Recommendations For The Christian's Library
In response to frequent requests this list of books has been arranged. Most of these requesting such a list of books are young preachers; however, the need of all Christians for some guidance in selecting good religious books is a very real need. This list is prepared with not only preachers and teachers in view, but other Christians as well. It should be remembered that this is not a blanket endorsement of all the comments made or positions taken in these books. These books are simply the ones which this writer has found most helpful to him personally.
Bible
Everyone should own a good Bible. A good Bible will cost nearly half as much as a good rifle or set of golf clubs, or about as much as a good pair of ladies' shoes, yet many people who can afford such things seem to feel unable to buy an attractive well printed and bound Bible. People, who would be indignant if some one suggested that they buy $2.50 shoes for their children, are willing for their children to have a cheap unattractive book with God's word poorly printed in it. The American Standard Version is the best version of the Bible on the market. It is difficult to get a good well bound AMERICAN STANDARD BIBLE. So far as I know, the Bible 760 (Nelson) is the best available. Good Testaments can be bought in this version. There are a number of good KING JAMES VERSIONS published by several companies. The Cambridge Bible 16X has proven to be highly satisfactory.
Modern translations such as the REVISED STANDARD VERSION, THE NEW ENGLISH BIBLE, GOOD NEWS FOR MODERN ,MAN, etc. are not recommended. These versions can make some contribution to mature students but certainly not recommended for young or immature people, or as the only copy of the will of the Lord that the student has in his library. Many other good books, which will make a real contribution to understanding what the will of the Lord is, can and should be secured before one branches off into these modern and sometimes slanted translations.
Concordances
After one has a good Bible, the next book to be added is a good concordance. With a good concordance handy, the student is in position to readily locate passages of scripture related to the subject being studied. CRUDENS' COMPLETE CONCORDANCE is adequate for the average student, but for those who desire a more comprehensive work, YOUNG'S ANALYTICAL CONCORDANCE is as fine as is available.
Dictionaries
Most of the books listed in catalogues under "dictionaries" are more in the nature of encyclopedias, describing people, places and things of the Bible rather than giving the meaning of words. If this is the sort of information the student wants, but doesn't wish to invest in more expensive encyclopedias, he will find that either PELOUBET'S or SMITH'S DICTIONARY plus HALLEY'S BIBLE HANDBOOK will provide adequate information in this area. For those who are interested in definitions of words, we recommend VINES' EXPOSITORY DICTIONARY OF NEW TESTAMENT WORDS.
Commentaries
As far as possible commentaries should be selected which are written by men who are committed to the proposition of speaking as the oracles of God speak. Perhaps most commentaries would claim to be so committed, but the fact of denominational connection is substantial basis for doubting their objectivity. Certainly one does not want a commentary written by one who denies the inspiration of the scriptures. Commentaries should be used as aids to study, not accepted as creeds.
PEOPLE'S NEW TESTAMENT WITH NOTES by B.W. Johnson has notes on all the New Testament books in a single volume. This is perhaps the most popular and widely used commentary among members of the church of Christ. For those who desire more detailed comments a list of commentaries will be given.
Lives Of Great Men
The joys and sorrows, the fears and hopes, the successes and failures, and other basic human emotions experienced by the 20th century saints were also the lot of saints in days gone. The biographies of faithful workers in the vineyard of the Lord are fruitful sources of encouragement and enjoyment to the Christian today. If different members of the congregations would buy different books of biographies and exchange with one another the benefits would be multiplied. Such extensive reading of biographies would demonstrate the truth of Solomon's statement — "and there is no new thing under the sun" (Eccl. 1:9).
Miscellaneous Books
Under this will be listed volumes of sermons, books on the Holy Spirit, and other books devoted to some Bible theme. These books represent the cream of the author's work, in many cases the fruits of a life of study. The great debt owed to such men as Brents, McGarvey, Whiteside, etc. is immeasurable. Christians who have been accustomed to feeding on the writings of such giants will find little to attract them in the insipid productions of 20th century confused ones who call themselves modernists.
A Brief List Of Recommended Boo Ks For The Christian
Bibles:
American Standard Bible 760 (Nelson)
King James Version Bible 16X ( Cambridge)
Concordances: Cruden's Complete Concordance Young's Analytical Concordance Dictionaries and Encyclopaedias: Peloubet's Bible Dictionary Smith's Bible Dictionary
Halley's Bible Handbook Commentaries:
People's New Testament With Notes --Johnson MacKnight on the Epistles
Commentaries on the New Testament Books by Different Writers:
Matthew and Mark — J.W. McGarvey Matthew — H. Leo Boles
Mark — C.E.W. Dorris Luke — J.S. Lamar
Luke — H. Leo Boles John — C.E.W. Dorris
John — B.W. Johnson Acts — J.W. McGarvey (original)
Acts — H. Leo Boles Romans — R.L. Whiteside
Romans — Don DeWelt First Corinthians — Lipscomb and Shepherd
Romans, Corinthians, Galatians, Thessalonians — McGarvey & Pendleton Second Corinthians and Galatians — Lipscomb and Shepherd
Exegetical Analysis of Epistles — Grubbs
(1st and 2nd Corinthians, Galatians)
Ephesians, Philippians, Colossians — Shepherd Thessalonians, Timothy, Titus — Shepherd Paul's Letters To Timothy and Titus — Don DeWelt
Minor Epistles Caton Peter, John, Jude — Woods
Worthy Is The Lamb — Summers
Commentaries On The Old Testament:
Commentaries On The Whole Bible In One Volume — Matthew Henry Barnes Notes On The Old Testament, 16 vol. set
Word Studies:
Interlinear New Testament — George Berry Expository Dictionary Of New Testament Words — Vines
Thayer's Greek English Lexicon A New Testament Workbook William Barclay
More New Testament Words — William Barclay Vincent's Word Studies
Biographies - Histories - Debates - Evidences
J.D. Tant - Texas Preacher — F.Y. Tant Racoon John Smith — Cochran
Biographical Sketches Of Gospel Preachers--Boles Seventy Years In Dixie — F.D. Srygley
The Life and Time Of David Lipscomb — Earl West Attitudes and Consequences Of The Restoration Movement — Hailey
The Voice Of The Pioneers On Instrumental Music and Societies — John T. Lewis Search For The Ancient Order, Vol. 1 and 2 Earl West
Cogdill - Woods Debate Porter - Tingley Debate
Welch - Schreiner Debate Otey - Briney Debate
Archeology and Bible History Joseph Free Biblical Criticism — McGarvey Paley's Evidences of Christianity Whatley
Alleged Bible Contradictions Explained — Dehoff Evolution and Christian Thought Today — Mixter
Genes, Genesis and Evolution Klotz
Miscellaneous:
Doctrinal Discourses -- Whiteside The Final Week — Foster Life In The Son — Shank.
Reflections — Whiteside Kingdom of Promise and Prophecy — Whiteside
Sermons — McGarvey The Gospel Plan of Salvation — Brent
Salvation From Sin — Lipscomb Nichols Pocket Encyclopedia Nichol
Bulwarks of the Faith — Wallace God's Prophetic Word — Wallace
Mission And Medium of Holy Spirit — Wallace New Testament Church — Cogdill
4109 Ave. F, Austin, Texas