The Bible is The Great Book. It is, as it claims for itself, the living Word of God, inerrant / infallible in whole and in part (which claim does not literally extend to translations or even original language manuscripts, as neither are the autographs, the original writing of the Bible).
“Great Books”
We have available to us now after 20 Centuries of the New Testament era, insightful, helpful writings by many Godly counselors and teachers. They do not carry the authority of the Bible, nor do such “Great Books” authors ever claim for themselves such authority.
Further, no Great Book author is error-free in their below recommended book or their other writings (or theology). So we take for our benefit that which aligns with the Scriptures and gracefully set aside what fails either that test or the test of timeless truths.
On this page I have highlighted a very select few of many “Great Book” candidates. All five of the works cited immediately below have editions that are in the public domain as those copyrights have expired. There are many online resources for accessing an electronic copy (such as in a pdf), and there are printed books available, and Kindle editions as well, the latter two forms at nominal cost.
John Calvin: Institutes of the Christian Faith
John Calvin (1509 – 1564) was a younger contemporary of Martin Luther (1483 – 1546). He ministered primarily in Geneva, Switzerland, where he taught at the repurposed church that still stands there, St Peters, and more importantly wrote extensively. Calvin greatly influenced and taught many others who became leaders in the Reformation including William Farrel (1489 – 1565), John Knox (1513 – 1572), and Theodore Beze (1519 – 1605).
This classic work is long, and deep. In its final edition of 1559 it was comprised of four “Books:” 1. God, 2. Christ, 3. Christian Life, and 4. The Church
The Little Book (sometimes titled) The Golden Book
Of particular interest here is Book 3 on the Christian life and in particular five chapters, Ch 6 through 10, which has often been separately published under various titles such as The Golden Book or The Little Book. However, not to be overlooked are many wonderful aspects in Ch 1-5 on the subject of repentance that lead up to the famed five chapter section.
If I had to answer the question of just one “Great Book” it would be Calvin’s Golden Book (aka Little Book), especially the recent re-translation published by Crossway. This edition is under copyright but is relatively inexpensive and available in a beautiful small leather-bound edition, that is highly recommended.
A link to a study based is here: Calvin’s The Little Book.
Richard Sibbes: Bruised Reed
Richard Sibbes (1577 – 1635) was a famed English “Puritan,” that is a defender of the Reformation, often in precarious circumstances because of various religious wars.
One of his beloved books was Bruised Reed and Smoking Flax (1631). Its title originates in Isaiah 42:3, but its subject was the hopeful encouragement of believers in various stages of fear and despair. In this sense it may be considered a balancing point to Calvin’s above referenced texts on repentance (although Calvin too gave us much to be hopeful about regarding the serious subject of repentance).
Here is the gateway to a study of Sibbes’s Bruised Reed.
Thomas Brooks: Precious Remedies
Thomas Brooks (1608 – 1680) was an older contemporary of Sibbes, who was also an English “Puritan,” but in contrast with Sibbes was a “nonconformist,” a technical term meaning that he eschewed the rule of the Church of England over all Protestants.
Brooks had an interesting life having spent many years at sea including as a chaplain. His experience in the workaday work of English seaman shows up in his very practical application of Scripture.
Likely his most famed book is Precious Remedies agains Satan’s Devices (1652). In it he provides a very methodical catalog of the many categories of attacks of the Enemy of our soul and, more importantly, the resources, “remedies,” that are available to us as Believer’s with God’s indwelling Spirit.
Brooks’s book is included here, in addition to its own merits, because it provides very helpful, wise counsel of how to life the Christian life in the face of endless, powerful temptations, and moving past “repentance” (of Calvin’s work) and “discouragement” (of Sibbes’s writing) to sailing in our little ship on dangerous waters.
John Bunyan: Pilgrim’s Progress
For 300 years, except for the Bible itself, this has been the most-widely published book in the English language, and likely the most-widely read even including the Bible. It’s an overwhelmingly insightful allegory of a pilgrim’s journey from his home City of Destruction to what becomes his greatest desire, reaching the great Celestial City. In that journey all many of danger and difficulty occurs, as it does in our real, authentic Christian life-walk.
John Bunyan (1628 – 1688) was a humble Baptist minister, who spent more than a dozen years in jail because he would not conform to the dictates of the Church of England. It is believed that during that time he wrote Pilgrim’s Progress (1678) and dozens and dozens of other books.
Andrew Murray: Humility
Andrew Murray (1828 – 1917) was a Dutch Reformed author, preacher, and missionary, ministering in South Africa.
One of his great books is Humility: The Beauty of Holiness (1910) .
Murray’s theology has a bent that some have said was pre-Pentecostal. Whatever the truth or relevance of such claim does not affect the wisdom of his book on Humility, something greatly needed in our celebrity preacher, and near-universal self-promotion culture of our time.
Murray’s Humility is a very helpful caution to the self-confidence, and pride, that can arise after some ‘success,’ or seemingly so, in self-control such as emanating from the counsel of Brooks’s Precious Remedies.