Great Books - the Legacy of Jesus
-
Theology
- Ethics
- Music
- Devotion
- Biblical Studies
- Sermons and shorter works (including letters)
- History (including biography)
- Literature
This record is an updated continuation of the list as it has developed from my original suggestions, including some new
suggestions of my own and some suggestions from others. In order to suggest additions to the list, please see the guidelines
below:
Volume 1 The Hebrew Scriptures
Volume 2 The New Testament
Theology
- City of God by Augustine of Hippo
- Summa Theologica by Thomas Aquinas
- Pensees by Blaise Pascal
- On Christian Liberty by Martin Luther
- The Institutes of the Christian Religion by John Calvin
- The Works of Jacobus Arminius (this is in three volumes but is not arranged in books as such, but as treatises
and debates)
- Meditations on First Philosophy by Rene' Descarte
- Orthodoxy by C.K. Chesterton
Ethics
- The Imitation of Christ by Thomas a'Kempis
- The Shepherd (or The Pastor) by Hermas
- Dark Night of the Soul by St. John of the Cross
- Utopia by Thomas More
Music
- The Messiah by Handel
- Symphony 1 in C Minor by Johannes Brahms
- The Requiem by W. A. Mozart
- For individual hymns, see the Hymnary
Devotion
- Morning by Morning by Charles Spurgeon
- The Practice of the Presence of God by Brother Lawrence
Biblical Studies
- Strong's Exhaustive Concorance of the Bible by James Strong
- On Christian Doctrine by Augustine of Hippo
- How to Study the Bible by R.A. Torry
Sermons and shorter works (including letters)
- "The Ninety-Five Theses" by Martin Luther
- "Sinners in the hands of an Angry God" by Jonathan Edwards
History (including biography)
- The Ecclesiastical History by Eusebius
- Confessions by Augustine of Hippo
- The Confession of St. Patrick by Patrick of Ireland
- Ecclesiastical History of the English Nation by Bede
- Foxe's Book of Martyrs by John Foxe
- The Martyr's Mirror by Thieleman J. van Braght
- The Diary of John Woolman by John Woolman
Literature
- Pilgrim's Progress by John Bunyan
- Divine Comedy by Dante
- Paradise Lost by John Milton
- In His Steps by Charles Sheldon
Here are the guidelines I have set:
- The works should be no less than 100 years old
- Individual works, rather than an author's complete works should be suggested
- The work should be of an enduring quality
- It should have applicability to disciples of Jesus that is not limited to denominational boundaries (though they may be
fundamental to a denomination's tenants)
- Suggestions should include both intellectually challenging pieces and pieces significant to the masses
- It should be original in its proposed ideas
- Suggestions should span the 2000 years of the faith in a somewhat balanced fashion
- The total list should be limited to 100 thousand pages (this may seem like a lot, but it isn't when you start dealing
in sets of books)
Individual hymns may be suggested under music. A collection of significant Christian writings would not be complete without
an incredible hymnary.
Here is a list of more contemporary works that have been suggested but which do not fit the above guidelines:
- Mere Christianity by C.S. Lewis
- My Utmost for His Highest by Oswald Chambers
- Streams in the Desert by L. B. Cowman
- Debating Calvinism by Dave Hunt and James White
- Haley's Bible Handbook
I maintain my 100 year limitation in spite of the difficulty it poses. We cannot tell if a work is enduring unless it has
endured. Also, many sets are overwhelmed with contemporary influence. Please continue suggesting titles.
