The New International Dictionary of New Testament Theology and Exegesis
The most up-to-date and thorough interpretive dictionary (or lexicon) devoted to NT words is the New International Dictionary of New Testament Theology and Exegesis (NIDNTTE). This dictionary is available online for UNW students and faculty. It is a different kind of dictionary than most language dictionaries and lexicons. In particular, it focuses on the historical and theological meanings of a word or word-group used in the NT. The entries read more like word histories with interpretations of words in specific NT contexts. Each entry in the NIDNTTE typically follows this pattern:
- GL (the word-group's background in Greek literature before and outside the NT)
- JL (the word-group's background in Jewish literature before and contemporaneous with the NT)
- NT (the New Testament's usage of the word-group)
The NIDNTTE is ordered alphabetically by Greek letter. If you don't know the Greek language, you should learn it. But even if you don't know Greek, this dictionary is still an accessible and valuable resource for English readers. Here's how to find your word or word-group.
Step # One:
Find the Strong's number. Each Greek work in the NT has a designated number. Most websites use the Strong's number. And some resources (like the NIDNTTE) use the GK number.
- Find your passage on one of the following Bible study sites
- These sites all look different, but they all display the Strong's number behind each word in the biblical text.
- Select the word in your passage to see the Strong's number of that word.
- Many bible study sites utilize Strong's numbers, but here are a few sites that I like best:
Step # Two:
Find the GK number that corresponds to your Strong's number.
- Use this conversion table in the NIDNTTE to find the GK number.
Step # Three:
Find the entry for the word/word group in the NIDNTTE
- Use this index to locate the GK number in the NIDNTTE (e.g., G41 ἅγιος [hagios]).
- Clicking on the GK number (e.g., G41) should bring you to the entry where that word and its cognates (i.e., related words) are studied.
Conducting a NT word study with physical books
NIV Method:
- Find the verse and word in an NIV tranlsation. NOTE: the NIV was significantly updated in 2011. Any concordances, dictionaries, or bible tools that are based on the NIV published before 2011 will use the 1984 NIV text (e.g., "sinful nature" in the 1984 NIV is now "flesh" in the 2011 NIV, and there may be other changes in wording).
- Look up the word/verse in the Zondervan NIV Exhaustive Concordance (REF 220.2 G626e 1999).
- Find the G-K (Goodrick-Kohlenberger) number on the right side of the word/verse.
- Look up the number in the NIV Theological Dictionary of New Testament Words (REF 225.3 N641 2000). This will give you a longer definition and etymology.
ESV Method:
- Find the passage and your word in the English-Greek Reverse Interlinear New Testament: English Standard Version (REF 225.48 En36 2007).
- Locate the Strong's number of your word underneath the English word.
- Use the tables in Zondervan NIV Exhaustive Concordance (pages 1607-1647) or the NIV Theological Dictionary of New Testament Words (pages 1514-1544) to find the G-K number that corresponds to the Strong's number.
- Look up the G-K number as you would in Step 4 under the NIV Method above.
Other Versions:
If you have a translation other than an NIV or ESV (many students use the NASB or KJV) try to select a concordance that corresponds to that version (e.g., NASB use Strongest NASB Exhaustive Concordance (REF 220.2 N42s). There are several others on the shelf, all of which use the Strong's numerical system. Be sure to choose one that uses your translation.
- Look up the word and find the Strong's number on the right.
- Now you have to convert that number to a G-K (Goodrick-Kohlenberger) number. Use the tables in Zondervan NIV Exhaustive Concordance (pages 1607-1647) or the NIV Theological Dictionary of New Testament Words (pages 1514-1544) to find the G-K number that corresponds to the Strong's number.
- Then follow Step 4 under the NIV Method above.
Theological dictionaries/lexicons for the NT
New International Dictionary of New Testament Theology and Exegesis Set by
A standard and widely-used reference work for nearly 40 years, the New International Dictionary of New Testament Theology and Exegesis has been thoroughly revised and updated to aid today's pastors, students, scholars, and teachers in their study of the New Testament. Offering a wealth of background and information on the meaning of Greek words in the New Testament--as well as related usage in classical Greek sources, the Septuagint, Jewish literature, and more--this important tool offers the following features: * Alphabetical arrangement according to Greek words instead of previous order according to English topics; this ensures that individual Greek words are not discussed in isolation from one another and are easy to access * Expanded to include additional Greek words and concepts not covered in the original work, NIDNTTE includes nearly 800 entries covering over 3,000 Greek words * Discussions have been revised to be in line with modern scholarship and bibliographies are updated * Corrections have been made to inconsistencies and omissions in earlier versions * Updated and added consistency to include--for every entry--all necessary background information from classical Greek, the LXX, and Jewish literature. * A helpful semantic domain index now directs the reader to all of the Greek words that have something to do with a particular English word. For example, under the English word "Anger, Wrath," there is a list of thirteen Greek words that are related to that topic. * Significant changes have been made in the presentation and discussion of linguistic details * and much more!
Call Number: REF 225.48 N42s 2014ISBN: 9780310276197Publication Date: 2014-11-11
The NIV theological dictionary of New Testament words by Call Number: REF 225.3 N641 2000ISBN: 0310216508
Theological dictionary of the New Testament by Call Number: REF 225.48 K65tISBN: 0802822509The TDNT does not use Strong's or G/K numbers. However, in volume 10 there is an index on pages 61-84 where you can look up the word or word group that corresponds to the Strong's number. Not every Strong's number is listed.
Theological dictionary of the New Testament (Abridged) by Call Number: 225.48 K65t AbridgedISBN: 0802824048
Exegetical Dictionary of the New Testament by Call Number: Northwestern Reference 225.48 Ex32 1990ISBN: 0802824099Publication Date: 1990
