Below you’ll find links to the books recommended by professors in Biblical Studies and Archaeology, New Testament, Old Testament, and Theology. Beneath each book you’ll see the professor(s) who recommended it. Click “Read More” for a note from the professor about the book and why it is worth a read. Clicking on the book itself will take you to the Gordon-Conwell bookshop on ChristianBook.com where you can purchase it.
Biblical Studies Dr. Jeffrey Arthurs,
Robinson Chair of Preaching & Communication
“Students often ask how they can gain a better knowledge of the cultural background of the Old Testament. Here is one answer to that persistent and worthy question: a 1818-page volume of 120 exceptionally readable, thorough, and well-researched articles on almost every major aspect of the culture of the biblical and post-biblical world. Each article reflects a thorough awareness of the most significant archaeological evidence bearing on each topic, a thoughtful assessment of the relevant textual and archaeological evidence, and thorough bibliographies for those wanting to go further.”
Recommended by Dr. David Currie:
“Building upon the vision of Pope John Paul II’s magisterial Theology of the Body, Tennent provides an exploration of what it means to be embodied that is deep, yet accessible; prophetic, yet pastoral; rooted in history, yet addressing contemporary issues.”
Recommended by Dr. Gordon Hugenberger:
“Written by a GCTS alum, Highly Favoured is an easy-to-read, devotionally inspiring book that is almost impossible to put down. Every story is taken from his life in Africa (born in Zambia and serving, with his dear wife Sindia, as missionaries for the past 33 years in a remote part of Mozambique). At its core, this book is a rich, coherent exploration of what the Christian life is really about, tethered firmly to the biblical text at every point by one who wears his scholarship lightly but who is exceptionally competent in original language exegesis.”
Recommended by Dr. Donald Fairbairn:
“Greek textbooks for seminary students often focus so narrowly on the New Testament that students think of Koine Greek as virtually a different language from classical Greek. It isn’t. Instead, it is simply a later form of ancient Greek as written and spoken by the common people. Boler’s text helps students to see ancient Greek as a living language and to place the New Testament within that language’s evolution.”
Recommended by Dr. Mateus de Campos:
“Written by one of the most prominent evangelical New Testament scholars in the field, Christobiography presents a compelling case for understanding the Gospels as reliable biographical sources for reconstructing the historical Jesus. Keener situates the Gospels in the context of the literary practices of ancient Greco-Roman biographers, advocating for the historical accuracy of the accounts. Keener’s knowledge is encyclopedic, yet his argument is presented in a clear and accessible form.”
Recommended by Dr. Mateus de Campos:
“There is also a growing interest in recent years in the narrative features of the Gospels. Acknowledging the literary intentionality of the four evangelists, many scholars have applied the tools of narrative criticism to the Gospels, achieving fascinating results. Jeannine Brown provides an introductory, yet substantial discussion of the key aspects of the method: plot, characterization, intertextuality, and narrative theology. The book provides an insightful description and analysis of each aspect, along with examples. Exegetes trained in the grammatical-historical method will find in Brown’s book a helpful extra tool for their exegetical toolbox.”
Recommended by Dr. Mateus de Campos:
“An apologetic minefield, New Testament textual criticism is often the center point of discussions on the reliability of the New Testament. In reaction to some excessive skepticism on the part of the critics, Christians often run into danger of overcompensating and oversimplifying the issues. Edited by two rising stars in the field of New Testament text criticism and featuring contributions from cutting-edge scholars, Myths and Mistakes brings fresh, up-to-date, and accurate information about the history and the current state of the New Testament text.”
Recommended by Dr. Jeffrey Niehaus:
“When responding to the serpent’s temptation to eat the forbidden fruit, Eve says that one ‘must not touch it’ (Gen. 3:2-3). In this, Eve appears to embellish upon God’s clear command that one must not eat from the tree (Gen. 2:17). Did Eve add to God’s command, becoming the first legalist? Was this an innocent mistake? Or is the answer altogether different?”
Recommended by Dr. Kirsten Sanders:
“This book is a wonderful contribution to what I see as a renewal in neo-Chalcedonian thought and is worth a read for its clarity of thought and keen biblical insights.”
Recommended by Dr. Adonis Vidu:
“Zahl argues that ‘good pneumatology not only authorizes but requires attention to concrete experiences that take place in bodies and in time, including especially affective experiences.’ He sketches a theology of grace that expects the reality of the Spirit to be empirically visible in transformed lives, rather than a mere theoretical construct. I look forward to being challenged by Zahl in my own understanding of the place of experience in theology and of the concreteness of the Spirit’s work.”
Recommended by Dr. Adonis Vidu:
“Quite likely the most anticipated theology book of 2020, the second volume to Sonderegger’s groundbreaking first volume is a genuinely fresh approach to the doctrine of the Trinity, yet in keeping with the contours of classical Trinitarianism. Not the kind of reading to be done lightly, I recommend studying this at a leisurely pace and ideally in the context of a reading group.”
Recommended by Dr. Mateus de Campos:
“One of the most celebrated works on early Christianity in recent years is N.T. Wright’s four-volume series, Christian Origins and the Question of God (Fortress Press). In The New Testament in its World, Wright and Bird apply the depth of Wright’s earlier work to a rich introduction of the New Testament. The book is beautifully designed, incredibly rich, and well written.”
All Faculty Book Recommendations
Select a button to read all of the Faculty Recommendations in each area.
“An important addition to our standard tools of exegesis. Examines how New Testament authors used rhetoric, pathos in particular, to achieve their purposes.”
Recommended by Dr. Jim Critchlow
“Dr. Kim provides a conservative, engaging review of the Book of 1 Samuel and compares it to the perspectives of Three Kingdoms: A Historical Novel Attributed to Luo Guanzhong that is of significant relevance to Gordon-Conwell students of all ethnicities, but particularly those of Chinese, Korean and Japanese ancestry.”
Recommended by Dr. Christine Palmer
“This book takes its reader on a journey through the Bible to discover the Lord’s call to worship from Eden to the New Jerusalem. Through the skillful exposition of well-known evangelical Bible scholars, many of whom are Gordon-Conwell faculty and alumni, a biblically-grounded vision of worship emerges that is sure to be a blessing to the Church.”
Recommended by Dr. Stephen Witmer
“I’ve never met a Richard Bauckham book I didn’t like and didn’t benefit from. He’s one of my favorite biblical scholars – thorough and measured, but also fresh and creative. This book on God’s revelation of himself is no exception. My copy is filled with underlining, circling, and exclamation points.”
Recommended by Dr. Mateus de Campos
“In 2013, John Barclay published one of the most influential books on Paul in the last few decades–“Paul and the Gift”. The book is a comprehensive treatment on the theme of grace in Paul’s theology, which brought fresh insights from sociological and anthropological approaches, illuminating a sometimes very cumbersome debate. “Paul and the Power of Grace” is a condensed presentation of Barclay’s earlier argument, but it accomplishes so much more than just providing a summary. By avoiding much of the scholarly debates he dealt with in the previous volume, Barclay keeps the argument focused and close to the text, allowing a clear picture of Paul’s theology of grace to emerge. The insights on different “perfections” of grace create a helpful framework to situate the sometimes conflicting assessments of Paul’s theology. This book is definitely a must-read. “
Recommended by Dr. Autumn Ridenour
“McCaulley offers an historical and Biblical analysis on many of the key challenges facing the black experience over the centuries as well as more recent decades. Turning to Scripture for wisdom in the contemporary church, this book is a welcome contribution for theology and ethics, causing the faithful to approach the text with fresh eyes and an open heart while seeking faithful discipleship as the body of Christ in our time. ”
Recommended by Rev. Dr. Nicole Martin:
“Gordon-Conwell alumnus Esau McCaulley puts his groundbreaking research into practice for preachers everywhere. This lens of interpretation will equip preachers of all ethnicities with a racially inclusive hermeneutic that draws us all closer to Christ.”
Recommended by Professor Rob Antonucci:
“Written by a Gordon-Conwell alumnus, this book details a personal journey and also raises awareness on how our Scripture reading and exegesis has not considered the African-American perspective on the issues addressed and how white evangelicals are often unaware of and discount their importance.”
Recommended by Dr. John Jefferson Davis
“Argues for the central importance of the ‘ordinary Supernatural’ – the quiet, unspectacular, yet supernatural action of the Holy Spirit in producing the illumination of scripture and the fruit of the Spirit for a sustainable practice of discipleship, Bible study, prayer, and worship; suitable for Bible studies, discipleship groups, and leadership training.”
Recommended by Dr. John Jefferson Davis
“Adonis Vidu’s The Same God Who Works All Things is a high level, cutting edge defense of a key doctrine in Trinitarian theology – that Father, Son, and Holy Spirit always work in a unified and consistent way in the economy of redemption”
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