These books will help you develop a deeper understanding of God, His Word, and His world. They are divided into the main categories of a comprehensive biblical worldview.

This list is intended as a general guide of useful, important, solid books that will expose believers to a variety of ideas related to biblical, theological, historical, and pastoral theology. Categories are alphabetical. This list is not exhaustive and should not be taken to imply that we are in complete agreement with everything in every book. Nevertheless, these authors and publishers fall within the bounds of the historic and orthodox Christian faith and should be read charitably.

Recommended Publishers: Crossway, Lexham, Westminster Seminary, P&R, Banner of Truth, B&H, Christian Focus, The Gospel Coalition, New Growth Press, Baker.

Anthropology

  • Wonderfully Made - Kleinig
  • Love Thy Body - Pearcey
  • Purposeful Sexuality - Shaw
  • You're Only Human - Kapic
  • Embodied Hope - Kapic
  • What God Has to Say about Our Bodies - Alberry
  • Introduction to Theological Anthropology - Farris

Apologetics/Worldview

  • The Reason for God - Keller
  • Making Sense of God - Keller
  • The Air We Breathe - Scrivener
  • Mere Christianity - Lewis
  • Confronting Christianity - McLaughlin
  • Why God Makes Sense in a World that Doesn't - Ortlund
  • Why Believe? - Shenvi
  • Apologetics: A Justification of Christian Belief - Frame
  • Unparalleled - Wilson
  • Tactics - Kokul
  • Apologetics at the Cross - Chatraw and Allen
  • The Skeletons in God's Closet - Butler
  • Reasonable Faith - Craig

Attributes of God

  • Knowing God - Packer
  • God Is - Jones
  • None Like Him - Wilkin
  • Knowledge of the Holy - Tozer
  • The Attributes of God - Pink
  • The Doctrine of God - Frame
  • None Greater - Barrett
  • Providence - Piper

Baptist Covenant Theology

  • The Distinctiveness of Baptist Covenant Theology - Denault
  • Getting the Garden Right - Barcellos
  • The Kingdom of God - Johnson
  • Recovering a Covenantal Heritage - Barcellos (ed.)
  • The Lord's Day - Walrdon

Biblical Interpretation

  • Grasping God's Word - Duvall, Hays
  • Through New Eyes - Jordan
  • Come and See - Pennington
  • Taught By God - Smith
  • Mere Hermeneutics - Vanhoozer
  • 40 Questions about Allegory and Typology - Chase
  • Reading the Bible Supernaturally - Piper
  • Deep Exegesis - Leithart
  • How to Read and Understand the Biblical Prophets - Gentry
  • How the Understand and Apply the OT - DeRouchie
  • How to Understand and Apply the NT - Naselli
  • Biblical Reasoning - Jamieson & Wittman

Biblical Reference

  • The New Bible Dictionary (IVP)
  • New Dictionary of Biblical Theology (IVP)
  • New Dictionary of Theology (IVP)
  • Dictionary of Biblical Imagery (IVP)

Biblical Survey and Introduction

  • A House for My Name - Leithart
  • The Four: A Survey of the Gospels - Leithart
  • How God Became King - Wright
  • The New Testament and the People of God - Wright
  • A Biblical-Theological Introduction to the NT - Kruger
  • A Biblical-Theological Introduction to the OT - Van Pelt
  • The Story Retold - Beale
  • Reading the NT as Christian Scripture - Campbell & Pennington

Biblical Theology

  • What Is Biblical Theology? - Hamilton
  • God's Big Picture - Roberts
  • Gospel and Kingdom - Goldsworthy
  • According to Plan - Goldsworthy
  • From Eden to the New Jerusalem - Alexander
  • The King in His Beauty - Schreiner
  • Echoes of Exodus - Wilson and Roberts
  • Christ from Beginning to End - Wellum

Biographies

  • 21 Servants of Sovereign Joy - Piper
  • Paul, A Biography - Wright
  • Here I Stand: The Life of Martin Luther - Bainton
  • Glory Road - Carter
  • Jonathan Edwards - Marsden
  • 8 Women of Faith - Haykin
  • William Tyndale - Daniell
  • Anything by Iain H. Murray

Christian Classics

  • The Apostolic Fathers: A New Translation - Brannon
  • On the Apostolic Preaching - Irenaeus
  • Confessions - Augustine
  • City of God - Augustine
  • On the Incarnation - Athanasius
  • On the Trinity - Augustine
  • Pilgrim's Progress - Bunyan
  • Institutes of the Christian Religion - Calvin
  • The Bondage of the Will - Luther
  • The Freedom of the Will - Edwards
  • The Weight of Glory - Lewis
  • Desiring God - Piper
  • Holiness - Ryle
  • The Holiness of God - Sproul
  • Christianity and Liberalism - Machen
  • Life Together - Bonhoeffer
  • Rare Jewel of Christian Contentment - Boroughs
  • Overcoming Sin and Temptation - Owen
  • Precious Remedies Against Satan’s Devices - Brooks
  • The Bruised Reed - Sibbes
  • Religious Affections - Edwards

Christian Life

  • Spiritual Disciplines - Whitney
  • Call to Spiritual Reformation - Carson
  • A Long Obedience in the Same Direction - Peterson
  • Rejoice and Tremble - Reeves
  • Scrolling Ourselves to Death - McCraken & Mesa
  • Enjoying God - Chester
  • Before You Lose Your Faith - Mesa
  • The Wisdom Pyramid - McCracken
  • Faith. Hope. Love. - Jones
  • God in the Whirlwhind - Wells
  • In His Image - Wilkin
  • Radical - Platt
  • Ordinary - Horton
  • Core Christianity - Horton
  • The Ten Commandments - Leithart
  • Don’t Waste Your Life - Piper
  • Devoted to God - Ferguson
  • Suffering & the Sovereignty of God - Piper
  • Future Grace - Piper
  • The Imperfect Disciple - Wilson
  • You Are What You Love - Smith
  • Walking with God through Pain and Suffering - Keller
  • Flourish - Brownback
  • The Hole in our Holiness - DeYoung
  • Humble Roots - Anderson
  • Every Good Endeavor - Keller
  • Help My Unbelief - Piper

Christology

  • Gentle and Lowly - Ortlund
  • Who is Jesus? - Gilbert
  • God the Son Incarnate - Wellum
  • How God Became Jesus - Bird
  • The Mystery of Christ, His Covenant, and His Kingdom - Renihan
  • Knowing Christ - Jones
  • The Glory of Christ - Owen
  • Jesus and the Victory of God - Wright
  • The Resurrection of the Son of God - Wright

Church History

  • The Didache
  • What it Means to be Protestant - Ortlund
  • 2,000 Years of Christ's Power - Needham
  • Church History - Carr
  • Shapers of Christian Orthodoxy - Green
  • Church History in Plain Language - Shelley
  • In the Year of our Lord - Ferguson
  • The Courage to be Protestant - Wells
  • The 100 Most Important Events in Christian History - Curtis, et al.
  • Revival and Revivalism - Murray
  • The Unquenchable Flame - Reeves
  • Theology of the Reformers - George
  • God Has Spoken - Gerald Bray
  • Anything by Iain H. Murray

Church and Ministry

  • *9 Marks of a Health Church - Dever
  • *On Earth As In Heaven - Leithart
  • *Finding the Right Hills to Die on - Ortlund
  • *Don't Fire Your Church Members - Leeman
  • The Thrill of Orthodoxy - Wax
  • Biblical Foundations for Baptist Churches - Hammett
  • The Trellis and the Vine - Marshall and Pane
  • Word-Centered Church - Leeman
  • Hearers and Doers - Vanhoozer
  • *The Compelling Community - Jamieson and Dever
  • Uncomfortable - McCracken
  • Worship Matters - Kaufflin
  • Rhythms of Grace - Cosper
  • Gospel-Driven Church - Wilson
  • Women in the Church - Köstenberger and Schreiner
  • Brothers, we are NOT Professionals - Piper

Commentaries and Study Bibles

  • ESV Study Bible (Crossway)
  • Reformation Study Bible (Reformation Trust)
  • *New Bible Commentary (IVP)
  • The Tyndale OT and NT series
  • The Bible Speaks Today series
  • For the Love of God - Carson

Counseling

  • Caring for One Another- Welch
  • Blame it on the Brain? - Welch
  • Instruments in the Redeemer's Hands- Tripp
  • Suffering - Trip
  • Making All Things New- Powlison
  • How Does Sanctification Work?- Powlison
  • God's Grace in your Suffering- Powlison
  • Walking through Infertility - Arbo
  • Refresh & Rest - Murray
  • Dark Clouds & Deep Mercy - Vroegrop
  • Anything by New Growth Press or on wtsbooks.com

Culture

  • *Biblical Critical Theory - Watkin
  • *The Rise and Triumph of the Modern Self - Trueman
  • Digital Liturgies - James
  • The Secular Creed - McLaughlin
  • You Are Not Your Own - Noble
  • The Gospel According to Satan - Wilson
  • Cultural Counterfeits - Oshman
  • Our Secular Age - Hansen (TGC)
  • 12 Ways your Phone is Changing You - Reinke
  • Competing Spectacles - Reinke
  • Disruptive Witness - Alan Noble
  • Blind Spots - Hansen
  • Plugged In - Strange
  • This Is Our Time - Wax
  • How to Find Yourself - Rosner

Daily Devotionals

  • Morning and Evening- Spurgeon
  • Be Thou My Vision - Gibson
  • Psalms by the Day - Motyer
  • Isaiah by the Day - Motyer
  • New Morning Meries - Tripp

Doctrine of Salvation

  • What is the Gospel? - Gilbert
  • The Gospel - Ortlund
  • Conversion - Lawrence
  • The Cross of Christ - Stott
  • Assured - Gilbert
  • Putting Amazing Back into Grace - Horton
  • Prodigal God - Keller
  • Redemption: Accomplished & Applied - Murray
  • God is the Gospel - Piper
  • Union with Christ - Wilbourne
  • The Whole Christ - Ferguson

Doctrine of Scripture

  • What is the Bible? - Gilbert
  • Scribes and Scripture - Meade & Gurry
  • God's Word Alone - Barrett
  • A Peculiar Glory - Piper
  • Taking God at His Word - DeYoung
  • The Trinity, Revelation, and Reading - Swain
  • One Holy Book - Spellman
  • The Doctrine of the Word of God - Frame
  • The Question of Canon - Kruger
  • Not What You Think - McAffee

Eschatology (Last Things)

  • The Last Days According to Jesus - Sproul
  • Surprised by Hope - Wright
  • The Bible and the Future - Hoekema
  • The Blessed Hope - Ladd
  • Kingdom Come - Storms

Ethics & Social Issues

  • Protestant Social Teaching - Davenant Press
  • Confronting Injustice Without Compromising Truth - Williams
  • Bioethics and the Christian Life - VanDrunen
  • Skin and Blood - Wilson
  • A Justice Primer - Wilson
  • Women on Life - Newbell
  • The Case for Life - Klusendorf
  • Pro-Life Answers to Pro-Choice Arguments - Alcorn
  • United - Newbell
  • Bloodlines - Piper
  • Transhumanism and the Image of God - Shatzer

Evangelism and Missions

  • Let the Nations Be Glad - Piper
  • Evangelism & the Sovereignty of God - Packer
  • Evangelism in a Skeptical World, Chan
  • The Soulwinner - Spurgeon
  • The Gospel and Personal Evangelism - Dever
  • The Unbelievable Gospel - Dodson
  • The Gospel at Work - Traeger & Gilbert
  • What is the Mission of the Church? - DeYoung & Gilbert
  • Evangelism as Exiles - Clark

The Holy Spirit

  • The Mystery of the Holy Spirit - Sproul
  • Who on Earth Is the Holy Spirit? - Chester
  • Rediscovering the Holy Spirit - Horton
  • Spiritual Gifts - Schreiner
  • Perspectives on Pentecost - Gaffin

Kids and Teens

  • 10 Questions Every Teen Should Ask (and Answer) About Christianity - Mclaughlin
  • Surviving Religion 101 - Kruger
  • The Jesus Storybook Bible - Lloyd Jones
  • God Made All of Me - Holcomb
  • Exploring the Bible - Murray
  • The Biggest Story - DeYoung
  • The Ology - Machowski
  • God's Very Good Idea - Newbell
  • The Radical Book for Kids -Thornton
  • Disciplines of a Godly Young Man - Hughes
  • This Changes Everything - Crowe
  • Just Do Something - DeYoung
  • Growing in Godliness - Carlson
  • Everything from New Growth Press

LGBTQ+

  • Homosexuality - DeYoung
  • God and the Transgender Debate - Walker
  • Gay Girl, Good God - Perry
  • Born Again This Way - Gilson
  • Is God Anti-Gay? - Alberry
  • Openness Unhindered - Butterfield

Marriage and Sex

  • God, Marriage, and Family - Köstenberger
  • The Meaning of Marriage - Keller
  • Divine Sex - Grant
  • What Is the Meaning of Sex? - Burk
  • What is Marriage - Gigris
  • This Momentary Marriage - Piper
  • Married for God - Ash
  • Tying the Knot - Green

Men & Women

  • The Toxic War on Masculinity - Pearcey
  • Men and Women in the Church - DeYoung
  • Recovering Biblical Manhood and Womanhood - Piper
  • Eve in Exile - Merkle
  • The Death of Porn - Ortlund
  • Not Yet Married - Segal
  • Thoughts for Young Men - Ryle
  • Disciplines of a Godly Man -Hughes
  • Manhood Restored - Mason
  • Adorned - Woglemuth
  • Disciplines of a Godly Woman - Hughes
  • Becoming God's True Woman - Wolgemuth

Parenting & Family

  • Family Worship - Whitney
  • The Tech-wise Family - Crouch
  • Family Worship Bible Guide- Beeke
  • Shepherding a Child's Heart - Tripp
  • Equipping for Life - Kostenberger
  • Age of Opportunity - Tripp
  • Family Shepherds - Baucham
  • The Godly Home - Baxter
  • Why Children Matter - Wilson
  • For the Love of Discipline - Wallace
  • Treasuring Christ when your Hands are Full - Furman
  • Glimpses of Grace - Furman
  • Missional Motherhood - Furman
  • Mom Enough -Reinke
  • Walking with God in the Season of Motherhood - Kruger
  • Glory in the Ordinary - Reissig

Politics

  • Political Visions & Illusions - Koyzis
  • Political Gospel - Schreiner
  • Liberty For All - Walker
  • How the Nations Rage - Leeman
  • Religious Freedom in a Secular Age - Bird
  • Christ and the Kingdoms of Men - Innes

Prayer

  • Valley of Vision: A Collection of Puritan Prayers and Devotions
  • A Call to Spiritual Reformation - Carson
  • Praying the Bible - Whitney
  • Power Through Prayer - Bounds
  • The Lord's Prayer - Sproul
  • Prayer - Keller

Reformed Theology

  • What Is Reformed Theology - Sproul
  • Providence - Piper
  • Five Points - Piper
  • The Joy of Calvinism - Forster
  • Chosen By God - Sproul
  • The Joy Project - Reinke

Systematic Theology

  • Concise Theology - Packer
  • Evangelical Theology - Bird
  • The Wonderful Works of God - Bavinck
  • Christian Theology - Morgan
  • Systematic Theology - Wellum

The Trinity

  • The Trinity - Swain
  • The Deep Things of God - Sanders
  • The Biblical Trinity - Smith
  • Delighting in the Trinity - Reeves
  • Simply Trinity - Barrett
  • Life in the Trinity - Fairbairn
  • Communion with the Triune God - Owen

World Religions

  • Answering Islam - Geisler
  • The Universe Next Door - Sire
  • Reasoning from the Scriptures with Jehovah's Witnesses - Rhodes
  • Roman Catholic Theology and Practice - Allison
  • Are We Together? - Sproul
  • The Four Major Cults - Hoekema