Saturday, June 25, 2016

Introductory Bibliography to Studying Evangelical Protestantism

The following is a list of books I recommend for those who wish to start a study of Evangelical Protestantism (both Arminian and Reformed), dealing with the key theological issues and the movement's history. It is important for Latter-day Saints who interact with Evangelical Protestants to know Evangelical apologetics, scholarship, and original sources to show respect and integrity to those we are dialoguing/debating with, and allows us to critique the real issues that divide us, and not straw-man caricatures, as well as improve our arguments in favour of our theology, not just against theirs. This list is by no means exhaustive, but I think it is a good introductory bibliography:

History:

Philip Schaff, History of the Christian Church (8 vols.)

Idem. Creeds of Christendom (3 vols.)

Diarmaid MacCulloch, The Reformation

Justo L. Gonzalez, The Story of Christianity, vol. 2: The Reformation to the Present Day

Kenneth Scott Latourette, History of Christianity, vol. 2: Reformation to the Present

Jaroslav Pelikan, The Christian Tradition: A History of the Development of Doctrine (5 vols.)

Leonard Verduin, The Reformers and their Stepchildren


General overview of theology:

Michael F. Bird, Evangelical Theology: A Biblical and Systematic Introduction

Alister E. McGrath, Christian Theology: An Introduction

Roger Olson, ed. The SCM Press A-Z of Evangelical Theology

Idem, The Mosaic of Christian Belief: Twenty Centuries of Unity and Diversity


Sola Scriptura and "Tradition":

Keith A. Mathison, The Shape of Sola Scriptura

Martin Chemnitz, Examination of the Council of Trent, Volume 1


Biblical Inerrancy and the formation of the Canon:

Gregory K. Beale, The Erosion of Inerrancy in Evangelicalism: Responding to New Challenges to Biblical Authority

The Enduring Authority of the Christian Scriptures, ed. D.A. Carson

Norman L. Geisler and Thomas Howe, The Big Book of Bible Difficulties: Clear and Concise Answers from Genesis to Revelation (formerly known as When Critics Ask: A Popular Handbook on Bible Difficulties)


Revisiting the Corruption of the New Testament: Manuscript, Patristic, and Apocryphal Evidence, ed. Daniel B. Wallace

Michael J. Kruger, Canon Revisited: Establishing the Origins and Authority of the New Testament Books

Idem. The Question of Canon: Challenging the Status Quo in the New Testament Debate

Justification/Atonement:

Alister E. McGrath, Iustitia Dei: A History of the Christian Doctrine of Justification

Brian Vickers, Jesus' Blood and Righteousness: Paul's Theology of Imputation

John Owen, The Death of Death in the Death of Jesus Christ

Idem. The Doctrine of Justification by Faith:

James Buchanan, The Doctrine of Justification

Ben Witherington, The Problem with Evangelical Theology

Desiderius Erasmus and Martin Luther, Discourse on Free Will

The Nature of the Atonement: Four Views, eds. James Beilby and Paul R. Eddy

Darrin W. Snyder Belousek, Atonement, Justice, and Peace: The Message of the Cross and the Mission of the Church

J.V. Fesko, Justification: Understanding the Classic Reformed Doctrine

N.T. Wright, Justification: God's Plan and Paul's Vision

Justification: Five Views, eds. James K. Beilby, Paul Rhodes Eddy, and Steven E. Enderlein

James D.G. Dunn, The New Perspective on Paul

Don Garlington, In Defense of the New Perspective on Paul: Essays and Reviews

Justification and Variegated Nomism (2 vols.) eds. D.A. Carson, Peter T. O'Brien, and Mark A. Seifrid

Jordan Cooper, Christifiation: A Lutheran Approach to Theosis

Johann Gerhard, On Justification Through Faith

Arminian/Reformed Debate:

Roger E. Olson, Arminian Theology: Myths and Realities

Jerry L. Walls and Joseph R. Dongell, Why I am not a Calvinist

Robert Shank, Life in the Son

Idem. Elect in the Son

Jordan Cooper, The Great Divide: A Lutheran Evaluation of Reformed Theology

James R. White, The Potter's Freedom: A Defense of the Reformation and the Rebuttal to Norman Geisler's Chosen but Free

Edwin H. Palmer, The Five Points of Calvinism

Trinity:

Robert M. Bowman and J. Ed Komoszewski, Putting Jesus in His Place: The Case for the Deity of Christ

Millard J. Erickson, God in Three Persons: A Contemporary Interpretation of the Trinity


Systematic Theologies:

Francis Turretin, Institutes of Elenctic Theology (3 vols)

John Calvin, Institutes of the Christian Religion

Charles Hodges, Systematic Theology (3 vols)

Wolfhart Pannenberg, Systematic Theology (3 vols)

Wayne Grudem, Systematic Theology

Other:

Theodore G. Tappert ed. The Selected Works of Martin Luther (4 vols)

Hermann Sasse, This is My Body: Luther's Contention for the Real Presence in the Sacrament of the Altar

Johann Gerhard, A Comprehensive Explanation of Holy Baptism and the Lord’s Supper

Keith A. Mathison, Given For You: Reclaiming Calvin’s Doctrine of the Lord’s Supper

Eric D. Svendsen, Who Is My Mother? The Role and Status of the Mother of Jesus in the New Testament and Roman Catholicism

Paul Tambrino, Mariology: Past, Present and Future