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Books Worth Reading

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Each year the Society of Biblical Literature has an annual meeting—most recently held in Boston, Massachusetts, USA.  We asked one of our colleagues, Rollin Shoemaker, to visit the book displays of the various publishers and make a list of some books he thinks are worth looking at. 

 We are not necessarily endorsing these books; rather, we are saying that these books may be worth looking at to see if they might be of help to you in your ministry.

  1. Samuel E. Balentine. Job. Macon, George: Smyth & Helwys, 2006.  A detailed commentary. A Smyth and Helwys Bible Commentary, Volume 10 in the series.
  2. Richard Bauckham. The Testimony of the Beloved Disciple. Narrative, History, and Theology in the Gospel of John. Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Publishing Company, 2007. A scholarly work.
  3. David A. Brondos. Paul on the Cross: reconstructing the apostle’s story of redemption. Minneapolis: Fortress Press, 2006. The book appears to present a different understanding of Paul’s teachings then the one usually presented.
  4. Walter Brueggemann. Theology of the Old Testament. Minneapolis: Fortress Press, 1997. This book covers every book in the Old Testament and treats other important issues of interpretation.
  5. David B. Capes, Rodney Reeves, and E. Randolph Richards. Rediscovering Paul: an Introduction To His World, Letters and Theology. Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press, 2007.
  6. D. A. Carson and Douglas Moo. An Introduction to the New Testament. Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 2005.
  7. James H. Charlesworth. Jesus and Archaeology. Grand Rapids, MI: William B. Eerdmans Publishing Company, 2006. The authors use insights form archaeology to better understand the life of Jesus. There are 31 contributors.
  8. Charles B. Cousar. Reading Galatians, Philippians, and 1 Thessalonians. Macon, GA: Smyth & Helwys, 2001. This book is not a word by word commentary. The author writes from the point of view that the faith of Jesus is Jesus’ faith.
  9. LaMoine E. DeVries. Cities of the Biblical World: an Introduction to the Archaeology, Geography, and History of Biblical Sites. Peabody, MA: Hendrickson Publishers, 1997/2006. The book introduces one to the subjects listed.
  10. Millard J. Erickson. Christian Theology. 2ed. Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Books, 2007. The book is a comprehensive book on theology. It was written as a textbook.
  11. Gordon D. Fee. Pauline Christology: An exegetical-Theological Study. Peabody, MA: Hendrickson Publishers, 2007. This book is exegetical in nature and demands a good knowledge of Greek. The book appears to give a detailed and comprehensive account of Pauline Christology.
  12. Michael J. Gorman. Elements of Biblical Exegesis: A basic Guide for Students and Ministers. Peabody, MA: Hendrickson Publishers, 2000. This book goes through the steps of exegesis in such a way that almost anyone who is interested in doing exegesis will find it helpful.
  13. Robert Gundry. A Survey of the New Testament. 4th edition. Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 2003. Covers the issues and has pictures to bring out the points he makes.
  14. K. C. Hanson and Douglas E. Oakman. Palestine in the Time of Jesus (social structures and social conflict). 2ed. Minneapolis: Fortress Press, 1998.
  15. J. Albert Harrill. Slaves in the New Testament: Literary, Social, and Moral Dimension. Minneapolis: Fortress Press, 2005. He talks about slavery in Paul’s world, the meaning of Romans 7, and slavery in the United States. Besides Romans the author looks at slavery in Philemon, Luke-Acts, and 1 Corinthians.
  16. Richard B. Hays. The Conversion of the Imagination: Paul as Interpreter of Israel's Scripture. Grand Rapids, MI: William B. Eerdmans Publishing Company, 2005. The book articulates the formative role of Israel's Scripture in the apostle’s thoughts.
  17. Richard B. Hays. The Faith of Jesus Christ: The Narrative Substructure of Galatians 3:1-4:11. 2ed. Grand Rapids, MI: William B. Eerdmans Publishing Company, 2003. It is a reprint of Hays’ PhD dissertation. The book has an introduction by Luke Timothy Johnson and a new introduction by Hays as well as two appendixes that were originally published in Pauline Theology vol. 4: Looking Back, Pressing On. 1997 SBL Symposium Series. Appendix I: Once More, PISTIS CRISTOU is written by James D. G. Dunn who believes that the expression pistis christou means “faith in Christ.” Appendix 2: Pi,stij and Pauline Christology: What Is at Stake? is written by Richard B. Hays. Since there is quite a bit of discussion these days about the expression pistis christou as to whether it means “faith in Christ” or “the faithfulness of Christ,” it should be well worth reading.
  18. Desta Heliso. Pistis and the Righteous One: A Study of Romans 1:17 against the Background Scripture and Second Temple Jewish Literature. Vol. 235. Wissenschaftliche Untersuchungen Zum Neuen Testament  2 Reihe, ed. Jörg Frey. Tübingen, Germany: Mohr Siebeck, 2007.  It appears to be an in-depth study of the topic.
  19. Martin Hengel. Between Jesus and Paul: Studies in the Earliest History of Christianity. Philadelphia: Fortress Press, 1983/2003. Translated from German. Scholarly papers on the subject.
  20. Caroline Johnson Hodge. If Sons, Then Heirs: A Study of Kinship and Ethnicity in the Letters of Paul. Oxford, NY: Oxford University Press, 2007. The book interprets texts in Paul in accordance with kinship and challenges the concept that Paul eliminates ethnicity. It exams kinship and ethnic language in Paul’s letters and concludes that peoplehood and lineage are not rejected but are central to his gospel. Jews and gentiles now share a common ancestor, Abraham. The book attempts to demonstrate that Paul’s thinking is immersed in the story of Israel. Furthermore it asserts that Paul was a first-century Jewish teacher of gentiles who does not reject Judaism.
  21. Robert Jewett. Romans. Hermeneia, ed. Helmut Koester. Minneapolis: Fortress Press, 2006. A very detailed commentary. It’s massive, 1140 pages. The author states, “The basic idea in the interpretation of each verse and paragraph is that Paul wishes to gain support for a mission to the barbarians in Spain, which requires that the gospel of impartial, divine righteousness revealed in Christ be clarified to rid it of prejudicial elements that are currently dividing the congregations in Rome. In the shameful cross, Christ overturned the honor system that dominated the Greco-Roman and Jewish worlds, resulting in discrimination and exploitation of barbarians as well as in poisoning the relations between the congregations in Rome” (1). The book appears to be well written with many insightful comments.
  22. Luke Timothy Johnson. Reading Romans: A Literary and Theological Commentary. Macon, GA.: Smyth & Helwys, 2001. It is not a word by word commentary but is a good read of the issues as far as I can tell. He understands that Paul’s “righteousness by faith” is the faith of the human person Jesus.
  23. Luke Timothy Johnson. The writings of the New Testament: An Interpretation. Minneapolis: Fortress Press, 2003. The book focuses on inter social and religious experience of the early church communities in which the documents of the New Testament were composed. The book articulates the theological flow and cohesiveness of the New Testament. It is not a critical treatment of the text.
  24. Leander E. Keck. Romans. Abingdon New Testament Commentaries, ed. Victor Paul Furnish. Nashville, TN: Abington Press, 2005. This book is one of the Abingdon New Testament Commentaries. It is not a word by word commentary. He appears to address many of the issues that Romans raises.
  25. Kevin Madigan and Carolyn Osiek, editors and translators. Ordained Women in the Early Church: A Documentary History. Baltimore, MD: Johns Hopkins University Press, 2005. The book has collected all known evidence for women deacons and presbyters in the Greek- and Latin-speaking worlds up to approximately 600 C.E.
  26. Frank Matera. Passion Narrative and Gospel Theologies: Interpreting the Synoptics through their Passion Stories. New York: Paulist Press, 1986/2001. His view of Matthew is that it is a well-defined plot.
  27. Donald K. McKin (Editor). Dictionary of Major Biblical Interpreters. Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press, Academic, 2007. It gives brief summaries of some important interpreters from the early church through the 20th century.
  28. John McRay. Paul: His life and Teaching. Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Academic, 2007. Many pictures and maps. Conservative in his approach.
  29. Thomas R. Schreiner. New Testament Theology. Magnifying God in Christ. Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Academic, 2008. A well written book that covers the issues from an evangelical point of view.
  30. Thomas R. Schreiner. Paul Apostle of God’s Glory in Christ: Pauline Theology. Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press, 2006. The book was written for students and pastors.
  31. Klyne Snodgrass. Stories with Intent: A Comprehensive Guide to the Parables of Jesus. Grand Rapids, MI: William B. Eerdmans Publishing Company, 2008. This book explores the context in which the parables of Jesus were told, their purpose, message, and how they have been interpreted in the church.
  32. Kenton L. Sparks. God’s Word in Human Words: an Evangelical Appreciation of Critical Biblical Scholarship.  Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Academic, 2008. A believer who uses critical scholarship to establishes his views.
  33. John A. Studebaker. Jr. The Lord is the Spirit: The Authority of the Holy Spirit in Contemporary Theology and Church Practice (Evangelical Theological Society Monograph). Eugene, OR: Pickwick Publications, 2008. The book dwells on the authority of the Spirit from the perspective of the historical, systematic, and practical aspects. The book concludes with a chapter on the implication of the doctrinal authority of the Holy Spirit.
  34. Donald R. Sunukjian. Invitation to Biblical Preaching: Proclaiming Truth with Clarity and Relevance. Invitation to Theological Studies. Grand Rapids, MI: Kregel, 2007. The book is one of the Invitation to Theological Studies Series. The book shows how one can construct biblical based sermons. It develops a step-by-step method from text to pulpit.