What Books Did It for You?

 
What books did it for you?

I thought it might be interesting to poll my readers to see what book (or books) finally pushed you over the edge so that you cried "uncle" and embraced Reformed theology. 

These are five books that were very instrumental in my conversion to Reformed theology from Arminianism and dispensationalism back in 1979-80--although what really did it was Donald Gray Barnhouse's tape series on TULIP.  My list includes Warfield's Inspiration and Authority of the Bible and Plan of Salvation, Bavinck's Our Reasonable Faith, Murray's Redemption Accomplished and Applied, and Berkhof's Systematic Theology.

So, I am looking for those books (not tapes or videos) which were most instrumental in your own journey to Calvinism.  Leave your list in the comments section below.  This could be fun! 

Comments

[Ellis]

Bondage of the Will

Luther's Commentary on Romans

Forde's "On Being a Theologian of the Cross"

[Tom]

First, it was Sproul's Chosen by God. Shortly thereafter, if not at the same time, it was Wayne Grudem's Systematic Theology.

I haven't been the same since.

Grasped Secure in the Grip of His Sovereign Grace,
Tom
<a href="http://doctrinematters.blogspot.com/">Doctrine Matters</a>

[Tim Raymond]

It was a very long process for me. Started by considering election - wasn't convinced of particular redemption for another five years or so.

Chose by God by Sproul was huge for both me and my wife. As I can see from other comments, this has been huge for a lot of people.

Evangelism and the Sovreignty of God by Packer was also significant, though less so.

White's chapter in Potter's Freedom on particular redemption clinched that point for me.

Mostly, however, it was listening to sermons by MacArthur - but we weren't supposed to mention videos or tapes.

[Tim Raymond]

Another huge one I can't believe I forgot was Still Sovereign, ed, by Ware and Schreiner. This book demonstrated how TUPLIP arises from careful exegesis and not merely scripture-based logic (Sproul can rely too much on logic and not enough exegesis, in my humble opinion).

[doulos]

For myself,

1st was CHOSEN BY GOD, Sproul 3years
of aggravated searching and finally.
2nd was Mission Accomplished by young Dr.H
3rd was Horses Mouth paper etc.
Been with the WHInn gang from the start.
Discovered by accident/NO/providence.
And have never looked back.

as a side note - the RCUS says its
the ONLY one that does it right.
Sorry but thats in no way true - I
speak from experience.

I do envy what these guys have and do!!

[doulos]

OOPS!
NOW I remember
the ultimate book was the
HC Commentary by ZUrsinus.
That was the clincher.
NEED to read it again. and again

[G Poole]

Murray's Redemption Accomplished and Applied was like someone toppling the first domino for this former Baptist.

[Brian]

Chosen By God-RC Sproul
The Potters Freedom- James White
The Reformed Doctrine of Predestination- Lorraine Boettner

Also I am currently going through Christ of the Covenants and A Case for Amill and both of those are doing a good job of convincing me of Covenant Theology.

[Johnna Duncan]

Romans
"Putting Amazing Back in to Grace" Horton
"Knowing God" Packer
"Willing to Believe" Sproul
Packer's intro to "The Death of Death"

[Herb Grimaud]

Horton's "Putting Amazing Back Into Grace"

[Ru ben]

Boettner- The Reformed Doctrine of Predestination
Hoekema - The Bible and the Future
Murray - Redemption Accomplished & Applied
Luther - Bondage of the will especially intro by Packer
Berkhof - Systematic Theology
Puritan Paperbacks
Iain Murray - Puritan Hope
J.C. Ryle
That was 8yrs ago

[Steven Adkins]

The Puritan Family, By Edmund S. Morgan.

I read that (I like history) and realized that both I and the puritans were reading scripture the same way. I didnt grow up Christian, but rather came to it through private readings of scripture.

"Tell The Truth" by Will Metzger, certainly sealed the deal.

Please don't laugh at my examples.

[Steven Adkins]

Oh yeah, Also All of Luther's writing, especially his commentary on Romans, His Letter to Pope Leo, and His "Freedom of a Christian."

Luther single handedly grabbed my attention. He was readable.

[Re4mdmom]

Chosen By God - RC Sproul
In the Face of God - Mike Horton
Knowing God - JI Packer

[Kymanika]

See, Mathison never convinced me. He read more like todays Gerstner, I read more disdain than exegesis in his writings. Yet, some say the same of Cox and I loved his lil book.

[pilgrim]

Hmm, a lot of good books in that list. For me though it was mostly the Bible.
I was more Arminian when converted but over time came to believe Reformed doctrine from reading the Bible--I didn't know it had a name, but I started believing it any way.

So the book that did it for me was the Bible.

After that I did read other stuff that reinforced and strengthened these beliefs.
Starting with a pamphlet that was supposed to disprove covenant theology. It was so poorly written it actually supported covenant theology, and caused me to look into it even more.

[Brandon Barnes]

For the doctrines of grace it was Romans 9 and Ephesians 1, along with RC's Chosen by God.

For my covenantal framework it was O. Palmer's Christ of the Covenant and Horton's God of Promise.

For the last things it was A Case for Amil by Riddlebarger and Hoekema's, The Bible and the Future. And Sproul's The Last Days According to Jesus for the fine tuning of the Partial Pret position.

[DSY]

Packer - Evangelism and the Soveriegnty of God
Sproul - Chosen by God

DSY

[Tod Samuelson]

Chosen By God
The Bondage of the Will

[John Dunne]

A combination of Wayne Grudem's Systematic Theology, Schreiner and Ware's book, "Contemporary perspectives on Election, Foreknowledge and Grace, and D.A. Carson's commentary on John 6 totally convinced me of Calvinism.

O. Palmer Robertson's "Christ of the Covenants" convinced me of Covenental Theology.

Your book, "A Case For Amillennialism" totally convinced me of Amillennialism. I couldn't believe I never heard of Recapitulation before!

Great Question!