Top Christian Books
These are our selections for the greatest theological books of all time.
NOTE. This page is a work in progress.
THE PATRISTIC ERA
33 to 590 AD
Eras of Apostles :: Martyrs :: Emperors
ERA OF APOSTLES: 33 to 100 AD
We’ve read none thus far
ERA OF MARTYRS: 100 to 311 AD
Color Code: Want to Read :: Already Read
On the Apostolic Preaching. By Irenaeus (130-202 AD). Pages = 121.
The Hexapla (‘Sixfold’). By Origen of Alexandria (circa 184 AD to circa 253 AD). This is a massive comparative study of various translations of the Old Testament.
The Septuagint. By Origen of Alexandria (circa 184 AD to circa 253 AD).
ERA OF EMPERORS: 311 to 590 AD
Color Code: Want to Read :: Already Read
On the Incarnation of the Word. By Athanasius of Alexandria (296-298 AD to 373 AD). We read this in 2021-2022.
Sermon to the Rich. By Basil the Great, also known as Basil of Caesarea (330 AD to 378 AD). See the translation by Deacon Innocent Duchow-Pressley.
Confessions by Augustine of Hippo (354-430 AD). We read this in 2010-2011. We suggest the translation by Garry Wills. It has 353 reading pages. Read for free online at Internet Archive.
THE MEDIEVAL ERA
590 to 1417 AD
Eras of Missionaries :: Popes and Scholars :: Papal Schisms
ERA OF MISSIONARIES: 590 to 1049 AD
Color Code: Want to Read :: Already Read
40 Gospel Homilies. By Gregory I the Great (died 604 AD), Doctor of the Catholic Church.
The Book of Morals. By Gregory I the Great (died 604 AD), Doctor of the Catholic Church.
Etymologiae. By Isadore of Seville (died 636 AD), Doctor of the Catholic Church.
Life of the Virgin. By Maximus the Confessor (died 662 AD).
Third Council of Constantinople (680-681 AD). An Ecumenical Council held in Turkey. Attended by 160 bishops. Restated the teaching of the Council of Chalcedon (451), and condemned some false teachings.
On the Song of Songs. By Bede the Venerable (died 735 AD), Doctor of the Catholic Church.
Ecclesiastical History of the English People. By Bede the Venerable (died 735 AD), Doctor of the Catholic Church.
Homilies on the Gospels. By Bede the Venerable (died 735 AD), Doctor of the Catholic Church.
On Divine Images. By John of Damascus (754 to 787 AD), Doctor of the Catholic Church.
Fountain of Wisdom. By John of Damascus (754 to 787 AD), Doctor of the Catholic Church.
Second Council of Nicaea (787 AD). An Ecumenical Council held in Turkey. Declared that images could be set up and could be given honor or veneration, but not worship. Worship belongs to God alone. Iconoclasm (image-breaking) was condemned.
Pseudo-Dionysius the Areopagite, translated by John Scotus Eriugena (died 840 AD)
Fourth Council of Constantinople (869-870 AD). An Ecumenical Council held in Turkey. Attended by more than 100 bishops. Excommunicated Photius, Patriarch of Constantinople, which caused further tension between East and West.
On the Unity of Christ. By Cyril of Alexandria (died 885)
Book of Lamentations. By Gregory of Narek (died 1003), Armenian mystical and lyrical poet, monk, theologian, Doctor of the Catholic Church.
Commentary on the Song of Songs. By Gregory of Narek (died 1003), Armenian mystical and lyrical poet, monk, theologian, Doctor of the Catholic Church.
ERA OF POPES AND SCHOLARS: 1049 to 1294 AD
Color Code: Want to Read :: Already Read
The Letters of Peter Damian. By Peter Damian (died 1072 AD), Doctor of the Catholic Church.
The Proslogion. By Anselm of Canterbury (died 1109 AD), Father of Scholasticism, Doctor of the Catholic Church.
Cur Deus Homo. By Anselm of Canterbury (died 1109 AD), Father of Scholasticism, Doctor of the Catholic Church.
The Procession of the Holy Spirit. By Anselm of Canterbury (died 1109 AD), Father of Scholasticism, Doctor of the Catholic Church.
First Council of the Lateran (1123 AD). An (Ecumenical) Council held in Rome. Ended the custom of investiture. The State could invest bishops and abbots with symbols of temporal authority, but had no right to invest them with spiritual authority.
Second Council of the Lateran (1139 AD). An Ecumenical Council held in Rome. Condemned the anti-pope, Anacletus II.
Sermons. By Bernard of Clairvaux (died 1140 AD), Doctor of the Catholic Church.
The Steps of Humility and Pride. By Bernard of Clairvaux (died 1140 AD), Doctor of the Catholic Church.
On Loving God. By Bernard of Clairvaux (died 1140 AD), Doctor of the Catholic Church.
Historia Calamitatum. By Abelard of Paris (died 1140 AD).
De Doctrina Christiana. By Hugh of St. Victor (died 1141 AD).
On the Sacraments of the Christian Faith. By Hugh of St. Victor (died 1141 AD).
Decretum. By Gratian (died 1160 AD).
Four Books of Sentences. By Peter the Lombard (died 1160 AD), the first person to ever write a systematic theology.
De Trinitate. By Richard of St. Victor (died 1173 AD).
Hildegard of Bingen: An Anthology. Hildegard of Bingen (1098–1179), German Benedictine abbess, writer, composer, philosopher, Christian mystic, visionary, polymath, Doctor of the Catholic Church. This anthology was edited and introduced by Fiona Bowie and Oliver Davies.
Third Council of the Lateran (1179 AD). An Ecumenical Council held in Rome. Decreed that the votes of two-thirds of the Cardinals were required for the election of a pope.
Fourth Council of the Lateran (1215 AD). An Ecumenical) Council held in Rome. It declared the necessity of yearly Confession and Holy Communion, and the doctrine of Transubstantiation.
First Council of Lyon (1245 AD). An Ecumenical Council held in France. Discussed the Schism with the Byzantines, and the immorality of the clergy. Deposed Emperor Frederick II because of sacrilege, suspicion of heresy, perjury and disturbing the peace.
Second Council of Lyon (1274 AD). An Ecumenical) Council held in France. Attended by 500 bishops, and such dignitaries as Bonaventure and Albertus Magnus. Thomas Aquinas died on his way to the Council. The Council established union between Eastern and Western Churches.
Summa Theologiae. By Thomas Aquinas (died 1274 AD), Doctor of the Catholic Church.
Summa Contra Gentiles. By Thomas Aquinas (died 1274 AD), Doctor of the Catholic Church.
A Life of St. Francis. By Bonaventura (died 1274 AD), Doctor of the Catholic Church.
ERA OF PAPAL SCHISMS: 1294 to 1417 AD
Color Code: Want to Read :: Already Read
Philosophical Writings: A Selection. By John Duns Scotus (died 1308 AD)
Council of Vienne (1311-1312). An Ecumenical Council held in France. Suppressed the order of Knights Templar, and dealt with matters related to the clergy.
The Divine Comedy. By Dante Alighieri (died 1321 AD).
The Cloud of Unknowing. By Anonymous.
Dialogue. By Catherine of Siena (died 1380 AD), Doctor of the Catholic Church.
De Ecclesia. By John Hus (died 1415 AD). The first reformer. The Catholic church burned him at the stake.
Revelations of Divine Love. By Julian of Norwich (died 1416 AD).
Council of Constance (1414-1418 AD). An Ecumenical Council held in Germany. Ended the Great Schism, when three men were each claiming to be the pope. Condemned John Wycliffe and Jan Hus.
THE REFORMATION ERA
1417 to 1648 AD
Eras of: Pre-Reformation :: Reformation :: Counter-Reformation :: Private Reforms
PRE-REFORMATION: 1417 to 1517 AD
Color Code: Want to Read :: Already Read
REFORMATION: 1517 to 1648 AD
Color Code: Want to Read :: Already Read
COUNTER-REFORMATION: 1545 to 1648 AD
Color Code: Want to Read :: Already Read
PRIVATE REFORMS: 1545 to 1648 AD
Color Code: Want to Read :: Already Read