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When a person desires to build
a theological library that one should do it thoughtfully without
hurry, and without undue expense. Below we have indicated what
is a minima; library for any Christian. No one can denote a maximal
library. It is good to have a dependable guide in regard to buying,
but one should be sure the guide-person has a knowledge of the
Scriptures and of books. This could be a pastor. A person such
as the Rev. Dean Carter will be a good guide, but his recommendations
might be excessive for a beginner-he is so full of books. He would
be a good person in regard to reference material. Lecturers on
the NCTM Team would be helpful enough for the general run of books,
or particular books for certain study. The Librarian in the NCTM
library will be able to direct you to the sections you need for
study. Note: a person does not need to obtain all the books indicated
below. For example one set of Bible or Theological Dictionaries
should be enough. Later, when scholarship increases, the person
will know further what to buy.
1.
A Minimal Reference Library
(a) a large bible with a reference
column. It is best to ask in regard to the version one uses. RSV,
NIV, NASB are good texts. the NRSV
is better than the old RSV but
it has made some changes to avoid `sexist' translations. The New
English Bible, and the Jerusalem Bible are good translations. The
Good News Bible and the Living Bible are not the best texts on
which to base study. Ask in regard
to Study Bibles is
you wish to use one.
(ii) A good concordance. Young's,
Strongs, and Crudens were once considered the best. Some versions
have their own full concordances such as RSV and NIV. Small concordances
at the back of bibles are inadequate for full study.
(iii) The Treasury of Scripture
Knowledge although in the AV is most useful. In references it is
even more valuable than a concordance.
(iii) A one volume Bible Dictionary.
There are many of these-IVP, Westminster, etc.
(iv) A one volume Bible Commentary.
Again, many of these-IVP, Baker, etc. (modern).
2.
Larger Reference Library - For
Study and Reading.
Note: The catalogues of Libraries
classify all categories of books, and can be consulted under 'Topics,
Authors, and Titles. Consultation with librarians and teachers
will help you to evaluate particular volumes.
(i) All those above with more
than one single volume Bible Dictionaries and Commentaries. Older commentaries
are Matthew Henry; Jamison, Fausset and Brown; etc.
(ii) Old commentary series
multi-volume: Calvin; Matthew Henry; Jamison Fausset and
Brown; Lange; Speakers'
Commentary Keil and Delitzsch (OT, only); The
Expositor's Bible; Lenski (NT only) Alford (NT only); The
Expositor's Greek Testament. Note: All the Banner or Truth
commentaries, though old are valuable, without exception.
(iii) New Commentary Series. Tyndale (simple
and sufficient), The New
International Commentary (NT and OT, some volumes to be completed); Word
Book Commentary (NT and OT, some volumes to be completed); The
Expositor's Bible Commentary (N.T. ed. Gebelein). The
International Critical Commentary is still valuable, still
being printed. A & C Black's New
Testament Commentaries are also critical but good. The
Anchor Bible (OT and NT but volumes to be completed; very scholarly).
There are many single commentaries‑either in general series
or not‑which are valuable so when you wish to study a certain
book ask your pastor or teacher concerning these. Note: The
Interpreter's Bible is not worth the expense for what it contains,
but picked up cheaply could be somewhat useful.
(iv) Introductions to
the Old and New Testaments are many. Old
Testament: E.J. Young; Harrison, Brevard Childs, Allis;
New Testament: Merrill Tenny; Everett Harrison; Clogg,
Guthrie.,
(v) Bible and Theological
Dictionaries: The International Standard Bible
Encyclopedia (4. vols), The Zondervan Pictorial Encyclopedia
of the Bible (5 vols), Baker's Encyclopedia of the Bible (2
vols), Colin Brown's Dictionary of New Testament Theology (3
vols); Kittel's (a) one volume Theological Dictionary of the
NT (b) 10 volumes Theological Dictionary of the NT. Note: old
Bible Dictionaries and Encyclopedia are of little value. One
useful one could be the old The International Standard Bible
Encyclopedia (5 vols.). Note The Interpreter's Dictionary of
the Bible is nor worth the expense for what it contains, but picked
up cheaply could be somewhat useful. Hastings Dictionary of
the Bible (single or multi‑volume) can be useful if bought
cheaply.
(vi) Theology. This
is a wide area and all books cannot be named here. The Bible and
Theological Dictionaries and Encyclopedia should be sufficient
in theological materials. Look at subjects, themes, etc. The
New Dictionary of Theology (IVP) is helpful. So is M.E. Erickson's Christian Theology. Berkouwer's Studies
of Theology (multi-volume) are excellent. Systematic Theology by L. Berkhof, is useful. The Christian Fault by H. Berkhof is more living. In
Understanding Be Men by T.C.Hammond is good. New Testament
and Pauline theologies by Guthrie, Ladd and Ridderbos and Alan
Richardson are well worth having. Old Testament theologies are
by Eichrodt, Jacob, Von Rad, Ringgren. The two-volume Christian Dogmatics by Braaten/Jenson is good. Reformed Dogmatics by Heinrich Heppe is an old standby. The Banner
of Truth editions of older Systematic Theologies by Shedd, Dabney,
Gill Charnock, Cunningham, and the later ones of Herman Bavinck
are good. Hodge and Strong are worth having. The works of PT. Forsyth,
James Denney, R.W. Dale, H.R. McIntyre, A Kuyper are valuable (all
around the turn of the century). Easier reading in Jacques Ellul's
books is most profitable. The works of Calvin, Martin Luther and
Jonathan Edwards are excellent. Books about Calvin,
Luther and Edwards are generally useful. Theologians such as Brunner,
Barth (14 volumes of the Church
Dogmatics), the two Niebuhrs, Pannenburg, Thielicke, Moltmann,
Gustaf Wingren, Hans Kung are all useful though demanding in reading
them. The Torrances (Tom James, etc.) tire fine theologians and presently are opening
a rich Trinitarian school of theology. Leon Morris, Donald G. Bloesch,
John Stott are evangelical
theologians to the fore. J.G. G. Dunne is entering the field
of theology these days.
Divisions of theology are
God, Creation, Man, Sin, Salvation, the Church, the Kingdom of
God, the People of God, and Eschatology. Under 'God' are works
on:
Pateriology (the
Father) Scott Lidgett; Smaile; T. Torrance Christology (study
of the Son), Forsyth; Berkouwer; Warfield; Cullman; J.D.G Dunne;
L.E. Marshall with Hengstenberg of Ot.T Christology. Pneumatology (study
of the Spirit): H. Berkhof; Berkouwer; Hendry; ED. Bruner; Smeaton;
Owen; Taylor. Works in these areas are too numerous to mention.
It is here the library catalogue helps.
Practical Theology
This division covers things
such as Ethics, Evangelism, Counselling, Holiness of living, Ecclesiology-Church
Life and Communion, Missions. Again the range is quite large. Helpful
books are Theological Foundations
of Ministry (ed. R. Anderson), Thielieke's 3 volumes of Theological
Ethics, and his The Evangelical
Faith; Holiness (J.C.Ryle) Bonhoeffer's Ethics, Walter
Marshall's Gospel Mystery
of Sanctification. It is here the Puritans are helpful such
as Charnock, Sibbes,. Owen, Manton and Goodwin.
(vii) Church History.
Again the range is wide-Early Church History, Reformation Church
History, Modern Church History, Mission and Missions (missiology).
The great Series by Schaff, 9 volumes on The
History arid the Christian Church, Latourette's 7 volumes on ,9
History of the Expansion of Christianity and his 5 volumes
on Christianity in a Revolutionary
Age. The New Schaff-Herzog Encyclopedia of Religious Knowledge'
(15 volumes) combines theology, church history and biography, and
is most useful. Herbert Butterfield; G.A., Buttrick and Latourette
are good for interpretation of Christian history.
(viii) Apologetics-`the
defence and confirmation of the gospel'. Two kinds (a) an attempt
top show the gospel is reasonable, the Scriptures reliable, and
God not offensive J. McDowell (b) strong presentation of Christianity
as it is, the breaking down of anti‑biblical misconceptions,
and the confrontation of the reader with the truth; Rushdoony;
Van Til, Chalcedon Studies, etc. Studies. A catalogue should show
the difference and the titles.
The
Matter of Reading and Study
Study with reading can be useful.
It can extend the mind and the heart when the person is in search
of wisdom, but not merely knowledge. Knowledge and wisdom should
go together, but this is not always the case. Knowledge may often
be the goal of pride and the essence-wisdom-can be lost from it,
or never seen. Often a Library with its multi-facetted presentations
and thinking can confuse and depress the student. Critical thinking
is not, of itself, wrong, but when critical thinking has a bias,
a desire to destroy, and elitist pride, then it can nullify holy
things. If we do not use our critical faculties (a gift of God
to us) then we will never discern reality, the truth and `things
that differ'. Humility is the best mood for all study, and
true study will yield great fruits. |
