Buddhist Catholic Contemplative Evangelical General Christian Hindu Jewish Latter-day Saint Muslim New Visions Progressive Christian

Beliefs

Topics

Columnists

Resource Library

Research Tools

Video

Podcasts

Thought Readers

Faith In Media Tracker

Newsletters

Ad-Free & Subscriber Log-In Subscription Support

Follow Patheos

Church Grammar

Home
Evangelical
My 5 Favorite Books of 2015

My 5 Favorite Books of 2015

Last updated on: December 7, 2015 at 7:10 am by Brandon D. Smith

My 5 Favorite Books of 2015 2015-12-07T07:10:41-05:00 Brandon D. Smith

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

Follow @BrandonSmith85

It seems like everyone makes a best books list around this time, so adding my list probably isn’t going to shatter anybody’s world. In any event, there are a few reasons why I’ve compiled this list. First, I love reading and I love to share what I’m reading. Second, I’m also always encouraged by others’ thoughts and their lists often help me pick out a few last books for my Christmas wish list. Third, I get a lot of books from publishers, and while I don’t feel compelled to review them all (or many of them), I’m always willing to recommend a good book if it is, in fact, good.

In no particular order, here are my five favorite books from 2015 (or at least that I read in 2015):

1. Theology as Retrieval by W. David Buschart and Kent Ellers

Buschart and Ellers offer reflection and hope for the practice of theological retrieval, focusing on six major points: Scripture, theology, worship, spirituality, mission, and cosmos. While admitting that this is nothing new, the authors seek to offer a model for theological retrieval. As we all know, we are prone to forget some of the most fruitful ways in which we’ve remembered where we came from.

While many books talk about the great things we–North American evangelicals in particular–have left behind, this book offers a how to reclaim them. While at times they seem almost pessimistic about the current state of theology, they also celebrate the ways in which it’s been done well. Some of the most interesting retrievals they call for are a more intentional use of the Book of Common Prayer and the beauty of historical church architecture.

2. The Gospel of the Lord by Michael F. Bird

I’ve long been a fan of Michael Bird’s work (and am now blessed to study under him), and this might be my favorite of his books to date.

I always hope to read a good book or two on the Gospels each year. Jonathan Pennington’s Reading the Gospels Wisely made my 2014 list (posted at my currently-defunct personal website), and is one of my favorite books period. While Pennington’s book is helpful in looking at the genre and kerygmatic elements of the Gospels, Bird’s is a nice complement, taking a more historical approach to the Gospels. He addresses issues such as the origins of the Gospels, how they interrelate, comparisons between the canonical four and some of the false Gospels, and the role the Gospels play in shaping the teaching of the canon as a whole.

3. A New Heaven and a New Earth by J. Richard Middleton

If there’s one piece of theology I am most frustrated with, it’s eschatology that terminates on Heaven. The idea that we all die and spend forever in Heaven is an epidemic, in my opinion, among your everyday Christian. We need more books that decry this short-sighted view of eternity.

Middleton, often in an almost poetic way, centers eschatology back on the main thing: the eschatological hope of resurrection and eternity on the New Heaven and New Earth. Middleton at times raises more questions than he answers (for example, if annihilation is the probable outcome for the wicked), but that ends up being a plus overall, because he presses the reader to think and rethink their eschatology. His method also, for the most part, provides strong biblical-theological tools for the reader to use in further study.

4. Can We Still Believe the Bible? by Craig Blomberg

Inerrancy is a buzzword that makes a lot of people uncomfortable. For those who think that believing in the inerrancy of Scripture necessarily means you’ve checked your brain at the door, Blomberg has provided an excellent response. I summarized one of my favorite parts of the book here.

He shows clearly and effectively that inerrancy is not only a valid way to view Scripture–it’s an intellectually honest and rigorous endeavor. He is helpful for the layman who asks the most basic questions about the trustworthiness of Scripture, and he is helpful for the pastor or academic as he tackles a wide range of views and issues on the nature and scope of Scripture.

5. Paul and the Trinity by Wesley Hill

I said that this is in no particular order, and I meant it–because Hill’s book was probably my favorite read of 2015. Most notably, for me, is that it inspired the thesis I’m now writing. Instead of recapping it here, though, let me just point you to my interview with Wesley from earlier this year.

Academics

Biblical Interpretation

Biblical Interpretation

Previous Post

November 23, 2015

Eschatology and the Hope of the End

Next Post

December 11, 2015 "Enlightenment" and True Freedom

Browse Our Archives

Select a Category Academics Apologetics Baptists Biblical Interpretation Biblical Studies Blog News Books Christian Life Church History Culture Ecclesiology Eschatology Gospel Interviews New Creation News Politics Science Scripture Sexual Sin Social Media Spiritual Discipline The Smorgasbord Theology Trinity Word Matters Podcast

Select a Month September 2017 August 2017 July 2017 June 2017 May 2017 April 2017 March 2017 February 2017 January 2017 December 2016 November 2016 October 2016 September 2016 August 2016 July 2016 June 2016 May 2016 April 2016 December 2015 November 2015 October 2015 July 2015 June 2015 May 2015 April 2015 March 2015 February 2015

TAKE THE

Religious Wisdom Quiz

The sun and moon stood still at my command so Israel could defeat their enemies. Who am I?

Select your answer to see how you score.

Gideon Moses Joshua Caleb

Books by This Author Books by Brandon D. Smith

See All Titles »