Systematic Theology

Six years in the making, this state-of-the-art dictionary offers the most up-to-date and comprehensive treatment of biblical subjects and scholarship. An essential reference for every serious reader of the Bible. B & W illustrations and line-art throughout.

Anderson, director of the Overseas Ministries Studies Center in New Haven, Connecticut, coordinated the writings of 350 scholars from 45 countries to document the lives of nearly 2,500 missionaries from Catholic, Orthodox, Anglican, Pentecostal, independent, and indigenous churches. Arranged alphabetically (but with an appendix listing biographies chronologically and by subject), each entry includes a brief biographical sketch, as well as description of the subject's writings and contributions to contemporary mission issues. Copyright © Libri GmbH. All rights reserved.

A compendium of quotations culled from the ten volume Ante-Nicene Fathers and arranged by subject for quick reference. The quotes include comments on 700 theological, moral, and historical topics from prominent figures such as Origen, Clement of Alexandria, Clement of Rome, and Hippolytus. Some entries are accompanied by notes or relevant biblical verses. Annotation c. Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)

Written by known experts and edited by Craig A. Evans and Stanley E. Porter, this reference work with its full bibliographies and cross-references to other volumes in the series is the best for researching the New Testament in its ancient setting.

This is an encyclopedic treatment of a foundational section of the Bible, and a first stop for study and research of the Pentateuch.

Having the most recent scholarly thinking on biblical books in a handy dictionary is a wonderfully practical idea. Longman (Westmont College; author of An Introduction to the Old Testament, 2nd ed., 2000, and several biblical commentaries) and Enns (Westminster Theological Seminary; author of Inspiration and Incarnation, 2005, and a commentary on Exodus) have edited the seventh volume in "The IVP Dictionary Series" on the biblical canon. Although this book states that it deals with the wisdom, poetry, and writings sections of the Hebrew Bible, the reader should be aware that the editors have decided to treat 1-2 Chronicles, Ezra, and Nehemiah with the historical books and Daniel with the prophets in different volumes in the series. In this dictionary, the articles are arranged alphabetically by topic; each one is signed by a renowned scholar in Old Testament studies. Each biblical book is treated to a full-length article that provides a description and information on its structure, literary analysis, Ancient Near Eastern background (and antecedents where applicable), theological message, and history of interpretation. Other articles deal with important biblical characters, exegetical methods and tools, and important theological themes. Following each article is a useful, up-to-date bibliography featuring the most important critical scholarship. Also included are a helpful "How to Use This Dictionary" section, scriptural index, and subject index. This work is aimed at a scholarly audience and an informed general readership interested in learning more about the Bible. Reviewed for Choice P. C. W. Murray.

The Dictionary of the Old Testament: Historical Books presents articles on numerous historical topics as well as major articles focused on the books of Joshua, Judges, Samuel, Kings, Chronicles, Ezra and Nehemiah. Other articles focus on the Deuteronomistic History as well as the Chronicler's History, the narrative art of Israel's historians, innerbiblical exegesis, text and textual criticism, and the emergence of these books as canonical. One feature is a series of eight consecutive articles on the periods of Israel's history from the settlement to the postexilic period, which forms a condensed history of Israel within the DOTHB." "Syro-Palestinian archaeology is surveyed in one article, while significant archaeological sites receive focused individual treatment. Other articles delve into the histories and cultures of the great neighboring empires - Egypt, Assyria, Babylonia and Persia - as well as lesser peoples, such as the Ammonites, Edomites, Moabites, Philistines and Phoenicians. In addition there are articles on architecture, agriculture and animal husbandry, roads and highways, trade and travel, and water and water systems.

The English translation of the three-volume Exegetisches W rterbuch zum Neuen Testament, this monumental work by an ecumenical group of scholars is first of all a complete English dictionary of New Testament Greek. Going beyond that, however EDNT also serves as a guide to the usage of every New Testament word in its various contexts, and it makes a significant contribution to New Testament exegesis and theology. EDNT's thorough, lengthy discussions of more significant words and its grouping of words related by root and meaning (with alphabetical cross-references) distinguish it from simpler Greek-English lexicons. Advancing the discussion of the Theological Dictionary of the Old Testament, EDNT summarizes more recent treatments of numerous questions in New Testament study and takes into consideration newer viewpoints of linguistics.

Previous editions of this classic reference are cited in Books for College Libraries, 3d. ed. and Guide to Reference Books. The 1997 third edition is here revised to incorporate changes that would not fit into successive reprinting and to include some updating wanted for a projected online version. Some new articles are added, but most of the changes are in the bibliographies; older references have been dropped as new ones added, in order to maintain a volume that only takes two hands to lift. Indeed, some bibliographies are longer than their articles. Topics include people, movements, literature, organizations and other bodies, and places. There is no index, but the cross-referencing is extensive. Annotation ©2006 Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)

The New Interpreter's® Dictionary of the Bible (NIDB) in five volumes provides the best quality in contemporary biblical scholarship on a comprehensive range of topics from the Old and New Testaments, the Deuterocanonical books, and from contextual studies of the ancient Near East and the Greco-Roman worlds and their literatures. The dictionary contains maps, charts, and illustrations to further clarify the written material. The biblical text used is the NRSV translation.

A diverse group of 900 scholars from 40 countries have contributed 7100 fresh new articles with 8400 entries including persons, places, things, theological concepts, and much more. These contributors were selected by the editorial board for their expertise in their field and for the quality of their scholarship in publication. Special care was taken to select authors who could provide a variety of perspectives from different theological traditions (Protestant, Catholic, Jewish), diverse theological trajectory (conservative and liberal), and from the social locations of gender, ethnicity, and race.

Topics are listed in alphabetical order from A-Z and evenly divided among the five volumes. The main entry (in bold) includes a pronunciation guide. Hebrew and Greek origins of the entry follow, with transliteration. Longer articles contain an introduction that summarizes the topic and include a helpful outline to guide the reader. Articles conclude with a short bibliography and cross references to related articles. In each definition, authors strive to incorporate as many biblical instances of the term as possible in the given amount of space, and to discuss the theological, social, or ecclesial implications of the topic, so that the definitions are practical aids to the tasks of preaching, teaching, and study of the Bible.

Readers who are trained in ancient languages will appreciate the discussion of Hebrew and Greek terms, while at the same time, readers who are not familiar with Hebrew or Greek should not have difficulty following the articles, because transliteration and complete definitions are used throughout.

The Concise Encyclopedia of Preaching is the most comprehensive reference work on Christian preaching available in the English language. No other book so richly combines concerns for the practice of preaching with theological themes and historical tradition.

"The Encyclopedia of Christianity is the first of a five-volume English translation of the third revised edition of Evangelisches Kirchenlexikon. Its German articles have been tailored to suit an English readership, and articles of special interest to English readers have been added. The encyclopedia describes Christianity through its 2000-year history within a global context, taking into account other religions and philosophies. A special feature is the statistical information dispersed throughout the articles on the continents and over 170 countries. Social and cultural coverage is given to such issues as racism, genocide, and armaments, while historical content shows the development of biblical and apostolic traditions. This comprehensive work, while scholarly, is intended for a wide audience and will set the standard for reference works on Christianity."--"Outstanding reference sources 2000", American Libraries, May 2000. Comp. by the Reference Sources Committee, RUSA, ALA.

Now made accessible to an English-language readership, this three- volume reference was originally published by Presses Universitaires de France in 1998, with participation from the French Ministry of Culture. This edition is a translation of the second French edition. Summarizing the present state of theological thinking rather than discussing paths for the future, this comprehensive critical handbook crosses all denominations and is a milestone reference made possible by a trend toward "diminution of sectarian slants on theological discussion..." (from the introduction). The far-ranging subject matter has been thoughtfully contained in 500 alphabetically arranged articles discussing events, doctrines, individuals, theories, and schools of thought. Thorough and scholarly, the articles are written for a university-level audience; all are signed and cross-referenced and include bibliographies that generally cite non-English sources. Most of the 250 contributors are based in France and a small number are from other European countries and North America; editor Levi is based in England. Annotation ©2004 Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)

What's new in the Second Edition:
-- Some 250 new entries -- 25% more than in the first edition.
-- Bibliographies are greatly expanded and updated throughout
-- More focus on biblical books and philosophical schools, their influence on early Christianity and their use by patristic writers
-- More information about the Jewish and pagan environment of early Christianity
-- Greatly enlarged coverage of the eastern expansion of the faith throughout Asia, including persons and literature
-- More extensive treatment of saints, monasticism, worship practices, and modern scholars
-- greater emphasis on social history and more theme articles
-- More illustrations, maps, and plans
-- Additional articles on geographical regions Copyright © Libri GmbH. All rights reserved.

Among Library Journal's picks of the most important reference works of the millennium - with the Encyclopedia Judaica and the New Catholic Encyclopedia - Mircea Eliade's Encyclopedia of Religion won the American Library Associations' Dartmouth Medal in 1988 and is widely regarded as the standard reference work in the field. This second edition, which is intended to reflect both changes in academia and in the world since 1987, includes almost all of the 2,750 original entries - many heavily updated - as well as approximately 600 entirely new articles. Preserving the best of Eliade's cross-cultural approach, while emphasizing religion's role within everyday life and as a unique experience from culture to culture, this new edition is the definitive work in the field for the 21st century. An international team of scholars and contributors have reviewed, revised and added to every word of the classic work, making it relevant to the questions and interests of all researchers. The result is an essential purchase for libraries of all kinds.

This extensive tool covers a wide range of topics concerning the early church and its relationships with ancient society. Most of the contributors are European scholars, whose articles have been translated and supplemented with references to recent works in English. The coverage is impressive, but some of the articles, like that on war, are so brief as to be cryptic. The editors define the chronological limits of the project as the lifetime of the Venerable Bede in the West and of John Damascene in the East, thus the 8th century in both; but coverage extends into the next century with an entry for Photius of Constantinople. A few topics lacking separate entries, among them Hypatia and Ambrosius Autpertus, still can be found through the index. The chronolgical table, maps, and illustrations are very fine. The chief defect to be noted is the lack of a single entry, apart from those for virgins and widows, tracing the origins of female monasticism. On the whole, this encyclopedia has greater depth than does Encyclopedia of Early Christianity (CH, Sep'90); but many libraries will not need so extensive a tool. Smaller academic libraries, especially those without strong collecting interests in religion will find Encyclopedia of Early Christianity sufficient. Highly recommended for research libraries and for all libraries collecting on religious topics.

This 2nd edition is the standard reference book for all questions Catholic. Within its 15 volumes are excellent articles on theology, church history, and canon law; and thoughtful discussions on other religions, other forms of Christianity, and such topics as "Anarchism," "Poverty," and "Prostitution" (seen, of course, in the light of the Catholic faith and intellectual tradition). The entries range from lengthy and somewhat scholarly pieces on historical figures like Aristotle, Napoleon I, or Paul the Apostle to short biographies of the many lesser-known saints and popes and brief, explanatory articles on theological terms like "Joy" and "Hope" as well as many obscure sects and movements.

In 1517, Martin Luther's legendary Ninety-five Theses set in motion a chain of events that fundamentally altered European history. The resulting Reformation of the sixteenth century proved to be one of the most important and far-reaching phenomena of an era marked by dramatic religious and social upheaval. A critical chapter in the history of Christian thought, the movement provoked political, social, and cultural transformations that profoundly changed the Western world.The Oxford Encyclopedia of the Reformation is the first major reference to cover the immense subject of the Reformation in its entirety. Setting the issues of theology and ecclesiology within the broader context of the social and intellectual history of the time, it is the most authoritative reference available on early modern European society as a whole.The Encyclopedia is a unique compendium of contemporary scholarship focusing on the complete range of religious and social changes wrought by the Reformation-- including not only issues of church polity and theology but also related developments in politics, economics, demographics, art, and literature. It is an unparalleled source of information on the personalities and events of the era, with broad coverage ranging from biographies to extensive treatments of topics such as Lutheranism, women, law, the Augsburg Confession, music, the Holy Roman Empire, peasants, the Bible, persecution, and literacy.Offering exhaustive interdisciplinary and international coverage of all aspects of the Reformation, this is the ultimate reference on the subject. Transcending the bounds of denominational encyclopedias and dictionaries of Reformation history currently available, it offers the only comprehensive picture of western Europe and the British Isles, along with southern Europe, Scandinavia, and east-central Europe in the early modern period. It is the first source scholars, students, and general readers in any discipline will reach for when studying the Reformation.

"In its broadest terms," say editors Bremer (history, Millersville U. of Pennsylvania, US) and Webster (history, U. of Edinburgh, UK), "puritanism in the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries was an agenda calling for furthering the perfection of Protestant reform, and it was to be found throughout the British Isles and in the English colonies abroad." Such a description will have to suffice in describing the contents of this two-volume encyclopedia on puritanism, because contributors have not been asked to agree on any single definition. The first volume is dedicated to 381 brief biographies of important individuals in the history of the religious movement that focus on the relevant religious characteristics or contributions of the individual. The second volume contains 195 alphabetical entries on ideas, events, and issues, with a representative sampling of entry titles including antinomianism, angels, broadsides, Cambridge Agreement, law in puritan New England, New Model Army, theater and opposition, and witchcraft. These entries are followed by a glossary and 26 primary documents, including Anne Hutchinson's trial statement, a 1638 description of Boston, town covenants, and Cotton's Catechism. Both volumes include a chronology. Annotation ©2006 Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)