Individual books that made a significant impact on me, in somewhat chronological order over 30 years... some further notes...
The New American Standard Bible. The first Bible I had was a KJV. I went to a Cru retreat where the speaker was teaching from 1 Corinthians 13, and he said that the KJV's "Charity suffereth long..." really meant "Love is patient..." I told somebody, well then why doesn't somebody translate a Bible that says what it means? They pointed me to the NAS-NT which had just come out and I picked up a copy and devoured it. During seminary I came to realize how literally accurate the NAS was.
The Chronicles of Narnia, by C. S. Lewis. My introduction to C S Lewis came through Aslan in 1971. My heart has been in Narnia ever since. I appreciate Lewis's approach that the best of the fairy tales is but a shadow of the reality of the truth. Lewis, and Jonathan Edwards -- whom I came to read much later -- both had this in common: a proper sense of neo-platonism, namely that everything here is a type or shadow of something bigger beyond it.
Lectures on Revival, by Charles G. Finney. Though there is matter for disagreement with Finney on theology, this book of sermons introduced me to the joy of reading printed sermons, especially about spiritual life and renewal in the church.
The Story of the Church, an IVP book by somebody, long out of print. Not even sure who wrote this, but this little paperback began my love affair with church history.
The New American Standard Bible. The first Bible I had was a KJV. I went to a Cru retreat where the speaker was teaching from 1 Corinthians 13, and he said that the KJV's "Charity suffereth long..." really meant "Love is patient..." I told somebody, well then why doesn't somebody translate a Bible that says what it means? They pointed me to the NAS-NT which had just come out and I picked up a copy and devoured it. During seminary I came to realize how literally accurate the NAS was.
The Chronicles of Narnia, by C. S. Lewis. My introduction to C S Lewis came through Aslan in 1971. My heart has been in Narnia ever since. I appreciate Lewis's approach that the best of the fairy tales is but a shadow of the reality of the truth. Lewis, and Jonathan Edwards -- whom I came to read much later -- both had this in common: a proper sense of neo-platonism, namely that everything here is a type or shadow of something bigger beyond it.
Lectures on Revival, by Charles G. Finney. Though there is matter for disagreement with Finney on theology, this book of sermons introduced me to the joy of reading printed sermons, especially about spiritual life and renewal in the church.
The Story of the Church, an IVP book by somebody, long out of print. Not even sure who wrote this, but this little paperback began my love affair with church history.
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