DICTIONARY

OF BIBLE THEMES

THE ACCESSIBLE AND COMPREHENSIVE TOOL FOR TOPICAL STUDIES

Martin Manser, www.martinmanser.co.uk

Martin H. Manser, Managing Editor

Alister E. McGrath, General Editor

J. I. Packer, Consultant Editor

Donald J. Wiseman, Consultant Editor

J. Gordon McConville, Assistant Consultant

Stephen H. Travis, Assistant Consultant

Dictionary of Bible Themes

Scripture index copyright Martin H. Manser, 2009. As Editor, Martin Manser wishes to thank all those who compiled or edited the ‘NIV Thematic Study Bible,’ on which this work is based

Contents

Introduction

How to use this book

Classification of themes

Abbreviations

Alphabetical List of Themes

Bible Themes

Scripture Index

About the Editors

MANAGING EDITOR

Martin H. Manser

An honours graduate of Languages and Linguistics from York University, Martin H. Manser has worked as a freelance reference book editor since 1980. He has compiled and edited a wide range of English language dictionaries and books of quotations, including the Lion Book of Bible Quotations, Bloomsbury’s Good Word Guide and Pan’s Dictionary of Contemporary Idioms. Martin was also Managing Editor of the NIV THEMATIC STUDY BIBLE published in 1996 to great acclaim and on which this dictionary is based.

GENERAL EDITOR

Alister E. Mcgrath

Principal of Wycliffe Hall, Oxford and Research Professor of Systematic Theology, Regent College, Vancouver, has been the key influence in the editorial stage of producing the Thematic Database from which this volume was derived.

CONSULTANT EDITORS

J. I. Packer

Sangwoo Youtong Chee Professor of Theology, Regent College, Vancouver, acted as Consultant Editor and is a great enthusiast for thematic Bible study.

Donald J. Wiseman

Emeritus Professor of Assyriology, University of London, is also Consultant Editor with a vital contribution to the cultural themes.

ASSISTANT CONSULTANTS

J. Gordon McConville

Senior Lecturer in Religious Studies, Cheltenham and Gloucester College of Higher Education, is Assistant Consultant Editor specializing in the Old Testament.

Stephen H. Travis

Vice-Principal, St. John’s College, Nottingham, is Assistant Consultant specializing in the New Testament.

Introduction

“The unfolding of your words gives light; it gives understanding to the simple.”
Ps 119:130

The study of Scripture lies at the heart of the Christian faith. It is therefore important that readers of Scripture are given every means of help so that they may get as much benefit and enjoyment as possible out of reading the Bible. The Dictionary of Bible Themes is designed to allow its users to appreciate to the full the unfolding of the unity and richness of Scripture by studying its central themes.

What is Scripture all about?

The Dictionary of Bible Themes was planned to allow its users to identify and explore the leading themes of Scripture—themes such as God, Jesus Christ, the Holy Spirit, the human race, sin and salvation, the Christian life, the church and the hope of glory.

This Dictionary identifies these, ...