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New Dictionary of Theology
An Eternity 1988 Book of the Year! Since its publication, the New Dictionary of Theology has rapidly established itself as a standard, authoritative reference work in systematic and historical theology. More than 630 articles cover a variety of theological themes, thinkers and from creation to the millennium from Abelard to Zwingli from Third World liberation theology to South African Dutch Reformed theology Firmly anchored in the evangelical tradition, the NDOT is nevertheless wide-ranging in its scope. Over 200 contributors, experts in their individual fields, offer both Western and international perspective. Concise and comprehensive, biblically grounded and historically informed, even-handed and free from unduly technical language, this dictionary has been praised by general readers, pastors and scholars.
Hardcover
First published February 26, 1988
About the author
Sinclair B. Ferguson
222 books571 followersSinclair B. Ferguson is Associate Preacher at St Peter's Free Church in Dundee and also Distinguished Visiting Professor of Systematic Theology at Westminster Theological Seminary, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. He was Senior Minister of First Presbyterian Church of Columbia, South Carolina and prior to that, he was minister of St. George's-Tron Church in Glasgow.
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January 27, 2016
To speak of a dictionary may conjure memories of dusty drudgeries and tiresome tomes. But dictionaries can be great assets, especially those that focus on special fields of study. The “New Dictionary of Theology: A Concise and Authoritative Resource” is such a work. Put together in 1988 by Editors Sinclair Ferguson, David F. Wright and J.I. Packer, this volume is a treasure trove of substantive exposés. Though it is not an exhaustive volume, and the articles are 28 years old, yet the hundreds of topics covered, by a wide range of scholars, makes this work a useable keeper for seminarians, pastors, Bible teachers, scholars and thinkers.
Above 200 contributors from Asia, Africa, the United Kingdom, North America, India, and other regions, have supplied installments of various lengths. Each addition to the dictionary begins with a clearly printed topic in oversized font, unfolds in two columns, and then ends with the author noted in abbreviated format and a short bibliography. Articles vary in length from 160 words to over five single-spaced pages, and are evenly sourced. Some articles have multiple authors, as can be seen in the long piece on Russian Orthodox Theology that is penned by Harold O.J. Brown, and P.M. Walters.
Topics span the spectrum, covering ecclesiology, sacramentology, Christology, pneumatology, church history from the Apostolic Fathers to the late 20th Century, philosophy and philosophers, apologetics and apologists, theology and theologians. There are also some installments on African, Asian, and Indian theology. Though it is not exhaustive, it is informative, and attempts to maintain a balance of subjects.
The content contributed by each writer will leave the reader with at least enough information to have a workable sense of the subject. For example, I. Hamilton’s section on John McLeod Campbell gives an adequate amount of the clear facts so that a reader will have a general understanding of the peculiarity of Campbell’s theory on the atonement, why it got him removed from the 19th Century Church of Scotland, and which modern theologians have taken up Campbell’s position.
The New Dictionary of Theology is a single-volume resource that is useable and valuable. The owner of this work will return to it regularly, and will mark, read and digest its contents with profit. This is a solid gift for the seminarian, pastor, Bible teacher or thinker in your life. And it would be a sound investment for yourself. I am convinced you will appreciate its residence in your library!
Thanks to IVP Academic for the free copy of “New Dictionary of Theology” used for this review.
Above 200 contributors from Asia, Africa, the United Kingdom, North America, India, and other regions, have supplied installments of various lengths. Each addition to the dictionary begins with a clearly printed topic in oversized font, unfolds in two columns, and then ends with the author noted in abbreviated format and a short bibliography. Articles vary in length from 160 words to over five single-spaced pages, and are evenly sourced. Some articles have multiple authors, as can be seen in the long piece on Russian Orthodox Theology that is penned by Harold O.J. Brown, and P.M. Walters.
Topics span the spectrum, covering ecclesiology, sacramentology, Christology, pneumatology, church history from the Apostolic Fathers to the late 20th Century, philosophy and philosophers, apologetics and apologists, theology and theologians. There are also some installments on African, Asian, and Indian theology. Though it is not exhaustive, it is informative, and attempts to maintain a balance of subjects.
The content contributed by each writer will leave the reader with at least enough information to have a workable sense of the subject. For example, I. Hamilton’s section on John McLeod Campbell gives an adequate amount of the clear facts so that a reader will have a general understanding of the peculiarity of Campbell’s theory on the atonement, why it got him removed from the 19th Century Church of Scotland, and which modern theologians have taken up Campbell’s position.
The New Dictionary of Theology is a single-volume resource that is useable and valuable. The owner of this work will return to it regularly, and will mark, read and digest its contents with profit. This is a solid gift for the seminarian, pastor, Bible teacher or thinker in your life. And it would be a sound investment for yourself. I am convinced you will appreciate its residence in your library!
Thanks to IVP Academic for the free copy of “New Dictionary of Theology” used for this review.
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