Top 10 Recommended Reads on the Bible

The massive diversity and complexity of the Bible can make it a daunting project for anyone to tackle. Getting a grasp on the central theme of the Bible, from Genesis to Revelation, helps immensely in understanding the meaning of any one book or passage. In According to Plan, Graeme Goldsworthy helps readers understand how the Old and New Testaments fit together, the overall story of the Bible and the difference it makes in our lives.

The Bible is one book, not two separate testaments; therefore the Old Testament is essential for understanding the New. In this book by Alec Motyer, learn how Jesus is the king prophesied in the Old Testament as the One through whom God’s kingdom will be established. Motyer explores how Christ is both the image and the Word of God, how Jesus conquers sin and death, and how He brings the disordered creation to its prefect consummation. Motyer makes it clear that overlooking Christ in the Old Testaments yields an impoverished view of the glory of Christ.

Originally delivered as sermons by Pastor Mark Dever at Capitol Hill Baptist Church in Washington, D.C., three studies are contained in What Does God Want of Us Anyway?. Dever helps readers take a step back and look at the Bible from a broader perspective. Just as the bold features of an object become clearer when viewed from a distance, so too the major themes of Scripture become more apparent when the Bible is viewed as a whole. Part of the IXMarks series, this book considers the central messages of the Bible as seen in the promises of God.

Understanding the Big Picture of the Bible contains thirteen essays from some of today's best evangelical scholars, including C. John Collins, Thomas Schreiner, Gordon Wenham, and Darrell Bock. This book will help readers see the big-picture storyline of the Bible, understand the theology of the Old and New Testaments, read the different sections of Scripture effectively, and know what happened between the Old and New Testaments timelines. Useful as both a general overview of the Bible and as a tool for more specific reference and training, this book will help readers grow a deeper understanding of Scripture and the ability to apply the Bible to everyday life.

The Bible is a fascinating story about God; His work, His character, His plan, and His fame. It’s evocative, compelling, meaningful, and of significant importance. The bible is full of flawed characters, grand schemes of redemption, heartache, compassion, toil, and love. ;And it invites us to take up and read the very Word of God. Stephen Nichols helps readers experience the story and get more out of God’s Word. Here is a book that invites everyone to enter in, to participate, and to truly appreciate the very story of God.

Combining three important books, The Goldsworthy Trilogy offers a complete and comprehensive guide to understanding the Gospel throughout the whole of Scripture. This collection is designed as a guide to be used again and again for those who seek to understand the Bible in light of who Jesus is. Straightforward in his approach, Goldsworthy looks at how the Bible can only be understood through the eyes of the Gospel. This being the base of the author’s interpretation, Goldsworthy studies the Old Testament and its application for today. This trilogy follows the Bible’s chronology to give the reader a complete overview of the Bible’s unified storyline.

In Gospel-Centered Hermeneutics, author Graeme Goldsworthy moves beyond a reiteration of the usual arguments to concentrate on the theological questions and implications of the Christian Gospel for hermeneutics. In doing so, he brings fresh perspectives on some well-worn pathways. Part I examines the foundations and views of evangelical belief. Part II offers a selective overview of important hermeneutical developments from the sub-apostolic age to the present. And Part III evaluates ways and means of reconstructing truly Gospel-centered hermeneutics. Goldsworthy's aim throughout is to commend the much-neglected role of biblical theology in hermeneutical practice, with pastoral concern for the people of God as they read, interpret and seek to live by his written Word.

In Christ-Centered Biblical Theology: Hermeneutical Foundations and Principles Graeme Goldsworthy explains how the Bible is not a mass of unconnected texts, but the unified whole connecting the storyline of Israel with that of Jesus. The book presents the entire scene of God's revelation as one mighty plan of salvation. For fifty years, Graeme Goldsworthy has been refining his understanding of biblical theology through his experiences as a student, pastor and teacher. In this valuable complement to his Gospel-Centered Hermeneutics, Goldsworthy defends and refines the rationale for his approach, drawing especially on the work of Australian biblical scholar Donald Robinson.

Preaching Christ in All of Scripture is recommended to pastors teaching their congregations that the Bible is one book, from beginning to end, about Christ. First, Clowney lays the theoretical foundation for preaching Christ as the focal point throughout the entirety of the Bible. Then he gives practical tips to pastors for preparing such a sermon. The rest of the book is a collection of Clowney's own sermons that exemplify the preaching of Christ in all of Scripture. For experienced preachers who want to hone their preaching focus on how Christ is the cornerstone of all of Scripture, this book offers guidance on how to do that. For aspiring preachers, Clowney's example is a model of faithful Christian preaching.

The Bible is the most important book in the world. Editors and scholars Wayne Grudem, C. John Collins, and Thomas Schreiner recognize the challenge we all face to understand and apply its contents. Covering a diverse range of essential subjects, including how to read the Bible well and why it is reliable, these eighteen essays delve into specific topics such as world religions, canon, and archaeology. Pastors, lay leaders, students, and other Christians engaged in studying God’s Word will benefit from this collection, written by notable contributors, including J. I. Packer, John Piper, Daniel B. Wallace, and Vern Poythress. Useful as both a general overview of the Bible and as a tool for more specific reference and training, this book will help you grow in your understanding of Scripture and your ability to apply the Bible to life.