My Bookshelf: The Best Non-Technical Christian Theological Books

These are some of the best (mostly) non-technical theological books in my library. If you are looking to understand more about Christianity, I would recommend you start here. I have placed an asterisk next to the books I feel are particularly important. These are some of the best books that I have read on their respective subjects. 

Athanasius, On the Incarnation (St. Vladimir’s Seminary Press, 2011).*

Augustine, Confessions (Oxford, 1998).*

Barth, Karl, Dogmatics in Outline (SCM Press, 1949).*

Barth, Karl, Evangelical Theology: An Introduction (Eerdmans, 1979). 

Barth, Karl, The Epistle to the Romans (Oxford, 1933).*

Beeke, Joel (ed.), Living for God’s Glory: An Introduction to Calvinism (Ligonier, 2008).

Beeke, Joel and Paul Smalley, Reformed Systematic Theology (Crossway, 2019–), 4 vols.*

Beeke, Joel, and Mark Jones, A Puritan Theology: Doctrine for Life (Reformation Heritage Books, 2012).

Berkhof, Louis, A Summary of Christian Doctrine (Eerdmans, 1938). 

Boettner, Loraine, The Reformed Doctrine of Predestination (Presbyterian and Reformed, 1932).

Bunyan, John, The Pilgrim’s Progress (Oxford, 1966).*

Calvin, John, Institutes of the Christian Religion (Banner of Truth, 2014).*

Chantry, Walter, Signs of the Apostles: Observations on Pentecostalism Old and New (Banner of Truth, 1973).

Clark, Gordon, H., Thales to Dewey (Trinity, 1957).*

Craig, William Lane, Reasonable Faith: Christian Truth and Apologetics (Crossway, 2008).

Daniel, Curt, The History and Theology of Calvinism (Evangelical Press, 2019).

DeYoung, Kevin, The Hole in Our Holiness: Filling the Gap Between Gospel Passion and the Pursuit of Godliness (Crossway, 2012).

Dixhoorn, Chad Van, Confessing the Faith: A Reader's Guide to the Westminster Confession of Faith (Banner of Truth, 2014).*

Edwards, Jonathan, The Distinguishing Marks (1741).*

Edwards, Jonathan, The End For Which God Created the World (1765). 

Edwards, Jonathan, The Religious Affections (1746). 

Edwards, Jonathan, Faithful Narrative (1737).*

Edwards, Jonathan, Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God (1741). 

Edwards, Jonathan, Some Thoughts Concerning the Revival (1743).  

Evans, Stephen C., A History of Western Philosophy: From the Pre-Socratics to Postmodernism (IVP, 2018).

Ferguson, Sinclair B., The Christian Life: A Doctrinal Introduction (Banner of Truth, 2013).*

Ferguson, Sinclair, John Owen on the Christian Life (Banner of Truth, 1987).

Ferguson, Sinclair, The Whole Christ: Legalism, Antinomianism, and Gospel Assurance – Why the Marrow Controversy Still Matters (Crossway, 2016).*

Frame, John M., A History of Western Philosophy and Theology (Presbyterian and Reformed, 2015).

Frame, John M., Apologetics: A Justification of Christian Belief (Presbyterian and Reformed, 2015).

Frame, John M., Salvation Belongs to the Lord: An Introduction to Systematic Theology (Presbyterian and Reformed, 2012).

Gaffin, Richard B., Perspectives on Pentecost: New Testament Teaching on the Gifts of the Holy Spirit (Presbyterian and Reformed, 1979).

Gibson, David, and Jonathan Gibson, From Heaven He Came and Sought Her: Definite Atonement in Historical, Biblical, Theological, and Pastoral Perspective (Crossway, 2013).

Grier, W. J., The Momentous Event: A Discussion of Scripture Teaching on the Second Advent (Banner of Truth, 1970).*

Jeffery, Steve, Mike Ovey, Andrew Sach, Pierced for Our Transgressions: Rediscovering the Glory of Penal Substitution (IVP, 2007).

Jones, David Ceri, The Fire Divine: An Introduction to the Evangelical Revival (IVP, 2015).

Karkkainen, Veli-Matti, Christian Theology in the Pluralistic World: A Global Introduction (Eerdmans, 2019).

Keller, Timothy, Counterfeit Gods: When the Empty Promises of Love, Money, and Power Let You Down (Hodder, 2009).

Keller, Timothy, Every Good Endeavour: Connecting Your Work to God’s Plan for the World (Hodder, 2012).

Keller, Timothy, Generous Justice: How God’s Grace Makes Us Just (Hodder, 2010).*

Keller, Timothy, Making Sense of God: An Invitation to the Sceptical (Hodder, 2016).

Keller, Timothy, Prayer: Experiencing Awe and Intimacy with God (Hodder, 2014).

Keller, Timothy, Preaching: Communicating Faith in an Age of Scepticism (Hodder, 2015).

Keller, Timothy, The Meaning of Marriage: Facing the Complexities of Marriage with the Wisdom of God (Hodder, 2011).

Keller, Timothy, The Prodigal Prophet: Jonah and the Mystery of God’s Mercy (Hodder, 2018).

Keller, Timothy, The Reason for God: Belief in An Age of Scepticism (Hodder, 2017).*

Keller, Timothy, Walking with God through Pain and Suffering (Hodder, 2013).*

Kuyper, Abraham, Lectures on Calvinism (Hendrickson, 2008).*

Kuyper, Abraham, Particular Grace: A Defence of God’s Sovereignty in Salvation (Reformed Free Publishing Association, 2001).

Letham, Robert, Systematic Theology (Crossway, 2019).*

Letham, Robert, The Holy Trinity: In Scripture, History, Theology, and Worship (Presbyterian and Reformed, 2004).

Lewis, C. S., The C.S. Lewis Signature Classics (Harper One, 2017) – includes Mere Christianity, The Screwtape Letters, Miracles, The Great Divorce, The Problem of Pain, A Grief Observed, The Abolition of Man, and The Four Loves.*

Lewis, C. S., The Chronicles of Narnia (Harper Collins, 1998). Complete stories in one volume.  

Lloyd-Jones, D. M., Great Doctrines of the Bible (Crossway, 2003), 3 vols.*

Lloyd-Jones, D. M., Preaching and Preachers (Hodder, 1971).

Lloyd-Jones, D. M., Spiritual Depression (Harper Collins, 1998).

Lloyd-Jones, D. M., Studies in the Sermon on the Mount (IVP, 1976).

Lloyd-Jones, D. M., The Assurance of Salvation (Crossway, 2000).

Machen, J. Gresham, Christianity and Liberalism (Eerdmans, 1923).*

Macleod, Donald, A Faith to Live By: Understanding Christian Doctrine (Christian Focus, 2010).*

MacLeod, Donald, Christ Crucified: Understanding the Atonement (IVP, 2014).

McGrath Alister, Historical Theology: An Introduction to the History of Christian Thought (Wiley Blackwell, 1998).

McGrath, Alister, Christian Theology: An Introduction (Wiley Blackwell, 2017).*

Milton, John, Paradise Lost (Oxford, 2004).*

Moltmann, Jurgen, The Crucified God (SCM Press, 1974).*

Moltmann, Jurgen, Theology of Hope (SCM Press, 1967).

Morris, Leon, The Atonement: Its Meaning and Significance (IVP, 1984). 

Murray, Iain, The Puritan Hope: Revival and the Interpretation of Prophecy (Banner of Truth, 1971).*

Murray, John J., Behind a Frowning Providence (Banner of Truth, 1990).

Murray, John J., Redemption Accomplished and Applied (Eerdmans, 2015).* 

Needham, Nick, 2000 Years of Christ’s Power (Christian Focus Publications, 1998–2023), 5 vols.

Noll, Mark A., The Scandal of the Evangelical Mind (Eerdmans, 1994).

Noll, Mark A., Turning Points: Decisive Moments in the History of Christianity (Baker Academic, 1997).

Olyott, Stuart, What The Bible Teaches About The Person of Christ (Evangelical Press, 2016).* 

Olyott, Stuart, What The Bible Teaches About The Trinity (Evangelical Press, 2011).* 

Packer, J. I., Knowing God (Hodder, 1973).*

Page, Nick, A Nearly Infallible History of the Reformation (Hodder & Stoughton, 2017).

Page, Nick, A Nearly Infallible History of Christianity (Hodder & Stoughton, 2014).  

Pink, A. W., The Sovereignty of God (Baker Books, 1984).*

Piper, John, Desiring God: Meditations of a Christian Hedonist (The Crown Publishing Group, 2011).

Piper, John, Providence (Crossway, 2020).*

Plantinga, Alvin, Christian Knowledge and Belief (Eerdmans, 2015).

Reeves, Michael, Introducing Major Theologians: From the Apostolic Fathers to the Twentieth Century (IVP, 2015).*

Reeves, Michael, The Unquenchable Flame: Introducing the Reformation (IVP, 2009).*

Robertson, O. Palmer, The Final Word: A Biblical Response to the Case for Tongues and Prophecy Today (Banner of Truth, 1993).

Ryle, J. C., Holiness: Its Nature, Hindrances, Difficulties, and Roots (Banner of Truth, 2015).*

Shaw, Robert, The Reformed Faith: An Exposition of the Westminster Confession of Faith (Christian Focus, 1973).*

Shelley, Bruce, Church History in Plain Language, 5th ed. (Zondervan Academic, 2021).*

Sproul, R. C., Chosen By God (Tyndale, 1994).

Sproul, R. C., The Holiness of God (Tyndale, 1985).

Sproul, R. C., Truths We Confess: A Systematic Exposition of the Westminster Confession of Faith (Ligonier, 2019).*

Stott, John, The Cross of Christ (IVP, 1986).*

Thiselton, Anthony C., Systematic Theology (SPCK, 2015).

Thomas, Geoffrey, The Holy Spirit (Reformation Heritage Books, 2011).*

Tozer, A. W., The Pursuit of God (Bethany House Publishers, 2013).

Trueman, Carl R., The Creedal Imperative (Crossway, 2012). 

Van Til, Cornelius, Christian Apologetics (Presbyterian & Reformed, 2003).*

Van Til, Cornelius, The Defence of the Faith (Presbyterian & Reformed, 2008).

Vos, Johannes G., The Westminster Larger Catechism: A Commentary (Presbyterian & Reformed, 2002). 

Watson, Thomas, A Body of Divinity (Banner of Truth, 1964).*

Whyte, Alexander, An Exposition on the Shorter Catechism (Christian Focus, 2004).* 

Wright, N. T., The Resurrection of the Son of God (SPCK, 2003).*

Wright, Tom, Surprised by Hope: Rethinking Heaven, the Resurrection, and the Mission of the Church (SPCK, 2007).*

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