The Apostle Paul wrote to Timothy with this request…
“When you come, bring the cloak that I left with Carpus at Troas, also the books, and above all the parchments.” (2 Timothy 4:13)
This is an amazing request. Even though Paul is in prison awaiting execution, he still desires to read and study so that he can continue to work for the sake of the gospel!
Paul’s example is a major rebuke to all with an unteachable spirit. No one, regardless of their knowledge and experience, is beyond the need to learn (e.g., Paul had been preaching for 30 years, he had been caught up to heaven, he had personally seen Jesus and wrote the majority of the New Testament!).
Paul’s request also challenges all who give a myriad of excuses for why they don’t read. John Calvin commenting on Paul’s request to Timothy writes…
“It is evident from this, that the Apostle Paul had not given over reading, though he was already preparing for death. Where are those who think that they have made so great progress that they do not need any more exercise? Which of them will dare to compare himself with Paul? Still more does this expression refute the madness of those men who- despising books, and condemning all reading-boast of nothing but their own divine inspirations. But let us know that this passage gives to all believers a recommendation of constant reading, that they may profit by it.” (Calvin’s Commentaries, Vol. XXI, 2 Timothy, p. 266)
When asked about the importance of reading good books, Charles Spurgeon answered…
“As the apostle says to Timothy, so also he says to every-one, ‘Give yourself to reading.’ …He who will not use the thoughts of other men's brains proves that he has no brains of his own… You need to read. Renounce as much as you will all light literature, but study as much as possible sound theological works, especially the Puritanic writers, and expositions of the Bible… the best way for you to spend your leisure is to be either reading or praying.”
Paul’s request highlights the important role the reading of sound books play in the believer’s spiritual growth and effectiveness in gospel ministry. Every believer should be seeking to build a personal theological library.
To help you get started, below is a brief list of recommended books we believe will help you grow in your understanding and practice of the Christian faith and life.
Christian LifeDoctrine & Theology |
Creeds & Confessions
Apologetics & Ethics |
Christian Life
Study Bibles
The Reformation Study Bible, Ligonier Ministries
Catechesis
To Be a Christian: An Anglican Catechism, ed. J.I. Packer, Joel Scandrett, Anglican Church in North America
Christian Living & Sanctification
Hope and Holiness: How the Gospel Enables and Empowers Sexual Purity, Dr. John Fonville
The Gospel for Real Life, Jerry Bridges
The Gospel Mystery of Sanctification, Walter Marshall
Christ the Lord: The Reformation and Lordship Salvation, ed. Michael Horton
The Discipline of Grace, Jerry Bridges
Unstuck: A nine-step journey to change that lasts, Tim Lane
The Bookends of the Christian Life, Jerry Bridges & Bob Bevington
The Mortification of Sin, John Owen
Good News for Anxious Christians: 10 Practical Things You Don't Have To Do, Phillip Cary
Keep in Step With the Spirit, J.I. Packer
Sex, Dating and Relationships, Gerald Hiestand and Jay Thomas
How People Change, Timothy S. Lane & Paul David Tripp
Grounded in the Gospel: Building Believers the Old-Fashioned Way, J.I. Packer and Gary A. Parrett
You Can Change, Tim Chester
Holiness by Grace, Bryan Chapell
The Holiness of God, R.C. Sproul
The Christian Life, Sinclair Ferguson
Pilgrim's Progress, John Bunyan
The Gospel-Driven Life: Being Good News People in a Bad News World, Michael Horton
Christless Christianity: The Alternative Gospel of the American Church, Michael Horton
Doctrine & Theology
Systematic Theology
The Christian Faith: A Systematic Theology for Pilgrims On the Way, Michael Horton
Pilgrim Theology: Core Doctrines For Christian Disciples, Michael Horton
Institutes of the Christian Religion, John Calvin
Sacred Bond: Covenant Theology Explored, Michael Brown & Zach Keele
For Calvinism, Michael Horton
Thomas Cranmer's Doctrine of Repentance: Renewing the Power to Love, Ashley Null
A Body of Divinity, Thomas Watson
Essential Truths of the Christian Faith, R.C. Sproul
Basic Christianity, John Stott
18 Words: The Most Important Words You Will Ever Know, J.I. Packer
Biblical Theology
Gospel & Kingdom, Graeme Goldsworthy
According to Plan, Graeme Goldsworthy
Preaching the Whole Bible as Christian Scripture, Graeme Goldsworthy
God's Big Picture, Vaughan Roberts
Walking With Jesus Through His Word: Discovering Christ in All the Scriptures, Dennis E. Johnson
Journeys With Jesus: Every Path In The Bible Leads Us To Christ, Dennis E. Johnson
The Temple and the Church's Mission, G.K. Beale
God Dwells Among Us: Expanding Eden to the Ends of the Earth, G.K. Beale and Mitchell Kim
Commentary on the New Testament Use of the Old Testament, Beale & Carson
The Symphony of Scripture, Mark Strom
Adopted into God's Family, Trevor Burke
From Creation to New Creation, Tim Chester
Bible Overview, Steve Levy & Paul Blackham
God, Heaven and Har Magedon, Merdith Kline
Kingdom Prologue, Meredith Kline
Preaching Christ In All Of Scripture, Edmund Clowney
The Unfolding Mystery: Discovering Christ in the OT, Edmund Clowney
Redemption: The Triumph of God's Great Plan, Derke Bergsma
Biblical Theology (16 Lectures, iTunes U), Dr. Edmund Clowney
The Big Picture Story Bible, Dave Helm (children)
Scripture (Bibliology)
A General Introduction to the Bible, Norman Geisler & William Nix
The Canon of Scripture, F.F. Bruce
Scripture & Truth, D.A. Carson & John Woodbridge, Ed.
The Inspiration and Authority of the Bible, B.B. Warfield
Inerrancy, Norman Geisler, Ed.
Scripture Alone, R.C. Sproul
I Believe in Revelation, Leon Morris
God Has Spoken, J.I. Packer
Fundamentalism and the Word of God, J.I. Packer
God's Hammer, Gordon Clark
God (Theology Proper)
Knowing God, J.I. Packer
Delighting in the Trinity: An Introduction to the Christian Faith, Michael Reeves
The Son Who Learned Obedience: A Theological Case Against the Eternal Submission of the Son, D. Glenn Butner, Jr.
The Eternal Generation of the Son: Maintaining Orthodoxy in Trinitarian Theology, Kevin Giles
The Knowledge of the Holy, A.W. Tozer
The Attributes of God, A.W. Pink
The Existence & Attributes of God, Stephen Charnock
Delighting in the Trinity, Tim Chester
Jesus Christ (Christology)
The Glory of Christ, John Owen
The Person & Work of Christ, B.B. Warfield
Pierced for Our Transgression, Steve Jeffery, Michael Ovey & Andrew Sach
Christ In All The Scriptures, A.M. Hodgkin
Jesus Among Other Gods, Ravi Zacharias
The Supremacy of Christ, Ajith Fernando
Holy Spirit (Pneumatology)
Rediscovering the Holy Spirit: God's Perfecting Presence in Creation, Redemption and Everyday Life, Michael Horton (Highly Recommeded)
I Believe in the Holy Spirit, Michael Green
The Holy Spirit, John Owen
The Office and Work of the Holy Spirit, James Buchanan
God's Indwelling Presence: The Holy Spirit in the Old & New Testaments, James M. Hamilton, Jr.
The Mystery of the Holy Spirit, R.C. Sproul
The Doctrine of the Holy Spirit, George Smeaton
Paul, the Spirit and the People of God, Gordon Fee
God's Empowering Presence, Gordon Fee
Baptism & Fullness, John Stott
Keep in Step with the Spirit, J.I. Packer
Miraculous Gifts
Pentecost Today?, Iain Murray
Showing the Spirit, D.A. Carson
The Holy Spirit and Spiritual Gifts, Max Turner
Empowered Evangelicals, Rich Nathan & Ken Wilson
Salvation (Soteriology)
Christ the Lord: The Reformation and Lordship Salvation, ed. Michael Horton
The Great Exchange, Jerry Bridges & Bob Bevington
Redemption Accomplished & Applied, John Murray
A Gospel Primer for Christians: Learning to See the Glories of God's Love, Milton Vincent
The Cross of Christ, John Stott
The Cross of Jesus, Leon Morris
The Message of the Resurrection, Paul Beasley-Murray
Faith Alone, R.C. Sproul
The Doctrine of Justification, James Buchanan
The Doctrine of Justification, John Owen
Justification, Francis Turretin
Justification Vindicated, Robert Traill
Justified: Modern Reformation Essays on the Doctrine of Justification, Ryan Glomsrud & Michael Horton
Evangelical Repentance, John Colquhoun
Adopted Into God's Family, Trevor Burke
Heirs With Christ, Joel Beeke
Saved from What?, R.C. Sproul
The Message of Salvation, Philip Ryken
The Apostolic Preaching of the Cross, Leon Morris
The Cross: The Pulpit of God's Love, Iain Murray
Law & Gospel
A Treatise On The Law and The Gospel, John Colquhoun
12 Discourses Upon the Law and the Gospel, W. Romaine
The Proper Distinction Between Law and Gospel, C.F.W. Walther
Luther's Works, vols. 26-27 "Lectures on Galatians", Martin Luther
Commentary on the Heidelberg Catechism, Zacharias Ursinus
The Christian Faith, Theodore Beza
Calvin's Commentaries, vol. 20 1 & 2 Corinthians (see comments on 2 Corinthians 3-4)
The Law and Gospel, Michael Horton (an online article at The White Horse Inn)
Law and Gospel, Michael Horton (Ligonier Ministries, http://www.ligonier.org/learn/articles/law-and-gospel; Michael Horton, http://wscal.edu/resource-center/calvin-on-law-and-gospel)
Humanity & Sin (Anthropology & Hamartiology)
Human Nature in its Fourfold State, Thomas Boston
The Bondage of the Will, Martin Luther
Sinfulness of Sin, Ralph Venning
The Mischief of Sin, Thomas Watson
Indwelling Sin in Believers, John Owen
Christian View of Man, J. Gresham Machen
Biblical Doctrine of Man, Gordon Clark
Knowing Man, J.I. Packer
Created in God's Image, Anthony A. Hoekema
Not the Way It's Supposed to Be: A Breviary of Sin, Cornelius Plantinga Jr.
Church (Ecclesiology)
The Church: Contours of Christian Theology, Edmund P. Clowney
People and Place: A Covenant Ecclesiology, Michael Horton
I Believe in the Church, David Watson
Sacraments
Word, Water and Spirit: A Reformed Perspective on Baptism, J.V. Fesko (Highly Recommended)
Given For You: Reclaiming Calvin's Doctrine of the Lord's Supper, Keith A. Mathison (Highly Recommended)
The Anglican Evangelical Doctrine of Infant Baptism, John Stott and J. Alec Motyer
Treatises on the Sacraments: Catechism of the Church of Geneva, Forms of Prayer and Confessions of Faith, translated by Henry Beveridge
The Mystery of the Lord's Supper: Sermons by Robert Bruce, ed. Thomas F. Torrance
Christian Baptism, John Murray
Jesus Loves the Little Children: Why We Baptize Children, Daniel R. Hyde
Taking Baptism Seriously, J.I. Packer
Baptism and Regeneration, J.I. Packer
Last Things (Eschatology)
A Case For Amillennialism: Understanding the End Times, Kim Riddlebarger (Highly Recommended)
The Man of Sin: Uncovering the Truth About The Antichrist, Kim Riddlebarger (Highly Recommended)
Amillennialism 101, Kim Riddlebarger (http://kimriddlebarger.squarespace.com)
The Lamb & the Lion: The Gospel in Revelation, Graeme Goldsworthy
Triumph of the Lamb: A Commentary on Revelation, Dennis E. Johnson
The Meaning of the Millennium: Four Views, Robert G. Clouse, Ed.
Revelation: 4 Views: A Parallel Commentary, Steve Gregg, Ed.
Crucial Questions About Hell, Ajith Fernando
Whatever Happened to Hell?, John Blanchard
Creeds & Confessions
Introductions
The Creedal Imperative, Carl Trueman
Catholic Creeds
Creeds of Christendom, 3 vols., Philip Schaff
Affirming the Apostles' Creed, J.I. Packer
We Believe: Recovering the Essentials of the Apostles' Creed, Michael Horton
The Apostles' Creed, Herman Witsius
Ancient Christian Doctrine, 5 vols., Editedy by Gerald Bray and Thomas C. Oden
Early Christian Creeds, J.N.D. Kelly
The Apostles' Creed: A Guide to the Ancient Catechism, Ben Myers
The History of Christian Doctrines, Louis Berkhof
Creeds, Councils and Christ: Did the Early Christians Misrepresent Jesus?, Gerald Bray
The Making of the Creeds, Frances Young
Anglican
The Faith We Confess: An Exposition of the Thirty-Nine Articles, Gerald Bray
The Thirty-Nine Articles: Their Place and Use Today, J.I. Packer and R.T. Beckwith
On The Thirty-Nine Articles: Conversations with Tudor Christianity, Oliver O'Donovan
The Book of Common Prayer: A Biography, Alan Jacobs
Grounded in the Gospel: Building Believers the Old-Fashioned Way, J.I. Packer and Gary A. Parrett
The ‘Very Pure Word of God’: The Book of Common Prayer as a Model Liturgy, Peter Adam
The Rise of Moralism: The Proclamation of the Gospel from Hooker to Baxter, Allison, C. Fitzsimons
Richard Hooker and the Authority of Scripture, Tradition and Reason, Nigel Atkinson
Reformation Anglicanism: A Vision for Today’s Global Communion, Ashley Null and John W. Yates III
Reformation Anglicanism: Biblical—Generous—Beautiful, Chuck Collins
Thomas Cranmer’s Doctrine of Repentance: Renewing the Power to Love, Ashley Null
The Books of Homilies: A Critical Edition, Gerald Bray
The Book of Common Prayer, 1662
Divine Allurement: Cranmer's Comfortable Words, Ashley Null
Dearly Beloved: Buildling God's People Through Morning and Evening Prayer, Mark Burkill
Presbyterian & Reformed
Reformed Confessions Harmonized, Joel R. Beeke & Sinclair B. Ferguson
The Westminster Confession: A Commentary, AA Hodge
The Westminster Larger Catechism: A Commentary, Johannes G. Vos
Confessing The Faith: A reader's guide to the Westminster Confession of Faith, Chad Van Dixhoorn
Truths We Confess: A Layman's Guide to the Westminster Confession of Faith, R.C. Sproul
The Shorter Catechism Explaind From Scripture, Thomas Vincent
Learning in Christ's School, Ralph Venning
Commentary on the Heidelberg Catechism, Zacharias Ursinus
Firm Foundation: An Aid to Interpreting the Heidelberg Catechism, Caspar Olevianus
Annotation to the Heidelberg Catechism, J. Van Bruggen
Our Only Comfort: A Comprehensive Commentary on the Heidelberg Catechism, Fred H. Klooster
The Heidelberg Catechism, G.I. Williamson
But For the Grace of God: An Exposition of the Canons of Dort, Cornelis P. Venema
Ecumenical Creeds
The Apostles' Creed
Athanasian Creed
Nicence Creed
Reformed Confessions
The Anglican Formularies (The 39 Articles (1571); Book of Common Prayer [1662]; The Ordinal; The Books of Homilies)
Westminster Standards (Westminster Confession of Faith, The Westminster Larger Catechism, The Westminster Shorter Catechism)
Three Forms of Unity (Heidelberg Catechism, Belgic Confession, Canons of Dordt)
The Rochelle (French) Confession of Faith (1559)
The Savoy Declaration (1658)
Particular Baptist Confession
The Baptist Confession of Faith of 1689
Preaching
Him We Proclaim: Preaching Christ From All the Scriptures, Dennis E. Johson
Preaching the Whole Bible as Christian Scripture, Graeme Goldsworthy
Gospel-Centered Hermeneutics: Foundations and Principles of Biblical Interpretation, Graeme Goldsworthy
Gospel and Wisdom, Graeme Goldsworthy
The Gospel in Revelation, Graeme Goldsworthy
Preaching Christ in All of Scripture, Edmund Clowney
Preaching Christ from the Old Testament, Sidney Greidanus
Preaching Christ from Ecclesiastes, Sidney Greidanus
Christ-Centered Preaching, Bryan Chapell
Typos: The Typological Interpretation of the Old Testament in the New, Leonhard Goppelt
Evangelism & Missions
The Gospel Commission: Recovering God's Strategy for Making Disciples, Michael Horton
Evangelism and the Sovereignty of God, J.I. Packer
Evangelism in the Early Church, Michael Green
Perspectives, 4th ed., Ralph Winter & Steven Hawthorne
Operation World, Patrick Johnstone
Salvation to the Ends of the Earth, Andreas Kostenberger & Peter O'Brien
From Jerusalem to Irian Jaya : A Biographical History of Christian Missions, Ruth Tucker
Autobiography of John Paton, John Paton
To The Golden Shore, Courtney Anderson
A Vision for Missions, Tom Wells
Through Gates of Splendor, Elisabeth Elliot
Our Guilty Silence, John Stott
Christian Mission, John Stott
Tell the Truth, Bruce Metzger
Telling the Truth, D.A. Carson
Apologetics & Ethics
Apologetics
Reforming Apologetics: Retrieving the Classic Reformed Approach to Defending the Faith, J.V. Fesko
The Reason for God, Tim Keller
Francis A. Schaeffer Trilogy, Francis Schaeffer
Why I Am A Christian, John Stott
The Universe Next Door, James Sire
Only One Way, Hywel Jones
Only One Way, Richard Phillips
Is Jesus the Only Savior, Ronald Nash
Can Man Live Without God?, Ravi Zacharias
Compact Guide to World Religions, Dean Halverson
Mere Christianity, C.S. Lewis
Darwin on Trial, Phillip E. Johnson
Christianity & Liberalism, J. Gresham Machen
Ethics
Principles of Conduct, John Murray
Evangelical Ethics, John Jefferson Davis
Biblical Christian Ethics, David Clyde Jones
Christian Ethics in Plain Language, Kerby Anderson
Bioethics, Gilbert Meilaender
Marriage & Family
Give Them Grace: Dazzling Your Kids with the Love Jesus, Elyse Fitzpatrick & Jessica Thompson
Each For The Other, Bryan and Kathy Chapell
Love that Lasts: When Marriage Meets Grace, Gary and Betsy Ricucci
When Sinners Say "I Do": Discovering the Power of the Gospel for Marriage, Dave Harvey
Big Truths for Little Kids, Susan & Richie Hunt
Instruments in the Redeemer's Hands, Paul Tripp
Parenting by the Book, John Rosemond
Thoughts for Young Men, J.C. Ryle
The Big Picture Story Bible, Dave Helm
Music & Worship
A Better Way: Rediscovering the Drama of God-Centered Worship, Michael Horton
Worship, Community and the Triune God of Grace, James B. Torrance
Worship by the Book, D.A. Carson, Ed.
Worship in the Early Church, Ralph P. Martin
The Worship of God, Ralph P. Martin
Worship: Reformed according to Scripture, Hughes Oliphant Old
Music Through The Eyes of Faith, Harold Best
Unceasing Worship, Harold Best
Worship in Spirit and Truth, John Frame
Exploring the Worship Spectrum: 6 Views, Paul Engle & Paul Basden, Ed.
Multi-volume Sets
Works of Ralph Erskine, 10 volumes
Works of Ebenezer Erskine, 3 volumes
Works of John Newton, 6 volumes
Works of John Bunyan, 3 volumes
Works of Richard Sibbes, 7 volumes
Works of Jonathan Edwards, 2 volumes
Works of John Owen, 16 volumes
Works of B.B. Warfield, 10 volumes
The Collected Writings of John Murray, 4 volumes
Sermons of Charles Spurgeon (5 volumes)
The Collected Shorter Writings of J.I. Packer, 4 volumes
God, Revelation, and Authority, 6 volumes, Carl F.H. Henry
The New Park Street Pulpit, 6 volumes, Charles Spurgeon
The Metropolitan Tabernacle Pulpit, 57 volumes, Charles Spurgeon
Biographies
Foxe's Book of Martyrs
But Now I See: The Life of John Newton, Josiah Bull
Robert Murray M'Cheyne, Andrew Bonar
Here I Stand: A Life of Martin Luther, Roland Bainton
Martin Luther: A Guided Tour of His Life and Thought, Stephen Nichols
William Tyndale: A Biography, David Daniell
A Heart for Missions, Andrew Fuller
Vital Christianity, Murray Andrew Pura
God's Outlaw: The Story of William Tyndale and the English Bible, Brian Edwards
The Plain Mr. Knox, Elizabeth Whitley
Samuel Rutherford: A New Biography of The Man and His Ministry, Kingsley Rendell
Jonathan Edwards: A Guided Tour of his Life and Thought, Stephen Nichols
Jonathan Edwards: A New Biography, Iain Murray
Jonathan Edwards: A Life, George Marsden
Faithful Witness: The Life and Mission of William Carey, Timothy George
John Wesley: A Biography, Stephen Tomkins
George Whitfield: God's Anointed Servant in the Great Revival of the Eighteenth Century, Arnold Dallimore
George Whitefiled: The Life and Times of the great evangelist of the 18th century revival, Arnold Dallimore, vols. 1-2
William Carey and the Missionary Vision, Daniel Webber
The Autobiography of George Muller
Spiritual Secret of Hudson Taylor, Dr. and Mrs. Howard Taylor
To the Golden Shore: The Life of Adoniram Judson, Courtney Anderson
Martyn Lloyd-Jones: A Family Portrait, Christopher Catherwood
The Sacred Anointing: The Preaching of Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones
D. Martyn Lloyd-Jones, vols. 1-2, Iain Murray
Spurgeon: Prince of Preachers, Lewis A. Drummond
Spurgeon: A New Biography, Arnold Dallimore