My Top 5 Books of 2023

Reading is an invaluable discipline that will make you a more well-rounded person in addition to deepening your knowledge. Here is my summary of the best books I read in 2023:

1. Inductive Bible Study by Richard Alan Fuhr Jr. and Andreas J. Kostenberger
   If you’re interested in learning to study and apply God’s Word to your life, this book is a must have. Fuhr and Kostenberger go into significant detail on the Inductive Bible Study method which includes three primary steps: Observation, Interpretation, and Application. Each chapter unpacks a different facet of each step in a thorough manner with a focus on practicality. As the reader observes, interprets, and applies, he or she should do so through historical, literary, and theological lenses to identify the meaning of a text. The authors do an exceptional job of helping Bible readers do much of the study for themselves while still encouraging the use of extra biblical resources (like commentaries) to aid in the historical, literary, and theological arenas.
   
   Whether you’re reading the Bible for personal edification, for discipling someone, or for teaching or preaching, the principles found in this book will help you stay true to Scripture while making appropriate application to yourself and/or your audience. As you read this book, I’d recommend putting the principles into practice at each stage using a passage or two from Scripture.
   
   Notable Quotes:
   “Theology is not just a set of doctrines, nor is it a mere set of motifs. Theology is the story of God’s redemptive relationship with humankind, revealed to us in a book.” -Fuhr and Kostenberger
   
   
2. Typology: Understanding the Bible’s Promise-Shaped Patterns by James M. Hamilton Jr.
   What a fascinating book! In it, Hamilton makes the case that the biblical authors, beginning with Moses and under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, intentionally wrote their material in line with certain “promise-shaped patterns.” This is commonly referred to as typology: “Typology is God-ordained, author-intended historical correspondence and escalation in significance between people, events, and institutions across the Bible’s redemptive-historical story.”
   
   The book is structured as a chiasm, beginning and ending with evidence for and indicators of purposeful intent by Scripture’s authors to utilize typology: “If we are to read the Scriptures such that our readings are valid, our readings must align with the normative interpretations provided by the biblical authors themselves.” It then dives into typological examples in three categories: persons, events, and institutions. In doing so, each chapter provides depth to the connections between the Old and New Testaments. Hamilton’s careful scholarship and passion for helping his readers understand Scripture is evident on every page.
   
   As you read this book, you can’t help but be in awe of the beauty and wisdom of God in how He has orchestrated human history and communicated to us through His Word. This book will not only help you to better appreciate the themes and arrangement of the Bible, but more importantly will fuel a deeper love for God and all that He has done for us in Christ—all of which was foreshadowed in the Old Testament and escalated in the New Testament.
   
   
3. Redemption Accomplished and Applied by John Murray
   Murray’s book on redemption is a classic for a reason. In it, he concisely examines one of the most important doctrines of Christianity at an accessible level. The first part of the book describes how Christ’s redemption of His people was accomplished. The second part goes through each facet of the ordo salutis to show the beauty of redemption’s application. This book will deepen your awe for all that Christ has done for His people and move you to worship the majestic plan of God in redemption.
   
   Notable Quotes:
   “The propitiation of the divine wrath, effected in the work of Christ, is the provision of God’s eternal love, so that through the propitiation of His own wrath, that love may realize its purpose in a way that is consonant with and to the glory of the dictates of His holiness.” -John Murray
   
   “Regeneration is at the basis of all change in heart & life. It is a stupendous change because it is God’s recreative act. A cheap and tawdry evangelism has tended to rob the gospel which it proclaims of that invincible power which is the glory of the gospel of sovereign grace. May the church come to think & live again in terms of the gospel which is the power of God unto salvation.” -John Murray
   
   “Faith is a whole-souled movement of self-commitment to Christ for salvation from sin and its consequences.” -John Murray
   
   “There is no truth more suited to impart confidence and strength, comfort, and joy in the Lord than union with Christ.” -John Murray
   
   
4. All Things for Good by Thomas Watson
   In All Things For Good, Watson exposits one of the most beautiful promises to God’s people in Scripture–Romans 8:28–to demonstrate how it is that all things can work for good and who all things work for good for. A question we often hear in our culture is “why do bad things happen to good people?” This book provides the biblical response to that very real concern. Watson is pastoral in his approach, seeking to comfort those who are in Christ and to strengthen them in their faith no matter the circumstances they find themselves in.
   
   Notable Quotes:
   “God doesn’t bring his people into troubles & leave them there. He will stand by them; He will hold their hands & hearts when they are fainting.… God will be the strength of our hearts…. Either He will make His hand lighter or our faith stronger.” -Thomas Watson
   
   “The mercies of God have a melting influence upon the soul; they dissolve it in love to God. God’s judgments make us fear Him, His mercies make us love Him.” -Thomas Watson
   
   “Let us endeavor to make the name of God glorious and renowned. If God seek our good, let us seek His glory. If He make all things tend to our edification, let us make all things tend to His exaltation.” -Thomas Watson
   
   
5. Ecclesiastes: The Philippians of the Old Testament by William D. Barrick
   Ecclesiastes is a book of the Bible that is often overlooked or misunderstood. Barrick’s short commentary on Ecclesiastes is a helpful and accessible resource for navigating the complexities of Ecclesiastes while consistently reinforcing the key themes of the book: fear God, obey His commands, enjoy life and God’s gifts, and live in light of certain death and judgment. By reading and studying Ecclesiastes in its entirety, the reader can begin to truly appreciate the beautiful message it conveys. In doing so, it helps you to keep all of various aspects of your life in their proper perspective and prioritize them as God has designed. Barrick’s book is ideal for a small group Bible study and includes questions that can be used for discussion.

For an overview of all the books I’ve read this year, click here.

For those that enjoy reading, I recommend setting up a Goodreads profile (it’s also a great way to keep track of what’s in your library). If you’d like to keep up with what I’m reading now and what I’ve read in the past, check out my Goodreads profile. Happy reading!

Have you read any of these books or do have a book that would recommend reading in 2024? Share your recommendations in the Comments below.

BONUS: My Top 5 Books from: 2022 || 2021 || 2020 || 2019 || 2018 || 2017 || 2016 || 2015 || 2014 || 2013