Reading Lists for 2011

2

In this booklet are the different reading lists for 2011. You will need a copy of the New Revised Standard Version of the Bible

which is the English version used in the University.

There are many excellent bookshops both in Oxford and elsewhere. In addition online retailers such as Amazon and 10ofthose may be useful to

try. Second hand books can be obtained from abebooks.co.uk for

example but when buying second hand do make sure it is the edition that is specified.

1. Suggested reading in preparation for Ministerial

Training

Growing Leaders, James Lawrence (CPAS/BRF 2004)

Growing Women Leaders, Rosie Ward

(CPAS/BRF 2008)

Mission Shaped Questions, Steven Croft (Church House Publishing 2008)

Ministry by the Book, Derek Tidball (Apollos 2008)

Mission in the 21st Century A. Walls and C. Ross, eds.

(DLT, 2008)

360 –Degree Leadership, Preaching to transform congregations, Michael J. Quicke

(Baker Books 2006)

Word and Spirit – the vital partnership in Christian Leadership Will Donaldson

(CPAS/BRF 2011)

I Believe in Preaching John Stott,

(IVP 1982)

The Supremacy of God in Preaching John Piper (IVP 1990)

A passion for holiness J Packer (Crossway Books, 1992)

3

2. Suggested reading for Christian history through the centuries, you should aim to read any ONE of the

following:

The New Lion History of Christianity Jonathan Hill,

(Lion, 2007), c.530 pages

The History of Christian Thought Jonathan Hill (Lion, 2003), c.320 pages

The Evolution of Christianity: Twelve Crises that Shaped the Church

Marshall D. Johnson

(Continuum, 2005), c.200 pages

A History of Christianity: The First Three Thousand Years Diarmaid MacCulloch,

(Allen Lane, 2009), c.1000 pages

Turning Points: Decisive Moments in the History of Christianity Mark Noll

(Baker, 2000), c.320 pages

3. Suggested reading for the for those taking the

BTh/CTh/DTPS pathways

1. Old Testament papers

For the first Old Testament paper we will be studying the prophets (first term) and the Pentateuch (second term). We will be studying the text of

Isaiah 5-11, 49-53 in depth. It will be helpful if students could have read these passages several times. Good introductory reading for the

course can be found in:

Exploring the Old Testament, 1: The Pentateuch GJ Wenham, SPCK 2003

Exploring the OT: prophets, G McConville,

SPCK 2002

2. New Testament papers For the first-year New Testament Paper (Paper A.2), students will study

1 Corinthians and Matthew’s Gospel in detail. During the first term,

students will study 1 Corinthians and will attend lectures both on the life and literature of the Apostle Paul and on 1 Corinthians. In the second

4

term, students will study Matthew’s Gospel and will attend lectures on

Matthew’s Gospel. The set texts (for examination) are as follows: • Matthew 9–10, 26–28 in English (or Matthew 9–10 in Greek)

• 1 Corinthians 7–11 in English (or 1 Corinthians 7–8 in Greek).

Before arriving at Wycliffe, students will need to become familiar with the content of 1 Corinthians. In addition, students will be required to

read the following: • one book on Paul from the general reading below

• the introductory information on 1 Corinthians in one commentary listed below.

General Reading on the Apostle Paul (read one of the following):

Introducing Paul: The Man, His Mission and His Message.

Bird, Michael F..

Downers Grove: 2008 IVP. (ISBN: 9780830828975)

Reading Paul. Cascade Companions

Gorman, Michael J. Eugene: Cascade. 2007.

(ISBN: 9781556351952)

What Saint Paul Really Said: Was Paul of Tarsus the Real Founder of Christianity? Wright, N. T. 1997

Grand Rapids: Eerdmans. (ISBN: 9780745937977)

Commentaries on 1 Corinthians (read the introductory

information in one below):

1 Corinthians Garland, David E. 2003.

BECNT. Grand Rapids: Baker Academic. (ISBN: 9780801026300).

A very helpful commentary based on the Greek text, although those without Greek can still benefit.

The First Epistle to the Corinthians: A Commentary on the Greek Text.

Thiselton, Anthony C. 2000. NIGTC. Grand Rapids: Eerdmans.

(ISBN: 9780802824493). A massive commentary (based on the Greek text), which is very helpful

both for patristic readings of 1 Corinthians and for secondary literature up to 2000.

5

Conflict and Community in Corinth: A Socio-Rhetorical Commentary on 1

and 2 Corinthians. Witherington, Ben. 1995. Grand Rapids: Eerdmans.

(ISBN: 9780802801449). A well-written commentary that also contains helpful summaries of

relevant secondary literature.

Over the Christmas holiday, students will need to become familiar with the content of Matthew’s Gospel and will also need to read the following

in preparation for the second term’s study: • one book on the Gospels from the general reading below (NB the

latest editions) • the introductory information on Matthew’s Gospel in a commentary

listed below.

General Reading on the Gospels (read one of the following):

Jesus and the Gospels. 2d ed. Blomberg, Craig L. 2009.

Nashville: B&H. (ISBN: 9780805444827)

The Gospels and Jesus. 2d ed. Stanton, Graham N. 2002

OBS. Oxford: OUP. (ISBN: 9780199246168).

Exploring the New Testament, Vol. 1: A Guide to the Gospels and Acts.

Wenham, David and Steve Walton. 2005. Exploring the Bible. Downer’s Grove: IVP

Academic. (ISBN: 9780830825578)

Commentaries on Matthew’s Gospel (read the introductory

information in one below):

The Gospel of Matthew: A Commentary on the Greek Text. Nolland, John. 2005.

NIGTC. Grand Rapids: Eerdmans. (ISBN: 9780802823892).

An excellent commentary based on the Greek text, although readers without knowledge Greek can still benefit.

The Gospel of Matthew. France, R. T. 2007.

NICNT. Grand Rapids: Eerdmans. (ISBN: 9780802825018).

A commentary based on the English text from one of the former principals of Wycliffe.

6

4. Suggested reading for those taking the 2nd BA

pathway Welcome to Wycliffe Hall! The following information is meant to help you

to prepare for academic study in Oxford. The months and weeks before you arrive will doubtless be extremely busy with various demands on

your time and energy. It is vital, however, that you prepare adequately for the course ahead of you. For this reason, we have included some

preparatory reading. Once you begin more detailed study in each paper, tutors will then provide additional reading lists. In the first two terms,

you’ll be taking papers on the Old Testament (1st term), the New Testament (2nd term) and Patristics (2nd term). You will also be required

to take at least one biblical language from the start (Greek or Hebrew), and so we have also included the bibliographical details for the grammar

you will be using. The NRSV is now the standard English text for the BA,

so you will need a copy.

Of course, if you have any further questions, please don’t hesitate to e-mail me at james.robson@wycliffe.ox.ac.uk

With best wishes,

James Robson BA Course Director and Senior Tutor

Essential Reading: Old Testament (Paper 1)

(a) First, read or skim-read as much of the biblical text as you can,

especially books you don’t know. Then summarise each book in a few paragraphs, to engage with what you have read. You might like to focus

on the set books of Deuteronomy, Psalms and Isaiah.

(b) Secondly, if you haven’t done so yet, read a short introduction to gain an overview.

McConville (former Tutor) is brief and excellent, but sadly now out-of-

print. Rogerson is more detailed and presents a more critical perspective.

Teach Yourself the Old Testament. McConville, J. Gordon.

London: Hodder & Stoughton, 1996.

Beginning Old Testament Study. 2d ed. Rogerson, John W., ed. London: SPCK, 1998.

(c) Thirdly, read through an account of the history of Israel. Drane is

well-written and popular. More detailed are Provan (evangelical), Hayes + Miller (mainstream), or Bright (in-between). Then summarise each

7

period, noting key people, events, social changes and theological

developments.

A History of Israel. 4th ed. Bright, John. With an introduction by William P.

Brown. Louisville, Ky.: Westminster John

Knox, 2000.

Introducing the Old Testament. 2d ed. Drane, John. Minneapolis: Fortress, 2001.

A History of Ancient Israel and Judah. 2d ed. Miller, J. Maxwell, and

John H. Hayes. Louisville, Ky.:

Westminster John Knox Press,

2006.

A Biblical History of Israel. Provan, Iain W., V. Philips Long, and Tremper Longman,

III. Louisville, Ky.: Westminster

John Knox, 2003.

Essential Preparation: Biblical Languages (for Papers 1, 2, 24,

and/or 28)

Reading the Bible in the original languages is exciting, formative and

well worth the effort. You will have to learn Greek or Hebrew, and can choose to learn both. It will be tough to learn both together, so any

progress you can make in advance will be most beneficial. For Hebrew, we recommend starting with Living Biblical Hebrew I, available from

http://www.biblicalulpan.org/. For Greek, you will be required to have

mastered the first five chapters of the grammar for a pre-term test.

Biblical Hebrew: An Introductory Grammar. Kelley, Page H.

Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1992.

The Elements of New Testament Greek. 3d ed. Duff, Jeremy.

Cambridge: CUP, 2005.

8

(2nd BA reading list continued)

Optional Books: General / New Testament / Patristics

Bible commentary for BA (you should be able to access it online when

you start at Wycliffe):

The Oxford Bible Commentary. Barton, John, and John Muddiman, eds. Oxford: OUP, 2001.

Another book that you will find helpful by way of general preparation is:

The Oxford Handbook of Biblical Studies.

Rogerson, John W., and Judith M. Lieu, eds.

Oxford: OUP, 2006. NT Preparation:

Jesus and the Gospels: An Introduction and Survey. 2d ed.

Blomberg, Craig L. Nashville, Tenn.: B. & H. Academic, 2009.

Patristics Preparation:

The Way to Nicaea. Formation of Christian Theology 1.

Behr, John. Crestwood, N.Y.: St. Vladimir’s

Seminary Press, 2001.