9
Dec
2009

The 20 Best Biblical Theological Works

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09 Dec 2009

Those who know me know that Biblical Theology is by far my favorite theological science. Here is a list of what I consider to be the 20 best biblical theological works available:

  1. Geerhardus Vos Biblical Theology
  2. Geerhardus Vos The Pauline Eschatology
  3. Geerhardus Vos The Teaching of the Epistle to the Hebrews
  4. Geerhardus Vos The Eschatology of the Old Testament
  5. Jonathan Edwards A History of the Work of Redemption
  6. T. Desmond Alexander From Eden to the New Jerusalem
  7. John Fesko Last Things First
  8. O. Palmer Robertson The Israel of God
  9. O. Palmer Robertson The Christ of the Covenants
  10. O. Palmer Robertson God’s People in the Wilderness
  11. G. K. Beale The Temple and the Church’s Mission
  12. Theophilus Herter The Abrahamic Covenant in the Gospels
  13. William J. Dumbrell Covenant and Creation
  14. O. Palmer Robertson Christ of the Prophets
  15. Ray Ortland Jr. God’s Unfaithful Wife
  16. T. Desmond Alexander From Paradise to Promised Land
  17. Michael Horton Covenant and Eschatology
  18. Meredith G. Kline Kingdom Prologue
  19. Dennis Johnson Him We Proclaim
  20. Edmund Clowney Preaching Christ in All the Scriptures

About Post Author

Nick Batzig is the senior pastor of Church Creek PCA in Charleston, SC and an associate editor for Ligonier Ministries. Prior to serving at Church Creek, Nick was a pastor at Wayside PCA on Signal Mountain, TN. Formerly, Nick served as the founding pastor of New Covenant Presbyterian Church (PCA) in Richmond Hill, GA and as the editor of Reformation21 and the Christward Collective--sites of the Alliance of Confessing Evangelicals. He frequently writes for Tabletalk Magazine, Reformation 21, He Reads Truth, and the Christward Collective. Nick was also the host of East of Eden, a podcast devoted to the Biblical and Systematic Theology of Jonathan Edwards. You can friend him on Facebook here and follow him on Twitter @nick_batzig

14 Responses

  1. Danny
    Reply

    I’ve been looking all over for a copy of Dumbrell’s Covenant and Creation, but it appears to be out of print (or you can buy it used off Amazon for $40-60! yikes!). Have you found any places that sells it for an actually reasonable price?

  4. Michael Dewalt
    Reply

    I don’t think Michael Horton Covenant and Eschatology is Biblical Theology. Matter of fact I’d say that only 50% of these even fit into Biblical Theology…

  5. Camden Bucey
    Reply

    He does say biblical-theological. Certainly many of these books have a more immediate focus other than biblical theology, but they are each very much driven by BT and one can learn quite a bit about BT by reading them.

  6. Nicholas T. Batzig
    Reply

    Covenant Theology is biblical theology, so even though Horton’s work may more properly fall into the category of systematic theology it is also a biblico-theological exercise. I would also argue that eschatology is a subset of biblical theology. It is the culmination of the progress of revelation in Christ. Finally, the two volumes on preaching teach principles of how to incorporating a robust biblical theology into your sermons. This is key for any minister of the Gospel.

  9. Jeff Waddington
    Reply

    For my part these are all legitimately labeled “biblical-theological”. Horton is doing ST but it is informed by, if not actually driven by, BT.

    I do agree with Michael that there should be some representation here of Graeme Goldsworthy. In my opinion, Dennis Johnson’s “Him We Proclaim” comes closest to the work of Goldsworthy. There will be differences between Goldsworthy and Vos, for instance, but Goldsworthy is especially good for making BT understandable for the layperson.

  11. James Paul
    Reply

    I noticed that you left out Graeme Goldsworthy here, and then I see Michael beat me to the punch. Do you not care for his works or have you just not read them? and hey, I’m from Pittsburgh and I think Goldsworthy rocks. You don’t have to be an aussie to appreciate a good biblical theological teacher who happens to come from down under.

    Though I do think it is interesting how Australia has produced so many excellent biblical-theological preachers. Maybe it’s something in the water, but I think Moore theological college and some of the other good colleges in Australia have alot to do with it.

  12. Nicholas T. Batzig
    Reply

    James,

    Goldworthy has produced some very helpful volumes. I do not think they are of the caliber of the other volumes I have listed above. That is always a subjective thing, but I have benefited from these works more than any of the works Goldsworthy has written. This is not to say they are not helpful. Thanks for commenting.

    Nick

  13. James Paul
    Reply

    Here’s a christmas gift for you, Nick. I am an audio aficionado, with over 600 gig & growing of excellent reformed talks from all over the world. Here is a link to some Desi (T. Desmond) Alexander talks, free and for purchase. (All of the free listen-only files can easily be downloaded if you know the right tricks).

    http://ict.union.ac.uk/handbooks.html

    Christ in the OT, Exodus, and several others are free to listen to.
    Also there is an audio sermon of his at this church –

    http://www.fitzroy.org.uk/Groups/83725/Fitzroy_Presbyterian_Church/Worship/Sermons/Sermon_archives/Sermon_archives.aspx

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