Customer Reviews:
Showing reviews 1-5 of 15
 Great, but the abridged version is better, so is Spicq January 16, 2007
David Kilpatrick (North Syracuse, NY)
22 out of 22 found this review helpful
I hate to be the only one not giving this a 5 (but four means it's great). [NOTE: My rating was accidentally registered as a five] Others have already highlighted how great this is. In many respects, it is superior to Kittel's Theological Dictionary of the New Testament (10 volumes). I've owned my set since 1980, when it was three volumes (the current fourth volume is an index). I can't give it five stars because 1) organizing by English words is very difficult and annoying for those of us who can look it up in Greek word order, like all the other Greek resources (20 minutes learning the Greek alphabet is all it would take for someone who doesn't read Greek). 2) Like so many other works geared to both those who read Greek and those who don't, it uses transliteration in the articles. I think that's the ONLY thing I like better about Kittel's - no transliteration! 3) This is not cost-effective compared to the absolutely outstanding and inexpensive "abridged" version of this set (see more below).
I've used DNTT for years. I always come away from reading articles quite edified. It's a tremendous resource. It's so good I overlook it's organizational faults.
However, consider the following:
Zondervan quietly put out an abridged version of this. Nothing important is missing! See my review of the New International Dictionary of New Testament Theology - Abridged Edition here on Amazon for more details. That is only $23, while this four volume set is $93. That uses the odd English based organizing system, the abridged is easier to use and all words are listed in Greek word order. They crammed the information into one volume by shrinking the type (still plenty big), moving to a double column format, and making the book taller and deeper than the original size. Read more about it at my review.
If you are considering this set, you may want to consider the abridged instead. When I've used the abridged, I never feel cheated because they kept all the relevant stuff! I have all the major theological dictionaries of the NT (TDNT, DNTT, Exegetical Dictionary of the NT, and Spicq's TNLT) and I use them routinely. I'm telling you that the Abridged version of this is not a kiddie version. It's the real thing. It's the best kept secret in scholarly resources for the NT! Don't feel like you're slighting yourself by getting the abridged, you're not. Now the abridged Kittel's, by contrast, is a different story. That was a serious abridgement and a serious compromise of the original. I sold that on eBay. I retain and use the original.
A great supplement to this set (or the abridged version) is Spicq's Theological Lexicon of the New Testament. See my review of that. It is far more theologically refreshing and insightful than either this set or TDNT (EDNT is the most bland, but it has its strengths).
May God bless you in your pursuit of a greater understanding of Holy Scripture.
One of the Better New Testament Dictionaries November 13, 2000
T. B. Vick (The Lone Star State)
15 out of 15 found this review helpful
Colin Brown has put together one of the better New Testament Dictionaries available. This is a must have for serious students, Pastors, and those who love to study the New Testament. This series is great for word studies, syntactical studies, semantical studies, etc. Brown takes Greek words used throughout the NT and discusses their usages in context, in the LXX, in other Greek writings, etc. Brown gives a definition of the word/s and describes their various semantical features, cognates, synonyms, and such. Brown also sites where the words are used, how they are used, etc. Moreover, the reader does not need a background in the Greek language to understand this series - Brown has made it accessible for anyone to grasp!! Brown also discusses key terms used in the Greek, he has a great bibliography, a complete index (one whole volume of the series), and he discusses the major theological issues surrounding the grammar/semantics of the Greek and the Bible. Thus, making this set an invaluable tool for anyone interested in deeper NT studies. This is a must have set!!!
Simply the best! July 11, 2004
Robert Wynkoop (Washington State)
14 out of 14 found this review helpful
This four volume set is an indispensable resource every pastor and serious Bible student. I purchased my set in 1989 and it sits on a prominent place in my theological library, just behind my desk. Thoroughly scholarly, yet evangelical, The New International Dictionary of New Testament Theology offers in-depth insight into key New Treatment words. Best of all, one need not have a working knowledge of either Greek or Hebrew to use this resource; yet, at the same time it offers those who have a working knowledge of the original tongues tremendous insight as well. There is enough in these volumes to irritate just about everyone who holds strict denominational beliefs. Neither Arminian, or Calvinistic, nor evangelical or charismatic, this dictionary gives the reader the best of evangelical scholarship. It has been fifteen years since I purchased by set, and I cannot imagine preparing sermons and Bible Studies without it.
Must have October 14, 2002
George Koehl (Irving, Tx)
10 out of 10 found this review helpful
This series is a must have for any serious biblicist. This series is useful for layman and ordained alike. Every word present in the New Testament is examined at length, delving into the Classical usages, LXX and Hebrew conter parts as well as Konic; giving the full literary history of the usage. Much care is taken in quotation and sources cited, letting the reader know if there are exceptions to the cited authors. Three volumes of exposition and a single volume of index, making finding the exact quote, word, or cite quickly accessible.
Valuable resource July 4, 2003
David Tolladay (Auberry, CA USA)
8 out of 8 found this review helpful
This set is one of my most valuable resources for understanding the bredth and depth of New Testament words. The use of the Hebrew background, the Septuagint translation, the secular Greek usage as well as the New Testament context give a broad and complete basis for forming a more legitimate exegesis. The information is presented with enough detail to satisfy those with some knowledge of Greek or Hebrew, but is not so detailed as to make it unavailable to those lacking that background.
Showing reviews 1-5 of 15
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