BIBLE RESOURCES
EXEGESIS: “to explain or interpret.” A critical interpretation of a text or a portion of scripture. Exegesis brings together your own reflection and thought with a thorough examination of a text in context (historical, linguistically, etc.). There are many ways to do this – check with your instructor to be sure you understand how he or she would like you to approach this work.
Beginning Handbooks on Exegesis
Old Testament Exegesis: a primer for students and pastors. Stuart. [BS 476 S83 1984]
New Testament Exegesis: A handbook for students and pastors. Fee. [BS 476 F38 1983]
Tools for Understanding the Key Words in the Passage
Concordances
Concordances help to locate specific words or phrases in the Bible, to survey how many times a term is used and some provide additional helps in articles and indices.
Strong’s Concordance
· Corresponds to the King James Version
· Identifies Strong’s numbers (every word was given a unique number and this number can be used in some other resources)
· An “exhaustive” concordance – small words “the” are included.
[REF BS 425 S8 1986 – some other versions available in addition to KJV- all will be located in this area]
Young’s Analytical Concordance of the Bible
· Corresponds to the KJV
· It has a simple dictionary of Greek & Hebrew words; pronunciation guide
· Two articles on “The Canon of Scripture” may be useful
[REF BS 425 Y7 1936]
Nelson’s Complete Concordance to the Bible: Revised Standard Version
· Cross references words and names
[REF BS 425 E4 1956]
Word Study Concordance: a modern, improved, and enlarged version of both.
[REF BS 425 W34 1978]
Lexicons and Dictionaries
These works define the meaning of specific words in the Biblical resources and translations to provide grammatical forms, pronunciations, functions, etymologies, syntax, context in their original language, etc.
Theological Dictionary of the New Testament (TDNT), Kittel.
A listing of the meaning, roots, and contextual use of words in the Greek language in the N.T. A working knowledge of Greek is needed.
[REF PA 881 K513]
Genesius’s Hebrew and Chaldee lexicon to the Old Testament: coded to Strongs…. Genesius.
Similar to the above – Hebrew essential.
[PJ 4833. G4 1979]
Exegetical Dictionary of the New Testament (EDNT)
This work is a guide to the forms, meaning, and usage the words in the Greek New Testament (3rd ed. , or to the 23rd ed. Of the Nestle-Aland Novum Testament Graece. Each heading supplies information as to the gender of common nouns, the transliteration of the word, and one or more English word translations. The index is significant in this work for locating words.
[REF BS 2312 E913 1990]
Word Studies
Vine’s [REF BS 440 V748 1981]
Vincent’s [REF BS 2385 V 1946]
Expository Dictionary of Bible Words [BS 440 R525 1985]
Mounce’s complete expository dictionary of Old and New Testament words [BS 440 M63 2006]
Tools for Understanding the Historical and Cultural Context
Bible Introductions
Understanding the Bible. Harris [REF BS 475.2. H32]
An Introduction to the Bible. Hauer (BS 475.2.,H325]
A survey of the Old Testament. Archer [REF BS 475. 2 H325]
Bible Dictionaries / Encyclopedias
Dictionaries and encyclopedias are always the best way to get started in any research project. These provide a quick overview of historical, cultural, archaeological, and theological topics. Basic information about people, places, and events are quickly grasped and applied to your understanding and writing.
Interpreter’s Dictionary of the Bible
· Stands as a major work of scholarship, though it is a bit dated and does not reflect the most recent archaeological discoveries.
· Major Biblical words are given extensive treatment
[REF BS 440 I63 1963]
HarperCollins Bible Dictionary
· Handy one-volume work summarizes recent scholarship
· Emphasizes sociological & cultural interpretation
· Avoids technical jargon and also does not give the original terms for the original Hebrew or Greek biblical words
· Well illustrated
[REF BS 440.H237 1985]
Holman’s Bible Dictionary
[BS 440 D 1993]
Nelson’s Illustrated Bible Dictionary
[REF BS 440 N347 1986]
Manners and Customs in the Bible
[DS 112 M33 1988]
Atlases
This type of resources provides many additional helps in understanding the context and history of a portion of scripture. Maps, photos, articles may all contribute to understanding meaning.
Hammond’s Atlas of the Bible Lands
[REF G2230 H3 2000]
Intervarsity (IVP) Atlas of the Bible
[REF BS 612 N44 Law 2006]
Macmillan Bible Atlas
[REF BS 630.A2]
Baker’s Bible Atlas
[REF BS 630 .P45]
Commentary Sets (Individual works will be located in the area for a particular book of the Bible)
Ancient Christian commentary on scripture [set]
[REF BS 2341.2/ REF BS 1151]
Expositor’s Commentary on the Bible [set]
[REF BS 491 .2 E96]
Word Biblical Commentary [set]
[REF BS 491 .W67]
Calvin’s Commentary [set]
[REF BS 485 C3 1984]
Finding Books on Biblical Topics
The Athena Catalog provides access to the holdings of the SCU Library Commons. When searching for books related to specific time periods or books of the Bible, use the following :
· Search using “Bible. O.T. Judges” or “Bible. N.T. Matthew”
Finding Journal Articles
Many academic religious works are not included in large databases such as EbscoHost. Three sources may provide access to a journal, magazines and periodical related to Biblical studies:
· The print periodicals in the Library Commons
· The journals delivered via the online database, such as “EbscoHost” (note the databases are not an “Internet Source”)