Concise Dictionary of Theology [Paperback]

Gerald O'Collins (Author), Edward G. Farrugia (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: July 1991

This revised and expanded dictionary adds fifty new entries, an index of names, references and a stronger emphasis on ecumenical issues and Eastern Christianity.

--This text refers to an alternate Paperback edition.

Editorial Reviews

From Library Journal

Compiled by two Jesuit theologians, this dictionary defines more than 1200 theological terms with entries ranging in size from single sentences to 500-word essays. Construing "theology" very broadly, the authors include biblical, catechetical, ethical, historical, liturgical, and philosophical terms. Though some are taken from Protestant, Eastern Orthodox, and non-Christian traditions, the dictionary is primarily for students of Roman Catholicism. The entries are thoroughly cross-referenced and, with relatively few lapses, lucidly defined. The authors do not aim for originality, and most of the terms they have chosen can be found in one or more of the standard dictionaries and encyclopedias of Catholicism. There are no bibliographies or biographical entries. Still, this convenient, up-to-date compendium of terms will be a valued desk companion for anyone confronting texts laced with the argot of Catholic theology. Recommended.
- Steve Gowler, Wofford Coll., Spartanburg, S.C.
Copyright 1991 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Review

A masterpiece of terse, tightly-organized and always well-written information and explanation. -- The Tablet

A revised and expanded edition of what was already a great book to have around, and it's even better now. -- The Catechist's Connection

A useful resource for students and others seeking basic theological information -- Library Journal

A useful resource for students and others seeking basic theological information. -- Library Journal

Exceptional. -- Today's Books

Provides a valuable academic resource for students in theology. --Catholic Library Association --This text refers to an alternate Paperback edition.

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Product Details

• Paperback: 268 pages
• Publisher: Paulist Pr (July 1991)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0809132354
• ISBN-13: 978-0809132355
• Product Dimensions: 9 x 6 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 12.8 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #3,530,329 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Most Helpful Customer Reviews

13 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Great for Intermediate to Advanced Level Theo Student, October 9, 2005

By 

V. Figueroa (Detroit/Southfield, MI USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: A Concise Dictionary of Theology (Stimulus Book) (Paperback)

I'm enrolled at a seminary, and my prof recommended this book as a companion to our other textbooks. I use it every time I read my assignments and review my class notes. The book contains key theology terms, definitions and concepts, written in easy to understand language. I will probably use this book for every pertinent class or lecture throughout my educational career.

7 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Awesome resource!, June 27, 2008

By 

Kathleen M. Osenbau "Kathey Osenbau" (Chandler, AZ, USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: A Concise Dictionary of Theology (Stimulus Book) (Paperback)

This book has been an incredible resource tool for me in my Master's program for Pastoral Studies! I highly recommend it for Theology students as well as anyone in ministry.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Best and only dictionary of its kind in print, September 16, 2010

By 

mike shea - See all my reviews

This review is from: A Concise Dictionary of Theology (Stimulus Book) (Paperback)

This dictionary has been the single most helpful work of reference that I have used in my 10 years of studying theology. O'Collins and Farrugia tend to emphasize terms that appear more often in constructive (or systematic) theology. You'll find, for example, all of the significant ancient heresies dealing with the Church's development of Christology or Trinitarian theology and ample discussion of more philosophical terms (e.g. "positivism," "empiricism" "Aristotelianism," "Averroism"). There are a number of entries for terms relating to biblical exegesis, Church history and institutions (e.g., "Crusades," "Malibar Christians"), but an adequate treatment of these fields is really beyond the scope of any portable reference work. (FYI: For a fine 1-volume dictionary of technical terms for biblical exegesis, have a look at Richard N. Soulen and R. Kendall Soulen's "Handbook of Biblical Criticism, 3rd ed., Revised and Expanded"; for an adequate 1-volume work on Christian history, there is none better than F.L. Cross and E.A. Livingstone's "The Oxford Dictionary of the Christian Church, 3rd ed. Revised and Expanded; this latter work has recently been published in a much cheaper, concise version, which is probably quite good, but I haven't perused it). In addition to these inevitable deficiencies, this dictionary would have been greatly enhanced if its authors had included bibliographic information with each entry. But in lieu of their accomplishment, this is a minor point. To my knowledge, there is no other work like this in print today, and if doing theology is your mainstay, it will certainly be one of the most used books on your shelf, regardless of your level of learning. I'll end this review with an anecdote from an introductory theology class that I taught 2 years ago, in which this dictionary was a required companion piece. After the first few weeks of class, I wondered whether students were using this dictionary and began to feel some regret for having compelled them to purchase it. Then at mid-term, I handed out an informal teaching evaluation and asked the students to rate each book they had been exposed to (4-5, I believe) from 1-10, according to how "helpful" the book had been. My undergraduate students consistently rated this book the highest. So in short, if you are thinking about buying this book, you probably should do so! (Note to professors in theology: You may want to get your hands on the out-of-print "Theological Dictionary" written by Karl Rahner and Herbert Vorgrimler for your shelves. While O'Collins and Farrugia's "Concise Dictionary" is better overall, many of the former work's entries provide complementary information).