Some Recommended Theology Books

(Note: It should go without saying, but doesn't, that I don't agree with all the theological positions taken by the authors of these books)

Making the Case for Theology:

• Who Needs Theology? (An Invitation to the Study of God), Stanley Grenz and Roger Olson
• The Study of Theology, Richard Miller (Zondervan)

For the Theologically Resistant or Uncertain:

If you break out in hives at the word "doctrine" and you're young and sort of post-modern:

• Blue Like Jazz, Donald Miller

  If you're not into nonfiction or systematics, but like stories:

• Doing Theology With Huck and Jim: Parables for Understanding Doctrine, Mark Shaw.

For everybody; understandable, accurate and thorough single resources:

• Systematic Theology, Wayne Grudem (My favorite)
• An abridged version of Grudem's theology: Bible Doctrine, Wayne Grudem and Jeff Purswell
• A strong choice after Grudem's: Christian Theology, Millard Erickson

Daily Doses of Great Theology:

• Morning and Evening, Charles Spurgeon
• How Great Thou Art, Steve Halliday and William G. Travis

Church History:

• On This Day, Robert J. Morgan (Daily one page stories from church history)
• The Story of Christianity: Reformation to the Present Day, Justo L. Gonzalez
• From Jerusalem to Irian Jaya, Ruth Tucker

Solid classics (Rich, Deep and Understandable):

• The Knowledge of the Holy, A. W. Tozer
• Knowing God, J. I. Packer
• Desiring God, John Piper
• The Pursuit of Holiness, Jerry Bridges
• Your God is Too Small, J. B. Phillips

History of theology (lots of great stories: biblical doctrine throughout church history):

• The Story of Christian Theology, Roger E. Olson

Big and Deep on Theology Proper:

• The Doctrine of God (A Theology of Lordship), John Frame

The Trinity:

• The Forgotten Trinity: Recovering the Heart of Christian Belief, James R. White

Calvinism/Arminianism issues:

• Evangelism and the Sovereignty of God, J. I. Packer
• Chosen but Free, Norman Geisler
• The Potter's Freedom, James White (a rebuttal to Geisler's book)
• Debating Calvinism: 5 Points, 2 Views, Dave Hunt and James White

The Christian's Mind (and consequent importance of pursuing theology):

• Love Your God with All Your Mind, J. P. Moreland
• No Place for Truth, James Wells
• Habits of the Mind, James W. Sire
• Fit Bodies, Fat Minds, Os Guiness

Christian Worldview:

• The Universe Next Door, James W. Sire
• Turning Point Christian Worldview Series, Marvin Olasky, gen. ed.

Doctrine of Sanctification:

• Keep in Step with the Spirit, J. I. Packer
• Future Grace, John Piper
• Five Views on Sanctification, Melvin Dieter
• Joy of Fearing God, Jerry Bridges

Open Theism (Critiques):

• No Other God, John Frame
• Beyond the Bounds, John Piper and Justin Taylor

InterVarsity and Zondervan "4 Views" books (each view presented by an advocate, not just summarized by an opponent; in some cases there's interaction, not always):

• The Meaning of the Millennium: Four Views, George Eldon Ladd, et al
• Predestination and Free Will: Four Views of Divine Sovereignty and Human Freedom, Basinger
• Four Views on Eternal Security, J. Matthew Pinson, Stanley N. Gundry
• Four Views on Hell, William V. Crockett
• Four Views on Salvation in a Pluralistic World, Dennis L. Okholm
• Are Miraculous Gifts for Today? Wayne A. Grudem, et al
• Divine Foreknowledge: 4 Views, James K. Beilby, et al
• Women in Ministry: Four Views, Bonnidell Clouse, Robert G. Clouse
• Four Views of Youth Ministry and the Church, Mark Senter, et al
• Divorce and Remarriage: Four Christian Views, Wayne H. House
• Psychology & Christianity, Stanton L. Jones (Editor)
• God and Politics: Four Views, Gary Scott Smith (OOP)

Post-Modernism:

• Gagging of God, D. A. Carson
• Postmodern Times, Gene Edward Veith, Jr.
• Truth Decay, Douglas R. Groothuis

Biographies of Theologians:

• Legacy of Sovereign Joy: Augustine, Luther, and Calvin, John Piper
• Jonathan Edwards: A New Biography, Iain H. Murray
• Here I Stand: A Life of Martin Luther, Roland H. Bainton
• The Forgotten Spurgeon, Iain H. Murray

Theological Dictionaries:

• New Dictionary of Biblical Theology, ed. Alexander, Rosner, D. A. Carson
• Evangelical Dictionary of Theology, Walter A. Elwell

Miscellaneous:

• Difficult Doctrine of the Love of God, D. A. Carson
• The Pleasures of God, John Piper
• Revelation: Four Views : A Parallel Commentary, Steven Gregg
• How Long, O Lord? Reflections on Suffering and Evil, D. A. Carson
• When God Weeps: Why Our Sufferings Matter to the Almighty, Joni Eareckson Tada