---
title: Top Ten Books on the Authority of Scripture (and Honorable Mentions)
canonical: "https://michaeljkruger.com/top-ten-books-on-the-authority-of-scripture-and-honorable-mentions/"
pubDate: "2013-10-04T08:38:04.000Z"
updatedDate: "2023-04-14T17:36:58.000Z"
author: Michael Kruger
description: "Over at The Gospel Coalition, they have published my article on the top ten book on the authority of Scripture. I go through what I think are the best modern (Reformation and later) treatments of this issue from a theological perspective (as opposed to just historical). I then give a paragraph description of each book. [...]"
tags: [Reformed Theology]
---

Over at [The Gospel Coalition](http://thegospelcoalition.org/blogs/tgc/2013/10/03/top-10-books-on-the-bibles-authority/), they have published my article on the top ten book on the authority of Scripture. I go through what I think are the best modern (Reformation and later) treatments of this issue from a theological perspective (as opposed to just historical). I then give a paragraph description of each book.

Here is the bare list (you will have to go to [TGC](http://thegospelcoalition.org/blogs/tgc/2013/10/03/top-10-books-on-the-bibles-authority/)to get the full article):

10. D. A. Carson and John Woodbridge, eds., [Scripture and Truth](http://www.amazon.com/Scripture-Truth-D-A-Carson/dp/0801025702/?tag=thegospcoal-20) (Baker, 1983); idem, [Hermeneutics, Authority, and Canon](http://www.amazon.com/Hermeneutics-Authority-Canon-D-Carson/dp/1597521183/?tag=thegospcoal-20) (Zondervan, 1986).

9. Herman Bavinck, [Reformed Dogmatics: Prolegomena](http://www.amazon.com/Reformed-Dogmatics-Vol-1-Prolegomena/dp/0801026326/?tag=thegospcoal-20) (vol. 1): Part IV: Revelation (Baker Academic, 2003).

8. E. J. Young, [Thy Word Is Truth](http://www.amazon.com/Thy-Word-Is-Truth-Young/dp/0851511724/?tag=thegospcoal-20) (Banner of Truth, 1963).

7. Ned Stonehouse and Paul Woolley, eds., [The Infallible Word: A Symposium by the Members of the Faculty of Westminster Theological Seminary](http://www.amazon.com/The-Infallible-Word-Westminster-Theological/dp/0875525431/?tag=thegospcoal-20) (P&R, 1946).

6. J.I. Packer, [‘Fundamentalism’ and the Word of God](http://www.amazon.com/Fundamentalism-Word-God-J-Packer/dp/0802811477/?tag=thegospcoal-20) (Eerdmans, 1958).

5. William Whitaker, [Disputations on Holy Scripture](http://www.amazon.com/Disputations-Holy-Scripture-William-Whitaker/dp/1573580902/?tag=thegospcoal-20) (Soli Deo Gloria, 2000).

4. John Owen, [The Divine Original: Authority, Self-Evidencing Light, and Power of the Scriptures](http://www.amazon.com/Church-Bible-Works-John-Volume/dp/0851510612/?tag=thegospcoal-20), vol. 16 of Owen’s Collected Works (Banner of Truth, 1988).

3. Meredith Kline, [The Structure of Biblical Authority](http://www.amazon.com/Structure-Biblical-Authority-Meredith-Kline/dp/1579100694/?tag=thegospcoal-20) (1971).

2. John Frame, [The Doctrine of the Word of God](http://www.amazon.com/The-Doctrine-Word-Theology-Lordship/dp/0875522645/?tag=thegospcoal-20)(P&R, 2010).

1. B. B. Warfield, [The Inspiration and Authority of the Bible](http://www.amazon.com/Inspiration-Authority-Benjamin-Breckinridge-Warfield/dp/087552527X/?tag=thegospcoal-20), with intro by Van Til (P&R, 1948).

In my original article I included an addendum of “honorable mentions,” but this was left out of the TGC version. So, I give you that list here:

Honorable mentions: Herman Ridderbos, *Redemptive History and the New Testament Scriptures* (P&R, 1963); Cornelius Van Til, *The Doctrine of Scripture* (P&R, 1967); J.W. Montgomery, ed., *God’s Inerrant Word* (Minneapolis: Bethany Fellowship, 1974); Carl F.H. Henry, *God, Revelation, and Authority*, 4 vols. (Word, 1979); R.L. Harris, *Inspiration and Canonicity of the Bible* (Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 1978); J.W. Wenham, *Christ and the Bible* (Downer’s Grove, Il: InterVarsity, 1972); N. Geisler, ed., *Inerrancy*(Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 1980); Greg Beale, *The Erosion of Inerrancy in Evangelicalism* (Crossway, 2008); Paul Wells, *Taking the Bible at Its Word* (Christian Focus, 2013).