A Greek–English Lexicon of the New Testament and Other Early Christian Literature, 3rd ed. (BDAG)

by Walter Bauer; Frederick William Danker

Publisher:

University of Chicago Press

, 2000

BDAG Lexicon Overview

Described as an "invaluable reference work" (Classical Philology) and "a tool indispensable for the study of early Christian literature" (Religious Studies Review) in its previous edition, this new updated American edition of Walter Bauer's Wörterbuch zu den Schriften des Neuen Testaments builds on its predecessor's staggering deposit of extraordinary erudition relating to Greek literature from all periods. Including entries for many more words, the new edition also lists more than 25,000 additional references to classical, intertestamental, early Christian, and modern literature.

A Comprehensive New Testament Lexicon

Perhaps the single most important lexical innovation of Danker's edition is its inclusion of extended definitions for Greek terms. For instance, a key meaning of episkopos was defined in the second American edition as overseer; Danker defines it as "one who has the responsibility of safeguarding or seeing to it that something is done in the correct way, guardian." Such extended definitions give a fuller sense of the word in question, which will help avoid both anachronisms and confusion among users of the lexicon who may not be native speakers of English.

Use Your Lexicon Online

Thanks to Frederick W. Danker's broad knowledge of Greco–Roman literature, as well as papyri and epigraphs, the new BDAG lexicon provides a more panoramic view of the world of Jesus and the New Testament. It incorporates new research, new information, and analyses while rendering translations into contemporary English. What is more, the Logos Bible Software version of this resource offers unprecedented search capabilities customized to this reference work. Can you continue doing Biblical study without the BDAG lexicon online?

What You’ll Learn

Students using A Greek–English Lexicon of the New Testament (BDAG) will enjoy the extended definitions for Greek terms, extensive cross-referencing, and more than 25,000 additional references to classical, intertestamental, early Christian, and modern literature that will provide incredible depth to any word study. With the BDAG lexicon, readers can look up Greek words in the New Testament or almost any other Greek extra-biblical text.

Common Features in the BDAG

The most common features under each entry include the formal equivalent, also called "gloss"—the Greek word's English equivalent. It also contains an extended definition that explains the concept further. Then BDAG offers a suggested translation of a given phrase, multiple glosses/definitions as needed, and every New Testament occurrence of that Greek word categorized under what the editors interpret as the appropriate definition.

Anyone wanting to do deep study of the New Testament or any other early Christian literature—students, teachers, and pastors alike—will want A Greek–English Lexicon of the New Testament (BDAG) on their digital bookshelf. BDAG brings the study of the world of Jesus and the New Testament to another level.

How to Use the BDAG Online

Learn how to take full advantage of this New Testament lexicon via the Word by Word blog:

• The Logos Feature That Makes Using BDAG a Breeze
• Top Preaching Tools & Resources That Belong in a Pastor's Library
• How to Use Strong’s Concordance and What to Use Instead
• How to Use Greek Lexicons
• Why Did John Piper Say He Hardly Needs BDAG?

Contents

Top Highlights

“to urge strongly, appeal to, urge, exhort, encourage” (Page 765)

“to make a critical examination of someth. to determine genuineness, put to the test, examine” (Page 255)

“honor as enhancement or recognition of status or performance, fame, recognition, renown, honor, prestige” (Page 257)

“urgent request to meet a need, exclusively addressed to God, prayer” (Page 213)

“to counsel about avoidance or cessation of an improper course of conduct, admonish, warn, instruct” (Page 679)

Endorsements

It goes without saying that all scholars and students of early Christianity will profit from BDAG and will want to own a copy of this fine new edition. (more...

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—Review of Biblical Literature, October 2002
by John T. Fitzgerald, University of Miami

Any reader familiar with the second edition (BAGD - 1979...) will notice an immediate and sharp improvement in semantic clarity and presentation in this third edition. (more...

)

—Review of Biblical Literature, October 2002
by Terry Roberts, University of Sydney, Australia

This is a beautiful, user-friendly book, and the editor and the publisher deserve to be congratulated on its production. In physical appearance as well as content it marks a change in the tradition of Bauer lexicons. (more...

)

—Review of Biblical Literature, October 2002
by Abraham J. Malherbe, Yale University Divinity School

Like its predecessor, Danker will be enormously helpful to students and scholars working with the NT. (more...

)

—Review of Biblical Literature, October 2002
by Harold W. Attridge, Yale University Divinity School

It is without doubt the best tool of its kind that exists in any language, and the present edition is decidedly superior to the earlier ones. (more...)

—Bryn Mawr Classical Review, June 2001
by Jerker Blomqvist, Department of Classics, Lund University

Endorsements of the Electronic Edition

In all, an excellent alternative format with distinct advantages that many will prefer to the print version. (more...)

—Religious Studies Review, April 2003
by Michael Holmes, Bethel College

This writer highly recommends one spending the extra cost of adding BDAG to the Scholar’s Library. This combination will enhance an already valuable resource. (more...)

—Southwestern Journal of Theology, Fall 2003
by James R. Wicker, Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary

Product Details

• Title: A Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament and Other Early Christian Literature, 3rd ed.
• Authors: Walter Bauer, Frederick William Danker
• Edition: 3rd ed.
• Publisher: University of Chicago Press
• Print Publication Date: 2000
• Logos Release Date: 2002
• Era: era:modern
• Language: English
• Resources: 1
• Format: Digital › Logos Research Edition
• Subjects: Bible. N.T. › Dictionaries--English; Greek language, Biblical › Dictionaries--English
• Resource ID: LLS:46.30.18
• Resource Type: Lexicon
• Metadata Last Updated: 2025-03-07T22:42:08Z

About the Authors

Frederick W. Danker (1920–2012) was professor emeritus of the Lutheran School of Theology at Chicago and an ordained minister best known for his revision of the 1953 Bauer-Arndt-Gingrich Greek-English lexicon (BDAG), and is considered by many to be one of the great scholars of the twentieth century. Danker received his PhD from the University of Chicago, and in addition to holding pastorates in various parishes, he taught New Testament for 34 years until he retired in 1988.

Danker was a prolific writer. He authored everything from lexicons to books to articles in academic journals to publications in newspapers and popular magazines. He had the keen ability to bridge academic and general interests and was a favorite public lecturer on unique topics like the politics of the Scriptures and Jewish-Christian relations.

In addition to A Greek–English Lexicon of the New Testament and Other Early Christian Literature, 3rd ed. (BDAG), Danker authored Multipurpose Tools for Bible Study and the The Concise Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament, Jesus and the New Age: A Commentary on St. Luke's Gospel, and The Kingdom in Action, among many others.

Walter Bauer (1877–1960) was a German theologian and scholar of the development of the early Christian churches. He studied theology at Marburg, Strassburg, and Berlin universities and later taught at Breslau and Göttingen. His Greek lexicon is among the most highly respected dictionaries of biblical Greek. His most famous and influential work is his 1934 book Rechtgläubigkeit und Ketzerei im ältesten Christentum, Orthodoxy and Heresy in Early Christianity. He believed early Christianity was diverse theologically and that there were numerous "christianities"—all in competition to be the one authentic Christianity, of which one group won and became known as "orthodoxy."