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HarperCollins Bible Dictionary
Buy: The Harper Collins Bible Dictionary
Availability: This title usually ships within 2-3 days.
Note: Energion Bookshelf is an associate of
Amazon.com.
A Bible dictionary is one of the books I rate as a must-have for the serious
Bible student. Amongst the concise Bible dictionaries available, the HarperCollins Bible Dictionary is one of the best. It reflects mainstream scholarship. Some evangelicals may find it too liberal for their tastes and will prefer the New International Bible Dictionary.
Its editors and contributors are some of the
best-known and qualified Bible scholars in the United States. It
has more than 3700 entries and over 1200 pages. It includes
articles on such general topics as Biblical criticism, the text
of the and history of the Bible and hermeneutics. Reading the
articles on specific Biblical books will provide an excellent
introduction for the lay reader.
While presenting a scholarly consensus point of view, which
some conservatives may find unsympathetic, the contributors
carefully present the background to the conclusions they are
drawing. The detail attained in the text is outstanding for a
book of this size and is a credit to the editorial team.
Because I have found so little to complain about in it, I do
not intend to do a complete review. I merely recommend this book
wholeheartedly to any serious Bible student who is in search of a concise Bible dictionary.
For more information on using Bible dictionaries, see my article Using a Bible Dictionary. For further information on Bible study tools in general, see Bible Study Tools.
Alternatives and Supplements:
A good combination for study is the Contemporary
English Version for quick reading, the Oxford Annotated Bible (REB) for
serious study, for the introductory articles and notes, and the
HarperCollins Bible Dictionary.
Those who would like a greater balance toward the conservative
end of the spectrum might consider the following (note, these
links are directly to Amazon.com where the books may be
purchased):
The
Eerdmans Bible Dictionary ~ Ships
in 2-3 days
Allen C. Myers (Editor), et al / Paperback / Published
1996
Handy
Dictionary of the Bible ~ Ships in
2-3 days
Merrill C. Tenney, et al / Paperback / Published 1985
New
International Dictionary of the Bible/Pictorial Edition ~
Usually ships in 24 hours
Merrill Chapin Tenney, James Dixon Douglas / Hardcover /
Published 1987
All of these are quality works by respected conservative
scholars.
Two alternatives for those with the money for a multi-volume
set:
Anchor
Bible Dictionary ~ Usually
ships in 24 hours; CD-ROM / Published 1997
The Anchor Bible Dictionary ~ Usually
ships in 24 hours; David Noel Freedman (Editor) / Hardcover / Published 1992;
( I intend to provide fuller information on the Anchor
Bible Dictionary at a later date.)
The
Interpreter's Dictionary of the Bible
George A. Butterick, et al / Hardcover / Published 1981
The
Interpreter's Dictionary of the Bible : An Illustrated
Encyclopedia Identifying and Explaining All Proper Names
and Significant Terms and Subject Vol 4 ~ Ships in 2-3 days
George A. Butterick, et al / Hardcover / Published 1962
The
Interpreter's Dictionary of the Bible : An Illustrated
Encyclopedia Identifying and Explaining All Proper Names
and Significant Terms and Subject ~ Ships in 2-3 days
Keith Crim / Hardcover / Published 1976
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