How to Build a Theological Library on a Budget

The 10th commandment prohibits coveting “anything that belongs to your neighbor” (Deut. 5:21, NIV). In most situations, I find this one of the easiest commandments to keep. Indeed, I rarely need to actively avoid the temptation to covet—until, that is, I see another pastor’s bookshelf.

Seeing rows and rows of commentaries and theological monographs pushes me toward a state of envy. The struggle intensifies when I see videos of massive private libraries, such as those of Albert Mohler, Mark Dever, and Rick Warren.

There are noble reasons, of course, for desiring such a theological library. But the reasons for not acting on that desire can generally be reduced to two: a lack of money and a lack of space. I have neither the money to buy all the books I want nor the space to keep them if I did.

Building a theological library can be an expensive endeavor that takes over your living space, but it doesn’t have to be. With a little creativity and resourcefulness, it’s possible to build a comprehensive theological library on a budget.

Here are some tips for building a library when you lack both cash and shelf space.

1. Change your mindset from ‘ownership’ to ‘access.’

The most effective way to expand your library of theological materials is to change your thinking about what constitutes “your library.” If your definition includes only books you own, you’ll likely never be able to acquire what you want or need on a limited budget. But by merely shifting your definition from “what you own” to “what you can easily access,” you can expand your personal library exponentially.

If you live near a seminary or university, have a local friend who also loves books, or belong to a church with a shelf of commentaries available for use, you may already have a bigger library than you think. Although you may not “own” any of those volumes, you have the necessary access you need to benefit from them.

This may not be advice you want to hear. Yet if you want a library to serve as a practical tool, this change in mindset is the most important step you can take.

2. Focus on ebooks.

Accessing ebooks is far and away the most cost-effective means of building an inexpensive theological library. Think about ebooks in three broad categories: those that can be purchased, those that can be borrowed (free and paid), and those that can be acquired for no cost.

Ebooks for purchase

Amazon has deals on Christian ebooks every day. But keeping up with them can be a challenge. Fortunately, almost every deal is highlighted by Gospel eBooks. You can subscribe to their list by email or RSS and get daily updates on what books are available.

Most of the books highlighted are sold for $2.99 (and they’re almost always below $5). The genres of Christian living and fiction dominate, but there are enough biblical commentaries and books on theology to make it worth subscribing to the Gospel eBooks list.

Tim Challies also maintains a curated list of hand-picked Kindle deals that are of special interest to Christian readers. His list is updated daily.

(A note on buying commentaries: You’ll be tempted to buy every commentary that’s on sale for $1.99. But some aren’t even worth the reduced price. Make a habit of checking their rating on the Best Commentaries website to see how helpful other believers have found them.)

Ebooks for borrowing (paid)

Imagine if I told you that you could get access to such commentary series as the Expositor’s Bible Commentary and the Pillar New Testament Commentary; systematic theologies by Michael Horton, Ligon Duncan, and Herman Bavinck; and an audiobook version of just about every book written by R. C. Sproul—all for $8.99 a month. That’s less than what you’d pay for a single ebook on Amazon.

You can indeed get all that—and much, much more—on Scribd. It’s the best-kept secret for book lovers on the internet. And it’s truly surprising how you can get access to so much material for such a low price.

Ebooks for borrowing (free)

For decades, the theological pickings at public libraries have been slim. Rarely could you find more than a handful of quality books from an evangelical perspective. But that changed when libraries gained access to ebook services such as Hoopla and Libby. Check with your local library to see if they participate.

The Internet Archive also has a range of ebooks that can be borrowed for free, including more than 700 volumes on systematic theology.

Ebooks for free

The number of ebooks that can be obtained for free is generally limited to older works. Fortunately, there’s almost never a need to buy classic Christian works whose copyright has expired. You can acquire the majority for free on sites like the Christian Classics Ethereal Library, Project Gutenberg, or The Online Books Page.

Occasionally, you can find modern works available for no cost. For instance, almost all of John Piper’s books are free to download from the Desiring God website, and Vern Poythress offers more than two dozen of his excellent books for free. Some publishers, including The Good Book Company and Reformation Heritage, offer a different ebook for free each month. Logos Bible software likewise offers a monthly free book.

3. Think beyond books.

In addition to books, there are numerous resources available online for studying theology.

Theological journals

For the more academically minded, a wide range of theological journals can be accessed for free online. For example, Themelios—an international, evangelical, peer-reviewed theological journal that expounds and defends the historic Christian faith—has 48 years’ worth of articles and book reviews available online.

Your favorite seminary may also publish a free online journal. Reformed Theological Seminary publishes the journal Reformed Faith & Practice and Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary publishes the Midwestern Journal of Theology. By simply typing “[seminary name] online journal” into a search engine you can uncover resources you’ve never heard about before.

Online resources

You already know that websites like The Gospel Coalition provide frequent articles on theological topics. But did you know TGC has an online commentary, essays on biblical and theological topics written by evangelical scholars, and a series of free booklets? A few minutes of digging around on your favorite Christian website can often uncover a host of hidden resources.

4. Need it in print? Buy used.

If you truly need a book in print version (for instance, when no ebook exists), try to buy a used copy. This should be obvious, but far too many people are more concerned with having a shiny new (expensive) copy on their bookshelf than they are with a functional, and cheaper, used book.

Used books can be found at local bookstores, thrift stores, and online marketplaces such as Amazon and eBay. Some may have underlining or highlighting, but as long as the text is legible, it can still be a valuable addition to your library.

5. Preview before you purchase.

Even a cheap book can be expensive if it wastes your most valuable resource—your time.

You can often find a preview using Google Books or Amazon’s “Look Inside” feature. Taking a few minutes to judge if a book is worth acquiring can save you significant time and money.

Building an inexpensive theological library takes time and effort, but it’s a resource worth creating. By using these tips and resources, you can build a comprehensive theological library that will serve you well in your ministry and personal study.