Most preachers have numerous books they find helpful in their study and work. A question some preachers hear is, “Why do you need all those books?”

This question often comes from a sincere person who does not have a lot of books. A large personal library is unusual to them. They can’t comprehend someone having a need for that many books.

Other times the question is asked as a critical observation. Mature Christians are aware of the all-sufficiency of the Bible. “All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work” (2 Tim. 3:16-17, emphasis mine – HR). If the Bible is all God has given us to be fully equipped for every good work, then why does a preacher think he needs other books? The Bible should be enough. In their minds, preachers get in trouble when they stop reading the Bible and start reading all these other books.

My initial response to such criticism would be to ask about the apostle Paul. This man enjoyed a unique measure of the Holy Spirit revealing God’s will to him as he preached to others. However, Paul still saw a need for books (2 Tim. 4:13). If Paul wanted his books, why can’t uninspired preachers have books today?

Regardless of the source or motive, the question about a preacher’s books is legitimate and has a good answer.

To be honest, maintaining a library can be a preacher’s hobby. Searching for missing volumes to fill a set of commentaries, finding an out-of-print book, getting the latest releases, finding books at a great price, coming into possession of books that belonged to mentors and older preachers, and having books signed by the author can be exciting to some preachers. You may collect stamps, figurines, quilts, or guns – some preachers collect books.

However, a preacher’s library has a more functional role. Professionals in many occupations need tools to do their job more effectively (carpenters, mechanics, plumbers, farmers). When you see a preacher’s library you are looking at his toolbox. I remember my dad helping me build the bookshelves in my first office in Macon, Missouri. He asked why I needed all these books (a very humble collection at that time). I asked him why he needed all his tools. The conversation didn’t go any further.

It is possible for preachers to get off track because of the books they read. As a tool, a preacher’s books are only helpful if they are driving him back to the text of the Bible as his only source of authority, helping him to dig a little deeper each time he studies a passage, drawing Him closer to the Lord, and better equipping him to be able to know God’s word, do it, and teach it to others (Ezra 7:10).

A preacher’s books fall into many useful categories. Concordances help you find every place a word appears in the Bible. This was the first study book I ever got (a gift from my aunt and uncle in 1990) and still sits on my desk. The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge is a powerful cross-reference tool. Lexicons are dictionaries of the original languages of the Bible (Hebrew and Greek) while a Bible Dictionary is like an encyclopedia that specializes in Bible topics. Books on times and customs of the Bible are very helpful. Books on various topics are helpful for deeper study (prayer, end times, home and family, apologetics, the inter-testament period, church history, etc.). If you are a map guy like me, you will benefit greatly from a Bible Atlas. Commentaries on the books of the Bible can be extremely helpful. Lecture books, workbooks, sermon outline books, debates, and biographies have their place in a preacher’s library as well. And don’t forget Bibles. As best as I can count, I currently have 58 Bibles in my office.

These books give me access to years of study done by faithful Gospel preachers and serious Bible scholars who have devoted their lives to properly and better understanding God’s word. It is similar to having their phone number and being able to call and ask them questions about the Bible. When I pull his book off the shelf, he is talking to me, telling me the things he has learned about this subject, word, or passage of Scripture.

One may ask, “Many of these religious books contain error and false doctrine. Isn’t it dangerous for a preacher, young or old, to be reading such books?” Yes, there is a danger. It is important that preachers, as well as all other Christians, become discerning readers. Several years ago, I read a book in which the author talked about the importance of having our “Baloney Detector” turned on when we are reading or hearing something new. We need to be able to tell when we are reading something that isn’t true and respond accordingly.

Most books in my library are written by denominational authors. I know this when I pick up one of their books and start reading. I glean helpful information from the parts that are true and dismiss the parts that promote errors like Calvinism or Premillennialism. Because they are fewer in number, I value the books that are written by my brethren, but I don’t agree with everything they have written either! Some books knowingly promote errors but are still useful source material when teaching against these errors. Christians sometimes ask me, “Why do members of such-and-such a denomination believe such-and-such a doctrine?” Reading their books gives us the answer to these kinds of questions and can better equip us to study with our denominational friends.

Just because I own a book doesn’t mean I agree with everything it says. That blanket endorsement is reserved for the Bible alone. I have recommended and even given away copies of books that I have found useful but have never done so as a blanket endorsement of everything found in its pages. I have some books that I would not recommend or give to some people because I know they would be more of a hindrance than a help. And, I have found some books to be so useless that I have thrown them away.

The future of Preacher’s Libraries is an interesting subject. The digital age is having an impact on the size of a preacher’s library. Some younger preachers are choosing digital or electronic versions of books. This generation has learned to study primarily from screens, and they are building their own library in the way that works best for them. Others like me prefer to hold the books in our hands, scribble notes in the margin, highlight sections, dogear the pages, and leave them stacked nearby for easy access (I understand these things can be done with the digital books as well). The electronic library can be carried with the preacher in his laptop or on a thumb drive as he travels. The “old school” library must be kept at home. To each their own. Regardless of the format (paper or digital) books will always be important and useful tools for preachers.