Brandel Library

BTS 1850: Introduction to the Bible (Hayes)

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Using Biblical Dictionaries and Encyclopedia

  • Dictionaries of the Bible (or dictionaries of the Old Testament or New Testament or of the Prophets or the Gospels, etc.) contain articles that define and explain biblical words, sometimes at considerable length. The articles identify and describe people, corporate bodies, events, and themes in the Bible. The articles also summarize, outline, and analyze the books of the Bible.
  • When you are writing on a passage in the Bible, identify key words, persons, events, corporate bodies, and themes that appear in your passage. Then read about those words, persons, events, corporate bodies, and themes in biblical dictionaries to acquire a basic understanding. This preliminary understanding will be helpful when you move on to research in commentaries, journal articles, and books that deal with your passage.