Posted by: Nick Norelli | March 24, 2008

Books I’m Thinking About Buying

I’m not a huge fan of systematic theology sets, but there are two volumes that I know I will have to get eventually, and have been seriously considering buying as of late.  They are the first volumes of both Robert Jenson’s and Wolfhart Pannenberg’s Systematic Theology sets.  The focus of both volumes is the Trinity, so of course I need to add them to my library. 

I got my tax money back and can actually afford them right now, but I don’t know that I’ll put them to use as soon as I get them.  I still have four books on the Trinity that I have yet to review for publishers.  I should probably just pay some bills and hold off, but it’s tough when you’re a book addict. 

Any advice from folks who own these volumes is welcomed and will be most appreciated.  Should I hold off or go ahead and get them now?

B”H

Posted in Books (Misc.), Theology, Trinity

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Responses

Have you ever thought about getting a Seminary Library card and just checking out books to see if you’ll like them? I do it all the time and it saves me a lot of money (not enough though as I’m always “falling off the wagon” : ) as well as introducing me to some great books that I didn’t know were around.

Do you live near Princeton? Maybe you could get a library card to the Princeton Seminary.

Just a thought.

By: Bryan L on March 24, 2008
at 8:50 pm

No, I’ve never really thought about it. I don’t even use my local library. But I do live fairly close to Princeton (about 20 min. away). The way I am with books, I don’t know if I’d be able to give them back once I check them out. ;)

By: Nick Norelli on March 24, 2008
at 8:55 pm

I don’t use my local library either, but I use the local seminary libraries a lot. The other month I checked out 15 books that I’ve been slowly making my way through. There’s just too many books that I’ve bought that after reading a few chapter they ended up going on to my book shelves to just collect dust.

Sometimes returning them is hard. I have racked up a few late charges. : )

BTW Ben Myers did a post some months back about Systematic Theologies that you may want to check out. I asked him in the comments about Jenson’s. You might want to see if you can track the post down.

Bryan

By: Bryan L on March 24, 2008
at 9:06 pm

I spend so much time considering a book that it’s rare I buy one that I’ll not like reading. I read reviews, read excerpts on Amazon, CBD, or Google Books. Every once in a blue I’ll get one that I don’t really like but it’s rare these days. And thanks for the heads up about Myers post. I’ll look for it now.

By: Nick Norelli on March 24, 2008
at 9:14 pm

I just realized the post was more like a year ago and when I looked it doesn’t seem that helpful after all. But he does have a top 10 ST’s and both Pannenberg and Jenson make it in but I’m sure you already knew they have a good reputation.

By: Bryan L on March 24, 2008
at 9:19 pm

I wouldn’t buy them unless I would be actively working through them on a project of some kind or for a class. I second the library idea. If you can only afford them now that you got your refund back, I say SAVE the money :)

By: Patrick George McCullough on March 24, 2008
at 9:33 pm

Nick,
send me the tax money. I will buy you the books and give you a refund back in 20 years :)

By: Celucien Joseph on March 24, 2008
at 9:58 pm

Patrick: Given my love for all things Trinity I know that eventually I’ll end up getting them both. There’s only so many books I can read that quote them or list them in the bibliography before I actually read them for myself, ya know?

Celucien: Sure, email me your address and I’ll get right on that. :lol:

By: Nick Norelli on March 24, 2008
at 10:16 pm

Send me the money and I’ll read them for you.

Well, it seems like a good idea to me.

By: Eddie on March 25, 2008
at 2:44 am

Eddie: Sure thing, I’ll just divide it up between you and Celucien. ;)

By: Nick Norelli on March 25, 2008
at 8:56 am

I know what you mean about certain authors that just get quoted, over and over again. Does make you feel like skip this and just go to the source.

The library isn’t really a bad idea. I live close to BIOLA, but I never use their library either. Most books that I buy, are either reference that I know I will use over and over again. Or books that I am doing research on. Because of the research I write in them, highlight, so that when I start to write my outline, I know where to find it in the information much easier.

And then there are just books that I want to have, so I buy them ;-)

By: Robert on March 25, 2008
at 12:27 pm

Save the dough, start up an IRA or other savings account - that daughter of your will being going to school herself soon…

Stan Grenz was a student of Pannenberg (his doctoral supervisor). Maybe think about getting Grenz’ Theology for the Community of God.

By: Brian on March 25, 2008
at 1:28 pm

Robert: Exactly. These are books I want and I know that I’m going to buy them, it’s just a question of when.

Brian: Her college fund was started the day she was born, plus I don’t think forty-something dollars is going to make all that much of a difference. Maybe I’ll check out that book when I get done with Grenz’s Rediscovering the Triune God.

By: Nick Norelli on March 25, 2008
at 4:12 pm

Have you read “The Trinity” by Edward Henry Bickersteth? I recommend it, but just know that I have not read many Trinitarian books on the subject at all. I’m sure you could get it cheap (make sure you get the one with the cool picture on the cover where there is a dove, throne, and lamb/lion).

By: Troy C on June 21, 2008
at 10:53 pm

Troy: I have not read it yet. I’m sure I’ll get to it eventually though.

By: Nick Norelli on June 21, 2008
at 11:19 pm

What about Boyd’s “Oneness Pentecostals and the Trinity”? Have you read it?

By: Troy C on June 21, 2008
at 11:49 pm

Troy: Bits and pieces online.

By: Nick Norelli on June 22, 2008
at 12:10 am

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