Good tools are key to studying the Bible for personal edification, teaching, or preaching. It is foolish to say that all you need to study the Bible is the Bible. While it is true, as the Westminster Confession of Faith reminds us, that the Bible is the only infallible interpreter of itself, God the Holy Spirit has guided men and women through the centuries to study that Word in order to rightly interpret and understand it. All three of these study books demonstrate that God inspired his infallible Word and has led the church to study, write, and help us to understand that Word.

The NIV Theological Dictionary of New Testament Words will stimulate and help with serious Bible study. This one volume book is an abridgement of an early four volume series entitled, The New International Dictionary of New Testament Theology, also published by Zondervan. This new book appears to been an excellent abridgement of the four volume set but does not sacrifice the meat of the larger work. It gives the essential meanings and usage of Greek words in the New Testament, but is more user friendly, particularly for those who have not studied Greek. It draws on some of the best and most up-to-date evangelical scholarship; more than 140 of the best New Testament scholars have contributed to the 1200 references included in the volume.  

Those who use Strong’s Concordance will find the book especially helpful, because it cross-references Goodrick-Kohlenberger to Strong’s. Pastors, church libraries, and individual Bible students/teachers will benefit from this book.

- Charles Dunahoo, CEP Coordinator