This is going to be a crazy year. With our first child Isa being born in January, lots of plans for this blog, an ever-busier day job, more discipleship at CCBCY and two new classes to prepare for and teach (Intro to Theology this semester, and my own project next semester hopefully), I’m going to have a lot to do!
All that being the case, I want to increase my reading too. As you probably know, this blog is an output for my theological studies. With that in mind, the books that I choose to read and review tend to cover topics that I want to develop more understanding in. In the process I want others to benefit from my reading and thoughts. If I can use my time to help people find some good resources and filter out some bad, then I’ve succeeded.
This year I want to try to cover some large, big picture books. I’ve found a hunger for seeing the larger Biblical storyline and themes in their perspective. I also want to read some works for my upcoming class next semester, which I’ll probably post about when I get it all together!
Here’s a list of what I plan to read this year. This will probably act as some sort of accountability for myself. In December I don’t want to look stupid online when I’ve only read 1 of the books I planned to read!
That said, I imagine this list will change as the year goes on, and unexpected books will appear that take priority, such as Tom Schreiner’s King in His Beauty, which I can’t help want to read and review (there’s another 752 pages…). Who knows if I’ll make my target, but at least this will help me try.
Thomas Schreiner, The King in His Beauty (752 pages)
I’m a huge fan of Schreiner. He’s a solid scholar but he’s very fair and open minded to consider other viewpoints. This book should be a wonderful overview of the whole Biblical story.
G. K. Beale, A New Testament Biblical Theology (1074 pages)
I should probably stop here. What am I thinking, I can’t read all these books! Anyway, I’ve had this on my shelf for 6 months and it’s crying out to me to be read. Beale has such a deep understanding of the Bible and how it connects, especially how the New Testament authors use the Old Testament. I’ve heard some teachings from Beale inspired by this work and they’re all very profound.
How could you not want to read a book with chapter titles such as The Story of the “Already and Not Yet” Latter-Day Resurrection and New Creational Kingdom as a Framework for New Testament Theology (Part 1: The Gospels and Acts)?
Jim Hamilton, God’s Glory in Sa
lvation Through Judgment (640 pages)
Okay, I know I started reading this back in August 2012 so it shouldn’t count with my head start, but cut me some slack here! I need to feel like this is achievable!
Hamilton’s book surveys the Bible to illustrate his thesis that the central theme of the Bible is God’s glory being displayed in providing salvation through judgment. Hamilton is a solid scholar at SBTS and has some great insights.
Peter Gentry and Stephen Wellum, Kingdom Through Covenant (768 pages)
I’ve been trailing behind the huge amount of discussion on this one in 2012, so I posted a few times about other reviews and interactions as the year went on.
I’m a little disappointed with Classic Dispensationalism but am equally skeptical towards Covenant Theology, so the claim this book makes for a middle-way between the two, avoiding the weaknesses and building on the strengths, is very intriguing.
At the very least it will be informative and help me sort identify some of the issues.
I’d love to read one of N. T. Wright’s larger books this year too, but I doubt that’s going to happen!
So, at 3,234 pages (73/week until 2014) – not including my other reading for this blog and my Bible College teaching – am I deluding myself?
