The Great Christian Classics List
Last week, I wrote about my lifelong love affair with the great Christian classics. This week, I want to offer a list of ones to consider.
Please keep in mind: I read books from all major Christian traditions to find out what’s right with them, not what’s wrong with them. Each one of the books listed below is likely to embrace theological positions with which I disagree, but I read the classics to fire up my spiritual devotion and have learned to embrace what I believe is orthodox and challenging without being sidetracked by occasional theological points that I believe are in error. Please don’t assume this list is an unqualified endorsement of everything every author says. Since none of them fully agree with each other, you can expect to come across divergent opinions. But together they comprise a rich mine of devotional treasure.
If this makes you anxious, I recommend you just stick to my book Thirsting for God, which uses many classic quotes to offer generalized teaching that I think most Christians will agree with. I don’t know why some Christians think that if you don’t agree one hundred percent with an author it’s “dangerous” to read her or his books, but some do. If that’s you, this list isn’t for you.
I make no claims that this list is in any way exhaustive, but if you think I’ve missed a particularly important one, please say so in the comments below. Or if you’d like to vote for your “favorite” among this least, I’d love to hear your thoughts in the comments below as well.
Anonymous, The Didache (First century)
This is a preserved oral tradition focusing primarily on how home churches can incorporate gentile converts into the Christian fold. A fascinating look at early Christian life.
Ambrose, On The Duties of the Clergy (late fourth century)
Ambrose was a godly, pastoral bishop who became a role model and mentor to Augustine. This series of books (there are 3) are a practical guide to ministry, stressing the need for virtue, mercy, and integrity, reminding us that more than we need better strategies for effective church leadership, we need women and men striving to be better people. Character comes before charisma.
Saint Augustine, The Confessions of Saint Augustine (c. 400)
Long considered the classic of all time, many modern readers will find this book difficult reading with scattered wisdom. The genre itself will seem unfamiliar and slightly wordy to many evangelicals.
St. Gregory the Great, Pastoral Care (590)
I love this book. It’s a treatise on the responsibilities of the clergy, written by one of the most devout popes in history. It’s amazingly practical for the soul care of others, and many chapters deal with each side of pastoral care, such as “how to admonish the impatient and the patient” or “how to admonish the rich and the poor.” Gregory recognizes that different remedies are needed for people in different situations, with different temperaments, and different temptations.
John Climacus, The Ladder of Divine Ascent (c. 640)
The classic of eastern Christendom, written to monks, this book calls for a high commitment and the message may seem harsh, but the book is worthy of the attention it has received. I seemed to enjoy much more than most of my D.Min. students did.
Anselm of Canterbury (c. 1033-1109)
Anselm’s early major works, Monologion and Proslogion are written to prove the “essence of the divine” without recourse to Scripture but rather based on philosophical thought and argument alone. Maybe I just don’t have the intellectual chops to enjoy or even benefit much from Anselm. I found a few nuggets to ponder, but since I read the classics in large part for their spiritual inspiration, I found precious little here to feast on. Other works by Anselm, such as Why God Became Man are written in question and answer format. Scattered throughout are ancient and somewhat archaic theological and philosophical discussions, such as whether humans were created to replace the fallen angels, and would the number of humans chosen to be saved be the same or greater than the number of fallen angels? Unless you are a philosophy major for fun, I think you’d do well to look elsewhere for inspiration.
Brother Ugolino, The Little Flowers of Saint Francis (Late thirteenth, early fourteenth century)
Little Flowers is a narrative account of Francis of Assisi and his early followers. While the historicity of many accounts is suspect, the model of devotion and the earnest application of a spirituality emphasizing poverty, simplicity, and prayer is truly inspiring.
Johannes Tauler, Sermons (mid-fourteenth century) and Meditations on the Life and Passion of Our Lord Jesus Christ
Johannes Tauler, a Dominican monk, was a disciple of Meister Eckhart and a key voice of the influential German mystics. He spent the bulk of his life in the Order of Preachers, and his writings had a significant impact on Martin Luther who called Tauler’s sermons “pure theology.”
Meditations on the Life and Passion of Our Lord Jesus Christ is not your typical classic. Many probably wouldn’t enjoy it, but I found some sections extremely inspiring. If you want an introduction to Tauler, I’d recommend you start with his sermons.
Anonymous, The Cloud of Unknowing (late fourteenth century)
This book is very mystical, but with real gems sprinkled throughout. Evangelicals might find the full “program” of little interest or benefit, but those who take the time to read it will find considerable wisdom.
Julian of Norwich, Revelations of Divine Love (late fourteenth century)
One of the distinctives of this book is that it is the first Christian classic, indeed, the first English book, that can be identified with certainty as being written by a woman. As an evangelical, I must confess my own uneasiness with a book based on “divine revelations,” particularly when some of those seem to go against evangelical understandings of Scripture. Accordingly, I read this book like poetry—not to get doctrine, not to take it literally, but to benefit from, and be inspired by, the fine prose and passionate surrender to God that is often a hallmark of feminine spirituality.
Thomas à Kempis, The Imitation of Christ (c. 1418)
This is probably one of the most popular spiritual classics of all time, and for good reason. À Kempis focused on rigorous spiritual training as a necessary part of Christian living. His work is a good counter to “soft” Christianity.
Louis of Granada, The Sinner’s Guide (sixteenth century)
Louis of Granada was a Dominican friar. The Sinner’s Guide is a powerful classic that has become one of my favorites. It’s broken up into motives for practicing virtues and then has many remedies against sin, as well as discussing the duty that we owe to God.
Lorenzo Scupoli, Spiritual Combat (sixteenth century)
A practical primer on the nature of sin, temptation, and spiritual warfare, this fine book was immediately recognized as a masterpiece of holy wisdom. Though written in the midst of the Counter-Reformation, it was soon adopted by the Orthodox Church as well, where it was published as Unseen Warfare.
Ignatius Loyola, The Spiritual Exercises of Saint Ignatius Loyola (1548)
Full of very practical advice for monks, this book also offers many helpful insights for modern day believers.
John of the Cross, Ascent of Mount Carmel and Dark Night of the Soul (c. 1587)
Author of these two mystical classics, John was recognized as a highly gifted spiritual director (he was Teresa of Avila’s director for three years). In these works he provides many helpful insights into the spiritual life, especially the stages that Christians go through. One of my favorite writers, John of the Cross wrote with an unparalleled passion for God.
John Calvin, The Institutes of the Christian Religion (sixteenth century)
Rewritten and updated throughout his life, Calvin produced one of the premier works on the Christian life. You don’t have to be Reformed in theology to enjoy the spiritual insights and commentary that fill this work of spiritual genius.
Teresa of Avila, The Interior Castle (1588)
This is a relatively short book on prayer, emphasizing spiritual visions leading to spiritual betrothal and marriage.
Francis de Sales, Introduction to a Devout Life (1609) and Spiritual Conferences (post 1610)
Introduction is somewhat distinct among the classics in that Francis wrote for laypeople, not a religious community. His desire was to see ordinary tradesmen learn to grow spiritually, recognizing that they needed different advice than members of a religious community. This book is very practical with several helpful meditations. Spiritual Conferencesis a series of talks given to the Visitation nuns, so you can compare how Francis speaks to religious people. The modern version is entitled The Art of Loving God.
John Owen, Sin and Temptation (1656-1667)
This is actually a compilation of three of John Owen’s treatises that have now been collected by Dr. James Houston. Owen’s teaching on sin and temptation should be considered must reading for every Christian.
Ralph Venning, The Sinfulness of Sin (1669)
Classic Puritan work, written in a classically Puritan style, developing an applicable and insightful theology of what sin is, why it is so serious, and how it affects the Christian life. Originally published as Sin, the Plague of Plagues.
Thomas Brooks Precious Remedies Against Satan’s Devices (seventeenth century)
Thomas Brooks was an English non-conformist Puritan preacher and author, born in 1608. This book is Brooks’ attempt to warn, protect and equip the people of God to confront, resist and confound Satan’s favorite schemes. It could be considered a puritan precursor to C.S. Lewis’ Screwtape Letters.
Blaise Pascal, Pensées (1670)
Pascal was a brilliant man in both science and devotion; the Penséescomprise an unfinished collection of his random thoughts. It’s haphazard reading, but there are some real gems for those who wade through the collection.
Jeanne Guyon, Experiencing the Depths of Jesus Christ (late seventeenth century)
Originally published as A Short and Easy Method of Prayer, Experiencing the Depthsexplores a life of unceasing prayer, meditation, and contemplation, emphasizing abandonment and union with God.
Brother Lawrence, The Practice of the Presence of God (1692)
Brother Lawrence was a very humble man with an extraordinary sense of living in God’s presence. This little book includes several letters and conversations Brother Lawrence had with others who wanted to learn from his experience.
Francois Fénelon, Christian Perfection (1704-1717)
Fénelon wrote as a wealthy mystic living in the upper strata of French society. The temptations faced by the elite several hundred years ago are remarkably similar to those faced by middle-class evangelicals today. This is one of the most helpful spiritual classics I’ve read; it’s one you may want to read over and over.
William Law, A Practical Treatise Upon Christian Perfection (1726)
This was published two years before A Serious Call and has been overshadowed by its younger brother, but it is just as powerful. This is seriously one of the most convicting and challenging Christian classics I have ever read. In fact, it may be the most challenging and convicting one ever. It could be dangerous for a legalist, but it also offers some helpful pushback for cheap grace and easy-believism.
William Law, A Serious Call to a Devout and Holy Life (1728)
This is a rigorous treatise written by a devout Puritan. It is very helpful and challenging but, like its’ precursor, could be dangerous for a person who isn’t rooted in grace because it might lead some into an unhealthy legalism.
John Wesley, Wesley’s Journal (eighteenth century)
An astonishing, convicting, inspiring and compelling day-to-day account of a man on fire for God, earnestly seeking to build God’s Kingdom, and inviting us to share the journey.
St. Theophan the Recluse. The Path of Salvation: A Manual of Spiritual Transformation (19th century)
A marvelous book by a beloved Russian Orthodox saint. Well worth re-reading. The Path to Salvation is his magnum opus, and actually a combination of three books published separately: “How Does the Christian Life Begin in Us?” “On Repentance and the Sinner’s Turning Toward God,” and “How the Christian life is Lived, Ripened and Fortified.”
Thomas Cogswell Upham (1799-1872) Principles of the Interior or Hidden Life
Brilliant classic that I’m eager to re-read. Very challenging and inspiring look at a fully consecrated life, stressing that prayerful obedience is birthed out of a worshipful, love relationship with God. Upham also touches on the frightful cost of sin—how it empties us of power, brings static into our fellowship with God and drains us.
Henry Drummond, The Greatest Thing in the World (late nineteenth century)
Drummond was one of D.L. Moody’s favorite “counselors” for those who responded to the famous evangelist’s appeals. He received considerable fame in his own right for his work applying the theory of evolution and natural laws to the spiritual life. This work consists of a series of addresses given by Drummond between 1876 and 1881, originally published under the title The Ideal Life.
Oswald Chambers, My Utmost for His Highest (twentieth century)
While it may be premature to call a book less than a hundred years old a classic, this treasured devotional is surely deserving of the title. Chambers was renowned for his work with the YMCA, and his daily thoughts breathe an astonishing depth of insight and devotion.
Dietrich Bonhoeffer, The Cost of Discipleship (1937)
A ringing indictment of “cheap grace” and a call to experiential faith. Bonhoeffer warned that cheap grace was ruining more Christians than legalism, and sought to call the church toward the costly grace of discipleship.
Lewis, C.S., The Screwtape Letters (1944)
Among the most creative of all classics, this book brilliantly exposes the nature of temptation, spiritual warfare, human nature, and a life of faith.
A.W. Tozer, The Pursuit of God (1948)
A classic call to an experiential, intentional, and transformational faith. I’m holding the line at books written prior to 1950 to deserve the title “classic,” but I believe it likely that Tozer will still be read 100 years from now.
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