The Great Books of Christianity

Since it is likely that no other topic has been written about in the West more than Christianity, one might conclude that western literature and Christianity are inseparable. Perhaps no other faith has inspired, and been inspired by, great literature quite like Christianity. The list aims to aggregate the most influential Christian books of theology, philosophy, and practical wisdom spanning the entire length of Christian history, from the earliest books of the Bible until modern times. Works from multiple traditions are included to expose a reader to the broad spectrum of Christian wisdom while still adhering to orthodox Christian beliefs, at least from those denominations considered Trinitarian.

  1. The Bible, various authors (circa 15th century B.C – 1st century A.D.)
  2. The Didache, Anonymous (1st Century)
  3. The Shepherd of Hermas , Hermas (Likely 2nd Century)
  4. Church History, Eusebius (4th Century)
  5. On the Incarnation, Athanasius of Alexandria (4th century)
  6. Confessions, Augustine of Hippo (400 AD)
  7. The City of God, Augustine of Hippo (Early 5th century)
  8. Sayings of the Desert Fathers, various authors (circa 5th century)
  9. Rule of Saint Benedict, Benedict of Nursia (516)
  10. Pastoral Care, Gregory the Great (590 AD)
  11. The Ladder of Divine Ascent, John Climacus  (Mid 7th Century)
  12. Proslogion and Why God Became Man, Anselm of Canterbury (Late 11th / Early 12th Century)
  13. The Four Books of Sentences, Peter Lombard (Mid 12th Century)
  14. Commentary on the Sentences of Lombard, Bonaventure: (Mid 13th Century)
  15. Summa Theologica, Thomas Aquinas, (Late 13th Century)
  16. Ordinatio, John Duns Scotus (Late 13th Century)
  17. The Little Flowers of Saint Francis, Brother Ugolino  (Late 13th / early 14th century)
  18. Opera philosophica et theologica, William of Ockham (Early 14th Century)
  19. Sermons, Johannes Tauler (Mid 14th Century)
  20. The Cloud of Unknowing, Anonymous,  (Late 14th Century)
  21. Revelations of Divine Love, Julian of Norwich  (Late 14th Century)
  22. The Imitation of Christ, Thomas à Kempis, (Early 15th Century)
  23. Ninety-five Theses, Martin Luther (1517 AD)
  24. Spiritual Exercises, Ignatius Loyola (1524 AD) 
  25. The Institutes of the Christian Religion, John Calvin (1536 AD)
  26. The Sinner’s Guide , Louis of Granada (1555 AD)
  27. Ascent of Mount Carmel and Dark Night of the Soul, John of the Cross (1579 AD)
  28. The Interior Castle, Teresa of Avila (1588 AD)
  29. Spiritual Combat, Lorenzo Scupoli (1589 AD)
  30. Introduction to a Devout Life, Francis De Sales (1609 AD)
  31. Pensées, Blaise Pascal (1670 AD)
  32. The Practice of the Presence of God, Brother Lawrence (1692 AD)
  33. A Serious Call to a Devout and Holy Life, William Law (1729 AD)
  34. Lives of the Saints, Father Alban Butler (1759 AD)
  35. The Way of a Pilgrim, Anonymous (19th Century)
  36. Story of a Soul, Thérèse of Lisieux (1897 AD)
  37. Orthodoxy, G.K. Chesterton (1908 AD)
  38. My Utmost for His Highest, Oswald Chambers (1935 AD)
  39. The Cost of Discipleship, Dietrich Bonhoeffer (1937 AD)
  40. The Seven Story Mountain, Thomas Merton (1948 AD)
  41. Mere Christianity, C.S. Lewis (1952 AD)
  42. God’s Revelation to the Human Heart, Seraphim Rose (1981 AD)
%d bloggers like this: