The following is quoted from J. Scott Duvall and J. Daniel Hays, Grasping God’s Word: A Hands-On Approach to Reading, Interpreting, and Applying the Bible, Fourth Edition. The book itself is a great initial read for anyone who wants to understand the basics of Bible study and how to do it. Of course, the list that follows is with reference to physical copies. If you want a digital library, then I recommend Logos Bible Software. You can survey the benefits and their offers here.
The concept behind building a physical library is so that you have the essential tools on hand with both reference works and some books that you might consider reading from cover to cover. Also bear in mind that though these works that are listed below are evangelical, that is not only a broad term, but perhaps some of these works are somewhat liberal or lean in directions that not all of us would fully subscribe to, but it is helpful to be informed of these academic “trends.” And these books are actually great repositories of useful research. Duvall and Hays write:
BUILDING A PERSONAL LIBRARY
Because our funds are limited and not all study tools are created equal, most of us need a strategy for building a personal library. We don’t want to throw our money away on resources we will never use. You might consider a two-phase strategy for building a personal library.
PHASE ONE
Get something dependable on every book of the Bible. We suggest purchasing a less expensive but quality series such as Bible Speaks Today, Expositor’s Bible Commentary, or Tyndale Old/New Testament Commentaries. If this is not possible, then start out with a good one- or two-volume commentary. In addition, you will need a few basic reference tools, such as a concordance, a Bible dictionary, an atlas, and a dictionary of theology. This small library will give you at least some place to turn for advice when you study the Scriptures.
PHASE TWO
In this phase we suggest that you add a top-notch evangelical commentary on each book of the Bible. Next, try to expand your reference section by adding tools mentioned in the first part of our recommended list below. Finally, you will want to add additional commentaries. We suggest that you add other evangelical works before moving to nonevangelical works.
You may want to approach this second phase in a systematic fashion, starting with Genesis or Matthew and working forward. Or you may decide it would be best to purchase resources on a particular book when you find yourself studying that book.
To help you make informed choices, we offer the following recommendations on study tools. In the lists below, we have placed an asterisk (*) beside works that we consider most appropriate for our students. We are not necessarily saying that these are the definitive works in the field, but we think our students would profit most from them at this point in their journey.
Recommending study tools, especially commentaries, can be a dangerous business. Since we cannot list every book, choices must be made. We hope you realize that our suggestions are somewhat subjective. Nevertheless, we offer the following as a suggested guide for building a library of your own.
Concordances
Goodrick, Edward W., and John R. Kohlenberger III, eds. The Strongest NIV Exhaustive Concordance. 2nd ed. Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 1999.
Kohlenberger, John R., III. The NRSV Concordance Unabridged. Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 1991.
Kohlenberger, John R., III, Edward W. Goodrick, and James A. Swanson. The Greek-English Concordance to the New Testament. Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 1997.
Kohlenberger, John R., III, and James A. Swanson, The Hebrew-English Concordance to the Old Testament. Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 1998.
Mounce, William D. The Crossway Comprehensive Concordance of the Holy Bible: English Standard Version. Wheaton, IL: Crossway, 2002.
Strong, James. The New Strongest Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance of the Bible. Revised by John R. Kohlenberger III and James A. Swanson. Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 2001.
Thomas, Robert. NAS Exhaustive Concordance, Revised. LaHabra, CA: Lockman Foundation, 1998; Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 2000.
Bible Handbooks
Alexander, Pat, and David Alexander, eds. 5th ed. Zondervan Handbook to the Bible. Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 2017.
B&H Editorial Staff, eds. Holman Illustrated Bible Handbook. Nashville: B&H, 2012.
Hays, J. Daniel, and J. Scott Duvall. The Baker Illustrated Bible Handbook. Grand Rapids: Baker, 2011.
Old Testament Surveys and Introductions
Arnold, Bill. Introduction to the Old Testament. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 2014.
Arnold, Bill, and Bryan Beyer. Encountering the Old Testament. 3rd ed. Grand Rapids: Baker, 2015.
Dearman, J. Andrew, and Robert L. Hubbard Jr. Introducing the Old Testament. Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 2018.
DeRouchie, Jason, ed. What the Old Testament Authors Really Cared About. Grand Rapids: Kregel, 2012.
Goldingay, John. An Introduction to the Old Testament: Exploring Text, Approaches and Issues. Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press, 2015.
Harrison, R. K. Introduction to the Old Testament. Peabody, MA: Hendrickson, 2004.
Hess, Richard S. The Old Testament: A Historical, Theological, and Critical Introduction. Grand Rapids: Baker Academic, 2016.
*Hill, Andrew E., and John H. Walton. A Survey of the Old Testament. 3rd ed. Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 2009.
House, Paul R., and Eric Mitchell. Old Testament Survey. 2nd ed. Nashville: B&H, 2007.
*Longman, Tremper, III, and Raymond B. Dillard. An Introduction to the Old Testament. 2nd ed. Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 2006.
Van Pelt, Miles V., ed. A Biblical-Theological Introduction to the Old Testament: The Gospel Promised. Wheaton, IL: Crossway, 2016.
Walton, John H., and Andrew E. Hill. Old Testament Today. 2nd ed. Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 2014.
New Testament Surveys and Introductions
Achtemeier, Paul, Joel Green, and Marianne Meye Thompson. Introducing the New Testament. Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 2001.
Berding, Kenneth, and Matt Williams, eds. What the New Testament Authors Really Cared About. Grand Rapids: Kregel, 2008.
*Burge, Gary M., and Gene L. Green. The New Testament in Antiquity. 2nd ed. Grand Rapids: Zondervan Academic, 2020.
*Carson, D. A., and Douglas J. Moo. An Introduction to the New Testament. 2nd ed. Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 2005.
*DeSilva, David. An Introduction to the New Testament: Contexts, Methods & Ministry Formation. 2nd ed. Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press, 2018.
Elwell, Walter A., and Robert W. Yarbrough. Encountering the New Testament. 2nd ed. Grand Rapids: Baker, 2005.
*Gundry, Robert H. A Survey of the New Testament. 5th ed. Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 2012.
Guthrie, Donald. New Testament Introduction. Rev. ed. Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press, 1990.
*Hagner, Donald A. The New Testament: A Historical and Theological Introduction. Grand Rapids: Baker, 2012.
*Köstenberger, Andreas J., L. Scott Kellum, and Charles L. Quarles. The Cradle, the Cross, and the Crown: An Introduction to the New Testament. 2nd ed. Nashville: B&H, 2016.
Kruger, Michael J. A Biblical-Theological Introduction to the New Testament: The Gospel Realized. Wheaton, IL: Crossway, 2016.
Lea, Thomas D., and David Alan Black. The New Testament: Its Background and Message. 2nd ed. Nashville: B&H, 2003.
Powell, Mark Allan. Introducing the New Testament: A Historical, Literary, and Theological Survey. 2nd ed. Grand Rapids: Baker, 2018.
*Wright, N. T., and Michael F. Bird. The New Testament in Its World: An Introduction to the History, Literature, and Theology of the First Christians. Grand Rapids: Zondervan Academic, 2019.
Bible Atlases
Aharoni, Yohanan, et al. The Carta Bible Atlas. 5th ed. Jerusalem: Carta, 2011.
Beck, John A. Discovery House Bible Atlas. Grand Rapids: Discovery House, 2015.
*Beitzel, Barry J. The New Moody Atlas of the Bible Lands. Chicago: Moody, 2009.
*Brisco, Thomas V. Holman Bible Atlas: A Complete Guide to the Expansive Geography of Biblical History. Nashville: B&H, 2014.
Currid, John D., and David P. Barrett. Crossway ESV Bible Atlas. Wheaton, IL: Crossway, 2010.
Curtis, Adrian. Oxford Bible Atlas. 4th ed. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2007.
Rasmussen, Carl G. Zondervan Atlas of the Bible. Rev. ed. Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 2009.
Bible Dictionaries and Encyclopedias
Alexander, T. Desmond, and David W. Baker, eds. Dictionary of the Old Testament: Pentateuch. Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press, 2003.
Arnold, Bill T. and H. G. M. Williamson, eds. Dictionary of the Old Testament: Historical Books. Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press, 2005.
Boda, Mark J., and J. Gordon McConville, eds. Dictionary of the Old Testament Prophets. Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press, 2012.
Brand, Chad, Charles W. Draper, and Archie England, eds. Holman Illustrated Bible Dictionary. Rev. and exp. ed. Nashville: B&H, 2015.
Douglas, J. D., Merrill C. Tenney, and Moisés Silva, eds. Zondervan Illustrated Bible Dictionary. Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 2011.
Elwell, Walter, ed. Baker Encyclopedia of the Bible. 2 vols. Grand Rapids: Baker, 1988.
Elwell, Walter, and Philip Comfort, eds. Tyndale Bible Dictionary. Wheaton, IL: Tyndale, 2001.
Evans, Craig A., and Stanley E. Porter, eds. Dictionary of New Testament Background. Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press, 2000.
Freedman, David Noel, ed. The Anchor Bible Dictionary. 6 vols. Garden City, NY: Doubleday, 1992.
Green, Joel B., Jeannine K. Brown, and Nicholas Perrin, eds. Dictionary of Jesus and the Gospels. 2nd ed. Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press, 2013.
Green, Joel B., Scot McKnight, and I. Howard Marshall, eds. Dictionary of Jesus and the Gospels. Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press, 1992.
Hawthorne, Gerald F., Ralph P. Martin, and Daniel G. Reid, eds. Dictionary of Paul and His Letters. Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press, 1993.
*Longman, Tremper, III, ed. The Baker Illustrated Bible Dictionary. Grand Rapids: Baker, 2013.
Longman, Tremper, III, and Peter Enns, eds. Dictionary of the Old Testament: Wisdom, Poetry and Writings. Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press, 2008.
Marshall, I. Howard, A. R. Millard, J. I. Packer, and D. J. Wiseman, eds. New Bible Dictionary. 3rd ed. Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press, 1996.
Martin, Ralph P., and Peter H. Davids, eds. Dictionary of the Later New Testament and Its Developments. Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press, 1997.
Powell, Mark Allan, gen. ed. HarperCollins Bible Dictionary. Rev. and updated ed. San Francisco: HarperSanFrancisco, 2011.
Reid, Daniel G., ed. The IVP Dictionary of the New Testament. Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press, 2004.
*Ryken, Leland, James C. Wilhoit, and Tremper Longman III, eds. Dictionary of Biblical Imagery. Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press, 1998.
Sakenfeld, Katharine D., ed. The New Interpreter’s Dictionary of the Bible. 5 vols. Nashville: Abingdon, 2006–9.
Tenney, Merrill C., and Moisés Silva, eds. The Zondervan Encyclopedia of the Bible. Rev. ed. 5 vols. Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 2009.
Wordbooks and Lexicons
Balz, Horst, and Gerhard Schneider, eds. Exegetical Dictionary of the New Testament. 3 vols. Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1990–93.
*Brown, Colin, ed. New International Dictionary of New Testament Theology. 4 vols. Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 1975–78. Brown, Francis, S. R. Driver, and Charles A. Briggs, eds. Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew and English Lexicon. Peabody, MA: Hendrickson, 1996.
Danker, Frederick W., Walter Bauer, William F. Arndt, and F. Wilbur Gingrich, eds. A Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament and Other Early Christian Literature. 3rd ed. Chicago: University of Chicago Press, 2000.
Harris, R. Laird, Gleason L. Archer Jr., and Bruce K. Waltke, eds. Theological Wordbook of the Old Testament. 2 vols. Chicago: Moody Press, 1980.
Jenni, Ernst, and Claus Westermann, eds. Theological Lexicon of the Old Testament. Translated by Mark E. Biddle. Peabody, MA: Hendrickson, 1997.
Kittel, Gerhard, and Gerhard Friedrich. Theological Dictionary of the New Testament. 1 vol. Translated, edited, and abridged by Geoffrey W. Bromiley. Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1985.
*Louw, Johannes P., and Eugene A. Nida. A Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament: Based on Semantic Domains. 2 vols. New York: United Bible Societies, 1989.
Mounce, William D., ed. Mounce’s Complete Expository Dictionary of Old and New Testament Words. Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 2006.
*Silva, Moisés, ed. New International Dictionary of New Testament Theology and Exegesis. 5 vols. 2nd ed. Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 2014.
Spicq, Ceslas, ed. Theological Lexicon of the New Testament. 3 vols. Translated by James D. Ernest. Peabody, MA: Hendrickson, 1995.
*VanGemeren, Willem A. New International Dictionary of Old Testament Theology and Exegesis. 5 vols. Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 1997.
*Verbrugge, Verlyn, ed. The New International Dictionary of New Testament Theology. Abridged ed. Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 2003.
Old Testament Histories
Arnold, Bill T., and Richard S. Hess, eds. Ancient Israel’s History: An Introduction to Issues and Sources. Grand Rapids: Baker Academic, 2014.
Bright, John A. A History of Israel. 4th ed. Philadelphia: Westminster John Knox, 2000.
*Kaiser, Walter, Jr., and Paul D. Wegner. A History of Israel: From the Bronze Age through the Jewish Wars. Rev. ed. Nashville: B&H Academic, 2017.
Long, V. Philips, David Baker, and Gordon Wenham, eds. Windows into Old Testament History. Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 2002.
Merrill, Eugene H. Kingdom of Priests: A History of Old Testament Israel. 2nd ed. Grand Rapids: Baker, 2008.
Provan, Iain, V. Philips Long, and Tremper Longman III. A Biblical History of Israel. Louisville: Westminster John Knox, 2003.
New Testament Histories
Barnett, Paul. The Birth of Christianity: The First Twenty Years. Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 2005.
*———. Jesus and the Rise of Early Christianity: A History of New Testament Times. Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press, 1999.
Bruce, F. F. New Testament History. Garden City, NY: Doubleday, 1972.
Carter, Warren. Seven Events That Shaped the New Testament World. Grand Rapids: Baker Academic, 2013.
*Ferguson, Everett. Backgrounds of Early Christianity. 3rd ed. Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 2003.
*Jeffers, James S. The Greco-Roman World of the New Testament Era. Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press, 1999.
Lohse, Eduard. The New Testament Environment. Translated by John Steely. Nashville: Abingdon, 1976.
Niswonger, Richard L. New Testament History. Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 1988.
*Witherington, Ben, III. New Testament History: A Narrative Account. Grand Rapids: Baker, 2001.
Special Studies in Ancient Life and Culture
Arnold, Bill T., and Brent A. Strawn, eds. The World around the Old Testament: The People and Places of the Ancient Near East. Grand Rapids: Baker Academic, 2016.
Bailey, Kenneth E. Jesus through Middle Eastern Eyes: Cultural Studies in the Gospels. Downers Grove, IL: IVP Academic, 2008.
Barton, John, ed. The Biblical World. New York: Routledge, 2002.
Bauckham, Richard. The Christian World around the New Testament. Grand Rapids: Baker Academic, 2017.
———. The Jewish World around the New Testament. Grand Rapids: Baker Academic, 2010.
Clements, Ronald. The World of Ancient Israel. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 1989.
*DeSilva, David A. Honor, Patronage, Kinship and Purity: Unlocking New Testament Culture. Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press, 2000.
DeVries, LaMoine F. Cities of the Biblical World. Peabody, MA: Hendrickson, 1997.
Evans, Craig A. Ancient Texts for New Testament Studies: A Guide to the Background Literature. Peabody, MA: Hendrickson, 2005.
Green, Joel B., and Lee Martin McDonald, eds. The World of the New Testament: Cultural, Social, and Historical Contexts. Grand Rapids: Baker Academic, 2013.
Greer, Jonathan S., John W. Hilber, and John H. Walton, eds. Behind the Scenes of the Old Testament: Social, Cultural, and Historical Contexts. Grand Rapids: Baker Academic, 2018.
Helyer, Larry R. Exploring Jewish Literature of the Second Temple Period. Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press, 2002.
Hoerth, Alfred J., Gerald L. Mattingly, and Edwin M. Yamauchi, eds. Peoples of the Old Testament World. Grand Rapids: Baker, 1994.
*Jeremias, Joachim. Jerusalem in the Time of Jesus. Philadelphia: Fortress, 1969.
King, Philip, and Lawrence Stager. Life in Biblical Israel. Louisville: Westminster John Knox, 2001.
Malina, Bruce. Handbook of Biblical Social Values. Peabody, MA: Hendrickson, 1998.
———. The New Testament World. Louisville: Westminster John Knox, 1993.
*Matthews, Victor H. Manners and Customs in the Bible. 3rd ed. Peabody, MA: Hendrickson, 2006.
Matthews, Victor H., and Don C. Benjamin. Social World of Ancient Israel 1250–587 B.C.E. Peabody, MA: Hendrickson, 1993.
Scott, J. Julius. Customs and Controversies. Grand Rapids: Baker, 1995.
Shanks, Hershel, ed. Ancient Israel. Rev. and exp. ed. Washington, DC: Biblical Archaeology Society, 1999.
Skarsaune, Oskar. In the Shadow of the Temple: Jewish Influences on Early Christianity. Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press, 2002.
Vos, Howard. Nelson’s New Illustrated Bible Manners and Customs. Nashville: Thomas Nelson, 1999.
Walton, John H. Ancient Near Eastern Thought and the Old Testament: Introducing the Conceptual World of the Hebrew Bible. 2nd ed. Grand Rapids: Baker, 2018.
Old and New Testament Theologies
Barr, James. The Concept of Biblical Theology. Minneapolis: Fortress, 1999.
*Beale, G. K. A New Testament Biblical Theology: The Unfolding of the Old Testament in the New. Grand Rapids: Baker, 2011.
*Blomberg, Craig L. A New Testament Theology. Waco, TX: Baylor University Press, 2018.
Boda, Mark. The Heartbeat of Old Testament Theology: Three Creedal Expressions. Grand Rapids: Baker, 2017.
Brueggemann, Walter. Old Testament Theology: An Introduction. Nashville: Abingdon, 2008.
Caird, George B. Completed and edited by L. D. Hurst. New Testament Theology. Oxford: Clarendon, 1994.
Childs, Brevard S. Biblical Theology of the Old and New Testaments. Minneapolis: Fortress, 1993.
———. Old Testament Theology in a Canonical Context. Philadelphia: Fortress, 1985.
Dunn, James D. G. New Testament Theology: An Introduction. Nashville: Abingdon, 2009.
*Duvall, J. Scott, and J. Daniel Hays. God’s Relational Presence: The Cohesive Center of Biblical Theology. Grand Rapids: Baker, 2019.
*Goldingay, John. Old Testament Theology. 3 vols. Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press, 2003–9.
Goldsworthy, Graeme. According to Plan. Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press, 2002.
Guthrie, Donald. New Testament Theology. Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press, 1981.
Hafemann, Scott, ed. Biblical Theology: Retrospect and Prospect. Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press, 2002.
Helyer, Larry W. The Witness of Jesus, Paul and John: An Exploration in Biblical Theology. Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press, 2008.
House, Paul R. Old Testament Theology. Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press, 1998.
Kaiser, Walter. Toward an Old Testament Theology. Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 1978.
Kessler, John. Old Testament Theology: Divine Call and Human Response. Waco, TX: Baylor University Press, 2013.
*Ladd, George Eldon. A Theology of the New Testament. Rev. ed. Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1993.
*Marshall, I. Howard. New Testament Theology: Many Witnesses, One Gospel. Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press, 2004.
Martens, Elmer A. God’s Design: A Focus on Old Testament Theology. 4th ed. Eugene, OR: Wipf & Stock, 2015.
Matera, Frank J. New Testament Theology: Exploring Diversity and Unity. Louisville: Westminster John Knox, 2007.
Merrill, Eugene H. Everlasting Dominion: A Theology of the Old Testament. Nashville: B&H, 2006.
Moberly, R. W. L. Old Testament Theology: Reading the Hebrew Bible as Christian Scripture. Grand Rapids: Baker, 2013.
Morris, Leon. New Testament Theology. Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 1986.
Pate, C. Marvin, et al. The Story of Israel. Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press, 2004.
Routledge, Robin. Old Testament Theology: A Thematic Approach. Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press, 2008.
Sailhamer, John H. Introduction to Old Testament Theology. Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 1994.
Schnelle, Udo. Theology of the New Testament. Grand Rapids: Baker, 2009.
*Schreiner, Thomas R. New Testament Theology: Magnifying God in Christ. Grand Rapids: Baker, 2008.
Scobie, Charles. An Approach to Biblical Theology. Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 2002.
Thielman, Frank. Theology of the New Testament: A Canonical and Synthetic Approach. Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 2005.
*Waltke, Bruce, with Charles Yu. An Old Testament Theology: An Exegetical, Canonical, and Thematic Approach. Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 2007.
Walton, John H. Old Testament Theology for Christians: From Ancient Context to Enduring Belief. Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press, 2017.
Witherington, Ben, III. The Indelible Image: The Theological and Ethical Thought World of the New Testament. 2 vols. Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press, 2009–10.
Youngblood, Ronald. Heart of the Old Testament. 2nd ed. Grand Rapids: Baker, 1998.
Zuck, Roy, and Darrell Bock, eds. A Biblical Theology of the New Testament. Chicago: Moody Press, 1994.
Dictionaries of Theology
*Alexander, T. Desmond, Brian S. Rosner, D. A. Carson, and Graeme Goldsworthy, eds. New Dictionary of Biblical Theology. Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press, 2000.
*Elwell, Walter A., ed. Baker Theological Dictionary of the Bible. Grand Rapids: Baker, 2001.
*———, ed. Evangelical Dictionary of Theology. 2nd ed. Grand Rapids: Baker, 2001.
Ferguson, Sinclair B., David F. Wright, and J. I. Packer, eds. New Dictionary of Theology. Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press, 1988.
Vanhoozer, Kevin J., gen. ed. Dictionary for Theological Interpretation of the Bible. Grand Rapids: Baker, 2005.
Systematic Theologies
Bloesch, Donald G. Christian Foundations. 7 vols. Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press, 1992–.
*Erickson, Millard. Christian Theology. 2nd ed. Grand Rapids: Baker, 1998.
Garrett, James Leo. Systematic Theology. 2 vols. Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1990, 1995.
*Grenz, Stanley J. Theology for the Community of God. Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 2000.
Grudem, Wayne. Systematic Theology. Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 1994.
Horton, Michael. The Christian Faith: A Systematic Theology for Pilgrims on the Way. Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 2011.
Lewis, Gordon R., and Bruce Demarest. Integrative Theology. 3 vols. Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 1987–94.
McGrath, Alister E. Christian Theology. 3rd. ed. Oxford: Blackwell, 2001.
Preaching Helps
Brown, H. C., Jr., H. Gordon Clinard, Jesse J. Northcutt, and Al Fasol. Steps to the Sermon. Rev. ed. Nashville: B&H, 1996.
*Bryson, Harold T. Expository Preaching: The Art of Preaching through a Book of the Bible. Nashville: B&H, 1995.
*Carter, Terry G., J. Scott Duvall, and J. Daniel Hays. Preaching God’s Word. Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 2005.
*Chapell, Bryan. Christ-Centered Preaching: Redeeming the Expository Sermon. 2nd ed. Grand Rapids: Baker, 2005.
Edwards, J. Kent. Effective First-Person Biblical Preaching: The Steps from Text to Narrative Sermon. Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 2005.
Goldsworthy, Graeme. Preaching the Whole Bible as Christian Scripture. Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 2000.
Greidanus, Sidney. The Modern Preacher and the Ancient Text: Interpreting and Preaching Biblical Literature. Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1988.
———. Preaching Christ from the Old Testament. Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1999.
Johnston, Graham. Preaching to a Postmodern World: A Guide to Reaching Twenty-First Century Listeners. Grand Rapids: Baker, 2001.
Kent, Grenville J. R., Paul J. Kissling, and Laurence A. Turner. Reclaiming the Old Testament for Christian Preaching. Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press, 2010.
MacArthur, John F., Jr., Richard L. Mayhue, and Robert L. Thomas. Rediscovering Expository Preaching. Dallas: Word, 1992.
Mathewson, Steven D. The Art of Preaching Old Testament Narrative. Grand Rapids: Baker, 2002.
Mathews, Alice P. Preaching That Speaks to Women. Grand Rapids: Baker, 2003.
Miller, Calvin. Preaching: The Art of Narrative Exposition. Grand Rapids: Baker, 2010.
Mitchell, Henry H. Celebration and Experience in Preaching. Nashville: Abingdon, 1990.
Moseley, Allan. From the Study to the Pulpit: An 8-Step Method for Preaching and Teaching the Old Testament. Bellingham, WA: Lexham, 2017.
Piper, John. The Supremacy of God in Preaching. Rev. ed. Grand Rapids: Baker, 2004.
Quicke, Michael J. Preaching as Worship: An Integrative Approach to Formation in Your Church. Grand Rapids: Baker, 2011.
———. 360-Degree Preaching: Hearing, Speaking, and Living the Word. Grand Rapids: Baker, 2003.
*Robinson, Haddon W. Biblical Preaching. 2nd ed. Grand Rapids: Baker, 2001.
*Robinson, Haddon W., and Craig Brian Larson, gen. ed. The Art and Craft of Biblical Preaching: A Comprehensive Resource for Today’s Communicators. Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 2005.
Smith, Steven W. Recapturing the Voice of God: Shaping Sermons Like Scripture. Nashville: B&H, 2015.
Stott, John R. W. Between Two Worlds: The Challenge of Preaching Today. Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1982.
Sunukjian, Donald R. Invitation to Biblical Preaching: Proclaiming Truth with Clarity and Relevance. Grand Rapids: Kregel, 2007.
Walton, Benjamin H. Preaching Old Testament Narratives. Grand Rapids: Kregel, 2016.
Wright, Christopher J. H. How to Preach and Teach the Old Testament for All Its Worth. Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 2016.
Spiritual Growth
Barnes, M. Craig. Searching for Home: Spirituality for Restless Souls. Grand Rapids: Brazos, 2003.
Barton, Ruth Haley. Invitation to Solitude and Silence: Experiencing God’s Transforming Presence. Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press, 2010.
———. Sacred Rhythms: Arranging Our Lives for Spiritual Transformation. Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press, 2006.
*———. Strengthening the Soul of Your Leadership: Seeking God in the Crucible of Ministry. Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press, 2018.
Boa, Kenneth. Conformed to His Image: Biblical and Practical Approaches to Spiritual Formation. Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 2001.
Buchanan, Mark. Spiritual Rhythm: Being with Jesus Every Season of Your Soul. Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 2010.
Calhoun, Adele Ahlberg. Spiritual Disciplines Handbook: Practices That Transform Us. Rev. and exp. ed. Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press, 2015.
Demarest, Bruce. Satisfy Your Soul. Colorado Springs: NavPress, 1999.
*Duvall, J. Scott. Experiencing God’s Story of Life and Hope: A Workbook for Spiritual Formation. Grand Rapids: Kregel, 2008.
*Foster, Richard J. Celebration of Discipline. 20th anniversary ed. San Francisco: HarperCollins, 1998.
Foster, Richard J., and Emilie Griffin, eds. Spiritual Classics: Selected Readings on the Twelve Spiritual Disciplines. San Francisco: HarperSanFrancisco, 2000.
Howard, Evan. The Brazos Introduction to Christian Spirituality. Grand Rapids: Brazos, 2008.
*———. A Guide to Christian Spiritual Formation: How Scripture, Spirit, Community, and Mission Shape Our Souls. Grand Rapids: Baker Academic, 2018.
Kelly, Thomas R. A Testament of Devotion. New York: Harper & Brothers, 1941.
Larsen, David L. Biblical Spirituality: Discovering the Real Connection between the Bible and Life. Grand Rapids: Kregel, 2001.
Lovelace, Richard. Dynamics of Spiritual Life. Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press, 1979.
McGrath, Alister. Beyond the Quiet Time: Practical Evangelical Spirituality. Grand Rapids: Baker, 1995.
*Mulholland, M. Robert, Jr. Invitation to a Journey: A Road Map for Spiritual Formation. Rev. and exp. ed. Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press, 2016.
———. Shaped by the Word: The Power of Scripture in Spiritual Formation. Rev. ed. Nashville: Upper Room, 2000.
Nouwen, Henri J. M. In the Name of Jesus. New York: Crossroad, 1992.
*———. The Return of the Prodigal Son. New York: Doubleday, 1992.
*Ortberg, John. The Life You’ve Always Wanted. Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 1997.
*Peterson, Eugene H. A Long Obedience in the Same Direction: Discipleship in an Instant Society. Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press, 1980.
———. Subversive Spirituality. Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1997.
Stevens, R. Paul. Down-to-Earth Spirituality: Encountering God in the Ordinary, Boring Stuff of Life. Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press, 2003.
Thomas, Gary. Sacred Pathways: Discover Your Soul’s Path to God. Rev. ed. Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 2010.
Whitney, Donald S. Spiritual Disciplines for the Christian Life. Colorado Springs: NavPress, 1991.
*Wilhoit, James C. Spiritual Formation as If the Church Mattered: Growing in Christ through Community. Grand Rapids: Baker, 2008.
*Wilkins, Michael J. In His Image: Reflecting Christ in Everyday Life. Colorado Springs: NavPress, 1997.
Willard, Dallas. Divine Conspiracy. San Francisco: HarperSanFrancisco, 1998.
*———. Renovation of the Heart: Putting on the Character of Christ. Colorado Springs: NavPress, 2002.
*———. The Spirit of the Disciplines. San Francisco: Harper, 1988.
One-and Two-Volume Commentaries
*Barker, Kenneth L., and John R. Kohlenberger III, eds. Zondervan NIV Bible Commentary. Vol. 1: Old Testament. Vol. 2: New Testament. Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 1994.
*Beale, G. K., and D. A. Carson, eds. Commentary on the New Testament Use of the Old Testament. Grand Rapids: Baker, 2007.
Brown, Raymond E., Joseph Fitzmyer, and Roland Murphy, eds. The New Jerome Biblical Commentary. 2nd ed. Englewood Cliffs, NJ: Prentice-Hall, 1999.
Dunn, James D. G., and John W. Rogerson, eds. Eerdmans Commentary on the Bible. Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 2003.
Elwell, Walter A., ed. Evangelical Commentary on the Bible. Grand Rapids: Baker, 1989.
Mays, James, ed. HarperCollins Bible Commentary. Rev. ed. San Francisco: HarperSanFrancisco, 2000.
*Wenham, G. J., J. A. Motyer, D. A. Carson, and R. T. France, eds. New Bible Commentary. 21st-Century Edition. Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press, 1994.
Background Commentaries
*Arnold, Clint, gen. ed. Zondervan Illustrated Bible Backgrounds Commentary: New Testament. 4 vols. Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 2002.
Hays, J. Daniel, and J. Scott Duvall, eds. The Baker Illustrated Bible Background Commentary. Grand Rapids: Baker, 2020.
*Keener, Craig S. The IVP Bible Background Commentary: New Testament. Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press, 1993.
*Walton, John H., gen. ed. Zondervan Illustrated Bible Backgrounds Commentary: Old Testament. 5 vols. Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 2009.
Walton, John H., Mark W. Chavalas, and Victor H. Matthews. The IVP Bible Background Commentary: Old Testament. Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press, 2000.
Commentary Series
Apollos Old Testament Commentary. Leicester: Apollos.
Baker Exegetical Commentary. Grand Rapids: Baker.
Bible Speaks Today. Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press.
Expositor’s Bible Commentary. Grand Rapids: Zondervan.
International Biblical Commentary. Peabody, MA: Hendrickson.
Interpretation. Louisville: Westminster John Knox.
IVP New Testament Commentary. Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press.
New American Commentary. Nashville: B&H.
New International Commentary on the New Testament. Grand Rapids: Eerdmans.
New International Commentary on the Old Testament. Grand Rapids: Eerdmans.
New International Greek Testament Commentary. Grand Rapids: Eerdmans.
New Interpreter’s Bible. Nashville: Abingdon.
NIV Application Commentary. Grand Rapids: Zondervan.
Pillar New Testament Commentaries. Grand Rapids: Eerdmans.
Story of God Bible Commentary. Grand Rapids: Zondervan Academic.
Tyndale New Testament Commentaries. Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press.
Tyndale Old Testament Commentaries. Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press.
Word Biblical Commentary. Grand Rapids: Zondervan Academic.
Zondervan Exegetical Commentary on the New Testament. Grand Rapids: Zondervan Academic.
J. Scott Duvall and J. Daniel Hays, Grasping God’s Word: A Hands-On Approach to Reading, Interpreting, and Applying the Bible, Fourth Edition. (Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan Academic, 2020), 509–520.
