There are many helpful resources for those who minister the Word. Not all are equally helpful. Not all are uniformly helpful. One of the advantages of seminary is the opportunity the theological library afford to browse the literature...in effect, to pick the brains of persons who have worked with the text. These brain-picking opportunities are found in the reference works, the monographs and the journal literature so readily available to the seminary student. Do not forget that, while so many resources available at the finger tip may not be a reality in the situation in which you minister, you can still do careful study and can still access these same resources through inter-library loan.
 

Because most of us who minister the Word will never be as close to a theological library as we are now, it is useful to begin building your own library. And as one starts out, of course, one has to be selective. Again, seminary days provide an excellent opportunity to do some "window-shopping"...to take some of these "tools" "out for a test-drive" before actually purchasing them. Don't miss that opportunity.
 

Still, a number of students ask for suggestions. "Which is the first tool I should get on the book of...?" It is in response to these inquiries that the following list is offered.