Edited by George Arthur Buttrick and others
(4 vols., 1963, plus Supplementary Volume, 1976)
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 An illustrated encyclopedia identifying and explaining all proper names and significant terms and subjects in the Holy Scriptures, including the Apocrypha, with attention to archaeological discoveries and researches into the life and faith of ancient times. Editorial board: George Arthur Buttrick, dictionary editor, and many others.
Vol. 1: Topics in alphabetical order, A to D, plus excellent Bible atlas
2: Topics in alphabetical order, E to J
3: Topics in alphabetical order, K to Q
4: Topics in alphabetical order, R to Z
5: Supplement: Topics in alphabetical order, A to Z
On vols. 1 – 4 (from a review by Henry S. Gehman, published in the journal Theology Today): This four-volume dictionary is a notable contribution to Biblical studies.... According to the title page, the work is an encyclopedia identifying and explaining all proper names and subjects in the Bible and the Apocrypha, and it seems that the editor and his associates have succeeded in achieving their goal. Since the writers of the different articles were allowed ample space, in many cases they have added important and extensive bibliography, which is helpful for students and pastors who have access to a theological or university library.
[As an indication of the depth of discussion,] the important articles on "Jerusalem" and the history of Israel have 24 and 14-1/2 pages respectively.... There are... numerous black and white maps throughout the four volumes, and these are very convenient in visualizing the location of various places.
An article of 11-1/2 pages is devoted to the "Dead Sea Scrolls," and under "Text, New Testament" is presented a list of manuscripts with names and places. On the other hand, however, it is a serious omission that no clear and definite listing of Hebrew and Greek manuscripts of the Old Testament is given to which the student of the Bible may turn for information in this field. Concerning the Aleppo Hebrew manuscript of the entire Old Testament, it is asserted (vol. 4, p. 588): "now reported destroyed." It is a fact that it suffered damage in the destruction of the Old Synagogue at Aleppo, and today it contains only 294 folios of the presumable original number of 380. It is now, however, used at the University of Jerusalem in the preparation of a new edition of the Hebrew Old Testament.
Proper regard has been paid to linguistics, and generally the etymologies are good. Since they come from different hands, there is, however, some inconsistency, as, for example, in interpreting the vowel i, whether it be the first person possessive or a glide. The articles on the Ethnic Divisions of Man, Languages, Hebrew, Aramaic, and Greek have considerable value for the student of Biblical languages and contain extensive bibliographies.
Articles on Biblical criticism are included, and despite changes of opinion about the Pentateuch in recent years, the view is held that it is fair to say that the documentary hypothesis remains the landmark of Pentateuchal criticism and the foundation for all further research. While the term "Hexateuch" may have proved useful in the history of criticism, its existence as an independent entity is properly doubted. In the discussion of Isaiah, Deutero-Isaiah, and Trito-Isaiah it is noted that a theological thought begun by Isaiah pervades the book that bears his name.
In the case of the Letter to the Ephesians the conclusion is reached that it is not from the hand of Paul. As regards the authorship of the Gospel of John, the Letters of John, and the Apocalypse, various theories are presented.
The discussion of Biblical translations in the main is good.... In line with the present interest in Biblical theology two articles on the subject are included in the encyclopedia, which maintains a wholesome attitude toward Scripture. In this connection mention may be made of a few themes: Covenant, Election, Faith, Foreknowledge, God, justification, Regeneration, Repentance, Resurrection. As regards the Servant of the Lord, it is observed that in recent years there has been an increasing support of the traditional Christian interpretation and that none except Christ was the fulfillment of the concept.
The editor and his associates are to be commended for having produced this dictionary. The print is clear and sharp and is easy to read; the numerous illustrations have an educational value and generally add to the beauty of the page. In the middle of each volume are eight colored plates, but they have no relation to the adjacent pages.
On the Supplement Volume (from a review by Sherman E. Johnson in the same journal): "After fourteen years" much has changed for the apostle Paul. The original four volumes of the IDB were published in 1962, and this magnificent supplement illustrates the vast growth of biblical research and the increase in number of researchers since that time. Of the 271 writers who have collaborated, I count 84 as working outside the United States in nearly all parts of the world. Among the contributors are many Roman Catholics and Jews together with Protestants of many denominations, and there are 18 women. Very few had contributed to the previous IDB; most are eminent in their fields.
The volume will have to be used along with the original set. Some articles are merely supplementary, often bibliographical, while others are completely rewritten. Asterisks mark references to articles in the older IDB.
This supplementary volume will be of immense use to teachers and theological students, but it can be helpful to any educated person interested in the Scriptures and ancient history. There are, by the way, articles of particular contemporary interest dealing with issues that are no mere passing fashions. These include new entries on Blacks, Early Christianity and (Snowden), and on Woman in the Ancient Near East (Harris). The articles on Woman in the OT (Trible) and Woman in the NT (Scroggs) have been rewritten. Georgi, in his article on I Corinthians, agrees with Scroggs that I Cor. 14:33b-36 is a second century interpolation. The article on Homosexuality (Marvin Pope) is thorough, careful, and objective.
Finally, many will be interested in the article on Science and the Bible, written by the Oak Ridge physicist, W. G. Pollard. This gives the view of at least one eminent scientist on a question of interest to many laypeople. On p. 791 there is a picture of the earth's sphere as seen from Apollo 17 spacecraft. [TOP]
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