Whatever is Pure: Books that Teach Theology and Illuminate the Scriptures, part Two

This next installment in the Library Builders series picks up the topic of books that teach theology. Theology: Part One covered books for family devotions and children’s storybooks which illuminate the scriptures. This post suggests titles for older children and adults.

Theology Books for Older Kids and Adults

My oldest son and I are currently reading Henrietta Mears’ excellent book What the Bible is All About.
This thoughtfully written book has really helped us to see the Bible’s big picture as we’ve read through the Old Testament this semester. Each chapter gives insight into a different book of the Bible, drawing out the key themes.

What I love about this book is that all the chapters about Old Testament books show how the Old Testament writers were always pointing forward to Christ. For example, the case is thoroughly made that the book of Exodus points us to Christ, our Passover Lamb, while the book of Deuteronomy portrays Christ as our true Prophet.

Great Theology Audio

We’ve also been listening to R.C. Sproul’s Bible survey course this year, From Dust to Glory. Mears’ book is very informational, with lots of cross-references to look up. Dust to Glory is very inspirational, with excellent preaching about each book of the Bible. I highly recommend doing them both, while reading through the Bible itself. We are learning and growing a lot through these materials! Dust to Glory can be downloaded in its entirety on MP3, or you can download individual audios from the series for as low as $2 apiece.

Look for good authors 

I profited from J. I. Packer’s Knowing God when I was a young Christian. I have it on my shelf to read with our oldest son this summer.

When choosing books from this category for myself, I find that it is the author that draws me more than the title. We need to be so discerning when choosing books in this category, whether for our children or for ourselves, as there are plenty of bad theological books readily available.

Christian Magazines

I regularly read two Christian magazines which I highly recommend. We’ve been reading Tabletalk magazine from Ligonier Ministries for years. Each issue has several thought-provoking articles about a chosen theme as well as a month’s worth of devotions, usually taken from a particular book of the Bible or focused around a theme. January’s articles were all about Pressing On Toward the Goal (January’s article archives are available at this link). When looking for new theological books, I often see which books are being advertised in Tabletalk. Even if I don’t know the author, I trust that Tabletalk won’t steer me wrong.

We just started our subscription to Modern Reformation magazine recently. This magazine is edited by Michael Horton, and it complements Horton’s round-table radio broadcast The White Horse Inn. The articles are, in my opinion, more challenging to wade through than those of Tabletalk. I think it is important to read things that force me to think, and to reflect critically about the issues facing the modern church. This magazine helps me to do that. You can read excerpts from the current issue here.

Bible Commentaries

It is important to consider theological perspective when choosing study Bibles and commentaries. I really like Matthew Henry’s commentary, and I’d love to buy a hardback copy one day. For now, I regularly refer to Henry’s full commentary online, at the Christian Classics Ethereal Library. The CCEL also has John Calvin’s complete commentary. I often read my Bible in the room where my computer is so I can look up passages in the commentary online.

I still use my NIV study Bible, but lately I’ve been wanting more thorough study notes. I’m also using the 1599 Geneva Bible and the Reformation Study Bible
for their excellent study notes.

“Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.” Philippians 4:8