What books should you buy?? - How to build a personal theological library (Part 1)

[@SeanAger]

I found your page a while ago. As someone who has gone from a non-believer to a lukewarm believer, to diving head first into increasing knowledge and in turn my faith, I appreciate very much channels such as yours. Thank you for sharing your knowledge!

[@joest.eggbenedictus1896]

I like your father's illustration about the plumber!

[@BrianLassek]

As a professional plumber and amateur theologian I second that advice!

[@joest.eggbenedictus1896]

@@josephpchajek2685 Trust me, in this ignorant society in which we live, we can do with a little erudition. And these recommendations are far from elitism.

[@DiscipleDojo]

@@josephpchajek2685 those disciples could speak the language Jesus spoke and lived in the culture He lived in, though. There's no way around that.

[@BrianLassek]

@@josephpchajek2685 a question: who is more humble: 1)the person who sits with a question over time, reads and prays, and works through things with the Lord. Or 2) the person who just hears from the Lord, or their pastor or friend and simply believes. The real answer is.... The humble one. People with books CAN get prideful. And people who have simple faith can be prideful in "not needing" books. I personally know more than one of both kinds. Let's not forget that the vast majority of our new testament was penned by Paul and Luke, two of the most well educated men of the early church. Having good tools can be because of pride. But it can also be because the work is worthwhile. Each year I spend about half the as much money on books as my work boots. I use both almost every day. Cheers brother.

[@1334cass]

I just found your channel a couple months ago. It has quickly become my fav channel. It has been a wonderful blessing to me. I have been learning so much. I have appreciated all your videos. Thank you so much!!

[@MatthewRBenavides]

Ahhhh I am work! Can’t wait to watch later ❤

[@remnantology]

Wow, the Anchor Bible Dictionary Set is amazing!

[@kirtusstruthers3175]

So many books. I love books. Need to read more...thank you.

[@watchdog9472]

Read the bible. Especially the new testament. And attend church faithfully. But He answered and said, “It is written, ‘Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God.’ ”

[@GuruishMike]

I love my Anchor Bible Dictionary.

[@peterhuth5]

Thank you very much, very helpful, greetings from the Netherlands

[@wilbertdudley5777]

Thanks so much for your understanding ending devotion, and also for your Chanel, I am a beloved student of our fathers truth, that is only found through scripture and how to do application. And your channel, has been wonderful.

[@tmorganriley]

Oden's three-work-systematic, including the one shown, is currently available in a single-volume hardcover under the title "Classic Christianity" that can be found new for ~$35. One of the best values I have found so far per-page (given how pricy academic books can get), at least for my given role is as an intellectual & layman.

[@BrianLassek]

Great list! Some of those I had never seen before.

[@deuslaudetur2451]

Spend ungodly amounts of money on the Philip schaff books like I’ve been doing and realize a ton of it is still way over my ability to comprehend. Gonna check out at least a few of these. Appreciate it.

[@Strongtower]

Hope you didn't spend too much on his books. Most if not all of his writings are in the public domain.

[@MrEdchavez63]

Awesome! I’m very appreciative of your recommendations. Thanks and many blessings

[@Trekkifulshay]

This is perfect timing. Right now I'm borrowing from the library and wanting to slowly build my own collection. I've been pleasantly surprised by how many books Hoopla has. Currently going through the Archaeological Study Bible.

[@bigboibenny1609]

I love hoopla! Any recommendations for what they have to read? My plan so far has just been to use it for comic books lol

[@Trekkifulshay]

@@bigboibenny1609 I've been listening to a lot of Agatha Christie mysteries. Nothing serious but I like to try to figure out whodunit. They have a lot of study Bibles to choose from and Commentaries. Tell Her Story by Nijay Gupta and Braiding Sweetgrass by Robin Wall Kimmerer are two of my recent reads. So far the study Bibles i've borrowed are the Thomas Nelsons Women's study Bible, NIV Study Bible and the Cultural Backgrounds study Bible. I've also watched a few movies Arranged, The Last Bus, and A Man Called Ove - I watched it with subtitles I hear they've made a version with Tom Hanks.

[@bigboibenny1609]

@Trekkifulshay that's pretty cool! I actually own the cultural background study bible and it is fantastic.

[@tgleo1]

Thanks very much! I can't wait for Part 2!

[@pinoychristianpilgrim]

Great recommendations! God bless!

[@nailtoncesardossantos136]

Good explanation!

[@Joel4JC]

Excellent timing! I have scouring KZbin and the internet about Systematic Theology and which book to start with. There are so many opinions out there, and I was leaning towards Systematic Theology by Wayne Grudem. I just purchased “The Christian Theology Reader 5th Edition “, thanks Sensei.

[@partialartsblackbelt8384]

Thank you so much for these suggestions! These are perfectly along the lines of how I want to study.

[@wilmath-xc9kl]

Love your videos I have a small library of the Bible's you recommend and every night I read one of them my favorite one is the Niv biblical theology study Bible thanks for making these great learning video and God bless you brother.

[@KenKopper]

Very encouraging

[@dhrevrogers]

I approve of all these recommendations. I would add James Leo Garrett 2 volume Systematic Theology as one that informs of the spectrum of the doctrinal views collected into those 2 volumes (i.e. a kind of counterpoints of doctrine summarized into the 2 vols.).

[@kvelez]

4:50 Interesting note.

[@Shevock]

Your dad gave you good advice on books as tools.

[@DiscipleDojo]

He definitely did!

[@MusicalMind9]

To answer the question posed at the end, I would say: "remain humble!"

[@MusicalMind9]

Thanks so much! I'm very interested in those books that go into the differences of opinion. Also, funny you talked about exegesis vs theological studies and how you think they are taught backwards. Back when I was in school and we did programming, we started with languages that were very developed and ended with the simple ones, like assembly and machine code. I thought it was totally backwards but no one would listen 😂

[@HashimWarren]

In buying at least 3 of these books, thanks!

[@bandanaman]

As someone who is old enough to have learned Greek at school - and then Hebrew at university - I cracked up at that comment about knowing just enough to start your own cult.

[@zachwriston1810]

Awesome video. Much appreciate your ministry and guidance.

[@BillyJBailey]

I like that shirt.

[@leaf1829]

Really enjoying your channel and purchased the 2 x Life application study Bibles in January 2023. My wife and I have made rapid progress with this easy to read and understand version. Thank you. I was hoping you would reveal to viewers your daily go to Bible for personal reading, imagining it to be somewhat smaller and lighter to hold than the above mentioned. Just curious. Congrats on >10k roll on 20k subscribers.

[@DiscipleDojo]

Thank you! To answer your question, I don't have a daily reading Bible. I have a bunch of different ones that I read from and my Archaeological Study Bible from Zondervan that I use for making notes in and teaching from.

[@andrewclarke3044]

“Beware the man of a single book” - St. Thomas Aquinas

[@Lynn-r8h]

“Our Hands are Stained With Blood,” by Michael Brown; “Our Father Abraham,” by Marvin Wilson; “Jesus, the Jewish Theologian” and “Paul, the Jewish Theologian” both by Brad Young.

[@JEFFREYHAUGAN]

Just a reminder to people, most Christian books can be bought for a buck or two used at Amazon and Alibris. My library is filled with used books. I don't buy hardback unless it is a reference book or sometimes you can get them for the same price as a paperback. Really nice to have hardback if they are classics. Also not so bad when you loan em out and never see them again.

[@DiscipleDojo]

Yep! Alibris got me through seminary! 😁

[@julianscott4682]

Funny. Recommending Books about the one real Héroe in a un room full of heroes, but He is not there or at least I couldn’t spot Him. . Great list brother.

[@Yaas_ok123]

You need, rewarded Book of the Year 2022, Adam Harwood's Christian theology.

[@lindaharrison3240]

I desire to go deeper into my bible study, but it amazes me how man can slice and dice and complicate God's word, something that was written for everyone. Systematic theology--what is that? And there are multiple volumes of it! Textual criticism, on and on. I have to tread lightly here or I'll get so lost in the forest and trees that I'll never make it out!

[@DiscipleDojo]

Systematic Theology is simply taking all of what Scripture teaches and presenting it in a cohesive way under the various categories (i.e. Sin, Salvation, Creation, God the Father, God the Son, Holy Spirit, End Times, Heaven, etc.).

[@tmorganriley]

The conclusion I have come to is this: Christianity really is simple. Anyone in society can join in. To be a Christian is not intelectually hard (practicing it out is another matter). BUT, being myself very intellectually-inclined, and after some years in my young adulthood, wondering "is this all there is", I discovered the great Christian intellectual tradition, and see it as God's provision for those who wish to pursue an understanding of God and love him with our minds (that which he endowed us with).

[@adorp]

The issue is not in how much you learn, the issue is in how much you think you know. Humility is not quantitative. You can read a thousand books and still be humble, or you can read one book and assume that you have learned everything there is to know.

[@leaf1829]

Can you recommend any books on how Christians can cope in challenging work environments? Seen this one on Amazon UK "The Gospel at work" by Traeger Gilbert and Platt? (I've read The pursuit of God by Tozer and almost finished Basic Christianity by Stott.)

[@DiscipleDojo]

Not on that specifically, but C.S. Lewis's Screwtape Letters gives phenomenal insight into the many subtle ways Christians are faced with challenges and temptations.

[@leaf1829]

@@DiscipleDojo Thanks I have his collection and couldn't agree more. Very insightful, somewhat sobering and amusing at the same time!!!

[@amlesh8638]

Thanks

[@TimBarnett-pl9kd]

Is it about living your life correctly or reading books about it?

[@DiscipleDojo]

Yes.

[@danielescobedo833]

When is the giveaway?

[@DiscipleDojo]

November 1st.

[@BakrAli10]

There is a great video about the views of Christ's early followers with references from the bible (with little bit of introduction to Islam) called: "Sincere Christians Investigate Islam Part 1! Muhammed Ali"

[@carolinetrace894]

How to Build Your Theological Library! Then at 8:53 ... 😬

[@DiscipleDojo]

Huh?

[@ElonMuskrat-my8jy]

I've read St. Justin Popovic's Orthodox Faith & Life in Christ and it is excellent. He has much to say about our modern world and its heresies. My favorite essay in that book is The Theory of Knowledge According to St. Isaac the Syrian. It's filled with quotes from his ascetical homilies and talks about how we gain true knowledge through the healing of our organs of knowledge by practicing the virtues. I've heard Fr. Dumitru Staniloae's six volume Orthodox Dogmatic Theology and his Orthodox Spirituality are excellent. Orthodox KZbinr telosbound recently released a link for a huge reading list for patristics, theology, philosophy, religion, history and apologetics. Many of them have the pdfs available including those works by Fr. Dumitru Staniloae.

[@deuslaudetur2451]

Staniloue (spelling?) is definitely a juggernaut. I’m looking to try out his 6 volume set, I think each is around $25 so I’ll probably give the 1st volume a try. I saw the table of contents for it and I was definitely intrigued.

[@ElonMuskrat-my8jy]

@@deuslaudetur2451 Holy Cross Press had a Thanksgiving sale and I got them 25% off. If you're strapped for cash you can download them. Telosbound had a Christmas e-book library reading list with pdf links. But if you can afford it then a hard copy is definitely better.

[@cruzefrank]

I admit I started my library out with Bart Ehrman and then bought books that counter argued his claims and went from there

[@lindadechow3703]

My Family recently gifted me an extremely wonderful and fascinating Bible. It is the New Standard Alphabetical Indexed School and Library Edition, KJV Reference Bible. It is "translated out of the original tongues and with all former translations diligently compared." Awarded the Blue Ribbon. Published by The John A Hertal co in 1955 (first printing in 1923) it is also a large size; 11 1/2 x 9 1/4 x 2 1/2. A true treasure and, there are sites that offer this Bible for sale. Families had these Bibles on display in their parlors years ago. ❤

[@PatrickSteil]

You forgot the Catechism of the Catholic Church. Absolutely beautiful for every Christian.

[@DiscipleDojo]

I don't think it's a helpful starting point, particularly for non-Catholics.

[@PatrickSteil]

@@DiscipleDojo I am not saying you would agree with everything off the bat, but I guarantee it would be edifying for ALL Christians. It is the root of all Christianity after all... I have no idea where you stand on Catholicism, but until anyone studies this book, they shouldn't be too critical - as ALL that is in that book - and more is what it means to be Catholic.

[@tolivarwills6712]

This cat is the real deal! Listen up!

[@naiman4535]

Yeah - you get much more into your particular approach to theology in this video. And I also understand now why you call your channel "Disciple Dojo" You and your father were not only pastors, but you were martial arts students as well. FYI, the writing on the Japanese scroll behind you and your dad says, "Hotoke" - that's Japanese for "Buddha".You see, I was born and raised in Japan, and speak, read and write Japanese. And by the way - Dojo literally means, "Way Place" - in other words, the "Do" part is from the Chinese Tao or Dao, meaning, "The Way" as in Taoism, and Jo meaning place - a place of training in the Way, or whatever Way of martial arts, or other arts, you are into. Peace, dude!

[@petemccutchen3266]

Or you could use your time to read books on science. History! Economics! Or maybe sample the world’s great literature. Or if religion is really interesting to you, read about religions other than Christianity.

[@DiscipleDojo]

Those would be of little use in doing what the title of this video is about though.

[@petemccutchen3266]

@@DiscipleDojo sure, but such a reading list would include some worthwhile information about things that actually exist. Much more interesting than speculation about the attributes of your imaginary friend.

[@Jimmy-iy9pl]

​@petemccutchen3266 There's a sense that I agree that a Christian should refrain from studying theology insofar as their studies are myopically focused on just theology, as any Christian with an ounce of intellectual interest in reason and how it relates to their faith should be engaged with philosophy and, to a lesser extent, the sciences. Without philosophy, theology does become mere wishful thinking. Now, fortunately, God does exist, and there are many good reasons to believe that (maybe you would know if you studied philosophy), so theology does study something real and is worth pursuing in its own right.

[@petemccutchen3266]

@@Jimmy-iy9pl I did study philosophy. In fact, I was accepted into graduate programs in philosophy. I chose to attend law school instead. I was then and remain unconvinced of the arguments for the existence of God.

[@edengardenlabs7773]

Please no one get their theology from a guy with a baby yoda idol next to his bible he doesnt know fact from fiction

[@DiscipleDojo]

So you really don't know the difference between children's toys and idols but you're going to try and tell other people who they should and shouldn't listen to? That's wild.

[@edengardenlabs7773]

@@DiscipleDojo so you really don't know that anything you set your heart and mind on is a idol ...you set your heart soul and mind on the Lord not star wars Paul says we put away childish things

[@edengardenlabs7773]

@@DiscipleDojo what's wild is someone trying to teach others but doesn't know what a idol is

[@darz3829]

You may want to remember this -- The bible is a book written by men who never even met the people they wrote about (many many years after). It is also heavily edited by a church that had a power and politics agenda, eliminating a number of chapters. In addition, there isn't just one Christian bible - there are at least three with different numbers of chapters. There exists no provable, fact-based evidence to support any of the supernatural (spiritual) events in it. Thus, it is pure human belief - a human emotion and dependent on as many human thoughts as there are humans. To believe without factual evidence is like saying a court case should be determined by only hearsay or a feeling. It's hard to think God wouldn't hold humans to a standard that they hold themselves.