As a person studying for the ministry, I have accumilated a number of resources that I have found useful in my studies of God's word. I have developed a "mini-library" of sorts, and have found it invaluable; I would like to pass on some of my resources to others for their use.
Here are some suggestions for the creation of a mini-Biblical study library, for studying the scriptures in every possible context. Most of the books listed are in my own library (took years to accumulate), although there are a few I don't own but have read. I will break them down by subject matter.
In addition, I will also list some websites that have been helpful in my studies.
Good reference materials help immensely in the study of the Word of God, as well as aid in witnessing and defending the Word against modern skeptics.
BIBLES A good Bible study Library has at least 3 interpretations of the Scripture.My suggestions are:
King James Version (Preferably a prophesy study Bible)
New International Version (not this new controversial one but the original - and make it a Word study Bible, with Hebrew, Greek and Aramaic words defined.)
Jewish Publication Society Tanach & The Hebrew New Testament (One is the OT as translated by Rabbinic Jewish scholars and the other is a translation of the NT by Messianic Jews.)
DEVOTIONAL You need at least one devotional. I recommend:
Pursuit of His Presence, by Kenneth Copeland (Yea, he's a televangelist, but this is a good devotional.)
My Utmost for His Highest, by Oswald Chambers (The classic devotional)
TOPICAL REFERENCE To help find given subjects and scriptures.
Where to Find It in The Bible, by Ken Anderson
1,001 Things You Always Wanted to Know About the Bible, But Never Thought to Ask, by J. Stephen Lang
Easton's Book Synopsis (Available as shareware "The Bible Library Deluxe" at Walmart)
Bamford Bible Dictionary (Available as shareware "The Bible Library Deluxe" at Walmart)
Nave Topical Bible (Available online at crosswalk.com)
LEXICONS I don't read Greek, Hebrew or Aramaic either...
Strong's Greek Dictionary (Available as shareware "The Bible Library Deluxe" at Walmart)
Strong's Hebrew Dictionary (Available as shareware "The Bible Library Deluxe" at Walmart)
New Testament Greek (Available online at crosswalk.com)
Old Testament Hebrew (Available online at crosswalk.com)
HISTORICAL APOLOGETICS
A Ready Defense, by Josh McDowell (Start here)
Handbook of Christian Apologetics, by Kreft & Tacelli
Signiture of God, by Grant Jeffreys
More Than a Carpenter, by Josh McDowell
Manners and Customs of the Bible, by James Freeman (General study of the world Jesus lived in)
The Social World of Luke-Acts, Edited by Jerome Neyrey (I LOVE THIS BOOK!! A group of cultural anthropologists study the books of Luke and Acts and disect them for cultural clues that provide info needed to make a proper interpretation of the scriptures. The section on Honor/Riposte in the ANE is worth the price alone! You will never look at "Turn the other cheek" the same way again!)
The Complete works of Josephus (more than just the Jesus references, it also gives a glimpse of Jewish life)
Handbook of Biblical Social Values, by John Pilch and Bruce Malina
The Historical Reliability of the Gospels, by Craig Blomberg
Reasonable Faith, by William Lane Craig (Anything by this guy is good; maybe the best Biblical scholar alive today.)
Balanced Apologetics: Using Evidences and Presuppositions in Defense of the Faith by Ronald B. Mayers
www.tektonics.org - J.P. Holding's website (my hero)
www.christian-thinktank.com - Glenn Miller's website (Maybe the most thorough arguements of a textual-criticism nature anywhere.)
www.str.org - Stand To Reason Ministries
www.christiananswers.net -- good section on archeology and the Bible
http://home.earthlink.net/~gbl111/page2.htm - "The Ultimate Christian Apologetics Website"
SCIENTIFIC APOLOGETICS Creation and the misuse and abuse of Charles Darwin, the Christian.
Darwin's Black Box: The Biochemical Challenge to Evolution by Michael J. Behe (This book has the scientific community scared stiff, according to Time magazine)
Refuting Evolution by Jonathan Sarfati
Darwin on Trial, by Paul Johnson
A Case Against Accident and Self-Organization, by Dean Overman (Highly technical)
The Universe Next Door, by James Sire (A primer on scientific worldviews)
The Genesis Question, by Hugh Ross (NASA astronomer and minister)
www.reasons.org -- Hugh Ross' website
PHILOSOPHICAL APOLOGETICS
Love Your God With All Your Mind, by J.P. Moreland (You could almost call this book my personal philosophy of ministry.)
Mere Christianity, by C.S. Lewis
The Compact Guide to the Christian Faith, by John Schwarz
ESCHATOLOGY (THE STUDY OF PROPHESY)
Are We Living in the End Times, by LaHaye and Jenkins (Yup, the Left Behind Guys wrote a non-fiction guide,and a good one too!)
Revelation Unveiled, By Tim LaHaye (Indepth study of Revelation)
Charting the End Times, by Tim LaHaye and Thomas Ice (Charts and Graphs for visual aid)
Prophesies of the Bible, by Darmond Duck (Prophesy for Dummies)
Bruce and Stan's Guide to the End of the World (Prophesy for Dummies part 2)
Storming Towards Apocalypse, Various authors (Essays on Eschatology
All the End Time Prophesies of the Bible (scriptural reference guide)
APOCRYPHIA, EARLY CHURCH WRITINGS, AND GENERAL PHILOSOPHY/HISTORY
onlinebooks.library.upenn.edu/subjects.html (You WILL NOT BELIEVE this site! 6000 complete books online at the University of Pennsylvania)
www.fordham.edu/halsall/ancient/asbook1.html
www.bibledesk.com/
Connections, by James Burke (and its sequel)
The Day the Universe Changed, by James Burke (History studied in a nonlinear way- companion books to the PBS series of the same name.)
COMPARATIVE RELIGIONS/CULT INFORMATION
Kingdom of the Cults, by Walter Martin (The definitive book on Cults; even used by psychiatrists and psychologists as reference.)
The Lotus and the Cross: Jesus Talks with Buddha, by Ravi Zacharias (Told in stageplay form, it is an imagined converstation between Jesus and the Buddha, as heard by the subject of their conversation - a 17 year old Thai prostitute dying of AIDS)
I hope this helps you build a good reference library, and that it bring you to a greater understanding of God's word. All praise to Jesus!
Peace, Tom
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