40 Authors with A Confessional Understanding of Christ, the Church and Culture
| NAME | WHY I LIKE HIM | FAVORITE BOOK(S) BY/ABOUT HIM |
| Jay Adams | Jay Adams (1929 – 2020) was an American Presbyterian author who wrote more than 100 books[1] translated into 16 languages. Adams' book Competent to Counsel in the 1970 had a major influence on Christian counseling.[2] From ideas in this book, Adams developed what is known as nouthetic counseling.[3] Over time, Adams has become a popular advocate of "strictly biblical approaches" to counseling. John F. MacArthur says Adam's book Competent to Counsel gave the Church "an indispensable corrective to several trends that are eating away at the Church's spiritual vitality".[5] Derek Tidball maintains that Adams has made an "enormous contribution to the revival of biblical pastoral theology".[6] Tim Clinton and his associates say that, "Jay Adams brought a biblical revolution to Christian and pastoral counseling in the 1970s" |  |
| Greg Bahnsen | Bahnsen brilliantly explains Biblical law in By This Standard and No Other Standard. Yet he has the most influence through his books on apologetics. |  |
| Roland Bainton | Bainton's biography of Martin Luther is something of a modern classic and should be read by all who are discovering the riches of the Reformation for the first time. |  |
| James Boice | Boice was a Reformed theologian and Bible teacher known for his writing on the authority of Scripture. His sharp mind was trained at Harvard University and Princeton Theological Seminary. I prefer his set of commentaries over all other Bible commentaries. |  |
| Ed Clowney | Ed Clowney, ordained in the Orthodox Presbyterian Church, served as pastor in confessional churches from 1942 to 1946. In 1952, Westminster Theological Seminary invited him to become an assistant professor of practical theology. In 1966 he became the first president of that seminary, where he remained until 1984. Tim Keller has said that Clowney and J. Alec Motyer were "the fathers of my preaching ministry".[1] |  |
| Gary DeMar | Gary DeMar is former student of Greg Bahnsen and protégé of various authors with a Biblical worldview. He has written several books for the Christian homeschool movement to encourage a Christ-centered view of government and culture. John W. Whitehead says that DeMar's book Ruler of the Nations "presents a clear and well-substantiated description of the three types of government established by God — the family, the church, and the civil government — each given its own specific and limited jurisdiction".[7]:xix Gary North wrote that Ruler of the Nations "has made the meaning of theocracy clear;" that it is not "a civil government that is run by the institutional church," but rather "the rule of God in every area of life". [7]: |  |
| Kevin DeYoung | Kevin DeYoung is the senior pastor at Christ Covenant Church (PCA) in Matthews, N.C. He is also an associate professor of systematic theology at Reformed Theological Seminary. Through 2017, he pastored at University Reformed Church in East Lansing, Mich. Kevin holds a Master of Divinity from Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary and a Ph.D. in from the University of Leicester. Kevin's books include, The Biggest Story, The Hole in Our Holiness, Crazy Busy, and Just Do Something. |  |
| Chad B. Van Dixhoorn | Chad B. Van Dixhoorn (born 1971), a Canadian-born theologian and historian, is the editor of the five-volume The Minutes and Papers of the Westminster Assembly: 1643-1652 published by Oxford University Press in 2012.[1] In 2013 he was elected a Fellow of the Royal Historical Society in recognition of his work on the Westminster assembly.[2] In 2014 Banner of Truth Trust published Van Dixhoorn's second work, Confessing the Faith: a reader's guide to the Westminster Confession of Faith.[3] |  |
| Dan Doriani | Daniel M. Doriani holds MDiv and PhD degrees from Westminster Theological Seminary as well as an STM degree from Yale Divinity School, where he served as a Research Fellow. He is a Professor of theology at Covenant Theological Seminary. Dan has written seventeen books on exegesis and biblical ethics. He pursues his passion for bringing faith to the marketplace is the founder and president of The Center for Faith and Work in St. Louis. |  |
| Ligon Duncan | Dr. J. Ligon Duncan III is a native of Greenville, South Carolina. He was born and reared in the home of an eighth generation Southern Presbyterian Ruling Elder. Duncan received an MDiv from Covenant Theological Seminary and earned his PhD from the University of Edinburgh, Scotland, in 1995. In 2004, Duncan was elected as the youngest-ever Moderator of the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church in America. He has written brilliantly on the covenant theology; see, for example, the materials at https://ligonduncan.com/introduction-to-covenant-theology-1198/ |  |
| John Fesko | J.V. Fesko is an ordained minister in the Orthodox Presbyterian Church. He is also academic dean and associate professor of systematic theology at Westminster Seminary California. He has written extensively on the Westerminster Confession of Faith (WCF) as well as the spiritual, historical, and theological underpinnings of the WCF. |  |
| John Frame | John M. Frame is a retired American Christian philosopher and Calvinist theologian. He is noted for his work in epistemology and presuppositional apologetics, systematic theology, and ethics. Frame is one of the foremost interpreters and critics of the thought of Cornelius Van Til.[1] Frame received degrees from Princeton University (A.B.),[5] Westminster Theological Seminary (BD),[5] Yale University (AM,[5] and M.Phil.[5] Frame received an honorary doctorate of divinity in 2003 from Belhaven College.[6] He served on the faculty of Westminster Theological Seminary before critiquing the views of Westminster West in his book on "Escondido Theology." Frames gives away his books for free at https://frame-poythress.org/ebooks/ |  |
| Sinclair B Ferguson | Sinclair Buchanan Ferguson (born 21 February 1948) is a Scottish theologian known in Reformed Christian circles for his teaching, writing, and editorial work. He has been Chancellor's Professor of Systematic Theology at Reformed Theological Seminary since 2017. His book, The Christian Life, expounds with clarity and enthusiasm on key biblical themes such as grace, faith, repentance, new birth and assurance. |  |
| Dr. Surrendra Gangadean | Dr. Surrendra Gangadean is the Organizing Pastor of Westminster Fellowship in Phoenix, AZ. He accepted Christ as his redeemer in 1961 through Biblical teaching about Psalm 100:3 (Know that the Lord is God; it is he who has made us and not we ourselves), Ephesians 2:8-9 (It is by grace you are saved through faith lest any man should boast), and Hebrews 11:6 (Without faith—by which we understand that he exists—it is impossible to please God). He has grown in his faith since that time while deepening his understanding of the historic Christian Faith summarized in the Westminster Confession of Faith. |  |
| Ken Gentry | Ken shows how Scripture is a victory manual. His arguments are based on solid reason, history, and Biblical exegesis. |  |
| John Gerstner | Gerstner's lectures on the Westminster Confession of Faith brilliantly show how the confessions point to the Bible, which points to Christ. This brilliance is reflected in writings by Gerstner, which greatly inspired R.C. Sproul. |  |
| A.A. Hodge | One of the greatest biblical scholars of the 19th century, Archibald Alexander Hodge was raised with his father Charle's strong commitment to Presbyterianism. This is reflected in the brilliant commentary on the Westminster Confession of Faith. |  |
| Michael Horton | Michael Scott Horton is a Reformed theologican. He is the J. Gresham Machen Professor of Systematic Theology and Apologetics at Westminster Seminary California. |  |
| Susan (with Gene) Hunt | Gene Hunt and his wife Susan argue that true Christian education offers far more than secular education methods sprinkled with Bible stories. They help parents and pastors appreciated their roles in helping to develop the community of believers into a unified and vibrant fellowship while drawing families together in committed relationships that extend beyond generational lines. In short, the Hunts inspire families and churches to live out God's covenant with His people in a way that makes authentic Christianity come alive. Their practical plan for integrating Christian education into all of life shows what happens when the church leads its people into the privileges and responsibilities of covenant living on a daily basis. Their famous book, Heirs of the Covenant, motivates believers leave a legacy of faith for the next generation while living for Christ today in homes, churches, and local communities. |  |
| Peter Jones | Dr. Jones awakens Christians to the many ways that religions worshipping the creation undermine Biblical worship of the Creator. Dr. Jones, an exceptionally capable scholar, shows repeatedly and effectively how "there are only two religions." |  |
| Tim Keller | Timothy Keller (1950 – 2023) was an American Calvinist pastor, theologian, and Christian apologist. Keller was the chairman and co-founder of Redeemer City to City, which plants churches and trains pastors for service around the world. Keller's approach to urban ministry became highly influential while Keller served as the founding pastor of Redeemer Presbyterian Church in New York City. He authored The New York Times bestselling books The Prodigal God: Recovering the Heart of the Christian Faith (2008),[1] Prayer: Experiencing Awe and Intimacy with God (2014),[2] and The Reason for God: Belief in an Age of Skepticism (2008).[3][4] Keller shunned the label "evangelical", preferring to call himself orthodox because "he believes in the importance of personal conversion or being 'born again,'. Keller maintained commitment to, "the full authority of the Bible."[16] He identified with Calvinist theology,[26] although he had been critiqued by some in that tradition for his interpretation of its doctrines.[27] |  |
| D. James Kennedy | DJames Kennedy (1930 –2007) was an American pastor, evangelist, and author. He served as the senior pastor of Coral Ridge Presbyterian Church from 1960 until his death in 2007. Kennedy founded Evangelism Explosion International, the Westminster Academy in Fort Lauderdale, and the Knox Theological Seminary. Many of his public messages focused on American history and the faith of the Founding Fathers of the United States. He showed how great leaders held to a Christian worldview. Kennedy cited John Quincy Adams' claim that Christianity is "indissolubly linked" to the founding of America.[30] Kennedy wrote the foreword to the 1987 book Christianity and the Constitution: The Faith of Our Founding Fathers by John Eidsmoe.[31] |  |
| Robert Letham | Many people come to the Reformed faith out of backgrounds that offered very little solid teaching on the doctrine of God. Letham's award-winning book should be on the reading list of every new Calvinist. In it he carefully explains the orthodox doctrine of the Trinity in a clear and compelling way. |  |
| Matthew McMahon | C. Matthew McMahon is an American Calvinist Reformed theologian and adjunct professor at Whitefield Theological Seminary. He is the founder and chairman of A Puritan’s Mind, an internet hub and center for students of the Bible concerning Reformed Theology and Covenant Theology. He is also the founder of Puritan Publications which publishes Reformed and Puritan works from the 17th century. |  |
| John Newton | Newton's mother taught her only child, John, the Westminster Catechism during the first 6 years of his life. This inspired a love of Scripture that guided letters to devout friends, including George Whitefield, William Cowper and William Wilberforce. One of his most famous letters is here: https://www.ligonier.org/learn/articles/on-controversy# |  |
| Randy Pope | Randy Pope is the founder and lead teaching pastor of Perimeter Church in Johns Creek, Georgia. He graduated from the University of Alabama and Reformed Theological Seminary. He has authored many influentials books, including Insourcing: Bringing Discipleship Back to the Local Church. |  |
| O. Palmer Robertson | Owen Palmer Robertson is a Reformed theologian and biblical scholar. He taught at Reformed Theological Seminary, Westminster Theological Seminary, Covenant Theological Seminary, Knox Theological Seminary as well as at the African Bible Colleges of Malawi and Uganda. |  |
| Skip Ryan | Reverend Joseph F. "Skip" Ryan holds a B.A. cum laude degree from Harvard University as well as a Masters and Doctorate of Divinity degrees from Westminster Seminary, He is the Chancellor and Professor of Practical Theology at Redeemer Theological Seminary in Dallas, Texas. Dr. Ryan was ordained to the ministry in 1976. From 1976 until 1992, he was the founding and first Senior Minister of Trinity Presbyterian Church in Charlottesville, Virginia, a congregation that grew to 1800. From 1992 until 2006, Dr. Ryan was the first Senior Minister of Park Cities Presbyterian Church in Dallas, which was founded in May of 1991. He has authored influential materials on Biblical worship. |  |
| Ken Sande | Ken Sande is the founder of Peacemaker Ministries and president of Relational Wisdom 360. He is the author of The Peacemaker, which has been translated into fifteen languages. Trained as an engineer, lawyer, and mediator, Ken founded Peacemaker Ministries in 1982. As a certified Christian conciliator, Ken has conciliated hundreds of family, business, church, and legal conflicts, while guiding the development of its global training program. His books and materials are linked from https://www.biblicalpeace.com/ Resources. |  |
| Francis Schaeffer | Schaeffer introduced me to the Biblical worldview at age 18. Over the decades, I have increasingly appreciated all of his books but I wish he had a more hopeful plan for redeeming culture. The Christian Manifesto is a good start. |  |
| Scotty Smith | Scotty Smith is founding pastor of Christ Community Church (CCC) in Franklin, Tennessee. He is a teacher in residence at West End Community Church (PCA) in Nashville, a daughter church of CCC. Scotty also serves as an adjunct professor at five seminaries, including Covenant, Westminster, Redeemer, RTS Orlando and Western Seminary in Portland. He is the author of multiple books, including Everyday Prayers, Unveiled Hope, Speechless and Restoring Broken Things |  |
| Morton Smith | Morton Smith (1923 – 2017)[1] was an American Presbyterian minister. He was the first Stated Clerk of the Presbyterian Church in America, serving from the PCA's founding in 1973 until 1988. Smith had degrees from the University of Michigan, Columbia Theological Seminary and the Free University of Amsterdam.[2] He taught at Belhaven College and Reformed Theological Seminary. Smith continued to serve as Professor of Systematic and Biblical Theology at Greenville Presbyterian Theological Seminary until his retirement.[2]In 2004, a Festschrift was published in his honor. Confessing our Hope: Essays Celebrating the Life and Ministry of Morton H. Smith; it included contributions from J. Ligon Duncan III. |  |
| R.C. Sproul | R.C. Sproul's writings may have spread the Reformed understanding of Scripture throughout America more effectively than those of any other Reformed theologian in the last 50 years. I have enjoyed reading more than 10 of Sproul's books but I find myself referencing Willing to Believe most often. |  |
| Paul Tripp | Paul Tripp holds a DMin from Westminster Theological Seminary. He is a best-selling author and the president of Paul Tripp Ministries. He also serves as the executive director of the Center for Pastoral Life and Care in Fort Worth, Texas. Tripp, while teaching at respected institutions worldwide, has authored numerous books related to the Christian life and pastoral ministry, including Whiter Than Snow, Dangerous Calling, and Sex and Money. |  |
| Carl R. Trueman | Carl R. Trueman taught on the faculties of the Universities of Nottingham and Aberdeen before moving to the United States in 2001 to teach at Westminster Theological Seminary in Pennsylvania. Since 2018, he has served as a professor at Grove City College. He is also a fellow at the Ethics and Public Policy Center and a contributing editor at First Things. He has written multiple respected books, including The Rise and Triumph of the Modern Self. He is ordained in the Orthodox Presbyterian Church. |  |
| Vern Poythress | Vern Poythress is an American philosopher, theologian, New Testament scholar and mathematician. He is currently the New Testament chair of the ESV Oversight Committee. He is also the Professor of New Testament Interpretation at Westminster Theological Seminary and editor of Westminster Theological Journal. He has authored many books, which he gives away for free at https://frame-poythress.org/ebooks/ |  |
| Cornelis Venema | Eschatology is a difficult and controversial subject, and many of those who are new to Reformed circles do not know what the Reformed churches teach on the subject. Venema’s book is an outstanding introduction to the subject. |  |
| Hugh Whelchel | Hugh Whelchel is executive director of the Institute for Faith, Work & Economics, a Christian research organization in Washington, D.C. Whelchel previously served as executive director and guest professor at Reformed Theological Seminary (RTS). He has over thirty years of experience in the IT business. He earned a master's degree in religion from Reformed Theological Seminary while pursuing his unique passion for helping individuals integrate their faith and vocational calling. He is frequently called upon to teach and speak on this topic at conferences, churches, business groups, and universities around the nation. One of his most respected books is, How Then Should We Work?: Rediscovering the Biblical Doctrine of Work |  |
| Rankin Wilbourne | Rankin Wilbourne holds an M.Div. from Princeton Theological Seminary. He was the pastor of Pacific Crossroads Church in Los Angeles until leaving in 2019 to focus on peacemaking ministries. As a former commercial banker, Rankin has sought to address the "gap" between the gospel preached on Sunday and the world people face on Monday. He is concerned with practical theology; e.g., drawing connections between what we believe and how we live. |  |
| Albert Wolters | Albert Wolters articulates what constitutes a Reformed worldview in Creation Regained. When explaining the creation mandate, he writes, "We need some creed to live by, some map by which to chart our course. The need for a guiding perspective is basic to human life, perhaps more basic than food or sex." Wolters shows flaws in the creed of secularism while encouraging a confessional vision that reaffirms how God redeems and how He communicates a divine love capable of satisfying the deepest longing of our souls. Wolters writings are explained from a well-reasoned confessional perspective in Vern Poythress' book The Lordship of Christ*. In Creation Regained, Wolters uses diagrams supported with clear reasoning to explain how the Lordship of Christ is maintained in authority structures of 7 main spheres, such as those at https://www.covenant.net/SpheresGracePeace |  |