Dictionary of Bible and Religion (DBR)

Editor

William H. Gentz

Publisher

Abingdon, Nashville

Pub. Date

1986

Pages

1147

Maps

16 plates

Price

$26.95

How Well Do They Outline the Books of the Bible?

Compact; thorough; theological import of book indicated. Reflects literary-critical approach.

How Well Do They Treat Theological Themes?

Comprehensive and thorough. Both critical and balanced.

How Good Are the Major Articles?

Full, discerning, very clear. No bibliography.

How Well Do They Treat Archaeological Subjects?

Few sites listed. Brief but able articles on the few sites.

Harper’s Bible Dictionary (HBD)

Editor

Paul J. Achtemeier

Publisher

Harper & Row, San Francisco

Pub. Date

1985

Pages

1178

Maps

18 plates + index

Price

$27.50

How Well Do They Outline
the Books of the Bible?

Detailed outlines, succinct critical summary of contents, theological import.

How Well Do They Treat
Theological Themes?

Excellent, though often brief. Little attention to evangelical concerns.

How Good Are the Major
Articles?

Full, theologically sophisticated. Comprehensive and critical. Good bibliographies.

How Well Do They Treat
Archaeological Subjects?

Comprehensive, lucid, with careful, critical evaluation of methods, findings.

Nelson’s Illustrated Bible Dictionary (NIBD)

Editor

Herbert Lockyer, Sr.

Publisher

Thomas Nelson, Nashville/Camden, New York

Pub. Date

1986

Pages

1128

Maps

9 plates + index

Price

How Well Do They Outline
the Books of the Bible?

Detailed outlines in yellow then good summaries and evangelical interpretations. Light on literary-critical treatment.

How Well Do They Treat
Theological Themes?

Includes most items of interest to evangelicals. Clear, not very imaginative.

How Good Are the Major
Articles?

Conservative in outlook. Well written and illustrated. Good picture of Judaism in articles of special Christian import.

How Well Do They Treat
Archaeological Subjects?

Brief but competent. Critical treatment of findings. Little attention to work at sites.

New Bible Dictionary (NBD)

Editor

J. D. Douglas and N. Hillyer

Publisher

Inter-Varsity and Tyndale House, London and Wheaton, IL

Pub. Date

1962, 1982

Pages

1324

Maps

No maps; detailed index

Price

$24.95

How Well Do They Outline
the Books of the Bible?

Full outlines and discussions of history, composition. Evangelical interpretations, conservative dating.

How Well Do They Treat
Theological Themes?

Follows conservative lines. Clear, interesting treatments. Good bibliographies.

How Good Are the Major
Articles?

Very comprehensive. Non-biblical sources used well. Balance and tone generally impressive though treatment of Moses’ authorship of Pentateuch shows credulity.

How Well Do They Treat
Archaeological Subjects?

Fine articles. Difficulties clearly laid out, treated fairly. Good treatment of site work. Good bibliographies.

New Westminster Dictionary of the Bible (NWDB)

Editor

Henry S. Gehman, illustrations edited by Robert B. Wright

Publisher

Westminster, Philadelphia

Pub. Date

1970

Pages

1027

Maps

16 plates + index

Price

$22.95/$25.95 (thumb-indexed edition)

How Well Do They Outline
the Books of the Bible?

Brief outlines and discussion of contents. Critical issued reviewed.

How Well Do They Treat
Theological Themes?

Brief and not wide-ranging.

How Good Are the Major
Articles?

Long, clear summations of Biblical material; weak on critical evaluation.

How Well Do They Treat
Archaeological Subjects?

Works too hard to make Biblical and archaeological evidence dovetail. Otherwise, well done.

Today’s Dictionary of the Bible (TDB)

Editor

T. A. Bryant

Publisher

Bethany House, Minneapolis

Pub. Date

1982

Pages

678

Maps

14 plates

Price

$15.95

How Well Do They Outline
the Books of the Bible?

Capable outlines with treatment of some critical issues. Argues for unity of Isaiah 1–66, Isaiah’s authorship, Moses as author of Pentateuch.

How Well Do They Treat
Theological Themes?

Clear; includes assertions on theological points rather than cogent arguments. Biblical evidence well summarized.

How Good Are the Major
Articles?

Short treatments of even the most important subjects. Clear, simple language offering Biblical evidence and then commenting on theological meaning.

How Well Do They Treat
Archaeological Subjects?

Asserts that archaeology cannot establish the Bible’s truth. Archaeological work briefly treated if at all.

Young’s Bible Dictionary (YBD)

Editor

G. Douglas Young and George Giacumakis, Jr.

Publisher

Tyndale House, Wheaton, IL

Pub. Date

1984

Pages

640

Maps

1 map enclosed, containing index

Price

$9.95

How Well Do They Outline
the Books of the Bible?

Most books not outlined. Short identifying paragraphs. Exceptions: Isaiah, Gospels, Pentateuch.

How Well Do They Treat
Theological Themes?

Careful presentation of Biblical evidence. Little systematic treatment of theological themes. Essays discursive and informal.

How Good Are the Major
Articles?

Full articles on only a small number of subjects including gospels, scripture, Jerusalem, Christ, sacrifice. Written in informal style.

How Well Do They Treat
Archaeological Subjects?

Short, up-to-date summaries of archaeological findings at some sites, long treatment of other sites.

Zondervan Pictorial Bible Dictionary (ZPBD)

Editor

Merrill C. Tenney

Publisher

Zondervan, Grand Rapids, MI

Pub. Date

1963, 1964, 1967

Pages

916

Maps

16 plates + index

Price

$21.95

How Well Do They Outline
the Books of the Bible?

Good analysis of contents; sometimes supplemented by discussions of literary, historical, theological issues. Detailed outlines for some books, others none.

How Well Do They Treat
Theological Themes?

Lengthy, detailed summaries of Biblical evidence on some articles, others developed systematically with reference to Biblical texts. Full treatment of evangelical themes.

How Good Are the Major
Articles?

Long, excellent articles on many subjects. Articles often presented from evangelical viewpoint.

How Well Do They Treat
Archaeological Subjects?

Careful reports on archaeological work at a few sites (e.g. Jericho, Shechem) but most articles on Biblical sites contain no mention of archaeological findings at all. Good general article on archaeology and the Bible.