I’ve been meaning to write more lately but stress, fatigue, doctor appointments and back pain have been slowing me down. I’ve been meaning to write a post on books not realizing that everyone and their brother (and sister) are doing year-end book posts. Mine is a little more eclectic.
The books I won this year were:
- The NLT Study Bible from their blog.
From Shaun Tabatt’s 12 Days of Christmas:
- Introduction to Biblical Interpretation, Revised Edition
I’m looking forward to using this one. - The Mosaic of Christian Belief: Twenty Centuries of Unity & Diversity
- The Advent of Evangelicalism: Exploring Historical Continuities
- That You May Know: Assurance of Salvation in 1 John (New American Commentary Studies in Bible and Theology)
I’ll be reading this in addition to Kruse’s The Letters of John (Pillar New Testament Commentary). - Sing and Learn New Testament Greek: The Easiest Way to Learn Greek Grammar
- Basics of Verbal Aspect in Biblical Greek
- A Theological Guide to Calvin’s Institutes: Essays and Analysis (Calvin 500)
Thank you very much to Shaun and the publishers who contributed.
Regarding Greek, I’ve decided to go through A Primer of Biblical Greek by Clayton Croy for a number of reasons. Before I do that I’m learning English grammar. Hopefully the CD will be helpful if I can ignore the Erasmian pronunciation. When I get through the Primer, maybe I’ll go on with the Verbal Aspect book although I’m guessing Basics might not mean that it’s easy or the next step in the process.
Regarding the book on the Institutes, of course this means I will have to read the Institutes first which I’ve been wanting to do, although I don’t know when I’ll get to it. The Battles translation has been highly recommended and I will be going with that. If anyone has a used set with pages in good condition that you would like to sell please let me know.
Most life changing book read in 2008: Trusting God: Even When Life Hurts by Jerry Bridges
Most practical book read and used in 2008: New Testament Exegesis: A Handbook for Students and Pastors (3rd Edition) by Gordon Fee
This book was generously bought for me by Robert Jimenez. I didn’t mention that earlier because I didn’t know if he wanted to be anonymous and I felt to awkward in asking. I used this to exegete (to the best of my ability) 1 Corinthians 1:17-2:5 and am now starting on 1 Peter 1:3-12, after which I will be reading Schreiner’s commentary. This book is incredibly valuable and I would like to do this 3-4 times a year.
I also have D.A. Carson’s Exegetical Fallacies which I would like to read this year and of course will be using the above mentioned Introduction to Biblical Interpretation.
Some of my areas of interest are:
- Jesus
- Prayer
- God’s Sovereignty and Providence
- Suffering/Theodicy
Obviously the last two overlap.
The best book I’ve read on Jesus the Messiah in general is The Lord by Romano Guardini. Although I won’t be reading others until next year I’ve added quite a few to my wish list: Jesus Through Middle Eastern Eyes: Cultural Studies in the Gospels, Lord Jesus Christ: Devotion to Jesus in Earliest Christianity, Incarnation: The Person and Life of Christ, Four Portraits, One Jesus: An Introduction to Jesus and the Gospels, Studying the Historical Jesus: A Guide to Sources and Methods.
On prayer, Praying Backwards: Transform Your Prayer Life by Beginning in Jesus’ Name is an excellent book. I also plan on reading John Calvin, Of Prayer: A Perpetual Exercise of Faith (Forgotten Books), Call to Spiritual Reformation, A: Priorities from Paul and His Prayers and added Teach Us to Pray: Prayer in the Bible and the World to my wish list. The latter two are by D.A. Carson.
Regarding #3 the Institutes should cover than fairly well.
Regarding #4 I have and plan on reading Polishing God’s Monuments and have added Being Well When We’re Ill: Wholeness and Hope in Spite of Infirmity (Living Well) and How Long, O Lord?: Reflections on Suffering and Evil to my wish list. I’ve read many other books on the subject including Suffering and the Sovereignty of God and Cries of The Heart.
After the letters of John I’ll be going through The NIV Application Commentary: Revelation by Keener, then back to the Gospels alternating with OT with The Gospel of Matthew (New International Commentary on the New Testament) by France, Creation and Blessing: A Guide to the Study and Exposition of Genesis by Ross, Mark (Tyndale New Testament Commentaries) by Cole, Ecclesiastes: An Introduction and Commentary (Tyndale Old Testament Commentaries) by Eaton, The Gospel of Luke (New International Commentary on the New Testament) by Green, The Prophecy of Isaiah: An Introduction & Commentary by Motyer, The Gospel According to John: An Introduction and Commentary (Pillar New Testament Commentary) by Carson, a commentary on Daniel (suggestions?), and The Book of the Acts (New International Commentary on the New Testament) by Bruce.
After that I’ll have Old Testament Theology by von Rad and Commentary on the New Testament Use of the Old Testament.
That should take me well into 2010.
The Sermon on the Mount is another area of interest I may look into and I’d like to go back and do exegesis on all or nearly all of Colossians.
I’d like to then do a lot more book reviews.
So far my “library” is less than a 5′ x 3′ book case so compared to all of you book grubbing beggars I should be the grubbiest. I’m so thankful for the books that I procured for free this year to help increase my resources. The good thing about a small collection is that I read all of my books. Although my library is woefully lacking in reference books other than NT commentaries.
How do you like to keep track of books you read each year?
If you have any comments or suggestions please post them.
A few other blogs:
I don’t keep track of the books I read each year. I also read Fee’s NT Exegesis (2nd ed.) this year and really enjoyed it. I’m curious to know how you are going about learning English grammar? It looks like you have plenty to read so I won’t suggest anything else, but I do have one final question. Where do you find the patience to make all of those hyperlinks?
Praying for your relief from pain, etc. – Nate
So far my “library” is less than a 5″ x 3″ book case so compared to all of you book grubbing beggars I should be the grubbiest.
With a little beginning-of-the-year-silliness (humor?), I comment that if your bookcase is indeed so small – 5 inches by 3 inches – you must really have to work to insert and remove books!
Nathan I checked out the book you read called Essential English Grammar from the library and am going through it. I just requested more from the library and I’m going to buy whatever I like the best because I know I’ll need to brush up now and then. I can usually form a decent sentence but I have almost no knowledge of terms.
I pretty much went through my Wish List and formed those links through Amazon Associates. I thought it would be be more helpful to me and to readers although I don’t know if it was worth the time.
Edward I got new reading glasses and they are amazing. Thanks for pointing that out. I’m obviously not good with measurements either.
Jeff
Jeff, I’d suggest keeping an eye on Ebay from the Battles translation of Calvin. It appears from time to time for a good price.
Thanks Mike. I put in a search notification. I wonder if it’s going to be a hotter commodity this year.
I’m going to Half Price Books this Wed. to see if I get lucky/blessed.
Jeff
Jeff, congrats!
I’ve dipped my toe in Keener’s NIVAC: Revelation and like it quite a lot. I’ll likely been using it as reference a bit soon as well, as the Lifeway Sunday School curriculum starts hitting the eschatological portions of the Thessalonian letters.The Revelation to John is one NT book that doesn’t immediately come to mind under the the heading of “application”.
Thanks TC.
I think there are different definitions of the word application. I look forward to reading Keener for the first time. In glancing at the first part of the commentary it looks like I will learn a lot.
Jeff