Baker Encyclopedia of the Bible (2 vols.)

by Walter A. Elwell

Publisher:

Baker

, 1988

Overview

Evangelicalism's most eminent scholars have labored to make the Baker Encyclopedia of the Bible a comprehensive and reliable tool for all who study Scripture. The encyclopedia contains more than 5,700 articles by over 175 leading evangelical scholars from around the world, including Colin Brown, Frederic Bush, Andrew Hill, Howard Marshall, Grant Osborne, Moisés Silva, Willem Van Gemeren, Gordan Wenham, Edwin Yamauchi, and Robert Yarbrough.

The Baker Encyclopedia of the Bible provides anyone studying the Bible with clear, accurate, and useful articles covering archaeology, history, chronology, social customs, persons, places, religious practices, biblical theology, current scholarly methods and opinions, on each book of the Bible.

Among the features in this reference work are select biographies, an extensive system of cross-references, more than thirty general articles treating cultural aspects of Bible times, over 600 photos, maps, and illustrations, and an easy-to-read style that is accessible to pastors and laypeople alike.

"To many people the Bible is just too hard to understand," writes general editor Walter Elwell. "This Bible encyclopedia is an attempt to solve that problem. It is designed to be a bridge between the past and the present, a mine, a source of information about those days long past that opens them up to us. It is not meant to replace the Bible; far from it. It is meant to be read alongside the Bible to clarify and illuminate the text of Scripture for the modern reader, so that its truths can be assimiliated by the people of today."

Contents

Top Highlights

“The Body of Christ in the Lord’s Supper. At the last supper (Mt 26:26–29; Mk 14:22–25; Lk 22:15–20; 1 Cor 11:23–26),” (Page 371)

“Conformity to a certain set of expectations, which vary from role to role. Righteousness is fulfillment of the expectations in any relationship, whether with God or other people.” (Page 1860)

“Throughout the biblical period listening to God’s Word, prayer, and sacrifice constituted the essence of worship.” (Page 2164)

“Modern people tend to restrict worship to what happens in church on Sunday. Ancient Israel had a much broader concept of worship, offering worship in the home as well as in the temple several times a day, not merely on the sabbath and at great festivals. Worship involved both the individual family and the whole nation.” (Page 2164)

“An expectation or belief in the fulfillment of something desired.” (Page 996)

Endorsements

If you are looking for a comprehensive, thoroughly reliable, and up-to-date Bible encyclopedia to use as a foundation for a good resource library, look no further. The …Baker Encyclopedia of the Bible fill[s] the bill perfectly.

—William D. Buursma, The Banner

"[The Baker Encyclopedia of the Bible] is both high-quality and innovative, moderately meaty in content, yet eminently readable and usable from a stylistic standpoint. BEB is deserving of a spot on the bookshelf of many exegetes and expositors (preferebly a high-traffic spot).

—A. Boyd Luter, Jr., Journal of the Evangelical Theological Society

"Though based on the latest quality evangelical scholarship, the work is primarily intended for the use of the average evangelical layperson; for such persons, the work will be a precious addition to the tools available for understanding and comprehending the Bible."

—ADRIS Newsletter

"The [Baker Encyclopedia of the Bible] should prove to be a helpful reference work for popular audiences. Its clear organization and attention to biblical theology will make it especially useful for pastors and teachers."

—Gary N. Knoppers, Calvin Theological Journal

"The primary intent of the [Baker Encyclopedia of the Bible] is simplicity and clarity combined with scholarly accuracy. In this, it succeeds admirably."

—Jon Paulien, Andrews University Seminary Studies

Baker Book House deserves immense credit for sensing and serving the needs of teachers and preachers. This encyclopedia is one of Baker's crowning achievements.

—Al Fasol, Southwestern Journal of Theology

Product Details

• Title: Baker Encyclopedia of the Bible
• Author: Walter A. Elwell
• Publisher: Baker
• Print Publication Date: 1988
• Logos Release Date: 2004
• Era: era:Contemporary
• Language: English
• Resources: 1
• Format: Digital › Logos Research Edition
• Subject: Bible › Dictionaries
• ISBNs: 9781441254245, 9780801021398, 1441254242, 0801021391
• Resource ID: LLS:14.0.40
• Resource Type: Encyclopedia
• Metadata Last Updated: 2022-09-28T19:51:47Z

About Walter A. Elwell

Walter A. Elwell, born 1937 in Florida, is an evangelical theologian and noted editor of several evangelical standard reference works. He is professor emeritus of Bible and Theology at Wheaton College where he taught from 1975 to 2003.