1517's Favorite Books from 2025
By 1517 Staff
12/29/25
17mins

1517's Favorite Books from 2025

Below is a list of our favorite theological books - across all categories - from 2025. A special thanks to our contributors who submitted titles, wrote summaries and full reviews for these books and more throughout the year.
The Scandal and Splendor of the Savior’s Birth
Bradley Gray
Bradley Gray
12/26/25

The Scandal and Splendor of the Savior’s Birth

Every sinner can trace their salvation back to this moment when the Savior was born in accordance with the Word of God so that all of God’s words would be realized.
What to Preach and Not to Preach at Christmas
Steven Paulson
Steven Paulson
12/25/25

What to Preach and Not to Preach at Christmas

Christmas is not for remembering, thinking, pondering, trying to make sure you are really celebrating it properly, or for wondering whether you truly have faith.

All Articles

Amy Mantravadi
Amy Mantravadi
12/02/25

For Us and For Our Salvation

I find myself returning to the Nicene Creed this Advent season
Bradley Gray
Bradley Gray
11/25/25

A Review of The Well That Washes What it Shows by Jonathan Linebaugh

“The well that washes what it shows” captures the essence of Linebaugh’s project, which aims to give the paradigmatic law-gospel hermeneutic a colloquial and visual language.
Steven Paulson
Steven Paulson
11/24/25

Psalm 10: Why Do You Hide Yourself, O Lord?

Why would David write this psalm for all to read when he was no longer God’s greatest king, but rather God’s greatest sinner?
Luke Kjolhaug
Luke Kjolhaug
11/18/25

Why AI Avatars Can’t Conquer Death

The Christian answer to death is not a disembodied app, but a bodily resurrection.
Bradley Gray
Bradley Gray
11/13/25

Shattered Expectations and Steadfast Grace

It is by his perfect surrender that our true Exodus was accomplished.
Bradley Gray
Bradley Gray
11/05/25

Mercy Runs Downstairs

The testimony of the Word assures us that God isn’t waiting for us at the top of the stairs, with arms folded and brows furrowed.
Steven Paulson
Steven Paulson
10/16/25

An Introduction to The Bondage of the Will: The Preached and Unpreached God

This is the fifth installment in our article series, “An Introduction to the Bondage of the Will,” written to commemorate the 500th anniversary of Martin Luther’s Bondage of the Will.
Caleb Keith
Caleb Keith
10/15/25

An Introduction to the Bondage of the Will: Election and the Word

This is the fourth installment in our article series, “An Introduction to the Bondage of the Will,” written to commemorate the 500th anniversary of Martin Luther’s Bondage of the Will.
Donavon Riley
Donavon Riley
10/08/25

When Churches Are Abused by Their Pastors

When a congregation is abused by its pastor, it loses more than a shepherd. It loses its threshold place; that fragile seam between earth and heaven.
Bradley Gray
Bradley Gray
09/25/25

God's Sufficiency in the Face of Our Inadequacy

He is the God who always is, whose Word is true, and never fails. He is a God who acts and always does what he says he’s going to do.
Bradley Gray
Bradley Gray
09/12/25

The Deliverer Who Doesn't Run Away

Nothing good happens when you get ahead of God and take matters into your own hands.
1517 Guest Contributor
1517 Guest Contributor
09/11/25

When Evil Roars, Christ Still Reigns

To confess Christ crucified and risen as the only hope in a world that has lost its mind to wickedness and rage.
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