Joshua Clutterham
1980 - 2022

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The Joshua Clutterham Memorial Library is dedicated in memory of Pastor Joshua Clutterham, a true pastor-theologian. 
To learn more about Joshua's life and legacy, check out the following links: A Tribute To Joshua By Obadiah McAdoo, his sermon archive, The Clutterham Collection, The Pilgrim's Prayer, his curriculum vitae and his final sermon at Clayton Community Church.

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Vision for this Library

The vision for this library, housed at the First Baptist Church of St. John, is for there to be high quality, theologically robust resources for the church. As opposed to the stereotypical church library that has fallen in disuse and laden with books that are often ill-advised to read or just off-topic, this library is to make commentaries and other resources accessible to the rest of the church.  Charles Spurgeon in his book, "Lectures to My Students" writes about the idea of this kind of church library:

"Some years ago I tried to induce our churches to have ministers’ libraries as a matter of course, and some few thoughtful people saw the value of the suggestion, and commenced carrying it out. With much pleasure I have seen here and there the shelves provided, and a few volumes placed upon them. I earnestly wish that such a beginning had been made everywhere; but, alas! I fear that a long succession of starveling ministers will alone arouse the miserly to the conviction that parsimony with a minister is false economy. Those churches which cannot afford a liberal stipend should make some amends by founding a library as a permanent part of their establishment; and, by making additions to it from year to year, it would soon become very valuable."

Another word that describes this endeavor is "War Room". We recognize that the Christian walk is one of filled with spiritual battles. Our tools are not the same as the battles waged in the flesh. We want to have the resources available to arm our teachers, pastors, and students of the Word to wage that war through the sound, Biblical teaching found in the pages of our best books written by the great theologians and saints that have gone before us. After his passing his wife Meredith graciously let myself and several others go through his massive collection of works. His books are now the seed of what I hope will become a War Room and our very own "Joshua Clutterham Memorial Library".

Soli Deo Gloria
​Rev. Joshua D. Holler
Pastor FBC St. John

Why create your own library when you can just use a local seminary library or Bible College?

Two reasons. There has been an increasing shift to do away with resources at the library. One of the Christian colleges in town now sends their students to other Christian schools to find resources for their papers! Another seminary I am acquainted with has sold off large portions of its holdings. And while it is true we have a wonderful seminary here in St. Louis, the access is not as easy or one would like. Besides being on the other side of town, it's not in the same context to have a place of study where our teachers and students in our church can interact with one another and be near our pastors for aid in their study, lesson preparation, and so on. We desire our church library to be accessible for our church and recreate an environment that is increasingly dwindling elsewhere. In addition to this, we envision this library being resource to other local church's and pastors that may not have the same kind of access to commentaries and aids.

Other libraries have more books - doesn't it seem unnecessary to try to duplicate what others are doing better?

I (Pastor Josh Holler) have had the privilege of using several excellent theological libraries over the years. These include Wheaton College, Covenant Theological Seminary and Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary. Each of these libraries have holdings in excess of hundreds of thousands of books. It is true - we have neither the space or manpower to maintain something like that. However, we don't intend to recreate something of that scale. Here's the interesting thing about those other libraries that's important:  the reference works (commentaries, dictionaries and encyclopedias) are only a fraction of their holdings! All the other books that may be helpful for these other institutions aren't necessary for our own aim. That is what we want this library to be - a reference library of commentaries, dictionaries, encyclopedias and other vital works (I would love for our holdings of Puritan works to be beefier than you would find in other places, for example). In being more specific to the types of books we we hold we can have a library in our church that is smaller in size and yet rivals some most seminary reference works sections.

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Two Ways to Support to this Library

The first way you can donate to this library project is by donating or purchasing books for us from our wish list (below). The commentaries don't need to be brand new, just as long as they are not in need of major repairs to binding and things like that. If the books are local, we can arrange to pick them up. If you are sending them via mail, please send them to:

Pastor Josh Holler
8650 Hume Ave.
​St. Louis, MO 63114

The second way you can donate is by giving designated funds so we can make our own purchases. You can do that by clicking on the donate button (below). This will take you to Tithley, our church giving platform, and from there specify the Church Library and give as you the Lord leads you.

Donate Funds

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To see our holdings click on the button below. We are about half way through cataloging the books.

HOldings

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Recognized Patron's of the Joshua Clutterham Memorial Library are those that either:

1) Donate or purchase 1 or more complete commentary set (see our wish list below) or
2) Give $500 or more toward our fund

All Patron's will have their name, business or institution displayed on a plaque in the completed library. We respect all those that choose to give anonymously. 

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Book Wishlist

The list below contains volumes we would love to add to our holdings. This list is not exhaustive or complete (we haven't had a chance to add dictionaries, encyclopedias or individual titles) and is composed primarily of complete or nearly complete commentary sets. You can click on the link which will take you to a place you can buy them online. It doesn't have to be purchased from that place- but that link will help you locate it (just click on the title of the commentary).

​We thank you for considering donating to this project.

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Puritan Classics

We desire to have an extensive library of the Puritan works. You can see our entire wish list for these titles by clicking on the Banner of Truth icon to the left.

Commentaries

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Christ Centered Exposition
We have some volumes. Please look at our holdings before purchasing.
Eerdman's Classic Biblical Commentary
15 Volumes
Expositor’s Bible Commentary
13 Volumes
International Critical Commentary
11 Volumes
​Reformation Commentary On Scripture
11 Volumes
Word Biblical Commentary
32 Volumes
Zondervan Illustrated Bible Backgrounds Commentary Old Testament
5 Volumes

The John Phillips New Testament Commentary
19 Volumes
Life Application Bible Commentary New Testament Set
17 Volumes
New American Commentary
1991– (nearly complete)
New Beacon Bible Commentary
43 Volumes
New International Commentary on the New Testament
1951– (nearly complete)
New International Commentary on the Old Testament
1965– (about 80% complete)
NIV Application Commentary
1994– (NT complete; OT nearly complete)
Pillar New Testament Commentary
1991– (about 60% complete)

Dictionaries

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Theological Dictionary of the Old Testament (link is only to one several volumes)
Exegetical Dictionary of the New Testament (link is to only one of several volumes)
IVP Bible Dictionary

Encyclopedias

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Zondervan Bible Encyclopedia
Encyclopedia of Ancient Christianity

Systematics

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Reformed Systematic Theology
Grudem's Systematic Theology
Bible Doctrine
A Theology of Lordship
Reformed Dogmatics
Studies in Dogmatics
New Studies in Dogmatics
​Clark Studies in Systematic Theology
Post Reformation Reformed Dogmatics
The Christian's Reasonable Service
Tillich's Systematics
Five Solas Series

Amazon Wishlist

This list (being updated and added to weekly) is our list of mostly non-reference works. Click on the button below to see the list.

Amazon Wishlist