Intent of this blog

Hello there,

I am a Christian–someone that has been saved by grace through faith in the work of Jesus Christ. This year I wish to be a discovery as I read through the Bible in its entirety. This is something that I ashamed to say that I have never done before.

This year, I have the basic reading plan in mind:

• I am going to read the Bible through chronologically from a Bible plan at the ESV website. This is a plan that attempts to sort the Bible in the order that the events occur. I am going to probably primarily use the ESV translation, but I am also going to look at others frequently. Lately I have become interested in the latest revision of the New Living Translation Bible, but my preferences there are apt to change. Not knowing the original languages of the Bible myself, I wish to compare translations of the Bible into English to try to get the meaning of the original as best as I am able.
• I am going to read through my existent theological library that I have not yet read, as well as what other books I get at Christmas (I will post what I receive later). I have a tendency to start new books before I finish others and I thus end up with a large collection of partially read books. This year I will read them all. I will read at a bare minimum 25 pages per day.
• I will read at least one sermon per week from a pastor that is no longer alive.

Here, it is my intent to post my thoughts, what I am learning, what I am being taught, what I am thinking about in doctrine, and so forth. I hope that through this year I can learn much and conform my views and thoughts to that of Christ.

Although I am going to be looking at books and sermons that are based on Scripture as well, I want Scripture to my main source of instruction. I am not going to limit myself to reading what only matches the reading plan. That is simply a backbone to support other reading and study.

My current books that I have in the approximate order I want to read them are:

• The Problem of Pain — C. S. Lewis
• Communion with the Triune God — John Owen
• The Institutes of Christian Religion — John Calvin (abridged)
• Martin Luther: Selections from his writings
• Keep in Step with the Spirit — J. I. Packer
• Knowing Scripture — R. C. Sproul
• Future Grace — John Piper
• The Gospel According to Jesus — John MacArthur
• God at Work? — Jonathan Edwards (abridged)
• Grace & Power — Charles Spurgeon
• Essentials of the Christian Faith — R. C. Sproul
• If there’s a God, why are there atheists? — R. C. Sproul
• Now, That’s a Good Question! — R. C. Sproul
• Rediscovering Holiness — J. I. Packer
• The Bible: A Missionary Book — J. B. Lawrence
• God was in Christ — D. M. Bailee

I mostly have books written in the reformed tradition, but I have a few others outside this as well that I hope to glean from.

I currently have three books of sermons to look at as well:

• Sermons on Men of the Bible — Charles Spurgeon
• The New York Street Pulpit Volumes I & II — Charles Spurgeon (facsimile)
• Sermons of Jonathan Edwards

I hope that through all this I may glorify God. Although this blog will probably mostly be for my own musing and purposes to lack back on, I also would appreciate interaction as I explore different Biblical texts that may be harder to understand.

As for the name of this blog and my name, it is taken from the audience of Luke and Acts. These books were written to one called “most excellent Theophilus.” While some believe this is a person, “theophilus” means one who loves God or “a friend of God.” I chose this term because it describes those who have been made God’s children as I have, as well as to use a real name while keeping anonymity for personal reasons. Kratistos is the transliteration of the word translated to “most excellent.” Thus I call myself Kratistos Theophilus.

May God be glorified through this endeavor, and may I grow in wisdom and in knowledge! To God be the glory.