Recommended Reading on Christianity
History of Christianity
The Story of Christianity, Volume 1: The Early Church to the Dawn of the Reformation, by Justo L. Gonzalez. Harper San Francisco, 1984. AND
The Story of Christianity, Volume 2: The Reformation to the Present Day, By Justo L. Gonzalez. Harper San Francisco, 1985. These volumes were required reading for a course in the History of Christianity. Covers the history and various theological movements in Christianity. Very informative.
Buy it from Amazon - Volume 1. Volume 2.
The Religious History of America, Revised Edition, by Edwin Gaustad & Leigh Schmidt. Harper San Francisco, 2004.
This was required reading for my course on The History of Christianity in America. It covers the story of religion in America from colonial times to today.
Buy it from Amazon.
The Lost History of Christianity: The Thousand-Year Golden Age of the Church in the Middle East, Africa, and Asia -- And How it Died, by Philip Jenkins, HarperOne, 2008. This book was recommended to me by one of my professors. She specializes in Christian history. While I have not yet had the chance to read this book, I thoroughly trust my professor's recommendation. It looks wonderful! Buy it from Amazon. (They allow you to look inside this book).
Biblical Studies
The World that Shaped the New Testament, by Calvin J. Roetzel. Revised Edition. Westminster John Knox Press, 2002.
This book helped me understand the world in which Jesus lived more than any other book. I found the first chapter to be a little tedious, though very informative. The rest of the book is captivating. Roetzel has a talent for saying a lot in just a few words. So while the book is not long, it is filled with interesting information. This may well be my very favorite book on Christianity. It was required reading for my course on the Biblical World. Click here to buy from Amazon. (They allow you to look inside this one).
The Old Testament World, Second Edition, by Philip R. Davies and John Rogerson. Westminster John Knox Press, 2006.
This was required reading for my course in the Biblical World. I loved this book because it gave me a good picture of what life was like in Old Testament days. It informs about the geography, social organization, history, literature and more. It throws a lot of light on the Bible and aids in understanding it. Buy it from Amazon.
The Oxford History of the Biblical World, Edited by Michael D. Coogan. Oxford University Press, 2001.
This book was required reading for my course on Hebrew Scriptures, but it also covers New Testament times. It contains essays by various biblical scholars on a wide range of topics, arranged chronologically. It's extremely informative, and just overall excellent! Click here to buy from Amazon. (They allow you to look inside this one).
The HarperCollins Bible Dictionary, Paul J. Achtemeier, general editor, with the Society of Biblical Literature. Harper San Francisco, 1996. Contains over 1,200 pages of entries about a wide range of biblical topics. It includes photos of archaeological finds and other illustrations, plus a selection of maps. Buy it from Amazon. (They allow you to look inside this one).
The Old Testament: An Introduction to the Hebrew Bible, by Stephen L. Harris and Robert L. Platzner. McGraw Hill, 2003.
This was required reading for my course in Hebrew Scriptures. It is a good introduction to modern-day scholarly theories about the composition and history of the Hebrew Bible. It also contains chapters on the Apocrypha and Pseudepigrapha. Buy it from Amazon.
The New Testament: A Historical Introduction to the Early Christian Writings, Third Edition, by Bart D. Ehrman. Oxford University Press, 2004. This was required reading for my course in Christian Scriptures. It is a good introduction to scholarly theories about the writing and history of the New Testament. Buy it from Amazon.
Other
How the Bible Works: An Anthropological Study of Evangelical Biblicism, by Brian Malley. Altamira Press, 2004.
An enlightening study of how evangelical Christians view the Bible and how they use it in their daily lives. Brian Malley studied a community of evangelicals, attending their Bible studies and talking with believers, and presents us with an insightful look on what the Bible means to them. It effectively challenged many of my own assumptions. Worthwhile reading! Buy it from Amazon.
The Practice of the Presence of God with Spiritual Maxims, By Brother Lawrence. Spire, 1967.
Brother Lawrence was a monk who lived in the 1600's. This book is based on conversations with and letters by Brother Lawrence. It is a classic work on practical Christian devotion. I personally find the book extremely inspiring. Brother Lawrence teaches how he learned to love and worship God in all things - in things even as simple as washing the dishes. He says, "The time of business does not with me differ from the time of prayer, and in the noise and clatter of my kitchen, while several persons are at the same time calling for different things, I possess God in as great tranquility as if I were upon my knees at the blessed sacrament." He teaches humility, but not self-loathing. He recognizes his status as an imperfect human being, acknowledges his mistakes, but then moves on. "When he had failed in his duty, he only confessed his fault, saying to God, I shall never do otherwise if You leave me to myself: it is You who must hinder my falling and mend what is amiss. After this he gave himself no further uneasiness about it." Amazon has a different version than mine, but I'm sure it's the same. Buy it from Amazon. You can also view the conversations and letters here.
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The Story of Christianity, Volume 1: The Early Church to the Dawn of the Reformation, by Justo L. Gonzalez. Harper San Francisco, 1984. AND
The Story of Christianity, Volume 2: The Reformation to the Present Day, By Justo L. Gonzalez. Harper San Francisco, 1985. These volumes were required reading for a course in the History of Christianity. Covers the history and various theological movements in Christianity. Very informative.
Buy it from Amazon - Volume 1. Volume 2.
The Religious History of America, Revised Edition, by Edwin Gaustad & Leigh Schmidt. Harper San Francisco, 2004.
This was required reading for my course on The History of Christianity in America. It covers the story of religion in America from colonial times to today.
Buy it from Amazon.
The Lost History of Christianity: The Thousand-Year Golden Age of the Church in the Middle East, Africa, and Asia -- And How it Died, by Philip Jenkins, HarperOne, 2008. This book was recommended to me by one of my professors. She specializes in Christian history. While I have not yet had the chance to read this book, I thoroughly trust my professor's recommendation. It looks wonderful! Buy it from Amazon. (They allow you to look inside this book).
Biblical Studies
The World that Shaped the New Testament, by Calvin J. Roetzel. Revised Edition. Westminster John Knox Press, 2002.
This book helped me understand the world in which Jesus lived more than any other book. I found the first chapter to be a little tedious, though very informative. The rest of the book is captivating. Roetzel has a talent for saying a lot in just a few words. So while the book is not long, it is filled with interesting information. This may well be my very favorite book on Christianity. It was required reading for my course on the Biblical World. Click here to buy from Amazon. (They allow you to look inside this one).
The Old Testament World, Second Edition, by Philip R. Davies and John Rogerson. Westminster John Knox Press, 2006.
This was required reading for my course in the Biblical World. I loved this book because it gave me a good picture of what life was like in Old Testament days. It informs about the geography, social organization, history, literature and more. It throws a lot of light on the Bible and aids in understanding it. Buy it from Amazon.
The Oxford History of the Biblical World, Edited by Michael D. Coogan. Oxford University Press, 2001.
This book was required reading for my course on Hebrew Scriptures, but it also covers New Testament times. It contains essays by various biblical scholars on a wide range of topics, arranged chronologically. It's extremely informative, and just overall excellent! Click here to buy from Amazon. (They allow you to look inside this one).
The HarperCollins Bible Dictionary, Paul J. Achtemeier, general editor, with the Society of Biblical Literature. Harper San Francisco, 1996. Contains over 1,200 pages of entries about a wide range of biblical topics. It includes photos of archaeological finds and other illustrations, plus a selection of maps. Buy it from Amazon. (They allow you to look inside this one).
The Old Testament: An Introduction to the Hebrew Bible, by Stephen L. Harris and Robert L. Platzner. McGraw Hill, 2003.
This was required reading for my course in Hebrew Scriptures. It is a good introduction to modern-day scholarly theories about the composition and history of the Hebrew Bible. It also contains chapters on the Apocrypha and Pseudepigrapha. Buy it from Amazon.
The New Testament: A Historical Introduction to the Early Christian Writings, Third Edition, by Bart D. Ehrman. Oxford University Press, 2004. This was required reading for my course in Christian Scriptures. It is a good introduction to scholarly theories about the writing and history of the New Testament. Buy it from Amazon.
Other
How the Bible Works: An Anthropological Study of Evangelical Biblicism, by Brian Malley. Altamira Press, 2004.
An enlightening study of how evangelical Christians view the Bible and how they use it in their daily lives. Brian Malley studied a community of evangelicals, attending their Bible studies and talking with believers, and presents us with an insightful look on what the Bible means to them. It effectively challenged many of my own assumptions. Worthwhile reading! Buy it from Amazon.
The Practice of the Presence of God with Spiritual Maxims, By Brother Lawrence. Spire, 1967.
Brother Lawrence was a monk who lived in the 1600's. This book is based on conversations with and letters by Brother Lawrence. It is a classic work on practical Christian devotion. I personally find the book extremely inspiring. Brother Lawrence teaches how he learned to love and worship God in all things - in things even as simple as washing the dishes. He says, "The time of business does not with me differ from the time of prayer, and in the noise and clatter of my kitchen, while several persons are at the same time calling for different things, I possess God in as great tranquility as if I were upon my knees at the blessed sacrament." He teaches humility, but not self-loathing. He recognizes his status as an imperfect human being, acknowledges his mistakes, but then moves on. "When he had failed in his duty, he only confessed his fault, saying to God, I shall never do otherwise if You leave me to myself: it is You who must hinder my falling and mend what is amiss. After this he gave himself no further uneasiness about it." Amazon has a different version than mine, but I'm sure it's the same. Buy it from Amazon. You can also view the conversations and letters here.
Home