Candler Pre‐Seminary Reading List
As you prepare to begin your seminary journey, we have compiled this
list of helpful guides, introductions, and foundational texts in various
areas of theological study. Most of the books are meant for newcomers to
world of theological education, but some are for more advanced readers
who have some previous experience with the academic study of religion.
Have a great summer!
Guides to Seminary and Ministry
David Petersen
Franklin Nutting Parker Professor
of Old Testament recommends:
Virginia Samuel Cetuk, “What to Expect in Seminary:
Theological Education as Spiritual Formation”
Deborah Core, “The Seminary Student Writes”
Donald K. McKim, “Westminster Dictionary of
Theological Terms”
Howard W. Stone and James O. Duke, “How to Think
Theologically”
Russ Richey
William R. Cannon Distinguished
Professor of Church History
recommends:
Margaret Craven, “I Heard the Owl Call My Name”
Richard Lischer, “Open Secrets: A Memoir of Faith and
Discovery”
Charles J. Scalise, “Bridging the Gap: Connecting What
You Learned in Seminary With What You Find in the
Congregation”
Beth Corrie
David White, “Practicing Discernment With Youth: A
Transformative Youth Ministry Approach”
Director of the Youth Theological
Initiative and Assistant Professor
in the Practice of Youth Education
and Peacebuilding recommends:
Student and Staff Recommendations
Richard Foster, “Celebration of Discipline: The Path to
Spiritual Growth”
Thomas Merton, “New Seeds of Contemplation”
Henri Nouwen, “Reaching Out: Three Movements of the
Spiritual Life”
Parker Palmer, “Let Your Life Speak: Listening for the
Voice of Vocation”
1
Theology/Christian Thought
Joy McDougal
Karl Barth ʺDogmatics in Outlineʺ (Advanced)
Daniel Migliore ʺFaith Seeking Understandingʺ
Associate Professor of Systematic
Theology
Beth Corrie
Shusaku Endo, “Silence”
Director of the Youth Theological
Initiative and Assistant Professor
in the Practice of Youth Education
and Peacebuilding
David Pacini
Associate Professor of Historical
Theology
Martin Buber, ʺI and Thouʺ
Abraham Heschel, ʺBetween God and Manʺ
H. Richard Niebuhr, ʺRadical Monotheism and Western
Cultureʺ
Student and Staff Recommendations
Shane Claiborne “The Irresistible Revolution”
John Hick, “Philosophy of Religion”
Serene Jones, “Feminist Theory and Christian Theology”
William Placher, “Essentials of Christian Theology”
Friedrich Schleiermacher, “On Religion: Speeches to Its
Cultured Despisers”(Advanced)
Church History and Historical Theology
Russ Richey
George M. Marsden “A Short Life of Jonathan Edwards”
William R. Cannon Distinguished
Professor of Church History
Jonathan Strom
Associate Professor of Church
History
St. Augustine of Hippo, “Confessions”
Penelope Fitzgerald, “The Blue Flower”
James R. Gaines, “Evening in the Palace of Reason: Bach
meets Frederick the Great in the Age of Enlightenment”
2
Student and Staff Recommendations
Justo Gonzalez, ʺChurch History: An Essential Guideʺ
William Placher, “A History of Christian Theology: An
Introduction
Biblical Studies
Wesley de Souza
Michael Joseph Brown, “What They Don’t Tell You: A
Survivorʹs Guide to Biblical Studies”
Arthur J. Moore Associate
Professor in the Practice of
Evangelism
David Petersen
Bruce Birch, et al ʺTheological Introduction to the Old
Testamentʺ
Franklin Nutting Parker Professor
of Old Testament
Michael Joseph Brown
Associate Professor of New
Testament and Christian Origins
and Director of the Graduate
Division of Religion
Günther Bornkamm, “Jesus of Nazareth”
Bart D. Ehrman, “A Brief Introduction to the New
Testament”
Helmut Koester, “Introduction to the New Testament,
Vol. 1: History, Culture, and Religion of the Hellenistic
Age” (Advanced)
Student and Staff Recommendations
John Collins, “Introduction to the Hebrew Bible”
Luke Timothy Johnson, “The Writings of the New
Testament: An Interpretation”
Preaching and Worship
Ed Phillips
Gordon Lathrop, “Holy Things: A Liturgical Theology”
James White, “Introduction to Christian Worship”
Associate Professor of Worship
and Liturgical Theology
3
Jonathan Strom
rom
Barbara Brown Taylor, “The Preaching Life”
Associate Professor of Church
History
Student and Staff Recommendations
Gordon Lathrop, “The Pastor: A Spirituality”
Thomas Long, “The Witness of Preaching”
Gail Ramshaw, “Reviving Sacred Speech: The Meaning
of Liturgical Language : Second Thoughts on Christ in
Sacred Speech”
Christianity and Culture
David Pacini
Associate Professor of Historical
Theology
H. Richard Niebuhr, ʺRadical Monotheism and Western
Cultureʺ
Jonathan Strom
Max Weber, “The Protestant Ethic and the Spirit of
Capitalism” (Advanced)
Associate Professor of Church
History
Noel Erskine
Dietrich Bonhoeffer, “The Cost of Discipleship”
Professor Theology and Ethics
Student and Staff Recommendations
Marilynne Robinson, “The Death of Adam: Essays on
Modern Thought”
Howard Thurman, “Jesus and the Disinherited”
John Howard Yoder, “The Politics of Jesus”
4
Denominational Studies
Dr. Rex Matthews
Associate Professor in the Practice
of Historical Theology
Frederick Norwood, “The Story of American
Methodism”
Richard P. Heitzenrater, “Wesley and the People Called
Methodists”
David Key
Director of Baptist Studies
W. Glenn, Jr. Jonas, “The Baptist River: Essays on Many
Tributaries of a Diverse Tradition”
Bill Leonard, ʺBaptist Ways: A Historyʺ
Student and Staff Recommendations
Christopher L. Webber and Frank T., III Griswold,
“Welcome to the Episcopal Church: An Introduction to
Its History, Faith, and Worship”
John A. Buehrens, “A Chosen Faith: An Introduction to
Unitarian Universalism”
Academic Writing
Resources and Recommendations
Candler Writing Program
Emory University Writing Center
Purdue University Online Writing Lab
William Strunk and E.B. White, “The Elements of Style,
Fourth Edition” (Online version available here)