jtoddbillings

The Oxford Dictionary of the Christian Church, 3rd ed. If you want one very, very good reference book for Church history and theology - as comprehensive as you can find in one volume - this should be it. It is expensive, but worth it to consult at home or in a library. It is especially useful for questions like the following: who exactly is that saint? What is a sketch of the history of purgatory, or theologies of atonement?

Westminster Handbooks to Christian Theology - This is a very useful series for discovering the theology of various theological traditions and approaches. There is a Handbook on topics such as Reformed Theology, Evangelical Theology, Patristic Theology, as well as to figures such as Thomas Aquinas and Origen. Westminster John Knox also has a series of easy-to-read theological biographies in their Armchair Theologian series. The Armchair Theologian series is good for getting a basic narrative account of the figure and their ideas (though it should be a starting point for inquiry and not an ending point). The Handbooks are helpful for key terms and concepts related to the traditions which are discussed.

Encyclopedia of Christian Theology (Routledge, 2004) - This is an excellent multi-volume Encyclopedia if you want substantial yet introductory articles on key topics in Christian doctrine. It is expensive, so consult your library. But it if you are diving into a new topic for you - like "sacraments" or "Holy Spirit" - this is a good place to look early in your search.

Cambridge Companions to Religion - For a scholarly survey of the thought of a particular figure, movement, or period of time, the Cambridge Companions can be very useful. There are Cambridge Companions on a wide range of topics, from Jonathan Edwards to Feminist Theology to Reformational Theology to American Judaism. There are 42 volumes to date.

James Livingston, Modern Christian Thought, vol. 1 and 2. Superb secondary account of 19th century theology (vol. 1) and 20th century theology (vol. 2). It will include a brief account of the main criticisms of these theologians as well. (In vol. 2, some topical chapters, like on "feminist theologies," etc.)

8th Day Books - A wonderful annotated theological book catalog.

Commentaries that aren't afraid to talk about GOD

There are several new and recent series' of biblical commentaries which seek to recover what it means to read the Bible as the church, as a living word from God.

The Brazos Theological Commentary on the Bible series is an innovative ecumenical venture that is inviting some top-notch theologians to write "theological" commentaries on the Bible. These commentaries should revive interest in the "God question" -- how scripture functions as the word of God for the church.

Two Horizons New Testament Commentary Series seeks to bring together biblical studies with theological reflection. Some of the commentary writers are biblical scholars, others are theologians -- but both seek to "bridge the gap" between the two discourses.

IVP Ancient Christian Commentary on Scripture series, ed. Thomas Oden. An excellent resource for finding patristic commentary on whatever scripture passage you are preaching or teaching about. The IVP series tends to emphasis the commonality found among patristic thinkers on a particular passage (the "consensual" tradition). Eerdmans also has a series based on the same idea which gives longer selections: The Church's Bible.