Last night, following our annual Christmas caroling in the neighborhood one of the young ladies whose family only recently attended the Church I serve pulled me aside and asked me to give her a list of books to read for someone who wants to understand more of basic Biblical Christian theology and doctrine. I am excited to do so. So, what follows is a list of books that are intended to be very basic for someone just learning about Reformed doctrine and theology.
1.) Heidelberg Catechism
There are 52 Lord’s Day here Eleanor. Each Lord’s day typically has 3 questions and answers (though that can vary). Read 1 Lord’s Day every week and over the course of one year (It won’t take more than a few minutes daily) you’ll begin to get a good footing. Then keep doing so for year after year. If you have questions write them down and send them to me. We can have a great conversation.
2.) Knowledge of the Holy — A. W. Tozer
3.) Knowing God — J. I. Packer
4.) The Pleasures of God; Meditations On God’s Delight In Being God — John Piper
The Christian faith starts with what is called “Theology Proper,” and Tozer, Packer and Piper do a good job in these books explaining in understandable terms the character of God.
5.) Knowing Scripture — R. C. Sproul
This will help you to know how to read the Scripture. It will help you to understand how we know what we know.
6.) What The Angels Wish They Knew — Alister Begg
7.) Putting Amazing Back Into Grace — Mike Horton
These two books will give you a good handle on knowing the content of the Gospel.
8.) The Atonement: Its Meaning and Significance — Leon Morris
This book will help you understand the finished work of Jesus Christ on the Cross and why the Cross is at the center of our Christian faith.
9.) Who Is The Holy Spirit — R. C. Sproul Sr.
Modern Christians have low views and understandings of the person and work of the Holy Spirit. This book begins to teach who the person of the Holy Spirit is and what His role and work is in our Christian life.
10.) Every Thought Captive: a Study Manual for the Defense of the Truth —
Richard Pratt Jr.
This book will give you confidence in what you believe as it teaches you how to defend what you believe when people come around trying to belittle the Christian faith.
Good evening Pr.,
Since posting this introductory list last year is there anything you would add as a Level 2 / intermediate list?
Hello Gabe,
Thank you for asking;
Ten Books serving as a intermediate reading list for Christians want to increasingly understand their faith.
1.) The Kingdom of the Cults: The Definitive Work on the Subject―A Go-To Reference on World Religions, Sects & Cults – Walter Martin
Often our understanding of what is true is aided by learning what is not true. Walter Martin’s work above is considered the “go to” classic for understanding the Christian faith by understanding what it is not.
Next level here would be to read Harold O. J. Brown’s “Heresies.”
2.) Every Christian should be familiar with Church History. I good intermediate read here would be Philip Schaaf’s 8 volume set on Church History.
Next level here would be to zero in on Reformation History by reading Merle D’Aubugine’s 6 volume set on the Reformation.
3.) A Quest for Godliness: The Puritan Vision of the Christian Life – J. I. Packer
Packer gives an outline of some of the main themes of the Puritans. As the Puritans were instrumental to the formation of the Reformed faith it is stimulating to read on them
Next level read here would be to start reading the Puritan’s themselves. John Owen is a good place to start. Maybe “The Death of Death in the Death of Christ.”
4.) Canon Revisited: Establishing the Origins and Authority of the New Testament Books Hardcover by Michael J. Kruger
The next level here would be to read the 3 Volume set titled; “Holy Scripture: The Ground and Pillar of Our Faith,” by King, Webster, and
5.) A Christian View of Men and Things by Gordon Haddon Clark
Next level here would be “Van Til’s Apologetic: Readings and Analysis” by Dr. Greg Bahnsen
6.) Worldview: The History of a Concept – David Naugle
Next Level – The Christian View of God and the World by James Orr
7.) Intermediate level – “You Can Trust The Communists to be Communists – Fred Schwarz
Next Level — Communist Eschatology by Francis Nigel Lee
8.) Intermediate level – The Red Trojan Horse: A Concise Analysis of Cultural Marxism – Alasdair Elder
Next Level – Suicide of the West: An Essay on the Meaning and Destiny of Liberalism – James Burnham
9.) Intermediate level – Systematic Theology – Robert Letham
Next Level – A New Systematic Theology of the Christian Faith by Robert L. Raymond
10.) Geerhardus Vos – Biblical Theology
Next Level – A New Testament Biblical Theology by G. K. Beale