Before proceeding to the rather long list of books that I have been compiling over the years, here are links to a list of recommended books for the philosophical neophyte: English Language and French Language.
This list is based upon books that I have either personally read and consulted or have had others whose opinion I respect recommend to me. I have not listed every book in every subject yet, but, I will occasionally update this list. The books are ordered according to their general subject. Within each subject the books are placed in order according to their importance and usefulness, based upon my personal use of each book. Most useful and important at the top of the list, least important and useful at the bottom.
PHILOSOPHY
Introduction
to Philosophy
Maritain,
Jacques. An Introduction to Philosophy.
History
of Philosophy
Copleston, Frederick. History of Philosophy.
- This series is still the best on the market, and a must read for anybody who wants to understand the history of thought (both philosophical and theological).
Owens,
Joseph. History of Ancient Western Philosophy.
Maurer,
Armand. Medieval Philosophy.
Gilson,
Étienne, and Thomas Langan. Modern Philosophy
Gilson, Étienne, Armand Maurer and Thomas Langan. Recent Philosophy.
Gilson,
Étienne. History of Christian Philosophy in the Medieval Ages.
Pieper,
Josef. Scholasticism: Personalities and Problems of Medieval Philosophy.
- This is a great little introduction to the greatest philosophers of the medieval period, written by one of the top medievalists.
Logic
Kreeft, Peter. Socratic Logic, 3rd ed. (Southbend, IN: St. Augustine’s Press, 2010).
- This is, by far, the best book I have ever read on Logic. Not only do you learn the principles of logic, but you also learn the ontological and epistemological principles upon which logic is based.
Baronett,
Stan. Logic. 2nd ed. (Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2013).
Pospesel,
Howard. Introduction to Logic: Propositional Logic, 3rd ed. (Upper
Saddle River, Prentice Hall, 2000).
Pospesel,
Howard. Introduction to Logic: Predicate Logic, 2nd ed.
Dopp,
Joseph. Notions de Logique Formelle. (Louvain: Publications
Universitaires de Louvain, 1965).
Epstein,
Richard L. Critical Thinking (Belmont, CA: Wadsworth
Publishing Co., 1999).
Smith, Vincent
Edward. Éléments de Logique. Trad. Thérèse Sasseville et
Marie-Agnès Tremblay, 2nd ed. (Montreal: Centre de Psychologie et de Pédagogie,
1966).
Quine, Willard V.
O. Méthodes de logique. Trad. Maurice Clavelin. (Paris: Armand Colin,
1972).
Cohen,
Morris R. & Ernest Nagel. An Introduction to Logic, 2nd ed.
(New York: Harcourt, Brace & World, 1962).
Bluedorn,
Nathaniel & Hans Bluedorn. The Fallacy Detective: Thirty-Eight
Lessons on How to Recognize Bad Reasoning. 3rd ed. (Muscatine, IO:
Christian Logic, 2009).
- This is a fun little book for teaching children ages 8+ how to think critically.
Poythress,
Vern Sheridan. Logic: A God-Centered Approach to the Foundation of
Western Thought (Wheaton, IL: Crossway, 2013).
- This is a reformed, presuppositionalist, look at logic, which includes chapters on the presuppositional understanding of the philosophical/theological foundations of logic, as well as the actual science of logic. I do not recommend this book for learning logic.
Geisler,
Norman L. & Ronald M. Brooks, Come, Let Us Reason: An Introduction
to Logical Thinking (1990; Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Books, 2008).
Metaphysics/Ontology
Aristotle, Metaphysics.
Plato, The
Sophist.
Aquinas,
Thomas. Commentary on the Metaphysics of Aristotle.
Gilson,
Étienne. Being and Some Philosophers.
Gilson,
Étienne. Constantes Philosophiques de l’être.
Owens,
Joseph. An Elementary Christian Metaphysics.
Owens,
Joseph. The Doctrine of Being in the Aristotelian Metaphysics.
Maritain,
Jacques. Existence and the Existent.
Wilhelmsen,
Frederick D. Being and Knowing: Reflections of a Thomist.
Clarke, W. Norris. The
One and the Many: A Contemporary Thomistic Metaphysics (Notre Dame,
IN: University of Notre Dame Press, 2001).
Wilhelmsen, Frederick D. Man’s Knowledge of Reality: An Introduction to Thomistic Epistemology.
- This is, by far, my favourite book on Epistemology.
Aristotle, De Anima.
Aristotle, Metaphysics.
Plato, Theaetetus.
Gilson,
Étienne. Methodical Realism.
Gilson,
Étienne. Thomist Realism and the Critique of Knowledge.
Maritain,
Jacques. Degrees of Knowledge.
Owens,
Joseph. Cognition: An Epistemological Inquiry.
Wilhelmsen,
Frederick D. Being and Knowing: Reflections of a Thomist.
Wilhelmsen,
Frederick D. The Paradoxical Structure of Existence.
Philosophy
of Nature
Aristotle, The Physics.
Maritain,
Jacques. The Philosophy of Nature.
Philosophy
of Human Nature
Aristotle, De Anima.
Brennan, Robert Edward. Thomist Psychology: A philosophical Analysis of the Nature of Man
- This is one of the best books on the subject. Period.
Klubertanz,
George. The Philosophy of Human Nature.
- Another favorite, this book is written as a textbook (including definitions and exercises at the end of every chapter, as well as primary source texts).
Important
works in Moral Philosophy
Aquinas,
Thomas. Disputed Questions on Virtue, trans. Ralph McInerny
(Southbend, IN: St. Augustine's Press, 1999).
Thomistic Moral Philosophy
Gilson, Étienne. Moral Values and the Moral Life: The Ethical Theory of St. Thomas Aquinas
Sertillanges, R.
P. La Philosophie Morale de St. Thomas d'Aquin
Maritain,
Jacques. Neuf Leçons sur les Notions Premières de la Philosophie morale (Paris:
Pierre Téqui, 1949).
McInerny,
Ralph. Ethica Thomistica: The Moral Philosophy of Thomas Aquinas
Pieper,
Josef. A Brief Reader on the Virtues of the Human Heart.
Pieper,
Josef. The Four Cardinal Virtues.
Pieper,
Josef. Faith, Hope, Love.
MacIntyre,
Alasdair. After Virtue. 3rd ed. (Notre Dame, IN: University of
Notre Dame Press, 2012).
Pojman, Louis P., ed., Ethical Theory: Classical and Contemporary Readings, 5th ed. (Thomson Wadsworth, 2007).
Rorty,
Amélie Oksenberg, Essays on Aristotle’s ethics (Los Angeles:
University of California Press, 1980).
Works in
Christian Ethics
McQuilkin, Robertson & Paul Copan. An Introduction to Biblical Ethics: Walking in the Way of Wisdom, 3rd ed. (Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press, 2014).
Loftin, R.
Keith. God & Morality: Four Views (Downers Grove, IL:
InterVarsity Press, 2012)
Geisler,
Norman L. Ethics: Alternatives and Issues (It may have a new
name if there is a newer edition.)
Grenz,
Stanley J. The Moral Quest: The Foundations of Christian Ethics
- I would recommend this book more as a way to NOT talk about moral philosophy than as a reference for a good exposition of Moral philosophy. See my book review on my blog.
Harrison,
R. K. The Encyclopedia of Biblical Ethics
Smith, Wesley J. The War on Humans.
- I very much appreciate the work of Wesley J. Smith. This short book provides the reader with a good introduction to Environmental ethics, and some of the consequences of the current views in this area of research. J'aime beaucoup Wesley J. Smith. J'ai assister à un de ses conférences voilà quelques années, et ce livre est un vrai bijou. Il n'est pas long, mais dans ce livre Smith aborde des sujets de jours concernant l'écologie, les droits d'animaux, etc. Merveilleux.
Smith, Wesley
J. A Rat Is a Pig Is a Dog Is a Boy: The Human Cost of the Animal
Rights Movement.
Smith,
Wesley J. Consumers Guide to a Brave New World.
Brunner,
Daniel L. and Jennifer L. Butler, Introducing Evangelical Ecotheology:
Foundations in Scripture, Theology, History, and Praxis.
Bauckham.
Richard, The Bible and Ecology: Rediscovering the Community of Creation
(Sarum Theological Lectures).
Wilkinson,
Katherine. Between God & Green: How Evangelicals Are Cultivating a
Middle Ground on Climate Change.
McDuff,
Mallory, and Bill McKibben. Sacred Acts: How churches are working to
protect Earth's climate.
Reichmann,
James B. Evolution, Animal 'Rights', and the Environment.
Rolston
III, Holmes. A New Environmental Ethics: The Next Millennium for Life
on Earth.
Rolston
III, Holmes. Environmental Ethics: Duties to and Values in the Natural
World (Ethics And Action).
Rolston
III, Holmes. Science and Religion: A Critical Survey.
Rolston
III, Holmes. Conserving Natural Value.
Rolston
III, Holmes. Biology, Ethics, and the Origins of Life.
Rolston
III, Holmes. Philosophy Gone Wild: Environmental Ethics.
Preston,
Christopher J. Saving Creation: Nature and Faith in the Life of Holmes
Rolston III.
Sutton, Agneta. Christian Bioethics: A Guide for the Perplexed.
- This is a short introduction to bio-ethics which exposes the reader to a number of key subjects, terms and debates in bio-ethics. Ce livre est un belle ajout à n'importe quel bibliothèque. Sutton survol plusieurs sujets en Bio-éthique d'un position Chrétien. Elle donne beaucoup à réfléchir, et elle aborde les sujets de l'écologie, les droits d'animaux, etc., dans les derniers chapitres. Un très bon introduction.
Maurer, Armand. About Beauty.
THEOLOGY
Systematic
Theology
Aquinas, Thomas. Summa Theologica, 5 vols., trans. Father of the English Dominican Province (Notre Dame, IN: Christian Classics, 1981).
- No comment is needed. This is scholastic theology at its best. It is difficult to find a better exposition of Christian doctrine. Period. Though protestants may find many things that they disagree with, so long as they carefully explain their disagreements, they can safely take the ST as a starting point for developing a coherent theology. This is, indeed, what almost all of the early reformed theologians did (such as Peter Martyr, Jerome Zanchi, Theodore Beza, John Calvin, Francis Turretin, etc.).
Aquinas,
Thomas. Summa of the Summa, ed. Peter Kreeft (San Fransisco:
Ignatius Press, 1990).
Aquinas,
Thomas. Summa Theologiae: A Concise Translation, ed. Timothy
McDermott (Westminster, Maryland: Christian Classics, 1989).
Geisler,
Norman. Systematic Theology, 4 vols. (Minneapolis, Minnesota:
Bethany House).
- These 4 volumes could be considered the Greatest theological work to be produced by Norman Geisler. For each doctrine he provides a theological explanation, biblical support for the doctrine, historical support, philosophical support, and responses to opposing positions. A great and necessary resource.
Enns,
Paul. The Moody Handbook of Theology (Chicago, IL: Moody
Press, 2008).
Turretin,
Francis. Institutes of Elentic Theology, 3 vols., trans. George
Musgrave Giger (P&R Publishing, 1997).
- By far the greatest Reformed systematic theology, written by one of the greatest reformed theologians. This was the textbook used at Princeton Theological Seminary until it was replaced (unfortunately) by the three volume Systematic Theology by Charles Hodge.
Erickson,
Millard. Christian Theology, 2nd ed. (Grand
Rapids, MI: Baker Books, 2002).
Hodge,
Charles. Systematic Theology, 3 vols. (Hendrickson Publishers,
2003).
- These three volumes constitute what is probably the best systematic theology to come out of the Great Princeton Theologians. This three volume systematic theology replaced the work by Turretin. Though I can't imagine why, other than that Latin was less common, so Hodge's English Systematic Theology was easier for teaching undergraduate theology.
Strong, A.
H. Systematic Theology (Old Tappan, NJ: Fleming H. Revell Co.,
1979).
- Augustus H. Strong was the great Reformed Baptist Theologian.
Dogmatic
Theology
Calvin, John. Institutes of the Christian Religion (Westminster John Knox Press, 2011).
- Properly speaking the Institutes is not a Systematic Theology, rather, it is a polemical commentary on the Apostles Creed written for the general public. As such, it best fits into Dogmatic Theology (I do not see the need to create a separate category for polemical theology).
Barth,
Karl. Church Dogmatics. (In 14 or 31 vols.)
Philosophical
Theology
Flint, Thomas P. & Michael C. Rea, eds., The Oxford Handbook of Philosophical Theology (Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2009).
Natural Theology
Kretzmann, Norman. The Metaphysics of Theism: Aquinas’s Natural Theology in Summa Contra Gentiles 1 (1997; repr., Oxford : Clarendon Press, 2004).
Gilson,
Etienne. The Spirit of Mediaeval Philosophy, trans. A. H. C. Downes
(1991; repr., Notre Dame: University of Notre Dame Press, 2009). Original french edition: "L'esprit de
la philosophie medievale"
Barr,
James. Biblical
Faith and Natural Theology (Oxford: Clarendon Press, 1994).
Pelikan,
Jaroslav. Christianity and Classical Culture: The Metamorphosis of
Natural Theology in the Christian Encounter with Hellenism (New Haven:
Yale University Press, 1993).
Van Steenberghen,
Fernand. Dieu Caché: Comment savons-nous que Dieu existe? (Louvain: Publications Universitaire
de Louvain, 1966).
- There is also an English edition of this book that is available under the title Hidden God: How do we know that God exists.
Anderson,
James F. Natural Theology: The Metaphysics of God (Milwaukee:
The Bruce Publishing Company, 1962).
Grison, M. Théologie
Naturelle ou Théodicée, 10ieme ed. (Paris : Beauchesne et ses Fils,
1959).
White,
Thomas Joseph, Wisdom in the Face of Modernity: A Study in Thomistic
Natural Theology (Ave Maria, FL: Sapienta Press, 2009).
- Probably one of the best works I have ever read on Natural Theology.
Holloway,
Maurice R. An Introduction to Natural Theology (New York:
Appleton Century Crofts, 1959).
Brunner,
Emil & Karl Barth. Natural Theology (Wipf & Stock,
2002).
-This book contains the 2 article debate that essentially ended the friendship between Emil Brunner and Karl Barth. Karl Barth reacted violently (as violently as an academic author can react in an article) to Emil Brunner’s claim that natural knowledge of God was possible on a certain level. This is essential reading for those who wish to understand Barth’s position on Natural Theology.
Barth,
Karl. The Knowledge of God and the Service of God According to the
Teaching of the Reformation, trans. J. L. M. Haire and Ian Henderson
(London: Hodder and Stoughton Publishers, 1938).
-This book contains Karl Barth’s Gifford Lectures. The Gifford Lectures are dedicated to promoting the study of natural theology – natural knowledge of God. As such, this book is a huge disappointment as Barth does not even argue against the possibility of natural theology, but, assuming its impossibility, goes on to give an exposition of the Scottish confession of faith.
Smith,
Gerard. Natural Theology: Metaphysics II (New York: The
Macmillan Company, 1951).
Beauchamp,
Maurice. Méthode thomiste de la théologie naturelle (Ann
Arbor, MI : Proquest, LLC, 1941). Disponible gratuitement sur pdf. sur demande.
McGrath,
Alister. The Open Secret: A New Vision for Natural Theology (Oxford:
Blackwell Publishing, 2008).
Paley,
William. Théologie Naturelle. (Disponible gratuitement en pdf. sur
demande.)
Clavier,
Paul. Qu’est-ce que la théologie naturelle (Paris: VRIN,
2004).
-This book is a very short (too short to be all that informative) introduction, written in French, to natural theology, and contains some of Aquinas’s work on the subject.
History
& Development of Theology
Pelikan, Jaroslav. The Christian Tradition: A History of the Development of Doctrine, 5 vols. (Chicago, IL: University of Chicago Press, 1971).
- French version of this series: Pelikan, Jaroslav. La Tradition Chrétienne, 5 tomes (Paris: Presses Universitaire de France, 1994).
McGrath,
Alister E., Historical Theology: An Introduction to the History of
Christian Thought (Oxford: Blackwell Publishing, 1998).
McGrath,
Alister E., ed., The Christian Theology Reader, 3rd ed.
(Oxford: Blackwell Publishing, 2007).
Berkhof,
Louis. The History of Christian Doctrines (Grand Rapids, MI:
Baker Books, 1992).
Introduction to Thomistic Theology/Philosophy
Aquinas, Thomas. Summa Theologica, 5 vols.
Aquinas,
Thomas, Summa Contra Gentiles, 5 vols.
Aquinas,
Thomas, On Truth, 3 vols.
Aquinas,
Thomas, Commentary on the De Trinitas of Boethius.
Davies,
Brian. The Thought of Thomas Aquinas (Oxford : Clarendon
Press, 1992).
Gilson,
Étienne. Le Thomisme, 6e édition (Paris :
VRIN, 1986). In
English: The Philosophy of Saint Thomas Aquinas.
Stump,
Eleonore. Aquinas (London: Routledge, 2003).
Copleston,
F. C. Aquinas (1955; repr., London: Pelican books, 1957).
Feser,
Edward. Aquinas: A Beginner’s Guide (2009; repr., Oxford:
Oneworld, 2010).
Davies,
Brian. Aquinas (London: Continuum, 2002).
McCabe,
Herbert. On Aquinas, ed. Brian Davies (London : Continuum,
2008).
Pieper,
Josef. Guide to Thomas Aquinas (1962; repr., Toronto :
New American Library, 1964).
Chesterton,
G. K. Saint Thomas Aquinas. In French, G. K. Chesterton, Saint
Thomas d'Aquin, trad. Maximilien Vox (Paris: Librairie Plon, 1935).
Theology
Proper
General
Garrigou-Lagrange, Réginald. God: His Existence and His Nature. 2 vols. (1934; repr., Frieburg: Herder book co., 1955). French original: Garrigou-Lagrange, Réginald. Dieu: Son Existence et sa Nature. 2 vols. 11ieme éd. (Paris: Beauschesne, 1950).
Charnock,
Stephen. The Existence and Attributes of God. (Baker Books).
Pinnock,
Rice, Sanders, Hasker & Basinger, The Openness of God: A Biblical
Challenge to the Traditional Understanding of God (InterVarsity Press,
1994).
Existence
of God
Anselm. Proslogion. Translated by Thomas Williams. Indianapolis: Hackett, 2001.
Aquinas,
Thomas. God. Vol. 1 of Summa Contra Gentiles.
Translated by Anton C. Pegis. 1955. Reprint, Notre Dame, IN :
University of Notre Dame Press, 2005.
Craig,
William Lane. The Kalam Cosmological Argument. 1979. Reprint,
Eugene, OR: WIPF and Stock Publishers, 2000.
Descartes,
René. Discours de la méthode. Paris: Librairie Philosophique
J. VRIN, 2005.
Garrigou-Lagrange,
Réginald. God: His Existence and His Nature. Vol. 1. Translated by
Dom Bede Rose. 1934. Reprint, St. Louis: B. Herder Book Co., 1955.
Hick, John,
ed. The Existence of God: From Plato to A. J. Ayer on the question
“Does God exist?” New York: Macmillan Publishing, 1964.
Lewis, C.
S. Mere Christianity. 1952. Reprint, London: Collins-Fontana,
1956.
Plantinga,
Alvin, ed. The Ontological Argument: From St. Anselm to Contemporary
Philosophers. New York: Anchor books, 1965.
Divine
Foreknowledge
Long, D. Stephen & George Kalantzis, eds., The Soveriegnty of God Debate (Cascade Books, 2009).
- This book gives the opinions of 8 theologians, who explain not only their own positions, but how they interpret the positions of the early church, Aquinas, Calvin, Process Theology, John Wesley, Moltmann, Open Theism, etc.
Beilby,
James K. & Paul R. Eddy, eds., Divine Foreknowledge: Four views (InterVarsity
Press, 2001).
Garrigou-Lagrange,
Reginald, Providence.
Flint,
Thomas P. Divine Providence: The Molinist Account (Cornell University
Press, 1998).
Basinger,
David & Randall Basinger, eds., Predestination & Free Will:
Four views of Divine Sovereignty and Human Freedom (InterVarsity
Press, 1986).
Craig,
William Lane, The Only Wise God: The Compatibility of Divine
Foreknowledge and Human Freedom (Wipf & Stock, 2000).
Sanders,
John, The God Who Risks: A Theology of Divine Providence (InterVarsity
Press, 2007).
Boyd,
Gregory A., God of the Possible: Does God ever Change His Mind? (Baker
Books, 2000).
Ganssle, Gregory, ed., God and Time: Four Views (Paternoster Press, 2001).
Craig,
William Lane, Time and Eternity (Crossway).
Keating, James F. & Thomas Joseph White, eds., Divine Impassibility and the Mystery of Human Suffering (Wm. B. Eerdmans, 2009).
Bibliology
The
Canon & Tradition
Williams, D. H., Evangelicals and Tradition: The Formative Influences of the Early Church (Paternoster Press, 2005).
Metzger,
Bruce M. The Canon of the New Testament: Its Origin, Development and Significance (Oxford:
Clarendon Press,1997).
Bruce, F.
F. The Canon of Scripture (Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity
Press, 1988).
Bruce, F.
F. Tradition: Old and New (Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 1976).
Newman,
John Henry. An Essay on the Development of Christian Doctrine (Cambridge:
CUP, 2010).
Sungenis,
Robert A., ed., Not By Scripture Alone: A Catholic Critique of the
Protestant Doctrine of Sola Scripture (Queenship Publishing Company,
1997).
Carson, D.
A. & John D. Woodbridge, Scripture and Truth (Grand Rapids,
MI: Zondervan, 1983).
McGowan, A.
T. B. The Divine Authenticity of Scripture: Retrieving an Evangelical
Heritage (Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press, 2008).
Sproul, R.
C. Scripture Alone: The Evangelical Doctrine (P&R
Publishing, 2005).
Mathison,
Keith A. The Shape of Sola Scriptura (Moscow, Idaho: Canon
Press, 2001).
Inerrancy
& Inspiration
Warfield, B. B., The Inspiration and Authority of the Bible (P & R Publishing, 1979).
Geisler,
Norman, ed., Inerrancy.
- This book is edited by Norman Geisler and includes articles by authors such as J. I. Packer, Gleason Archer, Walter C. Kaiser, Gordon R. Lewis, etc.
Comfort,
Philip Wesley, The Origin of the Bible (Wheaton, IL: Tyndale
House, 1992
Geisler,
Norman & William E. Nix, A General Introduction to the Bible.
Metzger, Bruce Manning, The Text of the New Testament: Its Transmission, Corruption and Restoration (Oxford: OUP, 1964).
Black,
David Alan. Why Four Gospels? The Historical Origins of the Gospels (Grand
Rapids, MI: Kregel, 2001).
- This is, by far, the most interesting book I have read on the historical origins of the Gospels. A must have in the library of any student of the Bible.
Black,
David Alan. New Testament Textual Criticism: A Concise Guide, 2nd ed.
(Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Books, 1996).
Comfort,
Philip. Encountering the Manuscripts: An Introduction to New Testament
Paleography & Textual Criticism (Nashville, TN: B&H
Publishers, 2005).
Ramsay,
William M. St. Paul: The Traveler and Roman Citizen, 15th ed.,
ed. Mark Wilson (Grand Rapids, MI: Kregel, 2001).
Kenyon, Sir
Frederic. Our Bible and the Ancient Manuscripts, ed. A. W. Adams
(New York: Harper & Brothers, 1958).
Bruce, F.
F. The New Testament Documents: Are they Reliable? 6th ed.
(Grand Rapids, MI: Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing, 1981).
Kitchen,
Kenneth. On the Reliability of the Old Testament (Grand
Rapids, MI: Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing, 2006).
Kaiser Jr.,
Walter C. The Old Testament Documents: Are they reliable & relevant (Downers
Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press, 2001).
Burrows,
Millar. The Dead Sea Scrolls: with translations by the author (New
York: The Viking Press, 1961).
- Millar Burrows was the chairman of the Department of Near Eastern Languages and Literature at Yale Graduate School, and took a leading part in the study and discussions concerning the Dead sea scrolls.
Golb,
Norman. Who wrote the Dead Sea Scrolls? The Search for the Secret of
the Qumran (New York: Touchstone, 1996).
Bruce, F.
F. Second Thoughts on the Dead Sea Scrolls, 2nd ed.
(Grand Rapids, MI: Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing, 1961).
VanderKam,
James C. The Dead Sea Scrolls Today (Grand Rapids, MI: Wm. B.
Eerdmans Publishing, 1994).
Bruce, F.
F. The Books and the Parchments: Some chapters on the Transmission of
the Bible, 3rd ed. (Westwood, NJ: Fleming H. Revell
Company, 1963).
Bruce, F.
F. Biblical Exegesis in the Qumran Texts. (London: The Tyndale
Press, 1960).
Bible
& Archaeology
Yamauchi, Edwin, The Stones and the Scriptures (Philadelphia: J. B. Lippincott Co, 1972).
Kitchen, K.
A., The Bible in its World: The Bible & Archaeology Today (Downers
Grove: InterVarsity Press, 1978).
Albright,
W. F. The Archaeology of Palestine: A Survey of the ancient peoples and
cultures of the Holy Land (London: Penguin books, 1949).
Kenyon,
Kathleen M., Archaeology in the Holy Land, 3rd ed.
(London: Ernest Benn Ltd., 1970).
Blaiklock,
E. M., The Archaeology of the New Testament (Grand Rapids, MI:
Zondervan, 1977).
Vos, Howard
F. An Introduction to Bible Archaeology (Chicago, IL: Moody
Press, 1959).
Irwin, C.
H., The Bible, The Scholar & the Spade (London: The
Religious Tract Society, 1932).
Cullman, Oscar. The Christology of the New Testament, Revised edition, trans. Shirley C. Guthrie et Charles A. M. Hall (Philadelphia, PA: The Westminster Press, 1963).
BIBLICAL
EXEGESIS
Bible
Study Resources
Hermeneutics
Howe, Thomas. Objectivity in Biblical Interpretation.
- This book is the edited doctoral dissertation by Dr. Howe, professor at Southern Evangelical Seminary. There is no book like this on the market, and is a must have for anybody who wants to get serious about biblical hermeneutics.
Couch,
Mal. An Introduction to Classical Evangelical Hermeneutics: A Guide to
the History and Practice of Biblical Interpretation.
Fee, Gordon
D. & Douglas Stuart, How to Read the Bible for all its Worth.
Ryken,
Leland, How to Read the Bible as Literature...and get more out of it.
Howard Jr.,
David & Michael A. Grisanti, eds., Giving the Sense: Understanding
and Using Old Testament Historical Texts (Kregel, 2008).
Ryrie,
Charles C. Dispensationalism (Moody Press, 2007)
Carson, D.
A. Exegetical Fallacies.
Bible
Introductions
Old
Testament
Harrison, Roland Kenneth. Introduction to the Old Testament.
Archer,
Gleason. A Survey of Old Testament Introduction.
New
Testament
Hiebert, D. Edmond. An Introduction to the New Testament. 3 volumes or 3 in 1 volume.
Kuen,
Alfred. Introduction
au Nouveau Testament, 3
vols.
Bible
Surveys
Old Testament
survey
La Sor, Hubbard & Bush, Old Testament Survey: The Message, Form, and Background of the Old Testament
Geisler,
Norman L. A Popular Survey of the Old Testament
New
Testament survey
Geisler, Norman L. A Popular Survey of the New Testament.
Old
Testament
Sailhamer, John H. Old Testament History.
Harrison,
R. K. Old Testament Times.
Currid,
John D. Ancient Egypt and the Old Testament (Baker Books,
1997).
Block,
Daniel I., ed., Israel: Ancient Kingdom or Late Invention (B&H
Publishing group, 2008).
Merrill,
Eugene H. Kingdom of Priests: A History of Old Testament Israel
Wood,
Leon. A Survey of Israel's History
Bruce, F.
F. Israel & the Nations: The History of Israel from the Exodus to
the Fall of the Second Temple
New Testament
Wright, N. T. The New Testament and the People of God.
Wright, N.
T. Jesus and the Victory of God.
Wright, N.
T. The Resurrection of the Son of God.
Jeffers,
James S. The Greco-Roman World of the New Testament Era: Exploring the
Background of early Christianity (Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity
Press, 1999).
Metzger,
Bruce M. The New Testament: Its Background, Growth & Content, 3rd ed.
(Nashville, Abingdon Press, 2003).
Edersheim,
Alfred The Life and Times of Jesus the Messiah, 2 vols.
Edersheim,
Alfred. Sketches of Jewish Social Life.
Bruce, F.
F. New Testament History.
Tenney,
Merrill C. New Testament Times.
Grant,
Michael. Jesus: An Historian’s Review of the Gospels (New
York: Charles Scribner’s Sons, 1977).
Mason,
Steve. Josephus and the New Testament (Peabody, Mass.:
Hendrickson Publishers, 1999).
Biblical
Exegesis
Paul’s
Epistle to the Romans
Aquinas, Thomas. Explanation of the Epistle of Paul to the Romans.
- An excellent medieval commentary on Paul’s Epistle to the Romans.
Chrysostome,
John. Homelies on the Epistle to the Romans.
- John Chrysostome was one of the greatest preachers of the Patristic age, and his homelies on the Epistle to the Romans are a must-read for any serious student of the Bible.
Moo,
Douglas. The Epistle of Paul to the Romans. NICNT.
- This is the best contemporary commentary on the epistle to the Romans. Moo interacts with a wealth of scholarship, and provides the reader with a thoughtful and erudite interpretation.
Moo,
Douglas J. The NIV Application Commentary: Romans (Grand
Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 2000).
- This volume is shortened, and filled with practical applications, so as to serve as a resource for pastors and church leaders who are preparing for bible studies and sermons.
Thomas R.
Schreiner, Romans (Grand Rapids, MI : Baker Academic,
1998),
- Next to Moo, this is the top contemporary commentary on the Epistle of Romans.
Ben
Witherington III and Darlene Hyatt, Paul’s Letter to the Romans: A
Socio-Rhetorical Commentary (Grand Rapids, MI: Wm. B. Eerdmans, 2004).
- This is probably one of the greatest commentaries on Romans coming from a contemporary Theologian from within the Arminian tradition.
Frédéric Godet, Commentaire sur l’épître aux Romains,
tome 1 (Trois-Rivières, QC : Éditions Impact, 2002).
- This is the best French commentary on Romans (aside from the French edition of Chrysostome.
F. F.
Bruce, The Epistle of Paul to the Romans: An Introduction and
Commentary, 2nd ed. (1985; repr., Grand Rapids, MI: Wm. B.
Eerdmans Publishing, 2003).
Hugues Oltramare, Commentaire sur l’Épître aux
Romains, tome 1 (Paris : A. Fischbacher, Libraire, 1881).
Martin
Luther, Commentary on the Epistle to the Romans, trans. J. Theodore
Mueller (1976; repr., Grand Rapids, MI : Kregel, 1979).
William
Sanday and Arthur C. Headlam, A Critical and Exegetical Commentary on
the Epistle to the Romans, 5th ed. (1902; repr., Edinburgh: T&T Clark,
1971).
- This is a critical commentary of the Greek New Testament. The reader will need to know Greek to get the most out of this commentary.
Cranfield,
C. E. B. A Critical and Exegetical Commentary on The Epistle to the
Romans (1975; repr., London: T&T Clark, 2003). 2 vols.
- This volume replaced the excellent critical commentary by Sanday and Headlam in the CEC series. Cranfield is very influenced by Karl Barth in his interpretation of Romans, as is evidenced in his interpretation of texts such at Romans 1:19-20.
Calvin,
Jean. Commentaires sur L’Épître aux Romains, dans vol. 3 des Commentaires
de Jean Calvin sur le Nouveau Testament (Paris : Librairie De Ch.
Meyrueis Et Compagnie,
1855).
- This is the french edition of Calvin’s celebrated commentary on Romans.
Murray,
John. The Epistle to the Romans (Grand Rapids, MI : Wm.
B. Eerdmans Publishing, 1968).
- This is the commentary that is commonly applauded as the classical reformed interpretation of Romans.
Charles
Hodge, Commentaire sur l’épître aux Romains, trad. M. Stapfer
(Paris : Chez Delay, Libraire, 1840), 2. Vols.
- This commentary by Hodge is a much more in-depth commentary, in the Reformed tradition, than that of Murray. It is also available in French.
P. M. J.
LaGrange, Saint Paul : Épître aux Romains, 3ieme
ed. (Paris : Librairie Victor Lecoffre, 1922).
- This is said to be the best French Catholic interpretation of Romans.
Ernst
Kasemann, Commentary on Romans, trans. Geoffrey W. Bromiley (Grand
Rapids, MI: Wm. B. Eerdmans, 1980).
Burns Jr., J. Patout,
trad. et ed. Romans:
Interpreted by Early Christian Commentators, (Grand Rapids, MI: Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing,
2012).
- A great little book introducing the reader to how the Early Church interpreted the epistle to the Romans.
Bénétreau, Samuel. L’Épitre de Paul aux Romains,
2nd ed. (Vaux-sur-Seine : Éditions de la Faculté de Théologie Évangélique,
2002). 2 vols.
- The best contemporary French Commentary on Romans. It, unfortunately, provides no new insights, and says nothing that you can’t find elsewhere. As such, it seems pointless to pay the exorbitant price to have these 2 volumes, when a cheaper and much more involved commentary can be found (in French) in Godet, or (in English) in Moo or Schreiner.
Newell,
William R. Romans: Verse by Verse (Chicago: Moody Press,
1938).
Lloyd-Jones,
D. Martyn. Romans (1973: repr., Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan
Publishing House, 1979). 14 vols.
- These are the collected sermons of D. Martyn Lloyd-Jones on the book of Romans.
Haldane,
Robert. An Exposition of Romans (Mac Dill AFB, FL: Mac Donald
Publishing Company, 1958).
- Another great reformed commentary on Romans which is also available in French.
Francis A.
Schaeffer, The Finished Work of Christ: The Truth of Romans 1-8 (Wheaton,
IL: Crossway Books, 1998).
C. H.
Dodd, The Epistle of Paul to the Romans (1932; repr., London:
Hodder and Stoughton, 1934).
- In spite of a somewhat liberal tendency, and being an influential critical scholar, Dodd still provides us with many interesting insights into Romans.
William
Barclay, The Letter to the Romans, 2nd ed. (Burlington, ON: Welch
Publishing Company, 1975).
Merrill C. Tenney, Galatians: The Charter of Christian Liberty, 2e ed. (1957; réimp., Grand Rapids, MI: Wm. B. Eermans Publishing, 1969).
F. F.
Bruce, The Epistle to the Galatians: A Commentary on the Greek Text (Grand
Rapids, MI: Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing, 1982).
Augustine, Commentaire sur l’épître aux Galates,
dans Commentaires sur l’Écriture, tome 5 des Œuvres
Complètes de Saint Augustine, trad. M. Raulx, 394-427 (Bar-Le-Duc : L.
Guérins & Cie éditeurs, 1867).
Thomas d’Aquin, Commentaire de l’épître de saint
Paul aux Galates.
Schreiner,
Thomas. Galatians. Exegetical Commentaries on the New Testament.
(Zondervan).
- A great commentary on Galatians.
Introduction
to Apologetics
Taylor, James E. Introducing Apologetics: Cultivating Christian Commitment. (Grand Rapids, MI: Baker books, 2006).
History
& Development of Apologetics
Edgar, William & K. Scott Oliphint, eds., Christian Apologetics Past & Present: A Primary Source Reader, 2 vols. (Crossway, 2009).
Philosophical
Apologetics
Basic/Introductory
Craig, William Lane. Reasonable Faith - en Francais: Foi Raisonnable: Vérité chrétienne et Apologétique
Moreland,
J. P. Scaling the Secular City: A Defense of Christianity
Moreland,
J. P. Love your God with all your Mind : The role of Reason in the
life of the Soul. (Colorado Springs, CO: NavPress, 1997).
Copan, Paul
& William Lane Craig, eds., Contending with Christianity's Critics:
Answering New Atheists & Other Objectors
Colson,
Charles & Nancy Pearcey. How Now Shall We Live? (Wheaton,
IL: Tyndale House Publishers, 1999).
Geisler,
Norman L. & Ronald M. Brooks, When Skeptics Ask: A Handbook on
Christian Evidences
Geisler,
Norman & Paul K. Hoffman, eds., Why I am a Christian: Leading
Thinkers explain why they Believe
Geisler,
Norman & Peter Bocchino, Unshakable Foundations: Contemporary
Answers to Crucial Questions about the Christian Faith
D'Souza,
Dinesh. What's so Great About Christianity
Nash,
Ronald H. Faith & Reason: Searching for a Rational Faith
Dembski,
William A. & Michael R. Licona, eds., Evidence for God: 50
Arguments for Faith from the Bible, History, Philosophy and Science
McFarland,
Alex. 10 Answers for Atheists: How to have an Intelligent Discussion
about the Existence of God.
Keller, Timothy. La
Raison est pour Dieu: La foi à l’ère du scepticisme. Trad. Sonia Artiguebert.
(Trois-Rivières, QC: Éditions Impact, 2008).
Budziszewski,
J. Ask Me Anything: provocative answers for college students
Aquinas, Thomas. The Summa Contra Gentiles, 5 vols. (Notre Dame, IN: University of Notre Dame Press).
Moreland,
J. P. & William Lane Craig, Philosophical Foundations for a
Christian Worldview. (Downer’s Grove, IL : InterVarsity Press,
2003).
Lewis, C.
S. Miracles.
Lewis, C. S. The
Problem of Pain.
McGrath,
Alister E. The Twilight of Atheism. (New York: Doubleday, 2006).
Geisler,
Norman L. Christian Apologetics
Geisler,
Norman L. Baker Encyclopedia of Christian Apologetics
Davies, Brian. The Reality of God and the Problem of Evil. London: Continuum, 2006.
- This is the best book that I have read on the subject.
Aquinas,
Thomas. On Evil. Translated by Richard Regan. Edited by Brian
Davies. Oxford : Oxford University Press, 2003.
Stump,
Eleonore. Wandering in the Darkness : Narrative and the Problem of
Suffering. Oxford: Clarendon Press, 2010.
Kreeft,
Peter. Making Sense Out of Suffering. Ann Arbor, MI: Servant
Books, 1986.
Sertillanges, A.
D. Le Probleme du Mal : L’Histoire. Paris : Editions Montaigne,
1948.
- Sertillanges traces, throughout history, how different religions and philosophies have responded to the problem of evil. This is a must have.
Meister,
Chad & James K. Dew Jr., eds., God and Evil : The Case for God
in a world filled with pain (Downers Grove, IL : InterVarsity
Press, 2013).
Lewis, C.
S. A Grief Observed. 1961; repr., New York: Harper Collins
Books, 2000.
Lewis, C.
S. The Problem of Pain. 1940; repr., New York: Harper Collins
Books, 2000.
Lewis, C.
S. “Right and Wrong as a Clue to the Meaning of the Universe.” In Broadcast
Talks, 9-33. 1941; repr., London: Geoffrey Bles, 1951.
Mackie, J.
L. “Evil and Omnipotence.” Mind, New Series, vol. 64, no. 254
(Apr., 1955): 200-212.
Plantinga,
Alvin. God, Freedom, and Evil. 1974; repr., Grand Rapids, MI:
Wm. B. Eerdmans, 1977.
Boyd,
Gregory A. God of the Possible. 2000; repr., Grand Rapids, MI:
Baker Books, 2008.
Hume,
David. “Dialogues Concerning Natural Religion.” In Modern and
Contemporary, vol. 2 of Classics of Philosophy. ed. Louis P.
Pojman, 728-70. New York: Oxford University Press, 1997.
Carson, D.
A. How Long, O Lord? Reflections on Suffering and Evil. 2nd ed.
Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Books, 2006.
Epp,
Theodore H. Why Do Christians Suffer? 1970; repr., Lincoln,
NE: Back to the Bible, 1978.
Falwell,
Jerry and Harold L. Willmington. When It Hurts too Much to Cry. Wheaton, IL: Tyndale House Publishers,
1984.
Geiger, L.
B., L’Experience humaine du Mal. France : Editions du Cerf, 1969.
Hasker,
William. The Triumph of God over Evil : Theodicy for a World of
Suffering. Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press, 2008.
Hicks,
Peter. The Message of Evil & Suffering: Light into Darkness. Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press,
2006.
Biblical
Apologetics
Bruce, F.F. Les documents du Nouveau Testament: Peut-on s’y fier? (Trois Rivières, QC : Éditions Impact, 2008).
Evans,
Craig A. Fabricating Jesus: How Modern Scholars Distort the Gospels.
(Downer’s Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press, 2006).
Greenleaf,
Simon. The Testimony of the Evangelists Examined by the Rules of
Evidence Administered in Courts of Justice (New York: James Cockcroft
& Co., 1874).
In
Defense of the Gospel
Bauckham, Richard. Jesus and the Eyewitnesses: The Gospels as Eyewitness Testimony. Grand Rapids: Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing, 2006.
- A technical book that examines the credibility of eyewitness testimony and oral tradition. Efficaciously silences those critics that try to say that oral tradition is not trustworthy.
Black,
David Alan. Why Four Gospels? The Historical Origins of the Gospels.
Grand Rapids: Kregel, 2001.
- This book is a short read, and presents a new theory concerning the chronological order of the Gospels, which dates them much earlier than previous theories.
Machen, J.
Gresham. The Origin of Paul’s Religion: A Classic Defense of
Supernatural Christianity. 1923. Reprint, Birmingham, AL: Solid
Ground Christian Books, 2006.
- Though this book is a bit dated, it is extremely useful, and gives a good survey of all of the gods of the mystery religions.
Nash,
Ronald H. The Gospel and the Greeks. 2nd ed. Phillipsburg, NJ:
P&R Publishing, 2003.
- By far the most concise, and complete response from a Christian philosopher to the theory of myths. Also responds to accusations of dependence on Platonism, and other sources.
Bock,
Darrell L. The Missing Gospels: Unearthing the Truth Behind Alternative
Christianities. (Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson, 2006).
Habermas,
Gary. The Historical Jesus: Ancient Evidence for the Life of Christ. (1996; repr., Joplin, MO : College
Press Publishing Company, 2008).
Strobel,
Lee, Jésus: La Parole est à la défense! (France : Editions Vida, 2001).
Existential
Apologetics
Schaeffer, Francis. The God Who is There.
Sire, James. Naming the Elephant: Worlview as a Concept. (Downer’s Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press, 2004).
Sire,
James. The Universe Next Door: A Basic Worldview Catalogue, 5th edition.
(Downer’s Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press, 2009).
Noebel,
David A. The Battle for Truth: Defending the Christian Worldview in the
Marketplace of ideas. (Eugene, OR: Harvest House Publishers, 2001).
Mayers, Ronald B. Both/And: A Balanced Apologetic (Chicago, IL: Moody Press, 1984).
McGrath,
Alister E. Intellectuals Don’t Need God & Other Modern Myths:
Building Bridges to Faith through Apologetics (Grand Rapids, MI:
Zondervan, 1993).
McGrath,
Alister E. Mere Apologetics: How to Help Seekers & Skeptics Find
Faith (Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Books, 2012).
Cowan,
Steven B., ed., Five Views on Apologetics (Grand Rapids, MI:
Zondervan, 2000).
The
Christ-Myth Theory
Proponents
of the Theory of Myths
Cumont, Franz. The Mysteries of Mithra. Translated by Thomas J. McCormack. Chicago: Open Court Publishing, 1903.
- One of the original proponents of the newer theory of myths, Cumont was until recently considered the authoritative work on Mithraism.
Frazer,
James. The Golden Bough. 1922. Reprint, Mineola, NY: Dover
Publications, 2002.
- Another one of the original proponents of the newer theory of myths this book is a detailed study of many different gods and myths, compiling and analyzing trends in the myths, and in their subsequent rituals.
Reitzenstein,
Richard. Hellenistic Mystery-Religions: Their Basic Ideas and
Significance. Translated by John E. Steely. Eugene, OR: Pickwick
Publications, 1978.
- The other main original proponent of the newer theory of myths.
Strauss,
David Friedrich. The Life of Jesus Critically Examined. 4th ed.
Translated by George Eliot. 1840. Reprint, Lexington, KY: Forgotten Books,
2010.
- In a sense this is the book that got the theory of myth, in its original form off of the ground. Well written and an interesting read, this book will be useful to understand the main presuppositions, and claims of both versions of the theory of myth.
Harpur,
Tom. The Pagan Christ: Recovering the Lost Light (Toronto:
Thomas Allen Publishers, 2004).
Concerning
Ancient Mystery Religions and Myths
Burkert, Walter. Ancient Mystery Cults. Cambridge: Harvard University Press, 1987.
- A more recent look at the various mystery religions that is both balanced and well written.
Frankfort,
Henri. Kingship and the Gods. 1948. Reprint, Chicago: University of
Chicago Press, 1978.
- An analysis of the Egyptian gods, and myths, which shows that the claims of the theory of myths are both erroneous and exaggerated.
Meyer,
Marvin, ed. The Ancient Mysteries: A Sourcebook of Sacred Texts.
Philadelphia: University of Pennsylvania Press, 1987.
- The easiest to use book which provides the original texts, translated into English that are used in the study of the mystery religions. Though he tends to take the view of the theory of myths (without any good reason), this book is priceless due to the fact that it is a complete collection of the pertinent sources.
