Best Books in 2012
This year has been a good year for Biblical Foundations™ pursuing its mission to strengthen marriage and the family in the home, the church, and society as we long to see all the world rest of biblical foundations. We are particularly grateful to Crossway for releasing Marriage and the Family: Biblical Essentials this year, an abridged version of God, Marriage, and the Family.
Here, then, are the top ten books in biblical studies from 2012, in terms of their potential influence and utility:
1. Darrell Bock, A Theology of Luke and Acts (Zondervan). This, the second volume in the Biblical Theology of the New Testament series, features a magisterial treatment of the theology of Luke-Acts by the leading evangelical Lucan scholar of our day. For more information and to purchase on Amazon, click here.
2. Stanley Porter and Andrew Pitts, eds. Christian Origins and Greco-Roman Culture (Brill). Cutting-edge scholarship by a stellar cast of contributors including Craig Keener, Paul Maier, and E. Randolph Richards. Pricey but essential for scholars. For more information and to purchase on Amazon, click here.
3. Mike Barnett, ed. Discovering the Mission of God (InterVarsity). An amazing, comprehensive treatment of the mission of God by an authoritative lineup including Christopher Wright, John Piper, and Ed Stetzer. For more information and to purchase on Amazon, click here.
4. Peter Gentry and Stephen Wellum, Kingdom through Covenant (Crossway). Not a biblical theology, but a detailed monograph on the biblical covenants, the product of collaboration between a biblical scholar and a systematician. Controversial but important. For more information and to purchase on Amazon, click here.
5. Ed Stetzer and Philip Nation, eds. The Mission of God Study Bible (Holman). With contributions from Matt Chandler, Tullian Tchividjian, and many more, also including letters by Billy Graham, Erwin Lutzer, Calvin Miller, and others. For more information and to purchase on Amazon, click here.
6. Jonathan Pennington, Reading the Gospels Wisely (Baker). As Tom Schreiner says, “While I don’t agree with everything Pennington says, his arguments must be reckoned with.” Pennington makes a case for reading the Gospels literarily and theologically. For more information and to purchase on Amazon, click here.
7. G. K. Beale, Handbook on the New Testament Use of the Old Testament (Baker). From the co-editor of the landmark Commentary on the New Testament Use of the Old Testament, this is helpful introduction to the many issues confronting the student of the NT use of the OT. For more information and to purchase on Amazon, click here.
8. Chris Vlachos, James (B&H Academic). This is the second volume in the Exegetical Guide to the Greek New Testament series, following Murray Harris’s Colossians & Philemon volume years ago. The entire series will comprise 20 volumes (co-editors Yarbrough & Köstenberger). For more information and to purchase on Amazon, click here.
9. Murray Harris, Prepositions and Theology (Zondervan). This product of meticulous scholarship will serve as the most comprehensive treatment of Greek prepositions and as an essential reference guide for exegesis for years to come. For more information and to purchase on Amazon, click here.
10. The Greek-English New Testament (Nestle-Aland, 28th Edition; English Standard Version) (Crossway). This very helpful study tool features on facing pages the new Nestle-Aland 28th edition and the English Standard Version. Hard cover and large print. Outstanding! For more information and to purchase on Amazon, click here.
Finally, I would like to express appreciation to B&H Academic for publishing The Lion and the Lamb: New Testament Essentials from The Cradle, the Cross, and the Crown as well as Which Bible Translation Should I Use? A Comparison of 4 Major Recent Versions (with contributions by Wayne Grudem (ESV), Douglas Moo (NIV), Ray Clendenen (HCSB), and Philip Comfort (NLT).
None of us can read everything, so let us read wisely and selectively. The Biblical Foundations™ team wishes you a Merry Christmas and a prosperous New Year. Thank you for your part in promoting wholesome biblical content, as we long to see all the world rest on biblical foundations.
