Research Guides: Theology Resources: Get Started

Background information: use reference sources

Reference resources such as encyclopedias, dictionaries, handbooks, etc. are excellent resources to begin your research for background information. Finding background information will help you find relevant scholarly sources and can provide broad overviews of a topic allowing you to understand the main concepts/ issues, major dates and events of a subject, keywords and subject-specific vocabulary terms that can be used when searching databases, as well as bibliographies that lead to additional resources.

Online Encyclopedias, dictionaries and bibliographies

Blackwell Companion to Modern Theology
Brill's New Pauly: Encyclopedia of the Ancient World BRILL'S NEW PAULY are devoted to Greco-Roman antiquity and cover more than two thousand years of history, ranging from the second millennium BC to early medieval Europe. Special emphasis is given to the interaction between Greco-Roman culture on the one hand, and Semitic, Celtic, Germanic, and Slavonic culture, and ancient Judaism, Christianity, and Islam on the other hand.Five volumes ("Classical Tradition, I-V) are uniquely concerned with the long and influential aftermath of antiquity and the process of continuous reinterpretation and revaluation of the ancient heritage, including the history of classical scholarship. BRILL'S NEW PAULY presents the current state of traditional and new areas of research and brings together specialist knowledge from leading scholars from all over the world.
Cambridge History of Christianity An excellent nine-volume set of scholarly essays. Search the catalogue by title of each volume. Click on the link below for the titles of each volume.
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V.1 Origins to Constantine; V.2 Constantine to c.600; V.3 Early Medieval Christianities c.600- c.1100; V.4 Christianity in Western Europe c.1100- c.1500; V.5 Eastern Christianity; V.6 Reform and Expansion 1500-1660; V.7 Enlightenment, Reawakening and Revolution 1660-1815; V.8 World Christianities c. 1815- c.1914; V.9 World Christianities c. 1914- c. 2000.
A Concise Dictionary of Theology
The Concise Oxford Dictionary of the Christian Church Over 6,000 entries provide authoritative coverage of theology, patristic scholarship, churches and denominations across the world, canon law, and the church calendar, as well as entries on theologians, philosophers, artists, musicians, and mystics.The third edition has been updated to reflect recent changes in the Church. Over 100 new entries cover topics such as the Antonian Movement, dispensationalism, Heilsgeschichte, Alvin Plantinga, Garima Gospels, and Intelligent Design. It also includes a new appendix listing the Archbishops of Canterbury and a web links appendix providing online resources that are listed and regularly updated on a dedicated companion website.This handy, concise volume is essential reading for anyone with an interest in Christianity.
Dictionary of Biblical Criticism and Interpretation
Dictionary of Jesus and the Gospels A self-contained reference library of information and perspective essential to exploring Jesus and the Gospels.Articles cover each Gospel, major themes in the Gospels, key episodes in the life of Jesus, significant background topics, as well as issues and methods of interpretation.
Dictionary of New Testament Background The Dictionary of New Testament Background takes full advantage of the flourishing study of the Dead Sea Scrolls and offers individual articles focused on the most important scrolls. In addition, the Dictionary encompasses the fullness of second-temple Jewish writings, whether pseudepigraphic, rabbinic, parables, proverbs, histories or inscriptions. Articles abound on aspects of Jewish life and thought, including family, purity, liturgy and messianism. The full scope of Greco-Roman culture is displayed in articles ranging across language and rhetoric, literacy and book culture, religion and cults, honor and shame, patronage and benefactors, travel and trade, intellectual movements and ideas, and ancient geographical perspectives.
Dictionary of Paul and His Letters In-depth articles focus on individual theological themes (such as law, resurrection and Son of God), broad theological topics (such as Christology, eschatology and the death of Christ), methods of interpretation (such as rhetorical criticism and social-scientific approaches), background topics (such as apocalypticism, Hellenism and Qumran) and various other subjects specifically related to the scholarly study of Pauline theology and literature (such as early catholicism, the center of Paul's theology, and Paul and his interpreters since F. C. Baur). Separate articles are also devoted to each of the Pauline letters to hermeneutics and to preaching Paul today.
Dictionary of the Later New Testament and its Developments The Dictionary of the Later New Testament & Its Developments offers a summa of New Testament studies. Designed to bring students, teachers, pastors and general readers up to date and up to speed, this one-of-a-kind reference volume presents more information than any other single work--dealing exclusively with the theology, literature, background and scholarship of the later New Testament and the apostolic church.In-depth, comprehensive articles focus on theological themes, methods of interpretation, background topics and various other subjects specifically related to the study of New Testament theology and literature.
Dictionary of the Old Testament: historical books (part of a series) This is a series. Search also for the Dictionary of the Old Testament: Pentateuch; Dictionary of the Old Testament: Prophets; Dictionary of the Old Testament: Wisdom, Poetry & Writings
Encyclopaedia Judaica Covers diverse areas of the Jewish world and civilization, including Jewish history of all eras, culture, holidays, language, scripture, and religious teachings.
Encyclopaedia of Islam
Encyclopedia of Christian Theology Nearly 500 entries on doctrines, events, theories, schools of thought, and individuals are alphabetically arranged and conclude with excellent supplemental bibliographies.
Encyclopedia of Religion The second edition of a resource that is considered a standard reference in the field. Presents a cross-cultural approach that emphasizes religion's role within everyday life and as a unique experience from culture to culture. The original 2,750 entries have been retained, many heavily updated, and approximately 600 entirely new articles have been added by an international team of scholars and contributors. Macmillan Reference USA
Encyclopedia of the Bible and Its Reception EBR offers a comprehensive and in-depth rendering of the current state of knowledge on the origins and development of the Bible in its different canonic forms in Judaism and Christianity. At the same time, EBR also documents the history of the Bible's reception in the Christian churches and the Jewish Diaspora; in Islam, in other religious traditions and current religious movements, Western and non-Western alike, as well as in literature, art, music, and film.
Encyclopedia of the Historical Jesus Entries will cover the classical studies that initiated the new historiography, the theoretical discussions about authenticating the historical record, the examination of sources that have led to the western understanding of Jesus' teachings and disseminated myth of the events concerning Jesus' birth and death.Subject areas include:- The history of the historical study of the New Testament: major contributors and their works- Theoretical issues and concepts- Methodologies and criteria- Historical genres and rhetorical styles in the story of Jesus- Historical and rhetorical context of martyrdom and messianism- Historical teachings of Jesus- Teachings within historical context of ethics- Titles of Jesus- Historical events in the life of Jesus- Historical figures in the life of Jesus- Historical use of Biblical figures referenced in the Gospels- Places and regions- Institutions- The history of the New Testament within the culture, politics, and law of the Roman Empire
Encyclopoedia of Monasticism “The two-volume Encyclopedia of Monasticism describes the monastic traditions of both Christianity and Buddhism with more than 600 entries on important monastic figures of all periods and places, surveys of countries and localities, and topical essays covering a wide range of issues (e.g., art, behavior, economics, liturgy, politics, theology, and scholarship). Coverage encompasses not only geography and history worldwide but also the contemporary dilemmas of monastic life. Recent upheavals in certain countries are highlighted (Korea, Russia, Sri Lanka, etc.). Topical essays subtitled "Christian Perspectives" and "Buddhist Perspectives" explore in imaginative fashion comparisons and contrasts between Christian and Buddhist monasticism. Encyclopedia of Monasticism also includes more than 500 color and black and white illustrations covering all aspects of monastic life, art, and architecture.”
New Catholic Encyclopedia
Oxford Encyclopedia of the Reformation The definitive source for information about the entire range of religious and social changes that altered the face of Europe in the sixteenth century, encompassing not only issues of church polity and theology but also developments in politics, economics, demographics, art and literature. This broadly cast, interdisciplinary definition allows for a comprehensive social and intellectual history of early modern Europe.
Oxford Research Encyclopedias
Choose "Browse by Subject" such as Religion, African History, Psychology, etc.

Oxford Biblical Studies Online This link opens in a new window Oxford Biblical Studies Online provides a comprehensive resource for the study of the Bible and biblical history. The collection integrates authoritative scholarly texts and reference works with tools that provide ease of research into the background, context, and issues related to the Bible.
Oxford Bibliographies Online This link opens in a new window Online guides to essential literature in subjects across the humanities and social sciences. Each subject module includes a full set of entries covering a range of topics from general overviews to highly-specialized themes. Each entry provides a synoptic, bibliographic guide to the key literature and most useful online resources in given area of research

Oxford Companion to the Bible and Culture The Oxford Companion to the Bible provides an authoritative one-volume reference to the people, places, events, books, institutions, religious belief, and secular influence of the Bible. Written by more than 250 scholars from some 20 nations and embracing a wide variety of perspectives, theCompanion offers over seven hundred entries, ranging from brief identifications--who is Dives? where is Pisgah?--to extensive interpretive essays on topics such as the influence of the Bible on music or law. Ranging far beyond the scope of a traditional Bible dictionary, the Companion features, in addition to its many informative, factual entries, an abundance of interpretive essays.
Oxford History of Christian Worship The Oxford History of Christian Worship is a history of the origins and development of Christian worship to the present day. Backed by an international roster of contributors, this book examines the liturgical traditions of Orthodox, Catholic, and Protestant, and Pentecostal traditions throughout history and across the world. With 240 photographs and 10 maps, the full geographical spread of Christianity is covered, including Europe, North America, Latin America, Africa, East Asia, and the Pacific. Following contemporary trends in scholarship, it covers social and cultural contexts, material culture and the arts.

Oxford Islamic Studies Online This link opens in a new window This authoritative, dynamic resource brings together the best current scholarship in the field for students, scholars, government officials, community groups, and librarians to foster a more accurate and informed understanding of the Islamic world. Oxford Islamic Studies Online features reference content and commentary by renowned scholars in areas such as global Islamic history, concepts, people, practices, politics, and culture, and is regularly updated as new content is commissioned and approved.
Oxford Reference Online This link opens in a new window Oxford Reference is the premier online reference product, spanning 25 different subject areas, bringing together 2 million digitized entries across Oxford University Press’s Dictionaries, Companions and Encyclopedias.

Collections of electronic resources

Digital Karl Barth Library This link opens in a new window Searchable complete works of Barth in German, and selected works in English.

Patrologia Latina Online version of the first edition of Migne's Patrologia Latina (1844-1855). Includes Fathers of the Church from Tertullian (200) to the death of Pope Innocent III (1216).
Theology and Religion Online
Thesaurus Linguae Graecae The TLG digital library contains virtually all ancient Greek texts surviving from the period between Homer (8th century B.C.) and A.D. 600, and a large number of texts deriving from the period between A.D. 600 and 1453. Topics include Greek literature, history, and culture.

Encyclopedias and Dictionaries in the library (a sample)

The Anchor Bible Dictionary by David Noel Freedman; Anchor Bible Staff
Call Number: Reference BS440 .A54
ISBN: 0385193513
Publication Date: 1998-12-01
Dictionary for Theological Interpretation of the Bible by Kevin J. Vanhoozer
Call Number: BS440 .D495 2005
ISBN: 0801026946
Dictionary of Asian Christianity by Scott W.Sunquist
Call Number: BR1065 .D52 2001
ISBN: 080283776X
Dictionary of Christian Biography by Michael Walsh
Call Number: BR1700.2 .D53 2001
ISBN: 0814659217
The Dictionary of Historical Theology by Trevor A. Hart
Call Number: BT21.2 .D53 2000
ISBN: 080283907X
Dictionary of Scottish church history & theology by Nigel M. de S. Cameron
Call Number: BR782 .D43 1993
ISBN: 0830814078
Dictionary of the Presbyterian & Reformed Tradition in America by D.G. Hart
Call Number: BX8909.D53 1999
ISBN: 0830814531
This reference work is primarily historical and covers the diversity of Reformed and Presbyterian churches in the United States and Canada.
The Eerdmans Dictionary of Early Judaism by John J. Collins and Daniel C. Harlow
Call Number: BM176 .E34 2010
ISBN: 9780802825490
Encyclopedia of Christianity by Erwin Fahlbusch
Call Number: BR95 .E8913 1999
ISBN: 0802824137
Oxford Companion to Christian Thought by Adrian Hastings, Alistair Mason and Hugh Pyper
Call Number: BR95 .O79 2000
ISBN: 0198600240
The Westminster Dictionary of Theologians by Justo L. González
Call Number: BR95 .D4513 2006
ISBN: 0664229891
Westminster Dictionary of Theological Terms by Donald K. McKim
Call Number: BR95 .M378 1996
ISBN: 0664220894