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.

[alpha-8-25-02]

BROTHER,
FROM AUGUSTINE THROUGH WARFIELD,ALLWAYS DIGGING FOR JEWELS.
NEWEST THEOLOGIAN PAST THROUGH THE RPTS;
http://www.biblicaltheology.org:80/
AND MY LATEST BOOK ORDER:
http://www.amazon.com:80/Covenant-Eschatology-Michael-Scott-Horton/dp/0664225012

C.H.SPURGEON IS THE SECOND PERSON I WOULD LIKE TOO HUG WHEN I CROSS THE JORDAN!
MOST OF MY STUDY IS ON-LINE,THOUGH I HAVE PRINTED TEXT FOR AWAY TIMES.
I WILL BE BLESSED TO SHARE ANY LINKS,JUST ASK!

EXURGE CALVINISTI,ET JUDICA,CAUSAM,TUAM!

[not bad at all]

Purpose Driven Life by Rick Warren

[TotusTuus]

A difficult one for me to answer. Most my reading of the Fathers came through the library with the "Library of the Fathers" translations done by the Oxford Movement - the original English translations of these texts. My reading of St. Augustine came through these. Also, the Catholic University of America translations. These take up shelves of the library with St. Augustine in the lead, so to speak.

I'll research more on what is available in English currently. I know Ignatius Press has several paperback books of at least partial translations of the Fathers.

A quick google search returned me this:

The Retractations

[Oliver Optic]

Don't hold me to this as a foundational text of Christianity, but I'm kinda partial to....

John Flavel - The Fountain of Life Opened Up: A display of Christ in his essential and mediatorial glory.

C. H. Mackintosh - Notes on the Pentateuch

Elisabeth Elliot - Shadow of the Almighty: Life and Testament of Jim Elliot

The two-volume biography of Hudson Taylor by Mrs. Howard Taylor.

[Lee N. Field]

A quick google search returned me this:

The Retractations

Which is more expensive that the same item brand new from Amazon. Oy! Was hoping for a cheap copy. Well, it's pretty far down my list, as it is.

[ChurtleDawg]

I think that any Christian, whether they are Baptist, Orthodox or Catholic, could read Benedict’s “Jesus of Nazareth” and gain great insight from it.

[FortWorthPatriot]

"Not to be flippant, but you are here reading FR..."

I hadn't seen anyone else post "just the Bible" yet so I figured I'd volunteer to be the first one to face the wrath and be stoned...

[Millie]

Dr. Lewis Sperry Chafer

[TruthConquers]

I am reading that book. It is great!
Here is a link to Banner of Truth Press. They reprint Puritan books.

http://www.banneroftruth.org/pages/home.php

[kaehurowing]

The most important sacred texts of the Episcopal Church:

1. The United Nations Millenium Development Goals.

2. Bishop John Shelby Spong, “Living in Sin.”

3. Bishop Gene Robinson, “In the Eye of the Storm: Swept to the Center by God.”

4. The Gospel of Judas.

5. The DaVinci Code

6. Thomas Anthony Harris, “I’m OK, You’re OK.”

7. Richard Bach, “Jonathan Livingston Seagull.”

[Gumdrop]

I agree, “The Imitation of Christ” by Thomas a’Kempis is truly a great work. Fulton Sheen’s books are also worthy of this list.

[whispering out loud]

Tender Warrior by Stew Webber, incredible spiritual growth book for men.

[Question_Assumptions]

I think The Didache, which you mentioned, should be read by every Christian because it reflects how the early Church viewed the responsibilities and behavior of a good Christian.

[StAthanasiustheGreat]

I would recommend Gerald Walsh’s translation of City of God. It is abdriged, but like many writers of the era, they tended to go off on tangents for pages and pages. I didn’t have it in me to handle the whole thing, so the abridged version (still 400 pages) stood in while I was in Iraq and reading it.

[Gamecock]

***the current Pope of the Catholic Church, Benedict XVI, has been heavily influenced by St. Augustine***

That’s OK. Reformed Christians from Luther, Calvin down to Sproul today are Augustinians.

[Gamecock]

http://www.amazon.com:80/Covenant-Eschatology-Michael-Scott-Horton/dp/0664225012

I have it on my shelf. Read the first few pages and put it up. It’s one of those books that will mean a lot to me in a couple of years, it’s just not foing anything for me right now.

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

[onedoug]

Thanks for the "Shakespeare" link.

Parts of The Talmud are very interesting.

[wideawake]

And throw in ‘Paradise Lost’ and ‘Pilgrim’s Progress’ for the Protestants. :-)

Probably the best Protestant devotional work ever written are the sermons of Lancelot Andrewes (who was likely the most influential person in determining the style and sensibility of the King James Bible).

[BibChr]

Pyromaniacs.