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

by T. Desmond Alexander

The New Dictionary of Biblical Theology will quickly establish itself as an essential building block of every library of basic biblical reference books. Building on its companion volumes, the New Bible Dictionary and New Bible Commentary, this work takes readers to a higher vantage point where they can view the thematic terrain of the Bible in its canonical wholeness. In addition, it fills the interpretive space between those...

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0830814388
• ISBN13: 9780830814381
• Release Date: November 2000
• Publisher: IVP Academic
• Length: 886 Pages
• Weight: 3.85 lbs.
• Dimensions: 2.2" x 7.0" x 10.1"

Customer Reviews

Beginning of a New Era

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.

Great tool for understanding biblical themes!!

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.

Get this book!

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.

a long-overdue work

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 Israel?s 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 God?s 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