Hundreds of books pass through our offices each year, ranging from Left Behind imitators to Prayer of Jabez knockoffs to self-published works about hidden numerical codes that prove God's existence.

But then comes the opportunity to consider more than 200 entries in our annual Book Awards contest. Long-standing evangelical publishing houses, daring new imprints, university publishers—all send us what they consider the best of their work that would be of interest to Christianity Today readers. Most of these entries renew our respect for the thousands of Christians involved in publishing books.

One of our judges raised a helpful point: Some books face wider competition than others do. With that in mind, we will mention how many nominees appeared in each category.

The past year was a rich one for thoughtful works by Christians. Here are the books our judges— 200 pastors, scholars, and church leaders—considered the worthiest this year.

Apologetics/Evangelism
10 Nominees
Truth or Consequences:
The Promise & Perils of Postmodernism

Millard J. Erickson
InterVarsity

Biblical Studies
20 Nominees
Justification and Variegated Nomism:
A Fresh Appraisal of Paul and Second Temple Judaism

D. A. Carson, Peter T. O'Brien, Mark A. Seifrid, eds.
Baker Academic

Christian Living
45 Nominees
If You Want to Walk on Water, You Have to Get Out of the Boat

John Ortberg
Zondervan

Christianity and Culture (tie)
37 Nominees
Encountering Religious Pluralism:
The Challenge to Christian Faith & Mission

Harold Netland
InterVarsity

Christianity and Culture (tie)
37 Nominees
A Visit to Vanity Fair:
Moral Essays on the Present Age

Alan Jacobs
Brazos

The Church/Pastoral Leadership
26 Nominees
Powers, Weakness, and the Tabernacling of God

Marva J. Dawn
Eerdmans

Fiction
22 Nominees
A Common Life:
The Wedding Story

Jan Karon
Viking

History/Biography
27 Nominees
Heaven Below:
Early Pentecostals and American Culture

Grant Wacker
Harvard

Missions/Global Affairs
11 Nominees
No Other Gods Before Me?:
Evangelicals and the Challenge of World Relgions

John G. Stackhouse Jr., ed.
Baker Academic

Spirituality
24 Nominees
Growing Pains:
Learning to Love My Father's Faith

Randall Balmer
Brazos

Theology/Ethics
46 Nominees
With the Grain of the Universe:
The Church's Witness and Natural Theology

Stanley Hauerwas
Brazos

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Related Elsewhere

To order any of these books click on the book covers above or visit Christianbook.com.

Also appearing on our site today:

Christianity Today reviews of books listed above include: