The Baker Encyclopedia of the Bible is the newest in a growing list of new and revised reference works available to the serious Bible student. With so many excellent Bible dictionaries and encyclopedias already available, especially in view of the recent highly acclaimed Harper’s Bible Dictionary, there seems little need for yet another one. What are the special features which this two-volume set brings to biblical research? Will Bible students find information here that is not found in other sources?

This Bible encyclopedia is written for lay people. Technical language is avoided whenever possible. People do not need formal theological training to understand the more than 5,700 articles. Hebrew and Greek words are transliterated. While information usually is communicated in an easy-to-read style, each article reflects thorough evangelical research. Clarity of expression is not at the expense of careful scholarship. The lay orientation of the Baker Encyclopedia of the Bible does not conceal the crucial issues confronting biblical scholars. This is not a popular-level devotionalizing of biblical themes, but a serious reference work designed for the lay person who takes Bible study seriously.

Researchers using these volumes will find the basic factual information found in most other Bible dictionaries and encyclopedias, such as brief commentaries on the books of the Bible, historical background information about the biblical world and Israel’s neighbours, religious practices and social customs in biblical times and all the other normal Bible dictionary facts. In addition, they will discover new material on biblical persons. The articles about the people of the Bible record insights gained from a direct study of the Hebrew and Greek texts of every passage where each person is mentioned. This material represents a special contribution in the publication of Bible dictionaries.

Entries in this encyclopedia are not limited to biblical words. Valuable articles are included on subjects such as archaeology, apologetics, Bible interpretation, textual criticism and the biblical canon. Clearly written articles help lay people understand such modern critical methods of Bible study as form, source, and redaction criticism. From the descriptions and evaluations of the strengths and limitations of these critical methods, the lay reader gains an evangelical perspective on these approaches.

Another area of special emphasis in the Baker Encyclopedia of the Bible is the focus on Biblical Theology. According to the publisher’s own statistics, there are over 450 pages devoted to the study of the great themes of OT and NT theology. In addition to a general article defining the distinctive approach of Biblical Theology, there are numerous entries covering specific aspects of this subject, providing a comprehensive discussion on many of these concepts. For the informed student who knows the right topics and who perseveres in looking them up, this encyclopedia is a good source on Biblical Theology.

Two other features increase the value of this work. Cross-references at the end of articles direct the reader to other articles where more information is available on the subject. Many articles also end with a select bibliography of English language works.

This publication is enhanced by many relevant illustrations and maps. Unfortunately, all these vital aids are black-and-white except for the map section at the end of volume two.

This reviewer is particularly impressed with the quality of the editorial personnel and the more than two hundred, primarily British and North American, evangelical contributors of articles. They represent a ‘Who’s Who’ of evangelical scholarship. Most of the major articles represent the condensed insights of a lifetime of study and research on the specific topic by leading evangelical scholars who have authored other works on it, not an initially prepared article on an assigned topic.

There is little doubt that the Baker Encyclopedia of the Bible is an effective reference work for its targeted audience. It appears to make a special contribution in the articles on biblical people and Biblical Theology. The major frustration that some serious lay students will have is the absence of detailed scholarly argumentation to help evaluate alternative positions. In some cases more space is used raising problems than helping to solve them. For example the discussion of the problems involved in trying to harmonize the four gospel accounts of the discovery of the resurrection outlines the problem in great detail, but disappoints the reader by giving very general, undocumented solutions. More balance between statements of problems and descriptions of possible solutions would strengthen some articles. All in all, however, consulting the Baker Encyclopedia of the Bibleshould prove to be a prudent investment of study time.