The bibliography below is distributed over four categories: (1) works that have more to do with the theory and practice of biblical theology; (2) longer biblical theologies that span the two Testaments; (3) shorter biblical theologies that span both Testaments; and (4) biblical theologies that are more specialized and focus on a particular topic or topics, and also span both Testaments. There is a certain subjectivity to my assignments and some of the works could just as easily have been put in one of the other categories. In days to come I may be adding other categories, such as biblical theologies of just Old Testament or New Testament, and making further divisions within the current categories. Over time, I’ll be adding hyperlinks to the items that are electronically accessible. I also plan, over time, to turn this into an annotated bibliography.
Please feel free to suggest other resources, make me aware of links, or let me know if any of my information, spelling, etc., is incorrect.
A Select Categorized Bibliography for Biblical Theology
The Theory and Practice of Biblical Theology
Alexander, T. Desmond, Brian S. Rosner, D. A. Carson, and Graeme Goldsworthy, eds. New Dictionary of Biblical Theology. Downers Grove: InterVarsity, 2000.
Barr, James. The Concept of Biblical Theology: An Old Testament Perspective. Minneapolis: Fortress, 1999.
Bartholomew, Craig G., Mary Healy, Karl Möller, Robin Parry. Out of Egypt: Biblical Theology and Biblical Interpretation. Scripture and Hermeneutics Series 5. Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 2004.
Childs, Brevard S. Biblical Theology in Crisis. Philadelphia: Westminster, 1970.
Clowney, Edmund P. Preaching and Biblical Theology. Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1961, 1979. Repr., Phillipsburg, N.J.: P&R, 2002.
Clowney, Edmund P. Preaching Christ in All of Scripture. Wheaton, Crossway: 2003.
Gaffin, Richard B. Jr., ed. Redemptive History and Biblical Interpretation: The Shorter Writings of Geerhardus Vos. Phillipsburg, N.J.: Presbyterian and Reformed, 1980.
Gaffin, Richard B., Jr. “Systematic Theology and Biblical Theology.” Westminster Theological Journal 38 (1976): 281-99.
Goldsworthy, Graeme. Preaching the Whole Bible as Christian Scripture: The Application of Biblical Theology to Expository Preaching. Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 2000.
Goldsworthy, Graeme. Christ-Centered Biblical Theology: Hermeneutical Foundations and Principles. Downers Grove: InterVarsity, 2012.
Greidanus, Sidney. Sola Scriptura: Problems and Principles in Preaching Historical Texts. Toronto: Wedge, 1970.
Hafemann, Scott J., ed, Biblical Theology: Retrospect and Prospect. Downers Grove: InterVarsity, 2002.
Hahn, Scott. Covenant and Communion: The Biblical Theology of Pope Benedict XVI. Grand Rapids: Brazos, 2009.
Hamilton, James M., Jr. What Is Biblical Theology? A Guide to the Bible’s Story, Symbolism, and Patterns. Wheaton: Crossway, 2013.
Harrington, Wilfrid J. The Path of Biblical Theology. Dublin and London: Gill and Macmillan,1973.
Klink, Edward W. III, and Darian R. Lockett. Understanding Biblical Theology: A Comparison of Theory and Practice. Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 2012.
Lawrence, Michael. Biblical Theology in the Life of the Church: A Guide for Ministry. Wheaton: Crossway, 2010.
Mead, James K. Biblical Theology: Issues, Methods, and Themes. Louisville: Westminster John Knox, 2007.
Poythress, Vern S. “Kinds of Biblical Theology.” Westminster Theological Journal 70 (2008): 129-42.
Reumann, John, ed. The Promise and Practice of Biblical Theology. Minneapolis: Fortress, 1991.
Whole Bible Biblical Theologies (Longer)
Beale, G. K. A New Testament Biblical Theology: The Unfolding of the Old Testament in the New. Grand Rapids: Baker, 2011.
Childs, Brevard S. Biblical Theology of the Old and New Testaments: Theological Reflection on the Christian Bible. Minneapolis: Fortress, 1992.
Fuller, Daniel P. The Unity of the Bible: Unfolding God’s Plan for Humanity. Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 1992.
Kaiser, Walter C. Jr. The Promise-Plan of God: A Biblical Theology of the Old and New Testaments. Grand Rapids: Zondervan 2008.
Owen, John. Biblical Theology: The History of Theology From Adam to Christ. Grand Rapids: Reformation Heritage, 1994. (Translation of 1661 Latin text).
Schreiner, Thomas R. The King in His Beauty: A Biblical Theology of the Old and New Testaments. Grand Rapids: Baker, 2013.
Scobie, Charles H. H. The Ways of Our God: An Approach to Biblical Theology. Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 2003.
VanGemeren, Willem. The Progress of Redemption: The Story of Salvation from Creation to the New Jerusalem. Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 1988.
Vos, Geerhardus. Biblical Theology: Old and New Testaments. Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1948.
Whole Bible Biblical Theologies (Shorter)
Alexander, T. Desmond. From Eden to the New Jerusalem: An Introduction to Biblical Theology. Grand Rapids: Kregel, 2005.
Bartholomew, Craig G., and Michael W. Goheen. The Drama of Scripture: Finding Our Place in the Biblical Story. Grand Rapids: Baker, 2004.
Carson, D. A. The God Who Is There: Finding Your Place in God’s Story. Grand Rapids: Baker 2010.
Dauphinas, Michael, and Matthew Levering. Holy People, Holy Land: A Theological Introduction to the Bible. Grand Rapids: Brazos, 2005.
Edwards, Jonathan. A History of the Work of Redemption. (There are various modern editions of this work, which was first compiled by Edward’s son and published in 1774. My own copy was printed by Associated Publishers in Grand Rapids, n.d.).
Goldsworthy, Graeme. According to Plan: The Unfolding Revelation of God in the Bible. Downers Grove: InterVarsity, 2002.
Hafemann, Scott J. The God of Promise and the Life of Faith: Understanding the Heart of the Bible. Wheaton: Crossway, 2001.
Strom, Mark. The Symphony of Scripture: Making Sense of the Bible’s Many Themes: Downers Grove: InterVarsity, 1990. Repr., Phillipsburg, N.J.: P&R, 2001.
Williams, Michael D. Far as the Curse Is Found: The Covenant Story of Redemption. Phillipsburg, N.J.: Presbyterian and Reformed, 2005.
Wright, Christopher J. H. Salvation Belongs to Our God: Celebrating the Bible’s Central Story. Downers Grove: InterVarsity, 2008.
Issue-Oriented Biblical Theologies
Beale, G. K. The Temple and the Church’s Mission: A Biblical Theology of the Dwelling Place of God. New Studies in Biblical Theology. Downers Grove: InterVarsity, 2004.
Bray, Gerald. God Is Love: A Biblical and Systematic Theology. Wheaton: Crossway, 2012.
Bright, John. The Kingdom of God. Nashville: Abingdon, 1953.
Brown, Michael L. Israel’s Divine Healer. Studies in Old Testament Biblical Theology. Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 1995.
Dempster, Stephen G. Dominion and Dynasty: A Biblical Theology of the Hebrew Bible. New Studies in Biblical Theology. Downers Grove: InterVarsity, 2003.
Gentry, Peter J., and Stephen J. Wellum. Kingdom through Covenant: A Biblical-Theological Understanding of the Covenants. Wheaton: Crossway, 2012.
Hafemann, Scott J., and Paul R. House, eds. Central Themes in Biblical Theology. Grand Rapids: Baker, 2007.
Hahn, Scott. Kinship by Covenant: A Canonical Approach to the Fulfillment of God’s Saving Promises. New Haven and London: Yale University Press, 2009.
Hamilton, James M. God’s Glory in Salvation Through Judgment: A Biblical Theology. Wheaton: Crossway: 2010.
Hays, J. Daniel. From Every People and Nation: A Biblical Theology of Race New Studies in Biblical Theology. Downers Grove: Intervarsity, 2003.
Köstenberger, Andrea J., and Peter T. O’Brien. Salvation to the Ends of the Earth: A Biblical Theology of Mission. New Studies in Biblical Theology. Downers Grove: InterVarsity, 2001.
Longman, Tremper III, and Daniel G. Reid. God Is a Warrior. Studies in Old Testament Biblical Theology. Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 1995. Repr., Eugene, Oreg., Wipf & Stock, 2003.
McComiskey, Thomas E. The Covenants of Promise: A Theology of the Old Testament Covenants. Grand Rapids: Baker, 1985.
Morris, Leon. Testaments of Love: A Study of Love in the Bible. Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1981.
Niehaus, Jeffery J. God at Sinai: Covenant and Theophany in the Bible and Ancient Near East. Studies in Old Testament Biblical Theology. Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 1995.
Niehaus, Jeffery J. Ancient Near Eastern Themes in Biblical Theology. Grand Rapids: Kregel, 2008.
Ortlund, Raymond C. Jr. God’s Unfaithful Wife: A Biblical Theology of Spiritual Adultery. New Studies in Biblical Theology. Downers Grove: InterVarsity, 2003.
Peterson, David. Engaging with God: A Biblical Theology of Worship. Downers Grove: InterVarsity, 1992.
Robertson, O. Palmer. The Christ of the Covenants. Phillipsburg, N.J.: Presbyterian and Reformed, 1980.
Ross, Allen P. Recalling the Hope of Glory: Biblical Worship from the Garden to the New Creation. Grand Rapids: Kregel, 2006.
Terrien, Samuel. The Elusive Presence: The Heart of Biblical Theology. San Francisco: Harper and Row, 1978.
Williamson, Paul R. Sealed with an Oath: Covenant in God’s Unfolding Purpose. New Studies in Biblical Theology. Downers Grove: InterVarsity, 2007.
Wright, Christopher J. H. The Mission of God: Unlocking the Bible’s Grand Narrative. Downers Grove: InterVarsity, 2006.
Jerry ~ what would you recommend for a biblical theology of sanctification and/or transformation?
We have a reading group looking into the subject and have worked through
David Peterson’s Possessed by God: A New Testament Theology of Sanctification and Holiness in the New Studies in Biblical Theology series.
We are presently working through Tim Chester’s You Can Change which is not a biblical theology although a very good book on the topic and we had considered and may still do Transformed by God: New Covenant Life and Ministry also by David Peterson.
Any other possibilities come to mind? Thanks, brother.
Hi Boyd, good to hear from you. I have a lot of respect for Peterson and his writing, and I don’t really of know of much else by way of a specifically biblical-theological approach. I can, however, suggest some additional resources. One is an older volume from 1987, Five Views of Sanctification, published by Zondervan. I haven’t read it myself, but I imagine Anthony Hoekema’s presentation of the Reformed view would be well done. Most of the presenters are more systematic theologians. Additionally, another one of the five views books, Five Views on Law and Gospel, certainly addresses the use of the law in sanctification. Three of the five views in this book are given by biblical scholars; I’m most in sympathy with the view of Willem VanGemeren. Depending on the interests of your group, maybe someone would like to take a look at B. B. Warfield’s Perfectionism, which, in part, is devoted to a critique of perfectionist and Keswick strands in some sanctification teaching. On a bit of a different note I would also recommend a book by Michael Gorman, entitled, Cruciformity: Paul’s Narrative Spirituality of the Cross. Finally, another book that I would recommend (or, at least, the first three-fourths of it) is Rodney Reeves, Spirituality According to Paul: Imitating the Apostle of Christ. I hope this provides some assistance. Blessings.
Thank you, Jerry. I appreciate the suggestions. A couple of the “multiple view” books I have but the others I will certainly search out. Thanks, brother, this is a help.