The Essential Guide to Biblical Resources for Ministry

This up-to-date, highly selective, annotated bibliography is designed to offer students and ministers the major works, significant publishers, and prominent scholars in Biblical Studies. It is a perfect guide for beginning a research project or building a ministerial library. References are included based on the following considerations: (1) usefulness for the theological interpretation of the Bible within the context of the faith of the church; (2) significance in the history of interpretation; and (3) representation of evangelical and especially evangelical Wesleyan scholarship. After serving for almost four decades on the front lines of scholarship and teaching, David R. Bauer is a well-qualified guide for those searching for some of the most helpful and reliable resources among the seemingly endless stacks. Pastors and students alike will be particularly appreciative of the thoughtful annotations Bauer provides for his most recommended books so that users can best identify which will answer their research needs. –David A. deSilva, PhD, Trustees’ Distinguished Professor of New Testament and Greek, Ashland Theological Seminary Pastors and students are blessed with multitudes of books on any given area of biblical studies. But it’s hard to know where to begin. Drawing from his several decades of teaching and scholarship, Bauer saves readers time and frustration by offering a selection of some of the best material in each topical category, often including helpful annotations. Before you ask Siri, Alexa, or Google, check Bauer for reliable reading recommendations! –Nijay K. Gupta, PhD, Professor of New Testament, Northern Seminary Those who preach the Word of God need to be students of that Word. They should devote themselves to a prayerful and deep study of that Word. Biblical scholars and others have produced commentaries and other works to help people to understand Scripture in its original context so that it might be applied with integrity to a twenty-first century audience. But what are the best resources out there that can help preachers know the ancient text and apply it to a modern congregation? Thank you, David Bauer, for providing such an extensive guide to the best resources available. I commend this book not only to preachers but to seminarians and other serious students of the Bible as they build their reference library for the study of the Bible. –Tremper Longman III, PhD, Distinguished Scholar and Professor Emeritus of Biblical Studies, Westmont College Bauer provides a valuable resource not only for students in academic programs but also for pastors, church leaders, and others who believe biblical interpretation should involve the hard work of serious study. More complete than most bibliographies and more circumspect than available search engines, this annotated roster allows the user to find exactly what is needed for almost any task involving the use of scripture in Christian communities. The selection is sufficiently expansive to guarantee researchers a broad compass, but appropriately limited in ways that may save them valuable time (by listing only those works that are truly substantial or worthwhile). The annotations are very helpful–mainly descriptive, but with some evaluative remarks that indicate a work’s greatest contributions, perceived strengths or, sometimes, purported weaknesses. –Mark Allan Powell, PhD, Professor Emeritus of New Testament, Trinity Lutheran Seminary, Columbus, Ohio A “must” for theological libraries and seminaries, this ecumenically sensitive book contains judicious annotations that offer pastors, beginning students, and even experienced professors alike a compendium of reliable biblical tools for ministry. –Ronald D. Witherup, P.S.S., is a former President of the Catholic Biblical Association of America