Customer Reviews

New Dictionary of Biblical Theology: Exploring the Unity & Diversity of Scripture

5 star:		(9)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

This excellent work seeks to illuminate the key themes of biblical theology. Biblical theology seeks to understand the parts of the Bible in relation to the whole canon of Scripture. (As opposed to systematic theology, which seeks to develop large categories in which to fit the biblical data; while both are helpful, biblical theology is essential to systematic theology.) This dictionary seeks to illustrate this connectedness in three ways (sections). The first section offers various articles ranging in topic from the history of biblical theology to the actual doing of biblical theology. The second section provides a look at a biblical theology of the biblical corpora and books (i.e. Genesis to Kings, Wisdom books, Prophetic books, Synoptic Gospels, Luke-Acts, the Johannine writings, Paul, and articles on individual books). The third section, which I found particularly helpful, is a collection of essays on the certain biblical themes.

A good example of the kind of work taking place in this third section comes in the article on the nation of Israel (pp. 581  586). Here the author shows, among other things, how the New Testament presents Jesus as the True Israel. The following are some of the arguments from the article: Jesus replaces Israel as God's Son (Hos 11:1; Matt 2:14-15). Jesus replaces Israel as the true vine (John 15:1  see Ps 80:9-16; Isa 5:1-7; 27:2ff; Jer 2:21; 12:l0ff; Ezek 15:1-8; 17:1-21; 19:10-14; Hos 10:1-2). Jesus succeeded as the true Servant of God where Israel failed. Jesus reenacts Israels history: the exodus from Egypt (Matt 2:19-20), the crossing of the Red Sea (Matt 3:13-17), the temptations in the wilderness (Matt 4:1-11), and the arrival at Mt. Sinai to receive the law (Matt 5:1-2), and He receives the expected out-pouring of Gods Spirit (Matt 3:16; cf. Isa 44:2-3; Ezek 36:25-27), showing that Jesus is truly the Son with whom God is pleased (Matt 3:16). John also uses the great images for Israel in the Old Testament for Jesus and His disciples (the good shepherd and the flock in 10:11-16 and vine and the branches in 15:1-5). Through Christ the covenant is fulfilled and those who become a part of the people of God do so through Him, thus they too are part of the fulfilled covenant. The true people of God (Israel) is seen in the Church (both Jews and Gentiles  Gal 3:6-9, 6:16; Rom 2:28-29), though God has yet to finish His work with ethnic Israel as well (Romans 9-11). Jesus replaces Israel as Abraham's seed (Gal 3:16). To be a part of the people of God, you must be a child of Abraham (Gal 3:29).

This work is a dictionary, and as with most works of this type, it has many contributors. However, I believe this is one of the key strengths of a work like this. The editors (all heavy-hitting scholars in their own right) have selected scholars to write in the areas in which they have already done extensive work. This gives the reader access to what some of the greatest evangelical theologians are saying on a wide range of topics.

For serious Bible students, this work is an essential buy. One would be hard pressed to find any other single volume work which deals with such a wide range of biblical themes in such an excellent way.

[I've] had a chance to use this book, and I must say that this new dictionary is one of the finest on the market. The format of this dictionary is unique. The first section contains several lengthy articles on subjects that affect biblical theology. The second section contains articles on each genre of literature in the Bible and articles on the individual books of the Bible. The final section of the book is the actual dictionary, which has numerous entries on various biblical themes. This one book serves as an introduction to biblical interpretation, an Old Testament and New Testament introduction, and a Bible Dictionary. And at 863 not-so-large print pages, one could hardly say that this book just gives a cursory view of Biblical Theology. This Dictionary is an excellent tool for both students and professors. ....

This book is one of the very best aids for understanding the Bible. Contributors include some of the pioneers in evangelical biblical theology, as well as many of the most respected biblical scholars of recent years.

Here are a few of the many helpful contributors:
Graeme Goldsworthy
Donald Hagner
Tremper Longman
Douglas Moo
Alec Motyer
Ray Ortlund
Jim Packer
Max Turner
and
David Peterson

The book includes helpful articles about the discipline of biblical theology and comparisons with systematic theology in Part 1 and articles about some of the main biblical themes in Part 3. Part 2 breaks the Bible up into large chunks and then discusses about three main themes of:
Genesis to Kings
Wisdom Books
Prophetic Books
Synoptic Gospels
Luke-Acts
Johannine Writings
and
Paul

Part 2 then continues by going into detail on each biblical book.

Highly recommended.

If you would like this book at a bargain price, with 17 other helpful books, including the Dictionary of Biblical Imagery, Sinclair Ferguson's New Dictionary of Theology, the New Bible Dictionary and the New Bible Commentary, Amazon also sells the Essential IVP Reference Collection CD ROM.

This book, Commentary on the New Testament Use of the Old Testament, and Dictionary of Biblical Imagery, among others are heralds of a new era dawning in Evangelical scholarship.

For most of the 20th century the dominant approach to Biblical interpretation, even among Evangelicals was based on higher critical assumptions about the independence of each book of the Bible. Therefore, rather than look at themes as they develop in the Bible, atomistic, and sometimes even deconstructing approaches were preferred.

Source critcism, while still popular in some circles is now less credible, and where credible less popoular and this has opened the door for a new generation of scholars to look at the Bible as a whole without getting laughed out of town. This approach of looking at themes as they develop throughout the canon is known as "Biblical Theology." The editors of this book are the leaders in the evangelical wing of that movement.

What this means to the layperson or pastor is that this book is worth a cover to cover read. Here you have scholars developing and examining the themes of the Bible in a way that rarely occurs in other kinds of resources. This kind of thematic development, if you are not accustomed to it will open up a whole new world in your preaching and Biblical Interpretation. One of the most important references on my shelf.

This large reference work is all about biblical theology. That is, it deals with the themes and content in the bible, how they begin in the old testament, and then how those themes pan out in the new testament. The book deals with many many topics and also the books of the bible. Also contains articles on biblical theology. A great resource, rich in biblical understanding on the level of typology and scriptural themes. It is very useful for grasping and connecting the old testament with the fulfillment in the new. Not to be missed.

If you need a dictionary - for ministry or academic purposes - on theological terms and concepts found in the Bible then this book is perfect for you. It is very comprehensive and deep enough for scholars yet easy enough to read for the inquisitive lay person. It has many articles discussing pertinent issues in biblical studies (e.g., hermeneutics, the relationship between OT and NT, the relationship between systematic and biblical theology, etc.), provides a good overview of all the books of the Bible, and discusses practically every issue found in Scripture. I would even be bold enough to say that this is the best volume in the whole IVP dictionary series. Whether you're a minister or seminary student get this book for your library. You will never regret purchasing this very important and resourceful volume in the series.

This book is informative. It is a dictionary which i was a little intimated by at first (look at the thing, it's huge), but it is very easy to read and grasp without an extensive vocabulary or large knowledge of the Bible. I am using it for a class but intend on keeping it after the class for my personal use.

'Without revelation we cannot know God.' p 35

The NDBT is a major contribution to biblical and theological word studies. The wealth of contributors distinguish their definitive articles in the way by which they interpret the Old Testament christologically, that is, from the present perspective of its fulfillment in Christ. Thereby, they demonstrate the inter-relatedness of the Old Testament to the New, as promise to fulfillment. Biblical Theology seeks to understand the parts of the Bible in relation to the whole canon of Scripture.

Root concepts are defined and discussed, wherein similar words are combined into one topic, e.g., such as gift and grace, mercy and compassion, persecution and suffering, sacrifice and atonement. As each author seeks to explicate the Old Testament occurrence to the New Testament meaning, the exegetical result should be highly christocentric. This forms the third, but major occupation of this theological dictionary.

Preceding the alphabetical definitive essays themselves, are two helpful sections that weigh in heavily in the discipline of Biblical Theology - all in essay form as well. First off, we have an introduction to the history of Biblical Theology, which is followed by sections as to why the central hermeneutical structures best bring out the unity and diversity of Scripture and are to be maintained in its effective pursuance. Also discussed are the relationship of Systematic Theology to Biblical Theology, and the relationship of Preaching to Biblical Theology. The second section contains all the books of the Bible, from Genesis to Revelation, discussed individually in sequence, with preference given to making plain the OT usage in the NT.

Biblical Theology is no longer exclusively a Reformed discipline, and the name of Geerhardus Vos is not mentioned once - for all is done in the Name of Christ. Yet, evangelical as it may appear, certain names do tend to elicit concern:

Arminian, IH Marshall: Philippians Thessalonians, Incarnation, Jesus
Emergent, Scott McKnight: John the Baptist
Charismatic, Wayne Grudem: Prophecy/Prophets

From my experience, it would be best to avoid especially these contributions in the light of their overall respective positions. There are, again, certain contributors one anticipates with all eagerness.

Each and every section in the book is ended with a very helpful bibliography of related material offered in the hope of further research.

'The kingdom of God is the sphere in which He reigns; it presupposes a community of people who have submitted to His rule and who act as both its agent and its sign.' p 408

'Christians live with the tension between Israel and Jacob within themselves until the final redemption (Romans 8:23).' p 586

'The tension between divine salvation and judgment for Israel is resolved in the sense that belonging to the remnant means survival.' p 723

I own a electronic version of this book. It has been an astounding reference in my own biblical studies. I plan to attend Seminary soon, and I know this will be a gold mine there. Unfortunately the Church Education of most contemporary churches is seriously lacking of theological substance, so a work like this has little value in these environments.

But this work has aided me here and there in my formal debates with atheists on www.iidb.org, with theists on usenet newsgroups, and in the writing of some articles on my website (http://johnw.freeshell.org/bible).

Great work! I encourage every christian to buy this. If they did, perhaps the church leaders in most churches will be forced to spice up their bible curriculum.

The New Dictionary of Biblical Theology is a truly carefully crafted work. It has a very broad spectrum of scholars from all over the English speaking world that love the scriptures. I am very encouraged with what I find there. The several articles I have rambled through showed very careful thought and good to the point writing style.