From Topic to Thesis: A Guide to Theological Research

Does exactly what it’s intended- it’s a step by step aide for developing a basic (but well done) research paper. One that’s quite small and easy to keep in the backpack for quick reference as you check back for each phase of research and writing. Practical and quick to read through- even if you procrastinated and are panicking because you’re behind, it’s worth starting here to calm some nerves and plug away at the process, even if you feel like you don’t have enough time.

I had to read this for seminary. Concise read with lots of practical explanations and planning for the foundations of quality scholarly research.

As a new post-graduate student, I found this book so friendly to introduce the topic of research encouraging me to learn more and apply the practical advice in my future writing. Thank you Dr. Kibbe. Shalom

This is a well-written, useful book, but it's not what I expected. Based on the title and subtitle, I was expecting something about master's theses (masters' theses?) and focused on theological research. It is, instead, focused primarily on the smaller-scale papers one would write within the context of a single course, and more of a general guide to research that happens to use theological research as its context. It's a fairly short book and to-the-point, which is especially helpful if you're already carrying a heavy academic load and don't have a lot of extra time for reading. Concrete examples are threaded throughout the entire process so you understand exactly what the author is talking about. These examples are specific to the kinds of assignment one might typically have in seminary courses, which wasn't of much use to me as someone looking to do interdisciplinary research. (The book mentions interdisciplinary writing, in passing, but it's referring to distinct sub-disciplines of theology, not theology and non-theological disciplines.) Only the appendices particularly focus on knowledge specific to theological research. If you're a seminary or Bible school student looking to learn how to write a research paper, this is probably an excellent fit. If you already have a strong grasp of the research and writing process, and are looking for information about doing theological research, specifically, this may not be the book you're looking for.

very useful reference book for my research paper

This is a great work for beginners on writing. I read it over the summer prepping to teach a senior level composition class to high schoolers. It does the trick.

Wonderful deal, Great product

If you are a beginning theological student, you must own and read this book. I teach an Introduction to Theological Research course at an evangelical Seminary in the United States and this book will be assigned to my students beginning in the Fall semester of 2016. Kibbe offers a clear, concise guide to theological research that will help students understand the expectations of theological faculty. Especially helpful is the chapter on identifying and using sources. The excursus on mistakes that students make in using research sources is worth the price of the book. Also note the appendix on navigating the ATLA Religion Database, one of the most essential resources for theological research.