The Oxbridge Theology Reading List

Despite not being expected to have formally studied Theology, Religious Studies, or Divinity before applying to Oxbridge, it can be very helpful for the interview to build a broad knowledge base to show your academic curiosity for theology. To help you prepare, we’ve curated a theology reading list across core areas—Biblical Studies & Early Christianity, Philosophy of Religion & Ethics, Systematic & Eastern Theology, and World Religions; ranging from accessible introductions to seminal scholarly works.

Biblical Studies, Form Criticism & Early Christianity

Alter, Robert. The Art of Biblical Poetry. New York: Basic Books, 1985. 

A key text for learning how literary structure and poetic technique shape the theological meaning of the Hebrew Bible.

Barton, John. A History of the Bible: The Story of the World's Most Influential Book. New York: Viking, 2019. 

Written by a former Oxford professor, this book provides a thorough account of the formation of the biblical canon. 

Bultmann, Rudolf. The History of the Synoptic Tradition. Translated by John Marsh. Oxford: Basil Blackwell, 1963. 

Significant in historical-critical methodology and form criticism to unpack how early oral traditions shaped the Gospels.

Dibelius, Martin. From Tradition to Gospel. Translated by Bertram Lee Woolf. London: James Clarke & Co., 1934. 

Alongside Bultmann, this foundational text demonstrates how the early Christian community's life and worship influenced the writing of the Gospel accounts.

Osborn, Eric. Irenaeus of Lyons. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 2001. 

A guide to early Patristic thought, showing how early Christian identity was forged in opposition to Gnosticism.

Sanders, E. P. Paul and Palestinian Judaism: A Comparison of Patterns of Religion. Philadelphia: Fortress Press, 1977. 

An important study that reshaped modern Pauline scholarship by re-evaluating first-century Jewish theology against early Christian writings (for more on this subject, look at N.T. Wright’s work)

Philosophy of Religion, Ethics & Continental Thought

Aquinas, Thomas. Summa Theologiae: Questions on God. Edited by Brian Leftow and Brian Davies. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 2006. 

A cornerstone of scholastic theology, systematically laying out classical arguments for God's existence and attributes.

Augustine of Hippo. Confessions. Translated by Henry Chadwick. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1991. 

Part autobiography and part theological treatise, Augustine's work explores grace, memory, time, and the human search for truth.

Davies, Brian. An Introduction to the Philosophy of Religion. 3rd ed. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2004. 

An exceptionally clear overview of core philosophical dilemmas, including the problem of evil, language about God, and miracle claims.

Mackie, J. L. The Miracle of Theism: Arguments For and Against the Existence of God. Oxford: Clarendon Press, 1982. 

A rigorous, logical critique of classical arguments for theism by one of the 20th century's most formidable atheist philosophers.

Nietzsche, Friedrich. On the Genealogy of Morality. Edited by Keith Ansell-Pearson. Translated by Carol Diethe. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 1994. 

A thorough critique of Christian ethics that challenges traditional notions of good, evil, and the origin of moral values.

Plantinga, Alvin. God, Freedom, and Evil. Grand Rapids, MI: William B. Eerdmans Publishing Company, 1977. 

A contribution to contemporary analytic philosophy, offering the famous "Free Will Defence" to the logical problem of evil.

Swinburne, Richard. The Existence of God. 2nd ed. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2004. 

Written by a leading Oxford philosopher of religion, this work uses Bayesian probability theory to argue that the existence of God is more likely than not.

Systematic, Modern & Eastern Christian Theology

Armstrong, Karen. A History of God: The 4,000-Year Quest of Judaism, Christianity and Islam. New York: Alfred A. Knopf, 1993. 

An accessible comparative analysis exploring how the concept of a single deity evolved across the three major Abrahamic faiths.

Ford, David F. Theology: A Very Short Introduction. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1999. 

An inviting overview that maps out what theological study entails, connecting ancient texts to contemporary questions of meaning.

Lewis, C. S. Mere Christianity. London: Geoffrey Bles, 1952. 

A classic work of modern Christian apologetics, presenting a reasoned defence of common ground across different Christian traditions.

Lossky, Vladimir. The Mystical Theology of the Eastern Church. London: James Clarke & Co., 1957. 

An introduction to Eastern Orthodox thought, emphasising the unknowability of God and the concept of human deification (theosis).

Tillich, Paul. Dynamics of Faith. New York: Harper & Row, 1957. 

An influential modern theological work that redefines faith not as intellectual belief, but as a state of "ultimate concern."

Volf, Miroslav. Exclusion and Embrace: A Theological Exploration of Identity, Otherness, and Reconciliation. Nashville: Abingdon Press, 1996. 

A powerful work of modern social theology exploring how Christian ideas of forgiveness apply to ethnic conflict and systemic injustice.

Ware, Kallistos. The Orthodox Way. Crestwood, NY: St. Vladimir's Seminary Press, 1979. 

A clear and practical introduction to Eastern Orthodox spiritual tradition, written by a renowned Oxford scholar.

Williams, Rowan. Tokens of Trust: An Introduction to Christian Belief. Louisville, KY: Westminster John Knox Press, 2007. 

The former Archbishop of Canterbury offers a thoughtful, highly accessible exploration of what it means to hold Christian beliefs in the modern world.

World Religions

Leaman, Oliver. An Introduction to Classical Islamic Philosophy. 2nd ed. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 2001. 

A survey exploring how medieval Islamic thinkers attempting to harmonise revelation and Quranic commentary with Greek philosophy.

Westerhoff, Jan. Nāgārjuna's Madhyamaka: A Philosophical Introduction. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2009. 

An authoritative study by an Oxford scholar exploring the complex Buddhist philosophy of emptiness and impermanence.

Williams, John Alden, ed. Islam. New York: George Braziller, 1961. 

An introductory collection of foundational Islamic texts, covering the Quran, Hadith, law, and Sufi mysticism.

While this list highlights key titles across each area of theological study, it is only a starting point, nor do you need to read every text listed. We recommend starting with one or two introductory books from each section to build a solid foundation, and then following your curiosity into whichever topics interest you most, whether they appear here or on another Oxford or Cambridge Theology reading list. Look at the Theology course page if necessary. If there’s a specific area you’d like to explore further, or if you would like to work with one of our Theology tutors to boost your application, feel free to book a consultation!