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THE MOST BASIC LIBRARY IS ONE BOOK: THE HOLY BIBLE.
Read a modern translation (after all, the original manuscripts are in Hebrew and Greek, not King James English!) that has good study notes next to the passages.
Becoming 'standard' for Protestants is the 'New International Version'. PB HC
American Catholics favor the 'New American Bible'. PB HC
Read in your study Bible the book of Matthew, then Luke and Acts. Next read John.
Follow with Romans and Hebrews. Fill in remaining books of the New Testament.
In the Old Testament read at least Genesis, Exodus, Deuteronomy, Psalms and Isaiah.
SUPPORT YOUR BIBLE READING WITH THE FOLLOWING:
Alexander, David & Pat, ed., Eerdman's Handbook to the Bible. PB
Cansdale, George Soper, Animals of Bible Lands. PB
Fee, Gordon & Douglas Stuart, How To Read the Bible For All It's Worth. PB
Keener, Craig, The IVP Bible Background and Commentary: New Testament. HC
Kidner, Derek, Tyndale Old Testament Commentary: Psalms 1-72. PB
Kidner, Derek, Tyndale Old Testament Commentary: Psalms 73-150. PB
Walton, John & Victor Matthews, The IVP Bible Background and Commentary:
Genesis-Deuteronomy. HC
Wight, Fred (rev. by Ralph Gower), New Manners and Customs of Bible Times. HC
Young, E. J., New International Commentary Old Testament: Isaiah, 3 vols.
Note: many students of the Bible use inexpensive all-purpose computer programs like:
NIV Study Bible Basic Library
Logos Bible Reference
Bible Library (Ellis)
EVENTUALLY, BIBLE READING CAN BE SUPPLEMENTED BY READING THE BEST OF BOTH HISTORICAL AND INSPIRATIONAL BOOKS:
Aquinas, Thomas, Light of Faith (mini version of Summa Theologica). HC PB
St. Augustine, Confessions, tr. Henry Chadwick. HC PB
Bernard of Clairvaux, On the Love of God and Other Writings. PB
Bonhoeffer, Dietrich, The Cost of Discipleship. HC PB
Brother Lawrence, The Practice of the Presence of God. HC PB
Bunyan, John, Pilgrim's Progress. HC PB
Bunyan, John, Grace Abounding to the Chief of Sinners. PB
Calvin, John, Institutes of the Christian Religion (One Vol. Ed.). PB
Catherine of Siena, Passion for the Truth, Compassion for Humanity: Selected
Writings, ed. Mary O'Driscoll. PB
Chambers, Oswald, My Utmost for His Highest. HC PB
De Caussade, Jean-Pierre, Abandonment to Divine Providence. PB
De Sales, Francis, Introduction to the Devout Life. PB
Drummond, Henry, The Greatest Thing in the World. HC PB
Edwards, Jonathan, Treatise on the Religious Affections. HC
Eusebius, The History of the Church from Christ to Constantine. HC PB
Fenelon, Francois, Meditations on the Heart of God. PB
Finney Charles, How to Experience Revival. PB
Graham, Billy, Peace With God. HC PB
Guyon, Madame, Experiencing God Through Prayer. PB
Herbert, George, The Complete English Poems. PB
Hurnard, Hannah, Hinds' Feet on High Places. HC PB
Kempe, Margery, Book of Margery Kempe. PB
Kempis, Thomas a, The Imitation of Christ. HC PB
King, Ursual, Christian Mystics: the Spiritual Heart of the Christian Tradition. HC
Law, William, Serious Call to a Devout and Holy Life. PB
Lightfoot, J. B. & others, The Apostolic Fathers. HC PB
Luther, Martin, Commentary on Romans. HC
Luther, Martin, By Faith Alone. HC
Madigan, Shawn, Mystics, Visionaries and Prophets: A Historical Anthology
of Women's spiritual Writings. HC
Merton, Thomas, Seven Storey Mountain. HC PB
Nee, Watchman, Spiritual Man. PB
Phillips, J. B., Your God Is Too Small. PB
Russell, A. J., God Calling. HC PB
Schaeffer, Francis, True Spirituality. PB
Sheldon, Charles, In His Steps. HC PB
Simons, Menno, Complete Writings. HC
Smith, Hannah Whitall, The Christian's Secret of a Happy Life. HC PB
Spurgeon, Charles H., Morning and Evening. HC PB
Taylor, Jeremy, Selected Works. HC PB
Traherne, Thomas, Selected Poems and Prose. PB
Saint Anselm, Prayers and Meditations of Saint Anselm. PB
Scupoli, Lorenzo, Spiritual Combat and Treatise on Peace of the Soul. PB
Tozer, A. W., The Knowledge of the Holy. HC PB
Tozer, A. W., The Pursuit of God. HC PB
Weil, Simone, Waiting For God. PB
Waddell, Helen, trans., The Desert Fathers. PB
Wesley, John, Plain Account of Christian Perfection. PB
Wilberforce, William, Real Christianity. HC PB
Mystical and meditative approaches should be attempted only after much experience:
Anonymous, Cloud of Unknowing. HC PB
Juliana of Norwich, Revelation of Love. PB
Pennington, M. Basil, Centered Living: the Way of Centering Prayer. PB
Rolle, Richard, Richard Rolle: the English Writings, ed. V. Lagorio & R. Allen. HC
St. Ignatius Loyola, Personal Writings: Reminiscences, Personal Diary, Select Letters
including the Text of the Spiritual Exercises. PB
St. John of the Cross, Dark Night of the Soul, ed. E. Allison Peers. PB
St. Teresa of Avila, Interior Castle, ed. E. Allison Peers. PB
Underhill, Evelyn, Practical Mysticism. PB
Windeatt, Barry, English Mystics of the Middle Ages. HC
IS YOUR BELIEF CHALLENGED BY NONBELIEVERS WHO SAY YOU RELY ON BLIND FAITH? READ THESE BOOKS TO CONVINCE NONBELIEVERS...
That God is real:
Alexander, Samuel, Space, Time and Deity. PB
Bergson, Henri, Creative Evolution. HC PB
Polkinghorne, John, Quarks, Chaos and Christianity. PB
Schroeder, Gerald, Genesis and the Big Bang: Discovery of Harmony Between
Modern Science and the Bible. PB
Schroeder, Gerald, The Science of God. HC PB
Taylor, A. E., Does God Exist?
Whitehead, A. N., Process and Reality. PB
That Christ and His Resurrection are historical facts:
Geisler, Norman & R. Brooks, When Skeptics Ask: Handbook on Christian Evidences. HC
Kreeft, Peter, Fundamentals of the Faith: Essays in Christian Apologetics. PB
Kennedy, James, Why I Believe. PB
Lewis, C. S., Mere Christianity. HC PB
Lewis, C. S., Miracles. PB
Lewis, C. S., Problem of Pain. PB
Chesterton, G. K., Everlasting Man. PB
McDowell, Josh, Evidence That Demands a Verdict. PB Vol 1 PB Vol 2
Morison, Frank, Who Moved the Stone? PB
Pascal, Blaise, Mind on Fire (including Pensees), ed. James Houston. PB
Schaefer, Francis, The God Who Is There. PB
DON'T FORGET TO PICK YOUR FAVORITE BOOKS FROM THE MANY READING LISTS PROVIDED FOR THE HEROES OF HISTORY!
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