All monographs are books, but not all books are monographs. That probably doesn’t help much. Monographs are a particular type of book that specializes in one particular idea, usually a narrow idea, and the whole book is dedicated to arguing or expounding on that particular idea. The etymology of monograph comes from mono, meaning “one” or “only,” and graph, meaning “writing.”

For example, an Introduction to the New Testament is not a monograph, since it surveys a broad area of the New Testament. That doesn’t mean there is no place for a New Testament introduction; it just means it is not a monograph. Generally, surveys, textbooks, and popular-level books are not monographs. Systematic theologies are not monographs either, nor are books on Pauline theology or a collection of essays in an edited volume, nor are spiritual, devotional books. They are books, and can be helpful books, and there is definitely a place for them in higher learning, but they are not monographs. Furthermore, all dissertations (PhD theses) are monographs, but not all monographs are dissertations. Dissertations are monographs for obtaining a terminal degree (usually PhD, DPhil, or equivalent), depending on one’s field of study.

One will find monographs in academic publisher series, such as Wissenschaftliche Untersuchungen zum Neuen Testament (WUNT with Mohr Siebeck) or Linguistic Biblical Studies (LBS with Brill) in New Testament studies, and sometimes even print publishers like Baker Academic or Wipf & Stock. There is usually a single research question that the author attempts to answer in a comprehensive, systematic way. Examples of a monograph might be Paul’s use of metaphor in his letters, or an argument for a particular theory of atonement. Some books are clearly monographs; some may not be as clear whether or not they are monographs.

All this to say that I’ve heard many times that we need less ivory-tower books that don’t reach the masses, or that academic study without application is meaningless. Something to that effect. While I sympathize with the sentiment behind this—and we do need to think of more productive ways of bridging the academy and the church—I think that there is something to producing monographs that benefits society as a whole.

I suggest three benefits (in good homiletic fashion) of producing monographs.

First, it forces the writer to think carefully in one of the most detailed manners that is possible in human experience. There are not many other activities besides writing a monograph that requires critical use of the mind. One must not only think of the idea to put forth but must spend at minimum 60,000 to 100,000 words or more explaining the idea and supporting it with evidence and argumentation, as well as articulating the idea and supporting material clearly and coherently. This process forces the writer to think hard, think deeply, think widely, and think precisely. It activates the brain in a way that few other mental activities do. This is why dissertations or theses are required for obtaining a PhD, because of the mental and cognitive rigor involved. So the more writers of monographs exist in a society, or in a guild such as Christian higher education, presumably there would be more critically thinking members of that group.

Second, producing monographs forces the reader to read carefully—often in monographs—in one of the most detailed manners that is possible in human experience. Monographs are arguably one of the most challenging works to read and comprehend because of the technical nature of a monograph. One must follow the train of thought of the monograph, the lines of argumentation, and evaluate the evidence presented in the monograph.

Third, producing monographs raises the bar for reading comprehension for society and the guild. I have a wild dream that the society in which I live, and that the generations who come after me, will be smarter, more intelligent, more capable of making their world a more enjoyable place to live. I don’t believe in Christian Reconstructionism (or theonomy). But I think we can also improve society, and I think one of the best ways to do that is to elevate the mental life of individuals.

And the monograph is one way among others to do that.

— David I. Yoon