Theology of the gospels book recommendations

There are half a million commentaries on the gospels? Really?

What do you want to believe? Pick someone who tells you what you want to hear.

This is like asking which Supreme Court judge should I listen to to intepret the Constitution, Ginsberg or Thomas?

Try just reading the gospels alone and ask God to show you what they are really saying.

 

You will not find better than J.C.Ryle on the four gospels......
caution....he was a little inconsistent on the atonement......but he exceeds any of us here on holiness of life,and sanctification:thumbs::thumbs:


http://onlinebooks.library.upenn.ed...ame?key=Ryle, J. C. (John Charles), 1816-1900



http://www.wtsbooks.com/category-exec/category_id/249/nm/J_C_Ryle

 

I know it's not exactly what you asked for but there is an excellent theology book written by Frank Thielman on the entire New Testament - and his analysis of the specific themes in each of the Gospels separately followed by a synthetic unifying summary of overarching themes is fantastic! It is called: Theology of the New Testament: A Canonical and Synthetic Approach. Each Gospel is considered in its own chapter and is then followed by a summary chapter to look at overarching themes in the Gospels. The first 218 pages are dedicated to the Gospels - more than adequate IMO. The book is fantastic and I wrote a review on Amazon at that link rating it five stars. No single volume I own in all of my theological library packs such a punch and is so readable and is as enjoyable as that book. I personally learned a lot about the themes in the Gospel of John from that book. His insights on Luke's theology are also good.

Thielman after covering the Gospels then does the same with the epistles and considers each in their historical, social, cultural, and linguistic backgrounds as the backdrop for the theology and then examines the specific reasons for which each epistle was written and to what audience(s), and then at the end of the book he writes summaries on Paul's theology and the theology in the general epistles, and then finishes off with a grand finale of the overarching themes across the entire New Testament. So he gives you a unique blend of a micro (book-by-book) and macro (common themes across books) perspective of the theology in the NT, which was incredibly helpful for me. This by no means is a New Testament survey but is an actual theological study of each of the NT books written with considerable thought, Scripture quotation, and scholarship (it has a good deal of footnotes for additional reading) from a professor of Theology and New Testament Greek at Samford's Beeson Divinity School.

If you want a succinct analysis (not a verse by verse commentary) of each of the Gospels separately that takes into account their unique character, audience, and purpose and then follows up by showing all of their unifying themes as well then I heartily recommend Frank Thielman's book. I even had the pleasure of meeting Theilman one time. Great guy. Anyway, I hope you find this suggestion helpful.

God Bless,
Josh

 

I loved NT Wright's How God Became King: The Forgotten Story of the Gospels

I couldn't put it down!

I want to read Thielman's NT theology too. I'm still reading Beale's.

 

If you're looking for individual commentaries...start with the international Critical Commentary series, then go to the New International Greek Testament Commentary. These are usually the best.

If you're looking for a NT theology, Schreiener's New Testament Theology is good. I haven't read Beale's new one but I hear a lot of good things.

 

Cool, I'll have to check out those books you are reading as well!

No problem. I hope it is as enjoyable and helpful for you as it was for me. I think the greatest attraction to his style of writing for me is his intelligence, clarity, and sincerity with which he writes and shows all throughout the book. And it truly brings into focus the center of all theology: Jesus Christ. Rare qualities to find coupled together in a single work.

God Bless,
~Josh

 

So do you want a commentary or a theology book of the gospel accounts??? The 2 are different.

 

have you red the theology of the NT by GE ladd?
was required reading while in school, and thought was very well done!

 

Depending what you want to study in them. John McArthur wrote a book called twelve ordinary men it goes into the 12 apostles that is a good read and has some good teaching points.