Today in the 21st Century, books seem to be less used, and the CD software is in. Most of the works in books are not on the Internet
All these volumes were bought while I was Pastor at First Baptist Church, in Kansas. 1980-96.
THEOLOGICAL STUDY OF THE NEW AND OLD TESTMENT WORDS
An Expository Dictionary of O.T. / N.T. Words W.E. Vine
Theological Dictionary of the N.T. Bromiley
THEOLOGICAL DICTIONARY OF THEOLOGY
Evangelical Dictionary of Thelogy Walter A. Elwell 1200 entries
The New International Dictionary of the N.T. Theology Colin Brown, editor
Four Volumes: Outstanding theological work. Each entry is arranged under the alphabetical order of the English terms which serve as a focus for the articles on key Greek words. There is a discussion of the word in secular Greek. Then a discussion of the word and related terms in the O.T.
An Expository Dictionary of O.T. / N.T. Words W.E. Vine
Theological Dictionary of the N.T. Bromiley
THEOLOGICAL DICTIONARY OF THEOLOGY
Evangelical Dictionary of Thelogy Walter A. Elwell 1200 entries
The New International Dictionary of the N.T. Theology Colin Brown, editor
Four Volumes: Outstanding theological work. Each entry is arranged under the alphabetical order of the English terms which serve as a focus for the articles on key Greek words. There is a discussion of the word in secular Greek. Then a discussion of the word and related terms in the O.T.
THEOLOGICAL WORKBOOK OF THE OLD TESTAMENT
Two volumes by Harris, Archer Jr. and Waltke
CHRISTIAN THEOLOGY SYSTEMATIC THEOLOGY
Millard J. Erickson L Berkhof
SYSTEMATIC THEOLOGY SET TOWARD AN O.T. THEOLOGY
Lewis Sperry Chafer Walter C. Kaiser, Jr
STUDY BIBLES
Dickson’s Analytical Bible, and Dictionary
The Hebrew-Greek Key Study Bible - Spiros Zodhiates
Words are given the Strong’s numbers, the grammatical notation is given. And many words are given explanation by Spiros.
Several works I bought while pastor at Madison Baptist in Minford Ohio in 1972. At the time I had really no clue as to the significance of the work by these great men:
THE EXISTENCE AND ATTRIBUTES OF GOD
Stephen Charnock (1628-1680)
THE BODY OF DIVINITY An EXPOSITION:
Thomas Watston
JOHN’S CALVIN’S CHRISTIAN INSTITUTE
The idea in this linguistic and grammatical analysis, is not a goal of itself, but rather should LEAD TO A CLEARER UNDERSTANDING OF THE PASSAGE AS A WHOLE. It’s called moving from synthesis to analysis and back to synthesis.
Biblical preaching/teaching is, by explication, the assignment of bringing about a challenge between people of the 21st century and the Word of God. The idea of exegesis is to discover that Word and its meaning in the 1st century. The assignment of preaching/teaching is to know well both the exegesis of the text and the people whom that Word is now to be spoken again, as a living Word for them.
As a footnote: Exegesis simply means "What did the Biblical author mean? It’s the historical investigation into the meaning of the Biblical content." So what is the process of doing this assignment?
I do not recall this process being taught in Seminary in 1966. Fundamentally a task that should have been the first course taught to the student.
I am thankful that the Lord directed my attention to John MacArthur in the 80's. I relied heavily upon his material during the process of learning the process of expository preaching.
Without any question or apology, MacArthur formed my grid in the process of preparing a sermon. But I never was satisfied just to take MacArthur’s word on any text, the joy was learning how he arrived at his conclusion. The task of discovery was what I enjoyed.
These books were recommended at the Shepherd’s Conference.
LINGUISTICS & BIBLICAL INTERPRETATION: Peter Cotterell & Max Turner
OLD TESTAMENT EXEGESIS: Douglas Stuart
NEW TESTAMENT EXEGESIS: Gordon D. Fee
Throughout the analysis and synthesis, therefore you will ask: ‘Exactly what is the biblical writer talking about?" You get a possible subject, then you take the subject you have back through the passage and relate it to the details. Does the subject fit the parts?
Is your subject an exact description of what the passage is talking about?
Footnote: What I have recognized and discovered from 2004 is that you acquire
books that reflect your theological point of view. 99% of all the books that I have purchased and have had influence over my thinking have been books I have agreed in theological view points.
What do these references books offer? To the serious person who wants to study the Word of God with a closer understanding of the teaching of the Bible. There will be a concise discussion of meaning and use of the key terms of the Bible . Why do we really need these reference books to get the meaning of the Word of God? Because the work of knowing the Bible is not a work of one man. First I think, the Bible is the revelation of God. God has used the Bible to reveal Himself in the Scriptures. Secondly, this revelation of God was given to man over a period of many hundreds of years. It was expressed in ancient languages. It employed the thought-forms of vanished civilizations.
In order to understand the meaning and significance of Scripture, it is imperative to understand the meaning and use of its language against the background of its history and social structures.
It was said of John Calvin: (learned this in the last few years)
"How energetically Calvin, having first established what stands in the text, sets himself to re-think the whole material and to wrestle with it, till the walls which separate the sixteenth century from the first became transparent! Paul speaks, and the man of the sixteenth century hears. The conversation between the original record and the reader moves round the subject-matter, until a distinction between yesterday and to-day becomes impossible. If a man persuades himself that Calvin’s method can be dismissed with the old-fashioned motto, "The Compulsion, or motivation, or drive, of Inspiration," he betrays himself as one who has never worked upon the interpretation of Scripture." Karl Barth said this of John Calvin.
The goal of biblical study-- like that of expository preaching - - is an understanding of the text which enables its message to speak directly to the readers or hearers in his contemporary situation.
In this process there are two main stages characterized by the term exegesis and hermeneutics.
Hermeneutics is concerned with reflecting on words and events from the past and interpreting their significance for us today. However, before this may come about there must be the prior stage of exegesis, the clarification of words, phrases, clauses, and sentences as their authors intended them to be understood and as they would have been understood by their original hearers.
It is the exegesis of biblical terminology that is the primary concern why we need these books.
These textbooks, references books endeavor not simply to analyze, classify and catalogue, the most important words that occur in the New Testament. They also seek to trace the meaning and use of words in secular Greek, the Septuagint and other versions of the O.T. uses by the early church in the N.T. period, comparing them with the Hebrew of the O.T. In many of these works done in these reference books they have taken into account the use of the words in the Dead Sea Scrolls, and writers like Philo and Josephus. Then they have been very careful to examine the NT writers themselves in order to ascertain the precise shade of meaning which each work attached to the words used.
How do you do this? By learning from those who have been gifted to do the research for you. I will tell you, I am thankful for the work of these men who have taken the time to do this kind of work.
To understand the Scripture one needs an understanding of: History, Geography, and Archaeology in the times of the writing of the Scriptures.
With all the above thoughts in mind, and I hear men say, "I only use the KJV to preach the Word of God!" Who are they trying to impress?
Some folks might say, "Charles, who are you attempting to impress?" Many people in our churches really believe that the preacher doesn’t have to work hard to prepare for a sermon. Just read the scripture and talk. Yes! Once upon a time, I thought as a preacher that God would send you a manuscript on Saturday.(kidding) Then later I thought, now I have the Internet I will ask God to e mail me each week.
Tiger Woods won his fifth consecutive golf event today.
First Baptist Church in Altoona, has a new pastor.
