How to Use a Bible Dictionary: A Simple Guide for Beginners
The Holy Spirit gives life (John 6:63; Romans 8:10), and He gives understanding of Scripture (John 14:26; John 16:13; 1 Corinthians 2:12-14). Only Christians are able to understand the words of the Bible (1 Corinthians 2:14). And only Christians have the mind of Christ (1 Corinthians 2;16), not only in His Word—the Bible—but as He sanctifies us (Hebrews 2:11), He takes us from one degree of glory to another (2 Corinthians 3:18), and we become more like Him (2 Corinthians 3:18). We then become more and more able to know Him and, as Peter says, grow in His grace and knowledge. We have ears to hear what the Spirit says through the Scriptures (Revelation 2:11). We must do our best to grasp the meaning of the text we are reading.
Consider the following verses:
“All Scripture is inspired by God and is profitable for teaching, for rebuking, for correcting, for training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work” (2 Timothy 3:16-17).
“Above all, you know this: No prophecy of Scripture comes from the prophet’s own interpretation, because no prophecy ever came by the will of man; instead, men spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit” (2 Peter 1:21).
The Apostle Paul says, “For whatever was written in the past was written for our instruction, so that we may have hope through endurance and through the encouragement from the Scriptures” (Romans 15:4, cf. 1 Corinthians 10:11).
It is imperative that we glean the proper interpretation of the passage(s) we study, for while lessons abound, only one interpretation of Scripture is correct. As we saw above, Peter said, “The untaught and unstable will twist them [Paul’s intended meaning] to their own destruction, as they also do with the rest of the Scriptures.
The principles of correct biblical hermeneutics (the science of biblical interpretation) are of great importance as we study the Bible. Therefore, we should never go solo in our study of God’s Word. Yes, consult dictionaries, concordances, commentaries, and other solid resources. But double-check your findings against respected, trusted sources, including pastors, theologians, and seminary professors.
Depending on your preferred method of study and reading, Bible dictionaries are available in print, as digital offerings, and online. Also, Bible dictionaries may be general or focus on particular topics, such as names, cultures, etc.
-Dedicated Christian websites such as BibleStudyTools.com offer a number of dictionaries to choose from.
-You can purchase digital or print copies of Bible dictionaries from Amazon for use on a Kindle or Barnes and Noble for use on a Nook. Other suppliers carry digital Bible dictionaries, but the previous ones are the most popular.
-Library apps such as Hoopla and Libby both offer Bible dictionaries as loans. *You must have a library card to use these services. Check your library’s website to see if they offer either or both.
-A great online dictionary written from a Christian worldview is the Webster’s 1828 version.
-Online Bibles such as Blue Letter, Bible Gateway, and Bible Hub also offer access to Bible dictionaries.
Just as with Bible translations, it’s always good to consult at least a few resources. Different translations use different words and take the nuances of the biblical languages (Hebrew, Aramaic, and Greek) into account.
The most important resource for learning what the Bible says and the words it contains is what happens as we gather with our church on the Lord’s Day. That is where we are discipled—when we fellowship, worship together with hymns, hear the Word—the Gospel proclaimed—and where we enjoy the Lord’s grace poured out upon us through the ordinary means of grace—prayer, the Lord’s Supper, and baptisms (when they occur).
Our elders are here to serve us in many ways, one of which is to answer our questions about the Bible and its language. They are, we can say, living Bible dictionaries—called to their vocation as teachers, shepherds, and overseers (see 1 and 2 Timothy, and Titus). I pray you enjoy using Bible dictionaries. And I pray your journey into the Word increases with every word’s meaning you discover.
