BibleTexts.com

Recommended Bible Study Books & Resources

A listing of primary and secondary resources that are recommended for Bible student

by Robert Nguyen Cramer (version 5.1.10.1)
Bibles Bible Lesson Aids Bible software Commentaries Concordances Dictionaries Histories Practicing & Teaching Theology & Hermeneutics Bibliography Top
 
Category First choice Second choice Usefulness Non-rated books
Bibles - word by word translations -- (See also below "Bibles - phrase by phrase translations," which are equally important.)

BEST WORD-FOR-WORD ENGLISH TRANSLATION:

English Standard Version (Wheaton, IL: Crossway Books, 2002) [book review and best translations]

BEST KJV SUBSTITUTE FOR PULPIT READING:

English Standard Version (Wheaton, IL: Crossway Books, 2002) [book review and best KJV substitutes]

BEST STUDY BIBLES:

New Revised Standard Version (HarperCollins and Oxford study editions, 1989) [book review and best study bibles]

BEST WORD-FOR-WORD SPANISH TRANSLATIONS:

La Biblia de las Americas (La Habra, CA: Lockman Foundation, 1997) [book review] - Spanish

Reina-Valera Actualizada [RVA] (El Paso, TX: Editorial Mundo Hispano, 1989) [book review] - Spanish

BEST OTHER LANGUAGES BIBLES:

See "Some non-English versions with New Testaments based on more reliable Greek texts" at http://www.bibletexts.com/kjv-tr.htm#other-bibles2.

SECOND BEST WORD-FOR-WORD ENGLISH TRANSLATION:

New American Bible (many editions, 1987) [book review and best translations]

SECOND BEST KJV SUBSTITUTE FOR PULPIT READING:

Combination: English Standard Version (Wheaton, IL: Crossway Books, 2002) [book review] as the primary version; and New Revised Standard Version (HarperCollins & Oxford study editions, 1989) [book review] and Today's English Version (New York: American Bible Society, 1976 & 1992) [book review] as secondary versions, as needed. For more details, see best KJV substitutes.

SECOND BEST STUDY BIBLE:

New American Bible (many editions, 1987) [book review and best translations]

 To study the wording of the biblical texts, which were written in a different language, in a different time period, and in a different culture.

The Amplified Bible (Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 1965, with later reprints) [book review]

American Standard Version (1901) [book review]

King James Version (1611/1769) [book review]

The Message (Eugene H. Peterson, 2002) [book review]

New American Standard Bible: The Hebrew-Greek Key Study Bible (edited by Spiros Zodhiates, Chattanooga, TN: AMG Publishers, 1998) [book review]

New International Version (International Bible Society, 1973, 1978, 1984) [book review]

New Jerusalem Bible (Doubleday et al, 1985) [book review]

New King James Version (1982) [book review]

Rotherham's Emphasized Bible, by Joseph Bryant Rotherham (Grand Rapids, MI: Kregel, 1902, with later reprints) [book review]
Bibles - phrase by phrase translations -- (See also above "Bibles - word by word translations," which are equally important.)

BEST PHRASE-BY-PHRASE ENGLISH TRANSLATION:

Good News Translation (formerly known as Today's English Version) (New York: American Bible Society, 1976 & 1992) [book review and best translations]

BEST SPANISH TRANSLATIONS:

Dios Habla Hoy, a.k.a., Version Popular (New York: United Bible Societies / Sociedades Biblica Unidas, 1983). [book review] - Spanish.

 Revised English Bible (Cambridge, England: Cambridge University Press, 1996) [book review] To understand the meaning of the biblical texts, which were were written in a different language, in a different time period, and in a different culture. .
Bibles - Old Testament nearest approximation of the original texts

Biblia Hebraica Stuttgartensia (Deutsche Bibelstiftung Stuttgart, 1977 - United Bible Societies) - The Biblia Hebraica Stuttgartensia is very widely regarded as the definitive Hebrew text of the Old Testament -- as the most reliable and most thoroughly documented Hebrew Old Testament currently available. Text is in Hebrew only

Septuaginta, Volumes I and II (Wurttembergische Bibelanstalt Stuttgart, 1935) - the Greek Old Testament, with critical apparatus. Text is in Greek only.

The Interlinear NIV Hebrew-English Old Testament (edited by John R. Kohlenberger III , Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 1987) - No use of Strong's numbering - [no book review available yet]

Septuagint with Apocrypha Greek and English (edited by L.C.L. Brenton, Peabody, MA: Hendrickson, 1986) - No use of Strong's numbering - [no book review available yet]

 To explore the original texts of the New Testament, to explore the genuine meaning of the words used therein, and to provide easy reference to other important biblical research materials - without needing to know any Greek. .
Bibles - New Testament nearest approximation of the original texts

The Greek New Testament, Fourth Revised Edition (United Bible Societies, 1993) - This is very widely regarded as the definitive Greek text of the New Testament, as the most reliable and most thoroughly documented Greek New Testament currently available. Text is in Greek only.

Word Study Greek-English New Testament with Complete Concordance (edited by Paul R. McReynolds, Wheaton, IL: Tyndale House Publishers, 1998) - full use of Strong's numbering - [book review]

Interlinear KJV Parallel New Testament in Greek and English, by George Ricker Berry (Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 1993) - Includes the Greek text from which the KJV was translated, plus footnotes indicating the KJV Greek's variant readings and other manuscripts' readings. With this also use A Textual Commentary on the Greek New Testament, Second Edition, which is listed below.

 To explore the original texts of the New Testament, to explore the genuine meaning of the words used therein, and to provide easy reference to other important biblical research materials - without needing to know any Greek. .
Bibles - Canonical gospels, in parallel columns or other formats

Synopsis of the Four Gospels, Third Edition (edited by Kurt Aland, New York: United Bible Societies, 1979) [book review]

The Complete Gospels, edited by Robert J. Miller (San Francisco: Harper Collins, 1994) [book review], includes new translations of the 4 canonical gospels plus all non-canonical gospels.

The Fifth Gospel: The Gospel of Thomas Comes of Age, by Stephen J. Patterson, James M. Robinson, and Hans-Gebhard Bethge (Harrisburg, PA: Trinity Press, 1998).

The Gospel of Thomas: Annotated & Explained, by Stevan Davies (Woodstock, VT: Skylight Paths Publishing, 2002)

 To compare Gospel accounts, and to better understand similarities and differences. .
Bibles - Non-canonical Christian writings

ALL GOSPELS: The Complete Gospels, edited by Robert J. Miller (San Francisco: Harper Collins, 1994) [book review], includes the 4 canonical gospels plus all other non-canonical gospels, including Thomas (Greek and Coptic) and Q, with some commentary.

DIDACHE: The Didache (Hermeneia), by Kurt Niederwimmer, translated by Linda M. Maloney (Minneapolis, MN: Fortress, 1998)

Q: The Critical Edition of Q (Hermeneia), edited by James McConkey Robinson, Paul Hoffmann, John S. Kloppenborg, and Milton C. Moreland (Minneapolis, MN: Fortress, 2000) - a scholarly edition, with the full parallel gospel texts in Greek, and with the Q texts in Greek, English, German, and French. This includes full apparatus for textual criticism but no exegetical commentary.

The Didache: Text, Translation, Analysis, and Commentary, by Aaron Milavec, (Collegeville, MN: Liturgical Press, 2003) - dates the Didache earlier than most scholars

The Didache: Faith, Hope, & Life of the Earliest Christian Communities, 50-70 C.E., by Aaron Milavec, (NY: Newman Press, 2003) - dates the Didache earlier than most scholars

The Fifth Gospel: The Gospel of Thomas Comes of Age, by Stephen J. Patterson, James M. Robinson, and Hans-Gebhard Bethge (Harrisburg, PA: Trinity Press, 1998).

The Gospel of Thomas: Annotated & Explained, by Stevan Davies (Woodstock, VT: Skylight Paths Publishing, 2002)

 To compare early Christian writings, including non-canonical gospels, and to better understand similarities and differences. New Testament Apocrypha, Volumes I and II, edited by Wilhelm Schneemelcher (Philadelphia: Westminster, 1963, 1965, out of print, but obtainable used) .
 
Bibles Bible Lesson Aids Bible software Commentaries Concordances Dictionaries Histories Practicing & Teaching Theology & Hermeneutics Bibliography Top
 
Category First choice Second choice Usefulness Non-rated books
Bible Lesson research tools - specially designed for in depth study of the weekly Bible Lesson

Bible Lesson Study Aid (edited by Robert Nguyen Cramer, BibleTexts.com, 2002) [browse online now]

Researched Bible Guide (edited by Honey Dobbins, West Palm Beach, FL: Daybreak Publications - provides exegetical commentary on all verses of the each week's Bible Lesson)

 . To enable thorough study of the weekly Bible Lesson .
 
Bibles Bible Lesson Aids Bible software Commentaries Concordances Dictionaries Histories Practicing & Teaching Theology & Hermeneutics Bibliography Top
 
Category First choice Second choice Usefulness Non-rated books
Bible research software

BibleWorks6 (a.k.a., Hermeneutika) (Norfolk, VA: BibleWorks, 2003)

 Logos Series X (Bellingham, WA: Logos, 2001) To enable fast, in depth, integrated, electronic-based exploration of Bible texts in their original languages, in English, and in some other ancient and modern languages; and to enable easy access to some standard Bible reference works. .
 
Bibles Bible Lesson Aids Bible software Commentaries Concordances Dictionaries Histories Practicing & Teaching Theology & Hermeneutics Bibliography Top
 
Category First choice Second choice Usefulness Non-rated books
Commentaries of the whole Bible, one-volume

The Oxford Bible Commentary, edited by John Barton and John Muddiman (New York: Oxford University Press, 2001) - Excellent. User-friendly. The one-volume commentary that most clearly presents the conclusions of current biblical scholarship.

The New Jerome Biblical Commentary, edited by Raymond E. Brown, Joseph A. Fitzmyer, and Roland E. Murphy (Englewood Cliff, NJ: Prentice-Hall, 1990) [book review] - The one-volume commentary with the best verse-by-verse survey of the range of scholarly conclusions, but the arrangement of the articles makes it more difficult to use

 HarperCollins Bible Commentary, edited by the Society of Biblical Literature & James Luther Mays (San Francisco: HarperSanFrancisco, 2000) - [book review] To understand the historical and theological context of the biblical writings, and to consider knowledgeable and intellectually honest explanations of the intended meaning of those biblical writings. .
Commentaries on the Greek text of the New Testament A Textual Commentary on the Greek New Testament, Second Edition, by Bruce Metzger (New York: United Bible Societies, 1993) [book review] . To understand why words, phrases, or entire verses that were in the KJV are not in modern versions of the Bible. .
Commentaries on individual books of the Bible: Genesis A Handbook on Genesis, by William D. Reyburn and Euan McG. Fry (New York: United Bible Societies, 1997) [book review] . To more clearly understand verses, chapters, and books of the Bible, including their origin and context. .
Commentaries on individual books of the Bible: Exodus The Old Testament Library: The Book of Exodus, by Brevard Childs (Philadelphia: Westminster, 1974) [book review] . To more clearly understand verses, chapters, and books of the Bible, including their origin and context. .
Commentaries on individual books of the Bible: Psalms A Handbook on Psalms, by Robert G. Bratcher and William D. Reyburn (New York: United Bible Societies, 1991) [book review] . To more clearly understand verses, chapters, and books of the Bible, including their origin and context. .
Commentaries on individual books of the Bible: Matthew A Handbook on the Gospel of Matthew, by Barclay M. Newman and Philip C. Stine (New York: United Bible Societies, 1988) [book review] The Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5-7) (Hermeneia Series), by Hans Dieter Betz (Philadelphia: Fortress Press, 1995) - [no review available yet] - At 695 pages, with extensive footnotes, this is by far the most exhaustive, detailed commentary available on the Sermon on the Mount (Mat 5-7) and the Sermon on the Plain (Luk 6:20-49). To more clearly understand verses, chapters, and books of the Bible, including their origin and context. .
Commentaries on individual books of the Bible: Mark A Translator's Handbook on the Gospel of Mark, by Robert G. Bratcher and Eugene A. Nida (New York: United Bible Societies, 1961) [book review] . To more clearly understand verses, chapters, and books of the Bible, including their origin and context. .
Commentaries on individual books of the Bible: Luke A Translator's Handbook on the Gospel of Luke, by J. Reiling and J.L. Swellengrebel (New York: United Bible Societies, 1971) [book review] . To more clearly understand verses, chapters, and books of the Bible, including their origin and context. .
Commentaries on individual books of the Bible: John A Translator's Handbook on the Gospel of John - by Barclay M. Newman and Eugene A. Nida (New York: United Bible Societies, 1980) [book review] The Anchor Bible: The Gospel according to John, Volumes 1 and 2, by Raymond E. Brown (New York: Doubleday, 1966 & 1970) - [no review available yet]

The Gospel according to St. John, Second Edition, by C.K. Barrett (Philadelphia: Westminster, 1978) - [no review available yet]

The Gospel according to St. John, Volumes 1 through 3, by Rudolf Schnackenburg (New York: Seabury Press, 1980-1982) - [no review available yet]

To more clearly understand verses, chapters, and books of the Bible, including their origin and context. .
Commentaries on individual books of the Bible: 1 Corinthians Hermeneia: 1 Corinthians - by Hans Conzelmann (Philadelphia: Fortress Press, 1975) [book review] First Corinthians (a volume in the series Interpretation, a Bible Commentary for Teaching and Preaching), by Richard B. Hays (Louisville, KY: John Knox Press, 1997) - [no review available yet] To more clearly understand verses, chapters, and books of the Bible, including their origin and context. .
Commentaries on individual books of the Bible: Revelation A Handbook on the Revelation to John - by Robert G. Bratcher and H.A. Hatton (New York: United Bible Societies, 1993) [book review] . To more clearly understand verses, chapters, and books of the Bible, including their origin and context. .
Commentaries - Non-canonical Christian writings

DIDACHE: The Didache (Hermeneia), by Kurt Niederwimmer and Harold W. Attridge, translated by Linda M. Maloney (Minneapolis, MN: Fortress, 1998)

THOMAS: The Five Gospels: What Did Jesus Really Say? by Funk, Hoover, & The Jesus Seminar (NY: Harper Collins, 1993) - Includes red/pink/gray/black-letter edition of the texts, plus detailed commentary on all of Jesus' reported sayings in the 4 canonical gospels plus Thomas.

THOMAS: The Gospel of Thomas: Annotated & Explained, by Stevan Davies (Woodstock, VT: Skylight Paths Publishing, 2002). Includes the English text of Thomas plus detailed commentary.

Q, exegetical commentary: The Lost Gospel Q: The Original Sayings of Jesus, edited by Marcus Borg, Mark Powelson, and Ray Riegert (Berkeley, CA: Seastone, 1995). Full text in English with some brief commentary.

Q, textual commentary: The Critical Edition of Q (Hermeneia), edited by James McConkey Robinson, Paul Hoffmann, John S. Kloppenborg, and Milton C. Moreland (Minneapolis, MN: Fortress, 2000) - a scholarly edition, with the full parallel gospel texts in Greek and the Q texts in Greek, English, German, and French. This includes full apparatus for textual criticism but no exegetical commentary.

Q & THOMAS, exegetical commentary: The Complete Gospels, edited by Robert J. Miller (San Francisco: Harper Collins, 1994) [book review], includes the 4 canonical gospels plus all other non-canonical gospels, including Thomas (Greek and Coptic) and Q, with some commentary.

THOMAS: The Fifth Gospel: The Gospel of Thomas Comes of Age, by Stephen J. Patterson, James M. Robinson, and Hans-Gebhard Bethge (Harrisburg, PA: Trinity Press, 1998).

THOMAS: The Gospel of Thomas: Annotated & Explained, by Stevan Davies (Woodstock, VT: Skylight Paths Publishing, 2002)

DIDACHE: The Didache: Text, Translation, Analysis, and Commentary, by Aaron Milavec, (Collegeville, MN: Liturgical Press, 2003) - dates the Didache earlier than most scholars

DIDACHE: The Didache: Faith, Hope, & Life of the Earliest Christian Communities, 50-70 C.E., by Aaron Milavec, (NY: Newman Press, 2003) - dates the Didache earlier than most scholars

 To compare Gospel accounts, and to better understand similarities and differences. New Testament Apocrypha, Volumes I and II, edited by Wilhelm Schneemelcher (Philadelphia: Westminster, 1963, 1965, out of print, but obtainable used) .
 
Bibles Bible Lesson Aids Bible software Commentaries Concordances Dictionaries Histories Practicing & Teaching Theology & Hermeneutics Bibliography Top
 
Category First choice Second choice Usefulness Non-rated books
Concordances The NRSV Concordance, Unabridged - by John R. Kohlenberer III (Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 1991) [book review]

The Hebrew-English Concordance to the Old Testament - edited by John Kohlenberger & James Swanson (Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 1998) - [no review available yet]

Word Study Greek-English New Testament with Complete Concordance - edited by Paul R. McReynolds (Wheaton, IL: Tyndale House Publishers, 1998) [book review]

 Abingdon's Strong's Exhaustive Concordance of the Bible - (Nashville: Abingdon Press, 1980) [book review]

The Englishman's Hebrew Concordance of the Old Testament (Coded With the Numbering System from Strong's Exhaustive Concordance of the Bible) by George V. Wigram (Peabody, MA: Hendrickson Publishers, 1996) - [no review available]

 To easily and comprehensively explore the text of English Bibles. .
 
Bibles Bible Lesson Aids Bible software Commentaries Concordances Dictionaries Histories Practicing & Teaching Theology & Hermeneutics Bibliography Top
 
Category First choice Second choice Usefulness Non-rated books
Dictionaries of entire Bible HarperCollins Bible Dictionary, Revised Edition - edited by Paul J. Achtemeier, with the Society of Biblical Literature (NY: HarperCollins, 1996) [book review] Oxford Companion to the Bible - edited by Bruce M. Metzger and Michael D. Coogan (Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1993) [book review] To explore the historical co.ntext of books of the Bible, of people, of places, and of theology. .
Dictionaries of Old Testament words Theological Lexicon of the Old Testament, Volumes 1 through 3, by Ernst Jenni and Claus Westermann, translated by Marke E. Biddle (Peabody, MA: Henderson Publishers, 1997) [book review] Theological Wordbook of the Old Testament, Volumes I and II, edited by Harris, Archer, and Waltke (Chicago: Moody Press, 1980) [book review] To explore the etymology and meaning of words used in the Old Testament. .
Dictionaries of New Testament words The New International Dictionary of New Testament Theology, Volumes 1 through 4, edited by Colin Brown (Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 1986) - [book review] Kittel's Abridged One-Volume Theological Dictionary of the New Testament, edited by Gerhard Kittel, Gerhard Friedrich (Eerdmans, Grand Rapids, MI: 1986) - [book review] To explore the etymology and meaning of words used in the New Testament. .
Dictionaries of early Christianity

A Dictionary of Early Christian Beliefs: A Reference Guide to More Than 700 Topics Discussed by the Early Church Fathers, edited by David W. Bercot (Peabody, MA: Hendrickson, 1998. This is an excellent book that should be in the library of anyone seriously exploring early Christianity.)

Encyclopedia of Early Christianity, Second Edition, edited by Everett Ferguson (NY: Garland Publishing, 1998. An excellent resource.)

 Oxford Companion to Christian Thought - edited by Adrian Hastings, Alistair Mason, and Hugh Pyper (Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2000) . .
 
Bibles Bible Lesson Aids Bible software Commentaries Concordances Dictionaries Histories Practicing & Teaching Theology & Hermeneutics Bibliography Top
 
Category First choice Second choice Usefulness Non-rated books
Histories - Old Testament

A History of Israel, by John Bright (Louisville, KY: Westminster John Knox, 2000)

Understanding the Old Testament, Abridged 4th Edition - by Bernard Anderson & Katheryn Pfisterer Darr (Upper Saddle River, NJ: Prentice Hall, 1997)

 . To understand the Bible and biblical events in their historical and cultural context. .
Histories - New Testament

Beyond Belief: The Secret Gospel of Thomas, by Elaine Pagels (NY: Random House, 2003)

Introduction to the New Testament, Volume 1: History and Literature of Early Christianity, 2nd Edition - by Helmut Koester (Aldine de Gruyter, 2000)

Lost Christianities: The Battles for Scripture and the Faiths We Never Knew, by Bart D. Erhman (NY: Oxford University Press, 2003)

The Orthodox Corruption of Scripture: The Effect of Early Christological Controversies on the Text of the New Testament, by Bart D. Erhman (NY: Oxford University Press, 1993)

Understanding the New Testament, 5th Edition - by Kee, Lindberg, & Hanawalt (Upper Saddle River, NJ: Prentice Hall, 1993)

Will the Real Heretics Please Stand Up: A New Look at Today's Evangelical Church in the Light of Early Christianity, by David W. Bercot (Scroll Pub, 1999) [book review]

Ancient Christian Gospels: Their History and Development, by Helmut Koester (Harrisburg, PA: Trinity Press International, 1990)

Backgrounds of Early Christianity, Second Edition, by Everett Ferguson (Grand Rapids, MI; Eerdmans, 1993)

Early Christians Speak: Faith and Life in the First Three Centuries, Revised Edition - by Everett Ferguson (Abilene, TX: Abilene Christian University Press, 1987)

The Gnostic Gospels, by Elaine Pagels (NY: Random House,1978)

Orthodoxy and Heresy in Earliest Christianity, 2nd Edition, by Walter Bauer (Minneapolis: Augsburg Fortress Press, 1996)

 To understand the Bible and biblical events in their historical and cultural context. .
Histories - Jesus

Meeting Jesus Again for the First Time: The historical Jesus & the heart of contemporary faith, by Marcus J. Borg (NY: HarperCollins, 1994)

Beyond Belief: The Secret Gospel of Thomas, by Elaine Pagels (NY: Random House, 2003)

 . To understand the Bible and biblical events in their historical and cultural context. .
Histories - some specific issues

Health Care and the Rise of Christianity, by Hector Avalos (Peabody, MA: Hendrickson, 1999)

How Christians Made Peace with War: Early Christian Understandings of War, by John Driver (Scottdale, PA: Herald Press, 1988)

Women Preachers and Prophets Through Two Millennia of Christianity, edited by Beverly Mayne Kienzle & Pamela J. Walker (Berkeley, CA: University of California Press, 1998)

Christian Healing After the New Testament: Some Approaches to Illness in the Second, Third and Fourth Centuries, by R.J.S. Barrett-Lennard (University Press of America, 1994) [book review]

Property and Riches in the Early Church, by Martin Hengel (Minneapolis: Augsburg Fortress, new edition due June 2003)

The Scandalous Message of James: Faith without Works Is Dead, by Elsa Tamez (NY: Crossroad, 2002).

Victory over Violence: Jesus and the Revolutionists, by Martin Hengel (Philadelphia: Fortress Press) - Out of print but worth finding.

Women in the Earliest Churches, by Ben III Witherington (New York: Cambridge University Press, 1991)

What Paul Really Said About Women: The Apostle's Liberating Views on Equality in Marriage, Leadership, and Love, by John Temple Bristow (San Francisco: Harper SanFrancisco, 1991)

 To understand the Bible and biblical events in their historical and cultural context. .
 
Bibles Bible Lesson Aids Bible software Commentaries Concordances Dictionaries Histories Practicing & Teaching Theology & Hermeneutics Bibliography Top
 
Category First choice Second choice Usefulness Non-rated books
Practicing Christianity as a way of life

Jesus' Sermon on the Mount (text of Mat 5,6,7)

Jesus' Sermon on the Plain (text of Luk 6:20-49)

Epistle of James (text of Jam 1,2,3,4,5)

Teachings of Paul (see a sampling)

Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures, by Mary Baker Eddy (Boston: The Writings of Mary Baker Eddy, 2000). [book review]

The Heart of Christianity: Rediscovering a Life of Faith, by Marcus J. Borg (NY: HarperCollins, 2003)

.

 To explore the application of biblical teachings to the practice of Christian living, salvation, and healing. .
Sunday School teacher aids

Reading the Bible Again for the First Time: Taking the Bible Seriously but Not Literally, by Marcus J. Borg (NY: HarperCollins, 2001) - [book review]

That Ye May Teach the Children - A Bible Outline with Questions for Parents and Teachers, by Joan Koelle Snipes, illustrated by Kristin Joy Pratt Serafini (Shepherdstown, WV, USA: Bible Teaching Press, 2001) [book review]

Responses to 101 Questions on the Bible, by Raymond E. Brown (NY: Paulist Press, 1990)

 To aid the development of a sound, honest, and thorough Sunday School curriculum for teaching the Bible. .
 
Bibles Bible Lesson Aids Bible software Commentaries Concordances Dictionaries Histories Practicing & Teaching Theology & Hermeneutics Bibliography Top
 
Category First choice Second choice Usefulness Non-rated books
Theology

Jesus: A New Vision - Spirit, Culture, and The Life of Discipleship, by Marcus J. Borg (SF: HarperCollins, 1987)

When Jesus Became God: The Struggle to Define Christianity during the Last Days of Rome, by Richard E. Rubenstein (NY: Harcourt, 1999)

Fundamentalisms Observed, by Martin E. Marty and R. Scott Appleby (Chicago: University of Chicago Press, 1991)

The Meaning of Jesus: Two Visions, by Marcus J. Borg and N.T. Wright (NY: HarperCollins, 1998)

 To explore the beliefs of early Jewish and Christian writers. .
Hermeneutics

Biblical Hermeneutics: A Comprehensive Introduction to Interpreting Scripture, Second Edition, by Bruce Coreley, Steve W. Lemke, Grant I. Lovejoy (Nashville, TN: Abingdon, 1977)

The Text of the New Testament: Its Transmission, Corruption, and Restoration, Third Edition, by Bruce M. Metzger (NY: Oxford University Press, 1992)

Exegetical Method: A Student Handbook, New, Revised Edition, by Otto Kaiser and Werner G. Kummel (New York: Seabury Press, 1981)

The King James Only Controversy: Can You Trust the Modern Translations? by James R. White (Minneapolis: Bethany House Publishers, 1995)

 To explore the Bible honestly; thoroughly, and systematically. .
 
Bibles Bible Lesson Aids Bible software Commentaries Concordances Dictionaries Histories Practicing & Teaching Theology & Hermeneutics Bibliography Top
 
Category First choice Second choice Usefulness Non-rated books
Bibliography

BibleTexts.com bibliography, by Robert Nguyen Cramer, at http://www.bibletexts.com/bibliogr.htm.

An Annotated Guide to Biblical Resources for Ministry, by David R. Bauer (Hendrickson Publishers, 2003)

Commentary and Reference Survey: A Comprehensive Guide to Biblical and Theological Resources, by John Glynn (Kregel, 2003)

 To explore other resources available for in depth biblical study. Other online resources and vendors at http://www.bibletexts.com/reviews/other-resources.htm.
 

 

Copyright 1996-2004 Robert Nguyen Cramer