Someone has said, “books are to the believer what tools are to the carpenter: the essentials of the trade.” Growing up I was often told that learning is a life-long job. At the time, I was more than skeptical of that statement. In fact, my goal was to finish school as quick as possible so I could get a job, make some money, and live the “good life.” Looking back on that attitude I realize how foolish I was. Learning indeed is a life-long job. You should be growing in the grace and knowledge of the Lord until you meet Him face to face. As the apostle Paul faced his impending death in a Roman prison cell, he still remained a student, requesting of Timothy that he bring the books when he came to visit Paul in prison (2 Timothy 4:13). Paul’s example is more than enough to encourage me to continue reading and learning. Lest we need to be reminded that this is Paul we’re talking about, the great missionary who under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, penned two-thirds of the New Testament. I hope you caught that. He wrote under the guidance of God and yet he still wanted Timothy to bring the books so he could read and write from prison. We should follow this example and dedicate ourselves to being lifetime students of the Word. I know many people will argue that there is only one book we need to read. While I do agree that the Bible should be preeminent in our reading and study, I also believe that we should welcome the grace offered to us in other biblically and theologically rich books. While these books are neither inspired nor inerrant, they are helpful tools for the trade. All of this is to encourage you to read. Perhaps our greatest motivation is found in Matthew 22:37 as Jesus teaches us to “love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.” God has graciously given us a mind and we are instructed to love Him with all of it. Do not let your intellect go to waste. Immerse yourself in the study of the Word first and foremost and then begin to build a good theological library of your own. At this point, others will say, “Why not simply borrow books from another source?” My answer to this question is more practical than anything else. Bottom line: having your own personal library is more convenient than borrowing. You are free to mark your books as you please. Your books are constantly at your own disposal. Perhaps even more significantly, you are now free to lend good books to others when they ask you for recommendations. So what are you waiting for? Start investing in good books that will enable you to grow in the grace and knowledge of the Lord. “Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who has no need to be ashamed, rightly handling the word of truth” (2 Timothy 2:15).
Recommended titles to add to your theological library. Categories will be in parenthesis:
- English Standard Version Study Bible (Study Bible with excellent notes and articles)
- How to Read the Bible for All Its Worth: Gordon Fee and Douglas Stuart (Bible Interpretation)
- The Message of the Old Testament: Mark Dever (Old Testament Survey)
- The Message of the New Testament: Mark Dever (New Testament Survey)
- A Theology for the Church: ed. Daniel Akin (Systematic Theology)
- Christian Beliefs: Twenty Basics Every Christian Should Know: Wayne Grudem (Systematic Theology)
- Systematic Theology: Wayne Grudem (Systematic Theology)
- Knowing God: J.I. Packer (Theology Proper)
- The Knowledge of the Holy: A.W. Tozer (Theology Proper)
- Desiring God: John Piper (Theology Proper)
- Don’t Waste Your Life: John Piper (Christian Living)
- When I Don’t Desire God: John Piper (Christian Living)
- The Gospel for Real Life: Jerry Bridges (Christian Living)
- The Discipline of Grace: Jerry Bridges (Christian Living)
- The Pursuit of Holiness: Jerry Bridges (Christian Living)
- The Cross of Christ: John Stott (Christology)
- Living the Cross Centered Life: C.J. Mahaney (Christian Living)
- Humility:C.J. Mahaney (Christian Living)
- Evangelism and the Sovereignty of God: J.I. Packer (Evangelism & Missions)
- The Reason for God: Tim Keller (Apologetics)
- Prodigal God: Tim Keller (Christian Living)
- Mere Christianity: C.S. Lewis (Apologetics)
- What is a Healthy Church: Mark Dever (Ecclesiology)
- Stop Dating the Church: Joshua Harris (Ecclesiology)
