Customer Reviews

Zondervan Pictorial Encyclopedia of the Bible, Vols. 1-5

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I was looking for a comprehensive (but not exhaustive) reference work for my personal study of the bible -- something I wouldn't need a Theology degree to understand. These volumes fit the bill perfectly. They are both convenient and provide value when considering the amount of content. This work is written at a level that is very usuable for families, college students, and lay people. It's format is very reminiscent of World Book encyclopedia; any lengthy article is preceded by an outline which is a handy reference in itself. (This was how I first learned to outline when I was in Middle School.) The larger articles are also followed by a bibliography but these are getting a little dated. Pictures are scattered liberally throughout the pages. Most are black and white but there are sections of color plates within each volume. Most of the color photos are of the modern day settings of biblical significance in Israel and surrounding regions. This is an easy text to find a quick answer or have a more lengthy read. (In reference to the Amazon review titled "Galations", I am not sure what the difficulty was in finding answers to the two questions. Both answers can be found in Vol.2 in the article on the book of Galations, on page 635 in Section 6 titled "Date and Place".) This would be an excellent edition to anyone's library.

The articles in this large set are clearly written and have an easy contemporary style. I reach for this encyclopedia when I want to find an answer quickly, or when I know that my question is so obvious that will be answered. However, when I am look for depth, I use more detailed and academically oriented resources.

The set is sufficient for preparation for a Sunday School lesson, but in many cases would be too meager for use in a college class. For a pictorial encyclopedia, I have found most of the pictures to be of little help. The pictures make the size of the resource less intimidating for those that get overwhelmed by page after page of nothing but words.

The ZONDERVAN PICTORIAL ENCYCLOPEDIA OF THE BIBLE is one of the best Bible encyclopedias that you can purchase. I first found these volumes while in Bible college and grew to love them. Once I graduated, I purchased these encyclopedias with the money I recieved from family members for my graduation!

The volumes cover nearly every subject you can think of in regard to the Bible. From archeology to Zachariah. The articles, the bibliography, and the charts and pictures that the encyclopedia gives you offer vast amounts of information.

I predict that these volumes will become a favorite if you purchase them. I recommend the Zondervan Bible encyclopedia as one of the best out there. You will not be dissappointed.

This 5 volume set is a great resource; simple to read yet scholerly-- the pictures put you right there with the subject.