Wingfeather saga. The Temple by George Herbert if you like poetry; it's by turns lyrical and devotional. Along similar lines much of Christina Rossetti's poetry and TS Eliot's The Four Quartets. Letters Along the Way by Don Carson and John Woodbridge is practical advice from a seasoned Christian to a new believer in an epistolary format and style. Musica Mundana by Steve Hays is a unique novel written in a unique style. Three stories woven into a single thread: life in an unfallen world, life in a fallen world with no hope of redemption, and life in a fallen world with redemption. The end is open-ended. Thought-provoking. Beautiful. Much more could be said. Take up and read!
Narnia over The Pilgrims Progress? I don't know about that one.
As a Particular Baptist I would have The KJV, NKJV, NASB, ESV,The First 4 Creeds, the 1LBCF, 2LBCF, The Philadelphia Confession additions An Orthodox Catechism, The Baptist Catechism, John Gill's The Doctrine Of The Trinity Stated And Vindicated (Being The Substance Of Several Discourses On That Important Subject), John Gill's Bible Commentary, The Trinity Hymnal Baptist edition and The Trinity Psalter
Im am kind of really missing John Bunyan here 😄 you know - pilgrims progress
But I think these are all so valuable!
The Enchiridion Symbolorum. It's as epic as expected from its name.
You evidently are not familiar with William Gurnall and his Christian in Complete Armor. There is no equal. The Banner of Truth 3 volume edition is the absolute best. I reread the 3 volumes yearly for the past 30 years, and John Newton said it was his pick for a desert island along with the Bible of course! Just a note, Matthew Henry’s Commentary 6 Volume Set has been my go to for 30 years as well, especially for research, but I can promise you, if that is how you use it, you have greatly missed its treasure. When I retired I read them cover to cover and it took almost 2 years. So much is missed by skipping around. I could kick myself for having had them so long and not reading them cover to cover. Just food for thought. 🙏🏻 Blessings to you.
You consistently make videos that are the exact kinds of things I think about all the time. You've been doing this for years. Excellent presentation here......and of course as a Reformed Baptist, I MOSTLY agree haha.
Crossway has really hit the nail on the head with the ESV. On the top tier, I would include the ESV Literary Study Bible, ESV Concise Study Bible, ESV Church History Study Bible, and the ESV Systematic Theology Study Bible. So five Bibles rather than just the granddaddy of them all, the ESVSB. This "suite" of study Bibles provides an excellent introduction to many disciplines in theological study. The ESV Concise Study Bible includes features from the ESVSB, ESV Archeology Study Bible, and ESV Student Study Bible, all of which have content that is very useful. Crossway did exactly what I was imaging someone SHOULD do as far back as 1996. We have enough "application" Bibles, and devotional study Bibles, and other "niche" study Bibles. The ESV study Bibles from Crossway cover a great deal of serious ground and are exceptionally useful to young believers eager to grow, and older folks who make good use of concise reference material.
From there, I would swap out the WCF for the 1689 LBCF of course, but don't diverge again until you get to Berkhof. I don't think you can get around Grudem here for five reasons:
(1) Grudem's bibliographies are unmatched in scope compared to other systematic theologies, and the 2nd edition is updated compared to Berkhof (or most other systematics)
(2) Grudem is exhaustive (not sure why you suggest Grudem is not as "deep" or "rich" as Berkhof; Grudem actually digs quite a bit deeper than Berkhof on many doctrines and is about 60% longer than Berkhof)
(3) Grudem exhaustively explores the various views on the topics you hint at, and in an exceptionally irenic tone which makes his presentations unusually fair and useful
(4) the companion volume by Allison "Historical Theology" is a unique and very accessible approach to the discipline of historical theology
(5) the sheer volume of resources that accompany Grudem/Allison, in the form of workbooks, videos, classes, etc. I would add that Grudem is much, MUCH easier to read than Berkhof, who was one of the greatest theologians of the 20th century and also one of the most effective cures for insomnia in the history of the world when the man picked up a pen to write something down ;)
I have to include my agreement on Calvin, who is still one of the top commentators you can find. I think people would be shocked to find the usefulness of his commentaries. Apart from his commentaries, the 1559 Institutes is what you recommend, but the fairly recent publication of 1541 is going to be more useful to most people in my view. It is shorter but that is because 1559 includes a great deal of discussion on topics that were contemporary to Calvin, but not so much in any context outside that time. 1541 includes all the good meat while lacking the rants that modern readers won't be able to contextualize without knowledge of the issues of Calvin's day.
I agree that anything written by Edwards should be read. Just can't go wrong.
Three important "kinds" of volumes are missing here, in my view:
(1) Historical Theology/Church history. These two are not exactly the same, but do work together to inform the theologian every step of the way. Allison's companion volume to Grudem is an easy, up-to-date resource; Berkhof also wrote his own companion volume to his systematic theology. For church history, there's a variety of resources, but for a Reformed Baptist I recently found Tom Nettles' three volumes in "The Baptists" series of books to be exceptionally enlightening for what I would consider the COMPLETION of the Reformation. There are a variety of useful volumes on Church History that give a more exhaustive perspective that could be used instead. Long and short of it is, historical perspective is fundamental.
(2) Biblical Theology. I would say it is critical to include something here. Vos' "Biblical Theology" is a game-changer, but not really easy reading. RTS has two useful introductions "A Biblical-Theological Introduction to the Old Testament" and it's companion volume for the New Testament. These are book-by-book Biblical Theology "surveys" which make them unique and extremely useful. The NIV Biblical Theology Study Bible is one I include in the "suite" of ESV study Bibles to complete a collection of high-level resources on these disciplines. It is a decent place to start, but can be a bit disorienting without something that goes a little deeper, like the RTS volumes. Could say a lot more here.
(3) Good surveys and/or introductions. One of the most useful resources I have is not available digitally, but is an EXCELLENT place to start in general. William Hendricksen's "Survey of the Bible" is just a wonderful resource that serves as a very apt survey of both the OT and NT, and is geared toward helping students gain a firm grip on the whole Bible through outlining, memorization, summarizing, on and on. Apart from the ESVSB, it is the number two resource to put in a new believer's hands in my view. And it is very useful the mature believer as well; you can never get enough of the fundamentals.
As far as introductions go, there are the standards (Longman/Dillard on OT; Carson/Moo on NT) but some others are good as well. Hess on the OT, or the BHAcademic volumes ("The World and the Word" for OT; "The Cradle, the Cross and the Crown" for NT) are excellent as well.
I have started to think of this subject as "two-tiers" also, with one set of recommendations being a bit "lighter" than my "dream team" of basic resources. I think SOME abridged volumes are too easily overlooked. Grudem's "Bible Doctrine" has become a valuable resource to me because it is more concise. I don't have to use a crane to get it off the bookshelf. MacArthur similarly has a shorter volume on his systematic. Hendricksen's "Bible Survey" is another example of a concise volume that is often more agile than larger volumes. I agree that "abridged" versions of stuff can be a rip-off or personal re-configuration, and are usually avoided. An important tip on this is that if the ORIGINAL AUTHOR "shortens" or abridges his own work, GET THAT ONE. Beale's "shorter" commentary on Revelation is an example of this (also Osborne on Revelation, and Thiselton on 1 Corinthians); these "shorter" volumes are exceedingly useful in my view, and I love to recommend them because they are easy to read and are such a blessing.
One group I like to recommend in the "not as light" tier are the IVP "New" volumes: New Bible Dictionary, New Commentary, New Dictionary of Theology, and especially the New Dictionary of Biblical Theology. To those I would add the IVP "Background" commentaries, the Dictionary of Biblical Imagery, and the Dictionary of Theological Interpretation of the Bible. Some of these will require some discernment (particularly anything with the word "background" in it), but cover a LOT of ground.
The last two (soon to be three) resources I have found exceptionally useful are "The Commentary in the New Testament use of the Old Testament" and I recently picked up "The Old Testament use of the Old Testament" which so far, has done what I hoped it would do. This year there will be a "Dictionary of the New Testament use of the Old Testament" which I am eagerly awaiting. Just as an aside, ANYTHING written by G.K. Beale is worth reading. Beale is the most exciting boring guy I have ever read or listened to. He SOUNDS like he will put you to sleep, but the things he says just blows the mind.
I think I could write on this for a very long time. Excellent topic, and excellent recommendations in the video. I know I just managed to add to a list of simple recommendations, but a person could buy HUNDREDS of books over many years, and have to sort through all that on their own. You are doing a great thing here with this discussion, and you are always a blessing.
I largely agree. But in the place of Thomas Watson, I'm putting Beeke and Jones' Doctrine for Life. A Systematic Theology of the Puritans. As a gateway into everyone from Ames to Edwards, it's simply brilliant.
Also, I have to put the works of Francis Schaeffer on there somewhere, as a prophetic attack on Negative World and a summary of Western Thought. So I'll cheat and put it in place of the notebook. Because I do all mine on the computer.
I'm not sure if the NKJV Study Bible from Thomas Nelson differs that much from ESV Study Bible. They're different publishers of course with the ESV being from Crossway but from my comparisons they seem to very close and share many contributors, or am I wrong in that? Thank you Pastor Matt whether you answer or not. Sorry I had to edit to add that the "ESV Reformation Study Bible" does include the Westminster Confessions of Faith and Catechisms as well as other very good resources in their entirety in the back.
The reason I believe in the God of the Bible, the inerrancy of Scripture and that Jesus Christ is my Lord and Savior.
We have a reliable collection of historical documents written by eyewitnesses during the lifetime of other eyewitnesses. They report super natural events that took place in fulfilment of specific prophecies and claim that their writings are via divine inspiration and not from men alone.
The super natural events are important in that they show the divine nature of God.
Jesus Christ cast out demons, healed the sick, blind, deaf, dumb and paralyzed, walked on water, fed thousands with little, and was resurrected all of which have eyewitness accounts.
The feedings alone were witnessed by the thousands He fed on the two separate occasions that we are told of in the Gospels.
John tells us that there were many more miracles than what are recorded in the Bible/Gospels and that it would have filled volumes of books upon books were he to have written them all down and that it would have taken more than one lifetime to do so.
The claim that men wrote the Bible so it can not be true means that no other book ever written should be believed either no matter the topic as they're all written by man.
The Bible is not just a book it is a collection of books written over a period of thousands of years of which all those books are linked together by One Divine Author. In this collection of books there are over 40 authors but only one Devine Author who links them all together via the Holy Spirit. Those authors wrote down His inspired Word given to them by God.
66 Volumes/Books in the Bible.
The bulk of the New Testament was written over a period of around 50 years. It was in 49 AD to 53 AD when the Scripture writings of the New Testament are thought to have begun. With the last living Apostle John dying in 100 AD.
Over a period of around 1500 years it was preserved and passed on:
In 3 Languages
On 3 Continents
There are 66,360+ source documents that have been found for the entire Bible of which there are 24,360 and counting source documents for the New Testament alone.
5,839 in the original Greek, some 2 million pages
18,524 translations of that Greek into other languages
Some of the oldest sources date to 125AD which is within decades of the completion of all the books that were canonized as the New Testament.
The New Testament cannon, (Gospels of the Apostles/writings, Epistles/letters of the Apostles, all sources and eyewitness accounts that were to be included), was decided at the Synod of Carthage in 397 AD.
Those asking for "Scientific Proof" about the Bible are either ignorant or asking with evil intent. An intelligent person knows that the scientific method can not be applied to verify the Bible.
Scientific Method is:
1) Has to be observable.
2) Has to be measurable.
3) Has to be repeatable.
Therefore no history can ever be proven via scientific method.
You must use the historical method based on:
Eyewitnesses accounts.
Documents from the time or as close as possible.
Make sure the story is corroborated by as many sources as possible.
Look for anyone/anything that attempted to prove any of it false in that time period or as close to it as possible.
Did anyone successfully prove any of it untrue?
If they had/have why is there no record found anywhere of it ever being disproven?
Luke = Historian
John = Evangelist
John is organized around 7 specific events/signs/miracles all seen by eyewitnesses and corroborated by many. So he also provides proof of accuracy/truth.
Mark = The shortest of the Gospels and is very direct or "Just the Facts" if you like.
Mathew = Was written to the Jewish audience and that's one of the reasons for the extensive genealogy of Christ. There are also more than a few references to the Old Testament in his gospels.
Peter = He lays out all the proof for the Bible and it's accuracy in Chapter 1. He makes the arguments that justify it all as truly what happened and that it all happened as recorded in the Gospels, the entire Bible.
All of the Apostles were eyewitnesses of Jesus and of the resurrected Christ. Including Paul whom Jesus came to as he was traveling to persecute more Christians. This would have been the resurrected Christ or a form of Him that came from Heaven.
There were at least 300 eyewitnesses still alive when Corinthians was written who could have disputed it but no one did.
Mathias became the 12th Apostles after Judas hung himself so the argument of there not being 12 Apostles comes from ignorance or evil intent.
There have been over 25,000 archeological digs in which there has been absolutely no evidence found that proves anything in the entire Bible false but in those digs many things have been found that prove it true.
Other cultures and non believer's historical documents show or corroborate people, places, wars and many things that are in the Bible. Yet none of them prove any of it to be false but instead strengthen it.
Word for Word Translations prove just how accurate what we have is when you consider there's no way anyone could have falsified any of it.
Many church fathers in history have made extensive notes that include scripture throughout the centuries and no matter the time or place all those references to scripture corroborate each other. Which shows just how accurate translations have been throughout time and still are as long as they maintain a word for word ideology during the translation.
To falsify any of it they would have to change every single source, do it in three languages, on three continents, over a span of thousands of years, with no one catching any of it, no one ever talking about what they'd done, leaving behind no traces that they'd done it.
Not to mention they'd have to steal all of those sources to change them, changing them would be a massive undertaking considering they were hand written in those times and then put them back without ever being seen or caught during the entire process.
My last statement is this:
Simply put the Bible can defend itself like a lion just let it loose.
(Use Scripture to defend Scripture because it is a collection of eyewitness accounts that has been proven true again and again).
There's a very good movie titled "The God Who Speaks" that covers much of what I've said above. If you still have doubt I would recommend you watch it and even if you don't because it was very well made and presented.
Take care and God Bless.
What is Scripture? I’m willing to bet you don’t know about the multiple errors contained within all modern Bibles that stem from post Christ Jewish corruptions of the Old Testament contained within the Hebrew Masoretic text.
This post is way too long.
@@scripturequest Over a period of around 1500 years it was preserved and passed on:
In 3 Languages
On 3 Continents
There are 66,360+ source documents that have been found for the entire Bible of which there are 24,360 and counting source documents for the New Testament alone.
5,839 in the original Greek, some 2 million pages
18,524 translations of that Greek into other languages
Some of the oldest sources date to 125AD which is within decades of the completion of all the books that were canonized as the New Testament.
The New Testament cannon, (Gospels of the Apostles/writings, Epistles/letters of the Apostles, all sources and eyewitness accounts that were to be included), was decided at the Synod of Carthage in 397 AD.
Word for Word Translations prove just how accurate what we have is when you consider there's no way anyone could have falsified any of it.
Many church fathers in history have made extensive notes that include scripture throughout the centuries and no matter the time or place all those references to scripture corroborate each other. Which shows just how accurate translations have been throughout time and still are as long as they maintain a word for word ideology during the translation.
To falsify any of it they would have to change every single source, do it in three languages, on three continents, over a span of thousands of years, with no one catching any of it, no one ever talking about what they'd done, leaving behind no traces that they'd done it.
Not to mention they'd have to steal all of those sources to change them, changing them would be a massive undertaking considering they were hand written in those times and then put them back without ever being seen or caught during the entire process.
If you'd read my post you would know that what you're saying about the English versions of the Bible are Scripture.
I know about your conspiracy theory but know to do what you've said is impossible considering the number of source documents found via archeology. Do you really believe they could have changed all the sources? If you want to dismiss the Word of God that's your choice as for me I've done enough research to know the truth and I'll pray that you instead of repeating baseless rumor come to the truth of His Word as it's been passed down for thousands of years...
@@gregb6469 Did I force you to read it? If you don't want to know the proofs for the accuracy of Scripture okay I get it.
Take care and God Bless.
@@PastorwithoutaPulpit-- The YT comment section is not the place to publish books. Most people will, when faced with long blocks of text on this site, will just skip past them. Shorter posts are far more likely to actually be read.
I’d love to see a sweet sixteen tournament for Systematic Theology’s
Here’s the first 16 I could think of.
1. Calvin’s Institutes
2. Bulinger’s Decades
3. Turretin
4. A Brakel
5. Van Maastricht
6. Hodge
7. Boyce
8. Bavink’s 4 Vol Dogmatics
9. Bavink’s Wonderful Works of God
10. Vos
11. Dabney
12. Grudem
13. Frame
14. Letham
15. Berkof
16. Beeke & Smalley
J. L. Dagg's MANUAL OF THEOLOGY belongs on this list.
Preston? Perkins?
Well, I can't fault you for standing with your Reformed view. You are consistent to a fault on this. But I am surprised not to see J.I. Packer's "Knowing God." Or John Stott's "The Cross of Christ." Those two books have been prominent in my walk (even as a non-reformed believer.)
On the bottom of the pyramid I would have Biblical Critical Theory by Christopher Watkin it is a great work.
Fun video, thanks for sharing. Now let’s see a “21st century only” edition. 😊 Just for fun - not criticizing the choices you made here.
I love ESV study but nothing tops the Thompson chain
Have you ever looked at the LUTHERAN STUDY BIBLE? It is excellent!
I'll look into that. I saw one called something like "Concordia", which sounds Lutheran to me. Not sure if that's the one.
@@dnzswithwombats Concordia is the publisher. I have a lot of study Bibles- including the ESV- and I am not a Lutheran, but I love their Study Bible.
@@malcolmandrews4942 I'm not either. But I wonder what about their study Bible you like, so I'll watch for one. I saw one at a thrift shop and almost got it for two dollars. But, it smelled like mold.
"If you're not Presbyterian"; why would an astute believer choose otherwise? Oh yeah, I remember now. Not wealthy enough. LOL I got in through a side door. If I could do it.....😊
Knowing the doctrines of the bible Meyer Pearlman and David Braenard
Great list but John Bunyan’s “Pilgrims Progress” has to be on it. The second most popular book after the Geneva Bible to the Puritans.
I would rate the ESV reformation study Bible higher than the crossway ESV study Bible
Buena ahí!
I'm not even a Calvinist and I have to completely agree with the inclusion of John Calvin's commentary! It is one of my go to commentaries.. And for those who were put off by Calvin's Institutes due to it's dry reading. the Commentaries are a much more enjoyable read!
What does PCA mean?
The Presbyterian Church in America.
It means.... What it means!
Brother, May I ask why you come off with such derision about low church folks? Is it enough to make a case without disdain? Would you prayerfully consider a more irenic approach?
I still enjoy your content, even through the barbs.
Asian is on the move
I don't think he means to seem derisive. Pastor Everhard is straight-down-the-middle Westminster Presbyterian. I know sometimes that can come across as pretentious. But we can all come across that way from time to time, unless we are just being man-pleasers. If you get me talking too long about baptism, I'm sure someone in the room is going to think I could have said one thing or the other a different way. He isn't trying to insult anyone I can assure you
Nice recommendations. I was a anti-Calvin until I read I read his Institutes of the Christian Religion. Then it was clear, Calvin was not, is not, a Calvinist.
5:26 I have to confess, I hate singing and don't do it.
Wow! I don't mean any criticism. It's just that as a wannabe singer / former worship bad member, I can't imagine such a thing! But hey, people are different and that's fine.
@@Yesica1993 It's one of the reasons I don't go to any 'churches', I find all the songs to be too much, it drowns out the preaching
You have compiled a wonderful list! One work that has been so beneficial to my spiritual life is "The Diary and Journal of David Brainerd" edited by Jonathan Edwards. It has been such a devotional help to my life. I served overseas as a missionary, and if I could take only two books it would be the Bible and David Brainerd's Journal.
I think it was here that I learned about David Brainerd's journal. I am interested in it. But do you know if this is something he wanted published? I'm always hesitant about personal writings like diaries/journals, and personal letters. I'd die of embarrassment if anyone read my personal writings! (Not that I'd have anything worth reading. But just saying.) If he was okay with it, then I'd love to check it out.
@@Yesica1993 I completely understand how you feel about that. Do what your conscience tells you. You do not want to sin by going against it. David Brainerd was a very holy, humble man. He may not have wanted his diary read by others, but his journal was his way to keep those updated who sent him out to the mission field about his work, thus was written to be read by others. With that in mind, he was so humble and focused on God's glory that if he found out that God used his diary for His glory and to send many other missionaries to the field, I am sure he would give his approval for you to read it.
Having read the ESV study Bible, lots of it footnotes are completely outlandish and so heavily biased that they fail to comment to accurately comment on the meaning of many different passages. The authors approach the text with their doctrine first, rather than approaching the text to form their doctrine second. Obviously, this does not apply to every author, because their are so many of them that contributed to the work, but at least some of them are guilty of this
CSB is better then the ESV
No biblical atlas, no cultural background, no archaeological reference, no church history, but you put Narnia on the list? Obviously the list would vary for everyone but I would think you could find several more important works or references before adding modern fiction.
2000 Years of Christ's Power volumes 1-5 by Nick Needham (Church History).
I say it with love and not bad intention, why so narrow minded? I mean, why not some "not reformed" books? Like some catholic or orthodox or at least some "not calvinist" (ok, lewis, how don't...) authors? There is no good theology in them? I truly don't get it. When i discovered calvinism, i was like you, but then by studying more and more you learn there is gold also "outside"... And that's not supposed to be ignored... For example, i am sure you will love (if you hadn't read it) "orthodoxy" by Chesterton... Or... Von Balthasar works... Or Bulgakov or Florenski or long ETC!!!! I hope you understand me... Love from God of me to you, friend. (Okay... Practical... A lot of mystics of course)
You certainly know how to trigger those of us who are not Calvinist 😆
If you are a Calvinist they are 'fine', if not, you should avoid them.
books i recommend highly: Cuktural Backgrpunds Study Bible ]Ivp]; Navigators LifeChange workbooks;