There is No Timeframe – This is the difference: theology is not a course you can finish, but a lifelong path that can be integrated into everyone’s life—like a language, where there is no end.
The last thing we want is to rush:
- Read calmly
- Advance properly
- Digest what you read
- Stop to think
- Look at your life and how those words affect it
- Take notes on the changes you need to make
As you read, you will learn how to approach the studies, how to read well, and how to build habits. So do not worry and never rush.
Remember: you do not want to be a fast-food theologian.
I suggest buying physical copies of the books I will list. Physical books are better for learning, but if that’s not possible, digital copies are fine.
I’ll provide the approximate price for each book, though I also recommend looking for second-hand options.
Personally, I often buy from World of Books—great prices and great selections.
The best part is that while you learn, you’re also building your own theological library.
Phase 0
The Bible → You need to read it every single day. This is not negotiable. Bible reading takes precedence over all other reading.
You need to know the text. Later, you will move on to reading it directly from the original languages. For now, use an English translation (I use LSB) and find a Bible reading plan.
As I’ve said, we are not rushing. If you can read the Bible in one year—great. If you can read it multiple times in a year—even better. If you can only finish it in two years—that’s fine too. The key is this: KEEP READING.
I’m a father of three and I work full-time in a job that demands my mind all day. I know what it means to be mentally exhausted, and I’ve failed many times to keep up with standard reading plans.
That’s why I love this one from a dear pastor I follow, Matthew Everhard.
He has a video explaining it. Here’s the PDF for it.
Phase 1 [Total Investment ≈ 63€]
- The Intellectual Life – A.D Sertillanges [≈ 20€]
- How to read books – Mortimer Adler [≈ 25€]
- Atomic Habits – James Clear [≈ 18€]
Phase 2 [Total Investment ≈ 64€]
- Living by the Book – William Hendricks [≈ 20€]
- How to Read Theology for All Its Worth – Karin Spiecker Stetina [≈ 14€]
- 40 Questions About Interpreting the Bible – Robert Plummer [≈ 30€]
Phase 3
… more to be added, no time now… but soon…
— Ricardo A. Barbosa