Why 17 books? Well, I had to stop somewhere! There is a never-ending stream of new books coming off the presses, and I try to keep up with some of the better ones. Many more could have been added here, but I had to draw the line somewhere. Further additions to this series will keep you abreast of even more helpful new titles.
If you are a Christian, like to think, and like to read, then you have come to the right place! If not, well, look away now. Like other articles in this irregular series, I offer books that are of course in line with my own particular tastes. Thus books on theology, ethics, church history, the culture wars, apologetics and the like are mainly what you will find here.
Why 17 books? Well, I had to stop somewhere! There is a never-ending stream of new books coming off the presses, and I try to keep up with some of the better ones. Many more could have been added here, but I had to draw the line somewhere. Further additions to this series will keep you abreast of even more helpful new titles.
Breimaier, Thomas, Tethered to the Cross. IVP, 2020.
While many excellent biographies of Charles Spurgeon are available, this newest one, with an emphasis on his preaching, is a welcome addition to the CHS corpus. This very well researched and written study of Spurgeon reminds us of what an exceedingly important figure Spurgeon was, not just in England but in so much of the world. Highly recommended.
Bruno, Chris, Jared Compton and Kevin McFadden, Biblical Theology According to the Apostles. IVP, 2020.
This is one of the newest volumes in the first-class series edited by D. A. Carson, New Studies in Biblical Theology. The area of biblical theology has taken off in recent years, and this is a welcome addition to it. The authors look at how the Old Testament writers develop the story of Israel in terms of the overall biblical metanarrative.
Chase, Mitchell, 40 Questions About Typology and Allegory. Kregel, 2020.
Any student of Scripture who wants to properly interpret the word of God needs to know about typology and allegory. The 40 questions and answers devoted to this topic in this book of some 300 pages is just what is needed for the job. Both biblical and historical aspects are covered in great detail. This book is another excellent addition to the 40 Questions About… series.
Clark, Kelly James, God and the Brain: The Rationality of Belief. Eerdmans, 2019.
New advances in the study of the brain and related fields have often been used by critics of Christianity to tell us that theism is false, that supernaturalism is bunk, and only matter matters. While many in the neurosciences may run with such views, many do not, and the need to separate science from scientism is essential here. The Christian philosopher and apologist does a good job of laying out the issues, and showing us that the naturalistic conclusions so often being pushed do not follow from the science.
Davis, Stephen and Eric Yang, An Introduction to Christian Philosophical Theology. Zondervan, 2020.
There has always been a close intersection between the philosophy of religion and theology. Big philosophical questions about the existence of God, the nature of reality, and the problems of humanity are of course the stuff of biblical theology. The authors give us a helpful introduction and overview of how philosophy can help theology, and vice versa.
Dreher, Rod, Live Not By Lies. Sentinel, 2020.
I have already written a number of articles quoting from, and singing the praises of, this book. If you buy only one volume out of the seventeen listed here, get this one. It is must reading. Dreher offers us a sober assessment of the increasing persecution of the faith in the West, coupled with a new totalitarianism descending upon us. It is a vital wakeup call. See my review of this important book here: billmuehlenberg.com/2020/12/30/a-review-of-live-not-by-lies-by-rod-dreher/
