I’ve got to agree Scot — I’ve only got access to one of these dictionaries, but I rely on it very heavily for the reasons you mention. I’ll be getting more of them as my budget and study needs dictate.
Funnily enough, the one I own is the one you coedited. I found your blog a week or two ago and I was trying to figure out where I’d heard your name. It clicked when I was generating the bibliography for my latest essay.
How big a revision is the edition going to entail?

Thanks for the heads-up on this resource. I wish it had been out a few months ago when I was writing my thesis. Oh well, can’t win them all.

I own the first four: Jesus and the Gospels, Paul and His Letters, NT Background, and the Later NT. As I’ve told many people these IVP dictionaries are worth their weight in Gold. For all the reasons Scott mentioned they need to be in everyone’s library.
I’m glad to hear that they are updating the Jesus and the gospels one…and hopefully that means Paul and His letters are in the circuit to be updated as well, as at least in Pauline literature so much has changed since it was last published in 1997 (?).
Scott, any word on a date release for the gospels one?

Scot,
I completely agree. The IVP series of dictionaries is amazing. I have every one of them and refer to them frequently, whether for a paper or for personal study.
Is there going to be some kind of contest to win the revision of the Jesus and the Gospels installment once you finish?!?!!

Amen, amen. That first one from you and Joel is still one of the first books I reach for on the gospels. I’ve got all the NT ones, need to get the OT ones too.
And I’m pleased that those dictionaries represent evangelical scholarship in conversation with the larger tradition and broadening slightly the definition of an evangelical… a “generous evangelicalism” perhaps?

I can hardly wait to grab a copy of Wisdom, Poetry, and Writings. These are the first dictionaries I’ve been able to enjoy reading through, article by article!

Scot, I don’t mean to be ugly, but when you say these dictionaries are “not bound to the traditional conservative viewpoint” and are “playing a hand in the growing shifts in evangelicalism,” are you saying that these things are a little liberal and is quietly introducing young evangelicals to liberalism?
That sounds to me like what you’re saying.

ChrisB,
That’s a bit of an end-loaded question that assumes some things not mentioned. Well, I’d put it like this: the conservative evangelical theory of Scripture, for one thing, needs adjustments in light of what we have learned over the last fifty years, what evangelicals have learned. And these dictionaries don’t shy away from these things, even if they constantly provide a viewpoint that is clearly evangelical. I would say these dictionaries are moderate evangelicalism. I don’t know what you mean by “liberal” but in my judgment these dictionaries aren’t remotely liberal.

ChrisB,
Here’s a good exercise: sit down with the dictionaries, read who writes the articles, and evaluate the sorts who are being asked and who are not being asked (which in some case, of course, were asked and turned down the opportunity). You’ll have to say they represent the breadth of the evangelical tradition. Pretty amazing accomplishment, and and Dan Reid and IVP deserve truck loads of credit.

And for those who asked … DJG’s revision hasn’t even begun; I suspect it is a good five years out.

Hey! I wouldn’t have made it through undergrad without DJG and the superior Dictionary of Biblical Imagery. No kidding: a few years ago I saw the IVP reference software set at at a half price book store and it truly was half price. I thought I’d stop by later with some cash and wouldn’t you know it – gone. Still regretting that one…

IVP needs to update their Essential Reference Collection and include the recent OT dictionaries (there are 3 of them with the latest one now, I believe). It stinks having the 4 NT dictionaries on my computer where I can search and click, and then (if I choose) purchasing the OT dictionaries where I have to lift, turn, underline, etc.
The Libronix format works well, and I would gladly pay an extra $80 or so to accommodate these recent works as some type of add-on update or something.
Scot, please relay the information. With the OT dictionaries and the biblical interpreters (church history) dictionary, this would far and above be the most purchased and powerful reference collection in the world. People reluctant to purchase the hard copies would no doubt purchase the cd-rom. It should be a no-brainer, in my mind.

I’ll second that Luke. I have and love the IVP dictionaries, they are always one of the first resources I turn to in my studies, particuaraly the Gospels and Pauline editions. Also, I am a huge fan of Logos, but I have refrained from buying the IVP resource pack because I have most of it in print. However, if they added the three OT dictionaries I would order it in a heartbeat, especially since I only have the first of those.
Scott, or anyone else, if you know of plans to redo that set please let me know.

Thanks for the shout out, Scott.
Justin D.
(Contributor)

My wife has long made fun of me for my recreational reading from my set (I have most, but not all).
I especially like the various indexes. There’s a lot to like about them… to much to mention.

End of Week Round Up | Byrnesys Blabberings

[...] Scot McKnight calls IVP Dictionaries "one of the finest gifts to the church of this generation", I just picked up Dictionary of Major Biblical Interpreters for a bargain basement price. [...]

Scot,
I was first introduced to this series in a class that I audited that was taught by David Garland at Truett Seminary (Baylor). He introduced me to the Gospels volume and I have since purchased almost every volume. I use these wonderful reference books regularly.

Agreed. These are fine pieces of work. I have each one that has come out so far, and use them often. They’re a blessing.

I have been working my way through the Dictionary of Jesus and the Gospels for a class at Southern Seminary this summer. It truly is an amazing book! Where else can you find so much information presented in a concise manner from dozens of well-respected evangelical scholars?
When is the scheduled release for the updated version? I’m already looking forward to it!

I too love these dictionaries. I think I have all of them except the most recent one you mention. I made heavy use of the one on the Pentateuch (co-edited by one of my O.T. professors at Ashland, David Baker) for a seminary class. Many of the articles were required reading. Like it so much I’ve been buying up the other volumes.