7 Essentials For Increasing Your Biblical Literacy

In this episode of Real Christianity, pastor Dale Partridge offers seven supplemental resources for Christians to strengthen their biblical and theological literacy.

Seven Essentials for Biblical Literacy

This list may seem overwhelming. Don’t allow it to be. Simply purchase each of the following resources and permit yourself 18-24 months to complete them all on a rotating schedule. Start with Bible reading (1) and Grasping God’s Word (2). Move on to Biblical Theology (3) and Systematic Theology (4) next. After completing the previous four steps, pursue steps-5-7.

1. Buy and Read: The MacArthur Study Bible or The ESV Study Bible.
   • Task: Read one of these entire study Bibles including each book introductions. (You don’t have to read each verse commentary but seek clarity for verses difficult to interpret).
2. Buy and Read: Grasping God’s Word. This will help you establish a sound hermeneutic (princples of interpretation).
3. Buy and Read: Biblical Theology. This is a short book that will teach you to read Scripture in light of Scripture.
4. Buy and Read: Wayne Grudem’s Systematic Theology. This is a large book and will take nearly a year to read. It’s worth it. An alternative option is John MacArthur’s Biblical Doctrine.
5. Read: All 150 Psalms twice in 30 days.
6. Read: The books of John, Romans, and Ephesians 10 times each over 90 days.
7. Read: The 1689 London Baptist Confesssion of Faith.