Mid-America's Resources

Student Reading List

The faculty at Mid-America has prepared a list of books that they recommend for students to read. This list includes books students will likely read while in seminary. Also available is a list of books suggested for students who are preparing for seminary to read.

  • Propaedeutical Studies
    • Research and Writing
      • Sire, James W. How to Read Slowly: Reading for Comprehension. Wheaton: Shaw Books, 2000.
      • Strunk, William, Jr., and E. B. White. The Elements of Style. 4th ed. New York Allyn & Bacon, 2000.
      • Williams, Joseph M. Style: Toward Clarity and Grace. Chicago: University of Chicago Press, 1990.
    • Philosophy
      • Baggini, Julian and Peter S. Fosl. The Ethics Toolkit: A Compendium of Ethical Concepts and Methods. Blackwell Publishing, 2007.
      • Copleston, Frederick. History of Philosophy.
      • Holmes, Arthur F. Fact, Value, and God. Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1997.
      • Jones, W.T. A History of Western Philosophy
      • Plantinga, Alvin. Warranted Christian Belief. Oxford University Press, 2000.
      • Stumpf, Samuel Enoch. Socrates to Sartre: A History of Philosophy, 6th ed. Boston, et al.: McGraw-Hill College, 1999.
    • Worldview (Weltanschauung)
      • Bratt, James D., editor, Abraham Kuyper: A Centennial Reader. Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1998.
      • Carson, D. A. Christ and Culture Revisited. Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 2008.
      • Kuyper, Abraham. Lectures on Calvinism. These lectures were first delivered at Princeton University in 1898 under the auspices of the L. P. Stone Foundation. Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1931.
      • Orr, James. The Christian View of God and the World (The Kerr Lectures for 1890-91). Reprint, Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1948.
      • Van Til, Henry R. The Calvinistic Concept of Culture. Foreward by Richard J. Mouw, 2001. Grand Rapids: Baker, 1959.
  • Biblical Studies
    • New Testament
      • Cochrane, Charles Norris. Christianity and Classical Culture: A Study of Thought and Action from Augustus to Augustine. New York: Oxford University Press, 1972 [repr.].
      • Davies, W. D. Invitation to the New Testament: A Guide to Its Main Witnesses. Garden City, NY: Doubleday & Company, 1966.
      • De Graaf, S. G. Promise and Deliverance, trans. by H. Evan Runner, and Elisabeth Wichers Runner. 4 vols. (orig. published as Verbondsgeschiedenis). St. Catharines, ON: Paideia Press, 1977.
      • Muller, Richard A. and John L. Thompson, eds. Biblical Interpretation in the Era of the Reformation. Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1996.
      • Neill, Stephen and N. T. Wright. The Interpretation of the New Testament, 1861-1986. 2nd ed. New York: Oxford University Press, 1988.
      • Ridderbos, Herman. The Coming of the Kingdom. Phillipsburg, NJ: P & R, 1962.
      • Ridderbos, Herman. Paul: An Outline of His Theology. Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1997.
      • Tenney, Merrill C. New Testament Survey. Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1985.
    • Greek
      • Machen, J. Gresham and Dan G. McCartney. New Testament Greek for Beginners. Prentice Hall, 2003.
      • Mounce, William D. Basics of Biblical Greek: Grammar. Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 2003.
      • Scott, Bernard Brandon et al. Reading New Testament Greek. Peabody, MA: Hendrikson Publishers, 1993.
      • Wallace, Daniel B. Greek Grammar Beyond the Basics. Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 1996.
    • Old Testament
      • Berkhof, Louis. Principles of Biblical Interpretation. Grand Rapids: Baker Academic, 1994.
      • Bruce, F.F. The Canon of Scripture. Downers Grove: IVP Academic, 1988.
      • Carson, D. A. Exegetical Fallacies. Grand Rapids: Baker Academic, 1996.
      • Craigie, Peter. The Old Testament: its background, growth, & content. Abingdon Press, 1987.
      • France, R.T. Jesus and the Old Testament. Regent College Publishing, 1992.
      • Greidanus, Sidney. Sola Scriptura. Wipf & Stock Publishers, 2001.
      • Harrison, Roland Kenneth. Introduction to the Old Testament. Hendrickson Publishers, 2004.
      • Holwerda, David E. Jesus & Israel: one covenant or two? Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1994.
      • Hummel, Horace. The Word Becoming Flesh. Concordia Pub. House, 1979.
      • Kaiser, Walter C., Jr. A History of Israel: from the Bronze Age through the Jewish Wars. Broadman and Holman, 1998.
      • Kline, Meredith G. The Structure of Biblical Authority. Wipf & Stock Publishers, 1997.
      • LaSor, William Sanford; David Allan Hubbard; and Frederic William Bush. Old Testament Survey: the message, form, and background of the Old Testament. Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1996.
      • Longman, Tremper, III., and Raymond Dillard. An Introduction to the Old Testament. Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 2006.
      • Merrill, Eugene. Kingdom of Priests: a history of Old Testament Israel. Grand Rapids: Baker Academic, 2008.
      • Poythress, Vern S. The Shadow of Christ in the Law of Moses. P & R Publishing, 1995.
      • Robertson, O. Palmer. The Christ of the Covenants. P & R Publishing, 1981.
      • Robertson, O.Palmer. The Christ of the Prophets. P & R Publishing, 2004.
      • Vos, Geerhardus. Biblical Theology: Old and New Testaments. Wipf & Stock, 2003.
      • Young, Edward J. My Servants the Prophets.Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1952.
    • Hebrew
      • Biblia Hebraica Stuttgartensia.
      • Mitchell, Larry A. A Student’s Vocabulary for Biblical Hebrew and Aramaic. Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 1984.
      • Scott, William R. A Simplified Guide to BHS 4th edition. BIBAL Press, 2007.
      • Seow, C. L. A Grammar for Biblical Hebrew. Revised Edition. Abingdon Press, 1995.
      • Wegner, Paul D. A Student’s Guide to Textual Criticism of the Bible. IVP Academic, 2006.
  • Ecclesiastical Studies
    • Church History
      • Ahlstrom, Sydney E. A Religious History of the American People. New Haven: Yale University Press, 2004.
      • Chadwick, Henry. The Early Church. Harmondsworth: Penguin, 1993.
      • Hart, D.G. and Muether, John R. Seeking a Better Country: 300 Years of American Presbyterianism. Phillipsburg, New Jersey: Presbyterian and Reformed Publishing Company, 2007.
      • Hastings, Adrian. A World History of Christianity. Grand Rapids, Michigan: William B. Eerdmans Publishing Co., 2000.
      • Pelikan, Jaroslav. The Christian Tradition. (5 vols.) Chicago: University of Chicago Press, 1975.
      • Ozment, Steven. The Age of Reform, 1250-1550: An Intellectual and Religious History of Late Medieval and Reformation Europe. New Haven, CT: Yale University Press, 1980.
      • MacCulloch, Diarmaid. The Reformation. New York: Penguin, 2003.
      • Olson, Roger E. The Story of Christian Theology: Twenty Centuries of Tradition and Reform. IVP, 1999.
      • Plancher, William C. Readings in the History of Christian Theology. Richmond: Westminster John Knox Press, 1988.
      • Muller, Richard A. Post-Reformation Reformed Dogmatics : The Rise and Development of Reformed Orthodoxy. 4 vols. Grand Rapids, Michigan: Baker Book House, 2003.
      • Schaff, Philip. History of the Christian Church (8v.)
  • Doctrinal Studies
    • Apologetics
      • Bahnsen, Greg L. Van Til's Apologetic. Phillipsburg, New Jersey: Presbyterian and Reformed Publishing Company, 1998.
      • Bahnsen, Greg L. Always Ready: Directions for Defending the Faith. Nacogdoches, Texas, Covenant Media Press, 1996
      • Cowan, Stephen B., ed. Five Views on Apologetics. Grand Rapids, Michigan: Zondervan, 2000.
      • Edgar, William. Reasons of the Heart. Grand Rapids, Michigan: Baker Book House, 1996.
      • Frame, John. Apologetics to the Glory of God. Phillipsburg, New Jersey: Presbyterian and Reformed Publishing Company, 1994
      • Machen, J. Gresham. Christianity and Liberalism. Grand Rapids, Michigan: William B. Eerdmans Publishing Co., 1999.
      • Oliphint, K. Scott. The Battle Belongs to the Lord. Phillipsburg, New Jersey: Presbyterian and Reformed Publishing Company, 2003.
      • Oliphint, K. Scott, and Lane G. Tipton, (eds.) Revelation and Reason. Phillipsburg, New Jersey: Presbyterian and Reformed Publishing Company, 2007.
      • Oliphint, K. Scott. Reasons for Faith: Philosophy in the Service of Theology. Phillipsburg, N. J.: Presbyterian and Reformed Publishing Company, 2006.
      • Poythress, Vern S. Redeeming Science. Wheaton, IL: Crossway, 2006.
      • Van Til, Cornelius. The Defense of the Faith. Phillipsburg, New Jersey: Presbyterian and Reformed Publishing Co., 2008.
    • Ethics
      • Davis, John Jefferson. Evangelical Ethics: Issues Facing the Church Today. Philippsburg: P & R, 1985.
      • Henry, Carl F. H. Christian Personal Ethics. Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1957.
    • Systematic Theology
      • à Brakel, Wilhelmus. The Christian’s Reasonable Service. 4 vols. Grand Rapids: Reformation Heritage Books, 1992.
      • Bavinck, Herman. Reformed Dogmatics. Trans. John Vriend. Ed. John Bolt. 4 vols. Grand Rapids: Baker Academic, 2003-2008.
      • Berkhof, Louis. Systematic Theology. 4th ed. Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1941. Hoekema, Anthony. Created in God's Image. Grand Rapids, MI: Eerdmans, 1986.
      • Calvin, John. Institutes of the Christian Religion. Trans. Ford Lewis Battles. Ed. John T. McNeill. 2 vols. Philadephia: The Westminster Press, 1960.
      • Heppe, Heinrich. Reformed Dogmatics: Set Out and Illustrated from the Sources. London: Wakeman Great Reprints.
      • Turretin, Francis. Institutes of Elenctic Theology, 3 vols. Phillipsburg, NJ: P&R, 1992-1997.
    • Prolegomena
      • Kuyper, Abraham. Principles of Sacred Theology. Reprint; Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1968.
      • Packer, J. I. God Has Spoken: Revelation and the Bible. 3rd ed. Grand Rapids: Baker, 1993.
      • Warfield, B.B. The Inspiration and Authority of the Bible. Philadelphia: Pres. and Reformed Publishing, 1948.
    • Theology
      • Erikson, Millard J. God the Father Almighty: A Contemporary Exploration of the Divine Attributes. Grand Rapids: Baker, 1998.
      • Frame, John M. No Other God: A Response to Open Theism. P&R, 2001.
      • Muller, Richard A. Christ and the Decree: Christology and Predestination in Reformed Theology from Calvin to Perkins. Grand Rapids: Baker, 1986.
      • Warfield, Benjamin B. The Plan of Salvation. Revised ed. Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1977.
    • Anthropology
      • Beach, J. Mark. Christ and the Covenant: Francis Turretin’s Federal Theology as a Defense of the Doctrine of Grace. Reformed Historical Theology, vol. 1, ed. Herman Selderhuis, et al. Göttingen: Vandenhoeck & Ruprecht, 2007.
      • Hoekema, Anthony. Created in God's Image. Grand Rapids, MI: Eerdmans, 1986.
      • Plantinga, Cornelius, Jr. Not the Way It’s Supposed to Be. Eerdmans, 1995.
      • Stevenson, Leslie. Seven Theories of Human Nature. Oxford University Press, 1974.
    • Christology
      • Murray, John. Redemption Accomplished and Applied. Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1955.
      • Stott, John R. W. The Cross of Christ. Downers Grove, IL: Intervarsity, 1986.
    • Pneumatology
      • Hoekema, Anthony. Saved By Grace. Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1989.
      • Venema, Cornelis. The Gospel of Free Acceptance in Christ. Edinburgh: Banner of Truth, 2006.
      • Venema, Cornelis P. The Promise of the Future. Carlisle, PA: The Banner of Truth Trust, 2000.
      • Venema, Cornelis P. Accepted and Renewed in Christ: The “Twofold Grace of God” and the Interpretation of Calvin’s Theology. Reformed Historical Theology, vol. 2, ed. Herman Selderhuis. Göttingen: Vandenhoeck & Ruprecht, 2007.
      • Venema, Cornelis P. Getting the Gospel Right. Edinburgh: Banner of Truth, 2006.
    • Ecclesiology
      • Bannerman, James. The Church of Christ. 2 vols. Reprint; The Banner of Truth, 1965.
    • Eschatology
      • Hoekema, Anthony A. The Bible and the Future. Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1979.
      • Venema, Cornelis P. Christ and the Future. Edinburgh: Banner of Truth, 2008.
  • Ministerial Studies
    • Catechetics
      • Edge, Findley B. Teaching for Results, revised ed. Nashville: B&H, 1995.
      • Kuyvenhoven, Andrew. Comfort and Joy: A Study of the Heidelberg Catechism. Grand Rapids: CRC Publications, 1988.
      • Pazmiño, Robert W. Basics of Teaching for Christian: preparation, instruction, evaluation. Grand Rapids: Baker Books, 1998.
      • Van Dyken, Donald. Rediscovering Catechism: The Art of Equipping Covenant Children. Phillisburg, N.J.: P&R Publishing, 2000.
      • Wilkinson, Bruce. The Seven Laws of the Learner: How to Teach Almost Anything to Practically Anyone! Sisters, Oregon: Multnomah Publishers, 1992.
      • Williamson, G.I. The Shorter Catechism. Revised edition. Phillisburg, N.J.: P&R Publishing, 2002/3.
    • Homiletics
      • Robinson, Haddon W. Biblical Preaching: The Development and Delivery of Expository Messages, 2nd ed. (Baker, 2001).
      • Stott, John R.W. Between Two Worlds: The Art of Preaching in the Twentieth Century. Eerdmans, 1982.
    • Liturgics
      • Deddens, K. Where Everything Points to Him. Inheritance Publications, 1993.
      • Gore, R. J, Jr., Covenantal Worship. P&R, 2002.
      • Johnson, Terry, el al. The Worship of God: Reformed Concepts of Biblical Worship (Christian Focus Publications, 2005).
      • Kuyper, Abraham. Our Worship, ed. Harry Boonstra. Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 2009.
      • Longman, Tremper, III, Immanuel in Our Place. P&R, 2001.
      • Miller, Samuel. Thoughts on Public Prayer. Sprinkle, 1985.
      • Nichols, James Hastings. Corporate Worship in the Reformed Tradition. Philadelphia: Westminster Press, 1968.
      • Old, Hughes Oliphant. Worship, 2nd. ed. WJK, 2002.
      • Peterson, David. Engaging with God. IVP, 1992.
      • Rayburn, Robert G. O Come, Let Us Worship (Baker, 1980).
      • Ryken, Philip Graham, et al., editors, Give Praise to God: A Vision for Reforming Worship. P&R,2003.
      • Thompson, Bard, ed. Liturgies of the Western Church. Philadelphia: Fortress Press, 1961.
      • White, James. An Inroduction to Christian Worship,3rd edition. Abingdon, 2000.
    • Pastoral Care and Counseling
      • Benner, David G. Strategic Pastoral Counseling: A Short-Term Structured Model. 2nd edition. Grand Rapids: Baker Book House, 1992.
      • Chapell, Bryan. Each for the Other: Marriage As It’s Meant to Be. Grand Rapids: Baker, 1998.
      • Driscoll, Mark & Gerry Breshears, Death by Love: Letters from the Cross. Wheaton, IL: Crossway, 2008.
      • Johnson, Eric L. Foundations for Soul Care: A Christian Psychology Proposal. DownersGrove, IL: InterVarsity Press, 2007.
      • Johnson, Eric L. and Stanton L. Jones, editors. Psychology and Christianity: Four Views, with contributions by Gary R. Collins, David G. Myers, David Powlison, Robert C. Roberts. Downers Grove, IL: IVP, 2000.
      • Kruis, John G. Quick Scripture Reference for Counseling, 3rd ed. Grand Rapids: Baker Books, 2000.
      • MacArthur, John. The Freedom and Power of Forgiveness. Wheaton, IL: Crossway Books, 1998.
      • Powlison, David. Seeing with New Eyes: Counseling and the Human Condition Through the Lens of Scripture. P&R, 2003.
      • St Gregory the Great, The Book of Pastoral Rule. Popular Patristics Series. Crestwood, New York: St. Vladimir’s Seminary Press, 2007.
      • Thomas, Curtis C. Practical Wisdom for Pastors (Crossway Books, 2001)
      • Welch, Edward T. Addictions: A Banquet in the Grave. Phillipsburg, NJ: P&R, 2001.
      • Welch, Edward T. Blame it on the Brain? Phillipsburg, NJ: 1998.
      • Welch, Edward T. Depression: A Stubborn Darkness—Light for the Path. Winston-Salem, NC: Punch Press, 2004.
      • Westberg, Granger E. Good Grief. Philadelphia: Fortress, 1971.
      • Wolterstoff, Nicholas. Lament for a Son. Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1987.
    • Missions and Evangelism
      • Bavinck, J. H. An Introduction to the Science of Missions, P&R, 1960.
      • Bonar, Horatius Words to Winners of Souls (P&R), 1995.
      • Metzger, Will Tell the Truth, second edition, IVP, 1984.
      • Moreau, A. Scott et al. Introducing World Missions: A Biblical, Historical, and Practical Survey. Baker, 2004.
      • Packer, J. I. Evangelism and The Sovereignty of God, second edition, IVP, 1991.
      • Pollard, Nick Evangelism Made Slightly Less Difficult, IVP, 1997.
      • Stott, John The Living Church: Convictions of a Lifelong Pastor (IVP, 2007), 11-150.
      • Strobel, Lee Unchurched Hary and Mary (Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 1993).
      • Van Rheenen, Gailyn Missions: Biblical Foundations & Contemporary Strategies, Zondervan, 1996.