“Doubtless there are other volumes to be added to this list. It is a much more complete list than was possible even 10 years ago and should keep one busy for a few years. The list is weighted a bit toward the late 16th and early 17th centuries but it gives you a reasonable representation from across Europe and the British Isles and covers Reformed theology from the mid-16th century into the 18th century.”

Rob writes,

Listening to you on the Heidelblog/Heidelcast and Office Hours, you have given me a enormous desire to read more “classic reformed theology.” I am currently reading Turretin’s Institutes and I would love to know who are some more classic reformed theologians and pastors I can read? I’ve gathered from listening to you that I should read Olevanius, Vitringa (if I can find anything in English….), Gisbertus Voetius, and Franciscus Junius.

If you have time, would you be willing to point me in the direction of others? Thank you so much for your work in the gospel, specifically as it is articulated confessionally in the reformed tradition!

Grace and peace,

Rob

Thank you Rob for the encouragement.

Your reading list looks very good right now but here are 36 suggestions in rough chronological order:

1. Heinrich Bullinger, Decades. This large collection of sermons represents a turning point in early Zürich theology. They were widely read in the English world too and well appreciated.
2. John Calvin, Institutes of the Christian Religion. The Battles edition is the modern critical edition (with footnotes and textual apparatus etc. There is much to commend it but the Beveridge edition is widely available and inexpensive (or free) because it is in the public domain. Some scholars prefer the Allen translation from earlier in the 19th century for its fidelity to the way the Institutes originally appeared.
3. Petrus Dathenus, The Pearl of Christian Comfort, trans. A. Blok (Grand Rapids: Reformation Heritage Books, 1997). An excellent example of the confessional Reformed piety of the late 16th and early 17th centuries.
4. Theodore Beza, The Christian Faith, trans. James Clark (Lewes: Focus Christian Ministries Trust, 1992).This is Beza as he actually was. Needless to say, this is not the Beza of most of the secondary texts. See also Beza’s A Clear and Simple Treatise on the Lord’s Supper.
5. Peter Martyr Vermigli, Predestination and Justification: Two Theological Loci, trans. Frank James (Kirksville, MO: Truman State University Press, 2003). Several of Vermigli’s works have been translated into English in the last two decades. He was a Roman theologian who taught in Lucca and who led a number of other Italian Romanists to the Reformation before fleeing to Zürich and Cambridge. He was influential and well regarded in the classical period of Reformed theology.
6. Caspar Olevianus, A Firm Foundation, trans. Lyle D. Bierma, (Grand Rapids: Baker, 1995). An edifying introduction to classic Reformed covenant/federal theology written by one of the chief contributors to the Heidelberg Catechism. Written in catechetical format, Lyle Bierma, the translator and editor, has correlated it to the Heidelberg Catechism. This is an excellent resource for those catechetical sermons or membership classes. See also Olevianus’ An Exposition of the Apostles’ Creed, trans. Lyle Bierma (Grand Rapids: Reformation Heritage Books, 2010). The second volume in the Classic Reformed Theology series, this is a good introduction to the Reformed doctrines of covenant and kingdom and to the catholic faith summarized in the creed.
7. Girolamo Zanchi, Confession of the Christian Religion (De religione christiana fides), trans. Luca Baschera and Christian Moser. Studies in the History of the Christian Tradition  (Leiden/Boston: Brill, 2007). Along with Vermigli,  Zanchi was a convert from Romanism to the Reformed confession. He was well regarded and widely read.
8. Zacharias Ursinus, Commentary on the Heidelberg Catechism. There is more Reformed theology than Calvin and his Institutes, however. Ursinus was the principal author of the Heidelberg Catechism (1563) and its authorized commentator. This 19th-century English translation is imperfect (we’re working on it) but this work is invaluable.
9. Robert Rollock, A Treatise of God’s Effectual Calling in Select Works of Robert Rollock. He was a significant transitional figure in the late 16th century. He mediated Palatinate theology to Scotland and influenced the Westminster Divines.
10. Franciscus Junius, On True Theology, trans. David C. Noe (Grand Rapids: Reformation Heritage Books, 2014). This is one of the more important volumes in this list. It is essential reading. Much of the volume is actually Junius’ biography. The treatise itself is not very long but it is very important. Junius is clear and reasonably easy to read. This is a primary source for what I call the categorical distinction (the Creator/creature distinction) as applied to Christian theology.
11. William Perkins, Commentary on Galatians. See also his Golden Chain, which has been reissued in recent years. Perkins will not disappoint and you will learn something from every page and you will be edified.
12. Synopsis of a Purer Theology. So far there are two volumes (1, 2) available in English. The Synopsis records the attempt by confessional Reformed theologians and students, in the Netherlands, to re-establish Reformed orthodoxy in the wake of the Remonstrant controversy after the Synod of Dort. These volumes are very expensive, however. You might want to find them in a library or via the Inter-Library Loan system. They are not easy going but they are enlightening about the state of Reformed theology in the early 17th century.

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