My 2022 Reading List (So Far!)

Christian History

Nathanael J. Andrade
The Journey of Christianity to India in Late Antiquity: Networks and the Movement of Culture

Philip Esler
Ethiopian Christianity: History, Theology, Practice

Yolanda Pierce
Hell Without Fires: Slavery, Christianity, and the Antebellum Spiritual Narrative

Okay, did the apostle Thomas really bring Christianity to India? What exactly is Ethiopian Christianity? How did Christianity help African-Americans survive the institution of slavery in the south? Stuff I want to read on!

Ministry

Sam Chan and Malcolm Gill
Topical Preaching in a Complex World: How to Proclaim Truth and Relevance at the Same Time

Always good to brush up on preaching and communication skills and Sam Chan is a brilliant exemplar and teacher in this area.

New Testament and Judaism

Martin Hengel and Anna Maria Schwemer
Jesus and Judaism

Amy-Jill Levine and Joseph Sievers (eds.)
The Pharisees

Okay, these two books could be quite the juxtaposition. I’m a big Martin Hengel fan, but sometimes his descriptions of Judaism are a bit jaundiced by his Lutheran lens. But Hengel was a master of primary sources, perhaps the best German scholar since Harnack and Zahn. However, Levine and Sievers have assembled a great team to understand the Pharisees, not through the lens of Christian stereotypes, but as a Jewish renewal movement that shared much and disputed much with the early church.

Gender Issues

Kathleen Stock
Material Girls: Why Reality Matters for Feminism

Aimee Byrd
The Sexual Reformation: Restoring the Dignity and Personhood of Man and Woman

Stock’s book is considered to be progressive heresy and Byrd’s book I predict will be panned by CBMW. All the more reason to read them!

Theology and Piety

Michael Gorman
Romans: A Theological and Pastoral Commentary

N.T. Wright
On Earth as in Heaven: Daily Wisdom for Twenty-First Century Christians

Yes, I know the last thing we need is yet another Romans commentary. But everything Mike Gorman writes is worth reading. Also, N.T. Wright’s works are full of rich spiritual insights which have been collated by his son Oliver. These two books I hope will be gems.

But hey, tell me, what books am I missing from this list!