Recommended Books To Purchase For A Relative In The Ministry
Do you know someone who has decided to go into the Christian ministry? Do they need help building a personal library to help them spread the good word? Here are some ideas for books that you can get at a new or used bookstore:
Parallel Bible versions: A parallel Bible allows side-by-side comparison of different versions of the Bible. Reading multiple different versions of the same verses can help a person find the true nuance of a Biblical text. There are also parallel Bibles that show the same text in different languages. For a bilingual student or for someone in a foreign ministry, find a local used bookstore that has a Bible with the relevant source and target languages.
Hexapla New Testament: The 1841 English Hexapla is a popular choice for many ministers. It has the original Greek along with six English translations, including Tyndale, the Geneva Bible, and the King James Version. It can be extremely difficult to find new copies of this text, so your best option is to check for it at a used bookstore.
Hymn books: While your relative may have a favorite hymn book, they may still appreciate other hymns to add variety to weekly services. They may also need additional copies that can be used by their congregation. A used bookstore can be a great place to find inexpensive copies of hymn books. For more variety, look for older hymn books, with hymns that are not often found in modern services.
Biblical history: History can be an important part of understanding the Bible and the time period in which it occurred. Find out whether your relative would prefer books with wilder and more obscure theories and speculations about Biblical history or whether they prefer to stick to more mainstream scholarly knowledge.
Secular history: Secular history can help provide insight into the lives of historical Biblical figures. If a minister is studying the New Testament, they may appreciate a book on the history of the Roman Empire at the time of Jesus. For a scholar of the Old Testament, a text on the cultures of the various people that the Jews conquered or were conquered by may serve as a source of enlightenment.
Denominational history: Each Christian denomination has their own unique history and reasons for their beliefs. Books written by the denomination's founders can help even a trained minister to better understand where their faith and beliefs have come from.
Biblical languages: Because no language is static and unchanging, it may be difficult for some people to understand not only the Greek and Hebrew of the original texts, but also the early English translations of the Bible. There are many good Biblical dictionaries and concordances that will help a modern reader to understand words that are old fashioned and often archaic. A lot of good dictionaries can be found in a used bookstore.