Evangelical Dictionary of Theology (Baker Reference Library) Paperback – May 1, 2001

Such an awesome book. I bought it as a requirement for a class but I am going to keep this book and use it in the future. This look literally addresses every concept, misconception and theological issue one can think of with evidence of when and why the Christian church believes what it does. Some areas give scripture to back up it's views but not enough. The bible is equipped to answer all of these topics too and that is why I'm giving it a 4 instead of a 5, because they're could be a lot more scriptural evidence than there is. But nevertheless, it's still a great reference for teaching, writing papers, speaking or just answering someones or your own questions on why the Christian church does what it does.

For theological students, pastors and professionals like historians, this Theological Dictionary is a really helpful tool. Although written by a great number of experts, its academic treatment and style shows a unity in diversity – thanks to the rigorous guidance of the editor Dr. Walter Elwell. These diversity and unity you will find also in the broad and open interpretation of the word Evangelical in its title: it is a Dictionary that gives objective information with (of course) on certain places a specific Evangelical judgment. Especially I recommend it to online students (not living on a Campus with a good library or living – as myself – in a developing country without access to any academic library) and pastors working in remote areas. With this book on your working table you have a small theological library in your home.

I, of course, have not read this whole work cover to cover, but it is a reference every Bible teacher should have! It covers a broad range of topics, and one can find short passages on influential Christians, theological topics (e.g. attributes of God), biblical topics (e.g. peace), social issues (e.g. abortion), and many more. It is very helpful to have relatively short discussions on these topics rather than having to read or search through whole books.The only drawback is that some articles are not written as thoroughly, or have as many verse references, or are as clear, but this is because of the varying authors that have contributed. By and large, most every topic is well written and biblically based.I highly recommend this work to all Bible teachers!

I purchased this volume when I was studying for theology classes and found it extremely helpful. It has continued to be useful whenever I've needed a quick refresher on one or more theological topics. Far from being dry as many academic books are, this volume is simply fun to just page through and read! The articles are clearly written, thorough, concise, and well-referenced. The authors and editors avoid sectarian assertions, presenting the different theological points of view without denigrating any that fall within the broad scope of evangelical faith and practice. I highly recommend this volume not just for pastors and students of theology, but for anyone interested in learning more about the Christian faith from an evangelical perspective.

This is one of the best books available for anyone serious about learning more on any given subject within Biblical Theology. The articles are surprisingly detailed for a one volume book and will be a great starting point for further study if you really wanted to get deep. The Theology is conservative and balanced and I cannot recommend this enough, it is a MUST HAVE book for your library and the revised volume is even better than the original first edition.If you only by one general Theology book, make sure it is this one. If you only buy 2, then get this and Wayne Grudem's Systematic Theology. Between these 2 books you will get most of what you need about anything!

This is a great resource, but it is extremely Reformed in its perspective. The article on the means of grace, for instance, does not discuss the Lutheran view. The reader is often given the impression throughout this work that the standard or only view on various theological questions is that of the Reformed faith as opposed to the Lutheran or Arminian. That is problematic in that one of the chief founders of modern Evangelicalism, John Wesley, would come to typify the Arminian branch of Evangelicalism.That said, the articles are of a very high quality and serve as an excellent resource for theological terms and ideas.

Very exhaustive dictionary. I have this in physical book form as well. The Kindle edition is fantastic as well, as has the exact content that the physical book does. For me...it’s a must have resource.

I had to read this thing from cover to cover for a reading course I did. It wasn't easy and I didn't always enjoy it but it's one of those things that pay off in the end. You will become familiar with names and terms that are important in theology and philosophy especially.I have returned to it over and over to refresh my memory, to research topics that I'm studying, and it is usable as a reliable, quotable source.Negatives... around 10 years old, hopefully a 3rd Edition comes sometime. Always good to keep up with the times and new findings.

The Evangelical Dictionary of Theology (second edition), is a balanced work by many scholars and includes articles of such contemporary relevance that it isin its revised format sure to be a winner. The christian views on aging are highlighted. Something which is very topical in the 21st century where the family cohesion of the 1950's and 60's has gone. 'Celibacy',which is current in the Roman Catholic Church among clergy is discussed and compared with the Protestant Reformed view. An entry on 'Messianic Judaism', a late 20th century phenomenon which recognises Jesus as the Messiah is explained amid divers views on the appropriate type of hebrew worship to be observed. Other standarised entries are to give two examples:'New Heaven and New Earth'and the 'Theology of Paul'. But we are on fallow ground with 'Psychology and Christianity', an in depth article which is supplemented bya 'Psychology of Religion'that underpins the former. This dictionary is also not afraid to tackle sensitive issues such as overt'Racism' and the social consequences, morally and spiritually that even now are at the heart of the Christian Church, with continuing tension. What 'Revelation' in ''general'' and ''special'' senses entail is explainedin a twofold article, and this nicely tones in with 'Righteousness' as an abiding principle. Locked in to this theorem is 'Salvation' in the biblical sense which is a deliverance from Sin;and we are treated to a contrast between the O.T. and the N.T. viewpoints. Circumstances permitting, 'Social Ethics' is another common boundary which examines the fitness of things in a macro context that spans Polotics, Racism and Crime apropos their interaction or lack of it. The Dictionary with 1312 pages is broad in scope, having over 200 new articles;axing more than 100 entries from the First edition (1980's) which are deemed to be irrelevant. This tome does carefully explore Systematic Theology with its presupposed adjuncts,historical and philosophical as well as Ethics in its broadert sense. It is a very good companion to the 'Evangelical Dictionary of Biblical Theology' also edited by Walter Elwell. In closing I would say that to go into finer detail would be to exceed the remit of this selective review, which is to give a flavour of the work which is the finest of its kind and well worth the purchase price.

Bought for a course I am doing, heavy reading but useful

exellent

very pleased

Excellent resource.