Today we continue with Good Pastoral Suggestions -
an idea recommended by Dr. Marian Plant in her book
Faith Formation for Vital Congregations)
Today we look at two Bible Dictionaries I've used in recent years.
If you are looking for a one-volume Bible dictionary, the Harper Collins Bible Dictionary, which was published a little bit over a decade ago, is a wonderful resource.
It's extensive. With over 1,250 pages, you will find articles from Aaron to Zurishaddai, written by almost 200 Biblical scholars and edited by five individuals.
The scholarship is outstanding, yet the articles are rarely over a page long. They are scholarly, but concise.
The maps are excellent.
It's the best one volume Bible Dictionary available.
The only dictionary that compares is the Anchor Bible Dictionary.
Six volumes. 7,380 pages. Over 6,000 entries. Almost 1,000 contributors. This is the most extensive Bible Dictionary ever created. It is multicultural in scope. There are articles that reflect recent Biblical scholarship, including early Christianity's relationship with Judaism, discussion of everyday life, articles that help the reader understand health issues, the role of animals and plants, demographics of human settlement, and other issues in biblical times.
The Anchor Bible Dictionary, published by Yale University Press, is the Encyclopedia Britannica of Bible dictionaries. It is expensive, weighing in at almost $400 on Amazon, but well worth it.
But if money is an object, or you just want a one-volume dictionary, you can't go wrong with the Harper Collins.
