A Concise Coptic-English Lexicon

	Price
CD-ROM	$19.95

A Concise Coptic-English Lexicon, which began as a word list compiled by students at Fuller Theological Seminary is often regarded as the best resource for students beginning their study of Coptic. Smith's lexicon is commonly paired with Crum's Coptic Dictionary because of their unique relationship and their authority as studies of Coptic Christianity. The Concise Coptic-English Lexicon was originally published in 1983, compared to Crum's work in 1939, and therefore includes additional vocabulary from the discovery of the Nag Hammadi.

Smith's work is a useful guide for beginning Coptic students who wish to understand the basics of Coptic. This work often serves as a companion to Crum's Coptic Dictionary by filling in the missing pieces and adding to of one of the most comprehensive Coptic language studies available.

Additional Coptic-language resources you'll want to explore include: Sahidic Coptic Collection (Sahidica), The Coptic Versions of the Minor Prophets, and The Nag Hammadi Library in English.

What is Coptic? Why is the Coptic Bible important?

The ancient Egyptians wrote with over 4000 symbols, but were quick to adopt the Greek alphabet’s 24 letters in the aftermath of the conquest of Egypt by Alexander the Great. Coptic is the Egyptian language written in Greek letters – with some additional letters added to represent sounds not found in Greek. The Coptic Bible contains some of the earliest recorded manuscripts of the canonical scriptures, as well as many significant Gnostic texts. The Coptic Bible is incredibly important because of its relationship to the early Church and the evolution of the Greek texts in such close proximity to the time of Christ.

Benefits of the Logos Bible Software Edition

Richard Smith's Concise Coptic-English Lexicon is a necessary addition for the Coptic scholar. Not only is it a definitive work on Coptic Christianity, but it should be combined with the comprehensive work of Crum's Coptic Dictionary, which together cover the important Coptic literature. Smith's lexicon includes studies of the language included in the Nag Hammadi and supplements Crum's dictionary with corrections, additions, and further studies.

In the critical apparatus used by scholars, (see SESB) to help determine the best text of the Greek Bible, there are over 6,100 references to Coptic readings. Greek and Hebrew lexicons often list Coptic cognates. This text, combined with the text of the Coptic Bible, a forthcoming addition to Logos, will be a key resource in investigating the text of the New Testament. Along with Crum's Coptic Dictionary, this work allows your Logos Bible Software to become your primary tool for studying Coptic Christianity, including the Coptic Bible and Coptic patristic writings, as well as the Nag Hammadi texts such as the Gospel of Thomas.

Praise for the Print Edition

Smith's book is just the kind of tool that for many users tends to become a well-worn friend, and in the long run pays its own freight in spades due to its sheer convenience.
- Michael Williams, University of Washington (Near Eastern Languages & Civilization and Jackson School of International Studies)

Richard Smith has provided English-speaking beginning Coptic students with a concise aid to reading Sahidic texts... [and] has done students of Coptic an appreciable service.
- Westminster Theological Journal Review