Theological Roadmap

Foundation for the New Testament

Goal: Understand the basics of the Old Testament.

Old Testament Introduction

Assignments:

Make sure you are familiar with the Old Testament books. The Pentateuch is especially foundational (Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, Deuteronomy).
Reference the video series Old Testament by the Bible Project for quick overviews of each book.
Watch the lecture series Dr. Ted Hildebrandt, Old Testament History, Literature and Theology for a focus on OT history.
Watch the lecture series TMS Archives: Old Testament Introduction - Dr. Bill Barrick by The Master's Seminary for a focus on background issues.
Read The Moody Handbook of Messianic Prophecy: Studies and Expositions of the Messiah in the Old Testament for a comprehensive overview of Old Testament expectations about the Messiah.
Reference either the ESV Study Bible for historical background, authorship, and outlines of each book or an Old Testament introduction such as A Survey of the Old Testament: Fourth Edition by Andrew Hill and John Walton.

Deliverables:

Be able to discuss the major themes and narratives of the Old Testament.

Extra Credit:

Read about the major theme of the Exodus throughout Scripture:

Echoes of Exodus: Tracing Themes of Redemption through Scripture by Alastair J. Roberts and Andrew Wilson is a shorter treatment.
Exodus Old and New: A Biblical Theology of Redemption (Essential Studies in Biblical Theology) by L. Michael Morales is a detailed look at the Exodus and its significance.

Read detailed books about the various sections of the Old Testament:

From Paradise to the Promised Land by T. Desmond Alexander.
Handbook on the Historical Books: Joshua, Judges, Ruth, Samuel, Kings, Chronicles, Ezra-Nehemiah, Esther by Victor P. Hamilton.
Handbook on the Wisdom Books and Psalms by Daniel J. Estes.
An Introduction to the Old Testament Prophetic Books by C. Hassell Bullock.

Fulfillment of the Old Testament

Goal: Understand the basics of the New Testament.

New Testament Introduction

Assignments:

Make sure you are familiar with the books of the New Testament.
Watch the lecture series Dr. Dave Mathewson, New Testament Literature for a good overview of New Testament books.
Watch the lecture series TMS Archives: New Testament Studies - Dr. Keith Essex by The Master's Seminary for another strong introduction to the New Testament.
Reference either the ESV Study Bible for background material on each book or a New Testament introduction such as An Introduction to the New Testament by D. A. Carson and G. K. Beale.
Reference The Story Retold: A Biblical-Theological Introduction to the New Testament by G. K. Beale and Benjamin L. Gladd for an introduction that explains how the New Testament relates to the Old and focuses more on the contents of the New Testament.

Deliverables:

Be able to discuss the major themes and narratives of the New Testament.

Extra Credit:

Learn about hermenutics, the study of how to interpret the Bible:

Watch Dr. Dave Mathewson, Hermeneutics (30 lectures).
Read Exegetical Fallacies by D. A. Carson.

Learn the specifics of New Testament Theology:

Watch Dr. Dave Mathewson, New Testament Theology (30 lectures).
Read Pauline Christology: An Exegetical-Theological Study by Gordon D. Fee.

Putting the Testaments Together

Goal: Understand the story of redemption from beginning to end.

Biblical Theology

Assignments:

Make sure you are familiar with the Old and New Testaments.
Watch the lecture series Dr. Dave Mathewson, The Storyline of the Bible (6 lectures) for a short but insightful introduction.
Read From Eden to the New Jerusalem: An Introduction to Biblical Theology by T. Desmond Alexander.
Read Long Story Short: The Bible in 12 Phrases by Glen Scrivener which anchors the story of redemption in specific verses.
Watch the lecture series Introduction to Biblical Theology - Dr. Thomas Schreiner for a more detailed introduction.
Read The Mystery of Christ, His Covenant, and His Kingdom by Samuel Renihan which anchors the story of redemption in specific covenants.
Reference Commentary on the New Testament Use of the Old Testament: (A Comprehensive Bible Commentary on Old Testament Quotations, Allusions & Echoes That Appear from Matthew through Revelation) by D. A. Carson and G. K. Beale for specific exegetical details.

Deliverables:

Be able to discuss the major themes and narratives of the Bible from beginning to end.

Extra Credit:

Read more about how the Old Testament points forward to the New Testament:

Typology-Understanding the Bible's Promise-Shaped Patterns: How Old Testament Expectations are Fulfilled in Christ by James M. Hamilton Jr. gives a detailed explanation of how the Old Testament points forward to the New.
The Messianic Hope: Is the Hebrew Bible Really Messianic? (NAC Studies in Bible & Theology) by Michael Rydelnik is a shorter book about the thoroughly messianic nature of the Old Testament.

Read more detailed books on Biblical Theology:

Biblical Theology: Old and New Testaments by Geerhardus Vos is a classic, but it is dense and requires work.
A New Testament Biblical Theology: The Unfolding of the Old Testament in the New by G. K. Beale is comprehensive and detailed.
Making All Things New: Inaugurated Eschatology for the Life of the Church by Benjamin L. Gladd and Matthew S. Harmon is based on the book above, but it is much easier to understand and provides practical implications for life and ministry.

Systematizing the Truth

Goal: Understand the organization and contents of theology.

Systematic Theology

Assignments:

Reference Concise Theology: A Guide to Historic Christian Beliefs by J. I. Packer for a basic overview of Christian theology and terms.
Read What Is the Difference between Systematic Theology and Biblical Theology? by Jon Nielson.
Watch Sola Scriptura Defended in 6 Minutes by Gavin Ortlund for a protestant perspective on the role of Scripture in the formulation of theology.
Watch Dr. Robert Peterson, Revelation and Holy Scripture for a more detailed theology of Scripture.
Reference Systematic Theology, Second Edition: An Introduction to Biblical Doctrine by Wayne Grudem for an introduction to each topic. Although not usually my first choice, it is immensely readable, liked by many, and well organized.
Watch Systematic Theology 1 [Class] by Chip Bennett for a balanced introduction to systematic theology.
Read Biblical Critical Theory: How the Bible's Unfolding Story Makes Sense of Modern Life and Culture by Christopher Watkin to learn how theology relates to culture and other worldviews.
Read A New Systematic Theology of the Christian Faith: 2nd Edition - Revised and Updated by Robert Reymond for a solid reformed systematic.
Read Baptists, The Only Thorough Religious Reformers by John Quincy Adams to get a specifically Baptist take on the need for doctrinal and practical reform in the church.

Deliverables:

Be able to discuss the basic contents of theology and remember the major verses on which doctrines are based.

Extra Credit:

Read some more systematic theologies to deepen your understanding:

Systematic Theology: An Introduction to Christian Belief by John Frame provides an interesting and helpful multiperspectival approach to theology and philosophy.
Reformed Dogmatics (4 Volume Set) by Herman Bavinck interacts with modern philosophy and liberal theology.
Institutes of Elenctic Theology (3 Volume Set) by Francis Turretin interacts with the Papists, Arminians, and Socinians.

Read books on specific topics:

Canon Revisited: Establishing the Origins and Authority of the New Testament Books by Michael J. Kruger.
The Distinctiveness of Baptist Covenant Theology by Pascal Denault.
The Sovereign Grace of God: A Biblical Study of the Doctrines of Calvinism (Reformation Press Edition) by James White.
The End for Which God Created the World: Updated to Modern English by Jonathan Edwards.
The Atonement: An Introduction (Short Studies in Systematic Theology) by Jeremy Treat.
The Fire That Consumes: A Biblical and Historical Study of the Doctrine of Final Punishment. 3rd edition, fully updated, revised and expanded by Edward Fudge.
Baptism in the Early Church: History, Theology, and Liturgy in the First Five Centuries by Everett Ferguson.
The Doctrine on Which the Church Stands or Falls: Justification in Biblical, Theological, Historical, and Pastoral Perspective (Foreword by D. A. Carson) is a collection of essays by various protestant authors.