Other than the Bible, what are the most important Christian texts?

4-22-08 | vanity

[ChurtleDawg]

Other than the Holy Bible, what writings should every Christian try to find and read, in your opinion?

For example: The Didache, writings by early Christian apologetics like Justin Matyr, St. Augustine's books, The Nicene Creed, the works of C.S. Lewis, Pope Benedict's book "Jesus of Nazareth", the Dead Sea Scrolls....etc.

These can be any book, writing or article that you think was essential to your understanding of Christianity, theology or to your interpretation of the Bible.

[Reagan79]

The Incarnation of the Word - Athanasius.

Witness - Whitaker Chambers

[Petronski]

Haydock’s Commentaries

[bobjam]

City of God by St Augustine of Hippo

[marinamuffy]

I’m reading Keller’s “The Reason For God” right now. Very good apologetic.

I finished Keller's book last week. It was excellent. Some of the things he wrote really convicted me - especially the part about how people define themselves and "identity".

Because I found Christ (or He found me!) through my political interests, I have a very hard time separating my Christianity from my political conservativeness.

marinamuffy

[AnalogReigns]

Your comments about Pilgrim's Progress were ignorant and uncharitable--especially for this thread. John Bunyan, though a poorly educated baptist Puritan, wrote one of the most profound books in Christian history in Pilgrim's Progress, one which has ministered to millions from many generations--including most all the founding fathers of America. Only one blinded by hatred for Protestants--who's never fully read the book--would write comments such as yours.

To the list I would add Imitation of Christ by the medieval Roman Catholic monk Thomas a'Kempis. Imitation of Christ is second only to the bible in the World in numbers of copies printed...

[Lee N. Field]

Firebugs

Not exactly an unbiased recommendation.... :-)

(Go there anyway, folks.)

[BibChr]

(c;

[pby]

Is this Dan Phillips?

If so, Dan, thank you for your blog and, especially, your recent series on Acts 17. It is excellent!

I sent it to a few of my emergent friends.

[BibChr]

Yes, I am Dan Phillips.

But my buddy Phil Johnson did the Acts 17 series. It was very good, wasn’t it?

[PAR35]

“I’m trying to gather my nerve to read City Of God by Augustine”

Free download here: http://thirdmill.org/books/series.asp/category/bookssub8#npnf1

[Truth Defender]

I’m trying to gather my nerve to read City Of God by Augustine.

Take the leap - it's very revealing. Especially book 21, which answers pagan critics who scoff at his preaching of the Last Things. What I find interesting is the way he goes about it.

[Truth Defender]

First Epistle of Clement to the Corinthians. Written during the apostolic age and read alongside scripture in many local churches prior to Nicea, Clement I explicitly states in its central chapter (44) that the process by which the episcopal college succeeded the apostolic college was established by the apostles themselves.

Hmmm...where do you get "apostolic college" and "episcopal college" out of Clements writing in chapter 44? Just curious, not debating you.

[Hoffer Rand]

Dietrich Bonhoeffer “The Cost of Discipleship” and “Ethics”

Some background on Bonhoeffer. He was part of the German underground during WWII, executed by the Nazis as part of the plot to assassinate Hitler toward the end of the war. He actually had left the country, but came back to continue the fight, then was arrested. His life story is incredible; he lived his faith and died for it. A caveat: his writings are not for the "smile, God loves you" bumper sticker Christians.

[Hoffer Rand]

Oh good, you are looking for heavy reading. Check out Bonhoeffer.

[Anitius Severinus Boethius]

*ahem*

Consolation of Philosophy anyone?

Ok, but seriously, I would recommend starting with CS Lewis. Mere Christianity is what I recommend to all new Christians and is a good starting point for anyone.

[ChurtleDawg]

I have heard many good things about Bonhoeffer, and had heard of him in the context of his principled resistance to the Nazis.

I am now eager to look into his writings (and his life) further.

[eastsider]

It was Jesus Himself who selected "the Twelve" from among all His disciples and who gave them the authority to govern and pastor His Church. The term collegium merely gives a name to this structural group with unfederated power and authority as a whole, each of whom exercised full authority in the local churches where they presided yet remained solicitous toward all the churches (cf. 1 Cor 11:28 -- "Besides everything else, I face daily the pressure of my concern for all the churches").