What’s My Focus?
Here’s my focus:
- This post focuses on Christian books on the topic of the body and soul—the embodied-soul: the complex interconnection of our body/soul, brain/mind, physical/spiritual nature.
- The technical term for the topic of this post is “theological anthropology”—a biblical view of humanity: how God designed us, how the fall marred us, how redemption impacts us, and how glorification changes us.
- This post focuses on resources in book form. It does not focus on articles or blog posts.
- This post focuses on books authored by Christians. It does not focus on books from a secular perspective.
Why Read This Post?
This post is especially for those of you who have an interest in an in-depth, rich, robust biblical understanding of how God designed us as embodied-souls.
This post provides both newer and classic books that delve deeply into theological anthropology—the biblical view of who we are by God’s design.
Other Related Resources
For over 400 resources (books, articles, blog posts) on the wider topics of Scripture and extra-biblical resources, descriptive research and evidenced-based research, and physiological and neuroscience resources on the complex interconnection of our brain, mind, body, soul, physical and spiritual nature, see:
For over three dozen resources of mine on biblical counseling and the embodied-soul, see:
For twenty-one resources on what the Bible says about our emotional life, see:
Disclaimer
Inclusion in this list does not note agreement with the resource. It simply notes that it is a book resource authored by a Christian related to the topic of the body and the soul—the embodied-soul. Always use a biblical grid/lens and a Christian/scriptural worldview to assess any and all of these resources.
35 Newer Christian Books on the Body and Soul (The Embodied-Soul and Theological Anthropology)
Allberry, Sam. What God Has to Say about Our Bodies: How the Gospel Is Good News for Our Physical Selves. Wheaton, IL: Crossway, 2021.
Allison, Gregg R. Embodied: Living as Whole People in a Fractured World. Grand Rapid: Baker, 2021.
Anderson, Matthew. Earthen Vessels: Why Our Bodies Matter to Our Faith. Minneapolis: Bethany, 2011.
Beck, James, and Bruce Demarest. The Human Person in Theology and Psychology: A Biblical Anthropology for the Twenty-First Century. Grand Rapids: Kregel, 2005.
Brown, Warren, Nancey Murphy, and H. Newton Maloney. Whatever Happened to the Soul? Scientific and Theological Portraits of Human Nature. Minneapolis: Fortress, 1998.
Cooper, John W. Body, Soul and Life Everlasting: Biblical Anthropology and the Monism-Dualism Debate. Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 2000.
Cortez, Marc. Embodied Souls, Ensouled Bodies: An Exercise in Christological Anthropology and Its Significance for the Mind/Body Debate. New York: Bloomsbury T&T Clark, 2011.
Crisp, Thomas, Steven Porter, and Gregg Ten Elshof, eds. Neuroscience and the Soul: The Human Person in Philosophy, Science, and Theology. Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 2016.
Goetz, Stewart, and Charles Taliaferro. A Brief History of the Soul. Malden, MA: Wiley-Blackwell, 2011.
Green, Joel B., ed. What About the Soul? Neuroscience and Christian Anthropology. Nashville: Abingdon, 2004.
Green, Joel B., and Stuart Palmer, eds. In Search of the Soul: Four Views of the Mind-Body Problem. Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity, 2005.
Hammett, John, and Katie McCoy. Humanity. Brentwood, TN: B&H Academic, 2023.
Helm, Paul. Human Nature from Calvin to Edwards. Grand Rapids: Reformation Heritage, 2018.
Hendrickson, Laura. “The Complex Mind-Body Connection.” In Christ-Centered Biblical Counseling: Changing Lives with God’s Changeless Truth. Bob Kellemen and Steve Viars, eds. Eugene, OR: Harvest House, 2021.
Imes, Carmen Joy. Being God’s Image: Why Creation Still Matters. Downers Grove, IL: IVP Academic, 2023.
Jeeves, Malcolm. Human Nature at the Millenium. Grand Rapids: Baker, 1997.
Jeeves, Malcolm. Minds, Brains, Souls and God: A Conversation on Faith, Psychology, and Neuroscience. Downers Grove, IL: IVP Academic, 2013.
LaPine, Matthew. The Logic of the Body: Retrieving Theological Psychology. Bellingham, WA: Lexham, 2020.
Kapic, Kelly. Embodied Hope: A Theological Meditation on Pain and Suffering. Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity, 2017.
Kapic, Kelly, You’re Only Human: How Your Limits Reflect God’s Design and Why That’s Good News. Grand Rapids: Brazos, 2022.
Kellemen, Bob. Consider Your Counsel: Addressing Ten Mistakes in Our Biblical Counseling. New Growth, Greensboro, NC, 2021.
Kellemen, Bob, and Jeff Forrey, eds. Scripture and Counseling: God’s Word for Life in a Broken World. Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 2014.
Kellemen, Bob, and Steve Viars. Christ-Centered Biblical Counseling: Changing Lives with God’s Changeless Truth. Revised ed. Eugene, OR: Harvest House, 2021.
Kellemen, Robert W. Gospel-Centered Counseling: How Christ Changes Lives. Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 2015.
Kellemen, Robert W. “Hebrew Anthropological Terms as a Foundation for a Biblical Counseling Model of Man.” Th.M. Thesis, Grace Theological Seminary, 1985.
Kellemen, Robert W. Soul Physicians: A Theology of Soul Care and Spiritual Direction. Winona Lake, IN: BMH, 2007.
Kellemen, Robert W. Spiritual Friends: A Methodology of Soul Care and Spiritual Direction. Winona Lake, IN: BMH, 2007.
Kellen, Kristin. “Medication Referral by Biblical Counselors: A Christian Proposal and Criteria for Implementation.” Ph.D. Dissertation, Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary, 2015.
Kleinig, John. Wonderfully Made: A Protestant Theology of the Body. Bellingham, WA: Lexham, 2021.
Moreland, J. P., and Scott Rae. Body & Soul: Human Nature & the Crisis in Ethics. Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity, 2000.
Murphy, Nancey. Bodies and Souls, or Spirited Bodies. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 2006.
Plantinga, Cornelius Jr. Not the Way It’s Supposed to Be: A Breviary of Sin. Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1995.
Smith, C. Ryder. The Bible Doctrine of Man. Downers Grove, IL: Wipf & Stock Pub, 2009.
Smith, David L. With Willful Intent: A Theology of Sin. Wheaton, IL: Wipf & Stock Pub, 2003.
Williams, Sam. “What About the Body?” In Scripture and Counseling: God’s Word for Life in a Broken World. Bob Kellemen and Jeff Forrey, eds. Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 2014.
25 Classic Christian Books on the Body and Soul (The Embodied-Soul and Theological Anthropology)
Bavinck, Herman. Biblical and Religious Psychology. Translated by H. Hanko. Grand Rapids: Protestant Reformed Theological Seminary, 1974.
Bavinck, Herman. Foundations of Psychology. Translated by Jack Vanden Born. Master’s Thesis, Calvin College, 1981 (1923).
Berkouwer, G. C. Man: The Image of God. Trans. Dirk Jellema. Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1962.
Boston, Thomas. Human Nature in Its Fourfold State. Reprint ed. Carlisle, PA: Banner of Truth Trust, 1997.
Burns, J. Patout, trans. & ed. Theological Anthropology. Philadelphia: Fortress, 1981.
Burton, Ernest De Witt. Spirit, Soul, and Flesh. Chicago. University of Chicago Press, 1918.
Cairns, David. The Image of God in Man. Rev. ed. London: Collins, 1973.
Chambers, Oswald. Biblical Psychology: A Series of Preliminary Studies. Reprint ed. London: Forgotten Books, 1914/2015.
Clark, Gordon H. The Biblical Doctrine of Man. 2nd ed. Milwaukee: Trinity Foundation, 1984.
Gundry, Robert H. Sōma in Biblical Theology: With Emphasis On Pauline Anthropology. Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 1988.
Hoekema, Anthony. Created in God’s Image. Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1986.
Delitzsch, Franz. A Systematic Biblical Psychology. 2nd ed. Eugene, OR: Wipf & Stock, 1855/1861/2003.
Jewett, Robert. Paul’s Anthropological Terms: A Study of Their Use in Conflict Settings. Leiden: E. J. Brill, 1971.
Johnson, Aubrey. The Vitality of the Individual in the Thought of Ancient Israel. Cardiff: University of Wales Press, 1964.
Johnson, Samuel Lewis. “A Survey of Biblical Psychology in the Epistle to the Romans.” Th.D. Dissertation, Dallas Theological Seminary, 1945.
Laidlaw, John. The Bible Doctrine of Man: The Anthropology and Psychology of Scripture. Edinburgh: T&T Clark, 1895.
Machen, J. Gresham. The Christian View of Man. Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1947.
Robinson, John. The Body: A Study in Pauline Theology. Philadelphia: The Westminster Press, 1952.
Robinson, H. Wheeler. The Christian Doctrine of Man. 3rd ed. Edinburgh: T&T Clark, 1919/1958.
Robinson, H. Wheeler. Corporate Personality in Ancient Israel. Philadelphia: Fortress, 1964.
Robinson, H. Wheeler. “Hebrew Psychology.” In The People and the Book. Edited by Arthur Peake. Oxford: Clarendon, 1925.
Robinson, H. Wheeler. “Hebrew Psychology in Relation to Pauline Anthropology.” In Mansfield College Essays. London: Hodder & Stoughton, 1909.
Schnelle, Udo. The Human Condition: Anthropology in the Teachings of Jesus, Paul, and John. Minneapolis, Fortress, 1996.
Torrance, Thomas F. Calvin’s Doctrine of Man. Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1957.
Wolff, Hans Walter. Anthropology of the Old Testament. Mifflintown, PA: Sigler, 1974/1996.
Join the Conversation
What additional Christian books on the body and soul (the embodied-soul) would you recommend?
