Theological Dictionary of the New Testament – Abridged in One Volume, Geoffrey W. Bromily

Theological Dictionary of the New Testament – Abridged in One Volume, Geoffrey W. Bromily

This an abridgment of the highly regarded ten-volume set edited by Gerhard Kittel and Gerhard
Friedrich which was originally in German as a nine volume set with Kittle overseeing volumes 1-4 and Freidrich volumes 5-9. Geoffrey Bromily translated the work into English, but he also prepared a single volume abridged. People often refer to the full volume set as “Kittel” and the abridged volume as “Little Kittel”. According to the dust jacket, this volume contains 1,400 rather than 8,420 pages of the full set. One should look at both the price and size of these volumes before determining which option suits their situation best. If space and money are a factor, then one may decide the abridged volume is the better option. Either choice, one would do well to include the work of Kittel in their library.


This work provides information regarding how a Greek word was used both by secular writers such as Homer, Aristotle, Plato, et al. and how the term is used within the New Testament. The abridged work focus’ is more on NT usage. If one is interested learning more about the details surrounding a term’s etymology and linguistic use, then consulting the entry in the full set may be of value. (The volume and page number from the unabridged set is included at the end of each entry.) There is a Table of Greek Keywords which contains a listing of all the Greek terms in the transliterated English format the editor deemed theologically significant and the corresponding page number. There is also a Table of English Keywords as well so one can locate the terms rather easily. Please note, this is not an exhaustive treatment; i.e., it does not cover all the words in the Greek New Testament.


An additional value of this abridgment is the work was completed by the one who translated the original work. Ideally it would be nice to have the original editor do this work, but having the one who translated each word from German to English complete the abridgment is a significant benefit when switching from one volume to another. There will be those who will cite weaknesses of this set as to technical matters relating to Greek language or indexing to Strong’s Numbering System. Some of their arguments may have merit; however, I have not found any of these to keep me from profiting from the work.


Also, one may want to be aware that Gerhard Kittel was arrested after WW2 for his support of Adolph Hitler and the Nazi Party. One critic stated that they hoped the original dictionary would be revised by a team including Jewish scholars. With all sincere respect to all those who suffered much under Hitler, the validity of the work should not be measured by the ethnicity of the contributors but how the work stands from a scholarship perspective. Geoffrey Bromily, born in England, saw enough value in this research to translate it so others could profit from it as well. This set is treasured by many who appreciate the insights it provides while abhorring the political views that Kittel himself held. One wonders how the product could be improved simply by having those from Jewish descent contribute to its revision? Of course, some are never satisfied, and I have even seen claims that the NIV version is the “Nazis Inspired Version” simply because Kittel’s work was listed as a reference source. While the NIV is not my first choice for a Bible translation, I certainly would not argue the NIV is a product of Nazism! It seems to me that this line of thinking does more to impugn the work of the linguistic expert Geoffrey Bromily, who translated the work into English, rather than protest one of the more evil regimes to rise upon the earth.


As with other works, a good rule of thumb is to use comparative works as much as possible. The study of words of the New Testament and their occurrence by writers outside the NT is an enriching experience, but one must be careful not to overly rely on arguments from linguistics alone. For example, those who rightfully argue that baptizo [to baptize], including this writer, must be translated “to immerse” (or some synonym) should be able to support this argument with other supporting facts such as immersion being congruent with a burial which baptism depicts plus NT examples in Acts which clearly implies full immersion. Basing an argument on linguistics alone has led some into doctrines contrary to the Bible because words of differing meanings in their respective contexts. This work will assist one in a full discussion of a word’s etymology and theology in the New Testament and is an extremely valuable resource.

Fundamentals of the Faith, Rex A. Turner

Fundamentals of the Faith, Rex A. Turner

Churches of Christ seek to grow both in spirit and in number. If a congregation is growing, then it will have people in attendance at varying maturity levels. Hence, an education program and preaching ought to be careful to include regular teaching on the fundamentals of New Testament Christianity. If topics such as the design of baptism, the identifying marks of the New Testament church, the frequency of which to observe the Lord’s Supper, and others along these lines have become mundane to a congregation, then most likely they are not evangelizing. True Christians never tire of hearing the fundamentals preached in a sermon. In fact, they become distressed if they do not hear these preached forcefully and frequently. Of course, there are those who indeed are prepared for the meat of the Word (Hebrews 5:12-14), but an indicator of that readiness is the realization that there are those who still seek the milk of the Word as well (1 Peter 2:2). We must always be aware that there are those who need to be reminded of the fundamentals (Jude 3), fortified with the fundamentals for their own protection (Romans 16:18), and even be rebuked with the fundamentals (Titus 1:9) to save their souls.

There are several excellent topics covered in this book in a very scholarly but readable manner. One of my personal favorites is “The Faithful Preacher Must Be Able to Run With Horses” which he delivered at the Harding Graduate School of Religion in 1969. He compares Jeremiah 12:5, “If thou hast run with the footmen, and they have wearied thee, then how canst thou contend with horses.” In this chapter he identifies several horses of spiritual darkness that the preacher must be able to run against—materialism, indifference, worldliness, liberalism, and self. It is an excellent encouragement to preachers and all of us. Turner observes:

As was the case with Jeremiah, so is the case with the preacher—and or every Christian for that matter. The faithful preacher of today must be prepared mentally and spiritually to run with horses. This necessity has been the case in every age, but it especially the case in this age. The present spiritual climate—or rather the want of it—projects the fact that without a doubt the preacher of today faces many grave trials as well as many alluring temptations. Already certain well qualified preachers of our personal acquaintance have become so wearied by running with the footmen that they have given up the full-time ministry. At times there are young men who are commencing a study for the entering of the ministry. Jesus said: “No man having put his hand to the plow, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God.” (Luke 9:62). – (Pages 3-4.)

Other subjects in this book include evidences for the resurrection of Jesus, NT interpretations of OT prophecy, matters of faith and opinion, the observance of the Lord’s Supper is only on the first day of the week, instrumental music in worship is sinful, the plan of salvation, the identifying marks of the NT church, unity, and not conforming to worldliness. In his discussion on Christians and worldliness he makes a very salient observation—“…in this alluring, comfortable, and affluent society, Christian have no burning desire to go to heaven. They like things just as they are now here on earth.” (Page 197). That was written in 1970, years before a certain politician laid claim of inventing the Internet. Can anyone doubt that these words are even more true today with conveniences we have that were not thought of nearly forty years ago?

Dr. Rex A. Turner founded and served as President of Alabama Christian College for many years. He lectured and wrote widely. As part of the college’s 30th anniversary celebration, he was requested to collect in book form representative samples of his sermons, lectures and articles the school wanted to print in his honor and benefit Christian education. Due to the rapid response to advanced orders the volume was released in 1972 and is still available. The Alabama Christian College was among the first to utilize modern technology so students could study remotely for advanced degrees in ministry. The institution was known as Southern Christian University for many years and one of the early institutions to offer the doctorate. It is now known as Ambridge University. The university chartered the Turner School of Theology in 1999 in honor of Rex and Opal Turner’s sacrifice and years of service to the university. Brother Turner passed away February 13, 2001.

This is an excellent book to give to someone who is looking for reading to help fortify his faith. Our hope is that there are many readers of this work for years to come. May we never grow weary of the fundamentals and be able to run with horses.

A Matter of Fact – A Look At More Evidence for Christianity, Kyle Butt

A Matter of Fact – A Look At More Evidence for Christianity, Kyle Butt

This book is a follow-up to Out With Doubt. Recently we utilized this book with our teenagers in Bible Class. Although I did not teach the class, I followed-up with the teacher and students to gather their feedback on the material. Those familiar with talking with teenagers are not surprised to hear the “it was alright”, “O-kay”, or some in vogue expression these days. This was different. Our teenagers were enthusiastic supporters of the study, and the teacher was eager to search for other materials on subjects that intrigued them. If you have not included studies in Christian Evidences with your young people, then you need to remedy that defiency immediately. Our young people are constantly bombarded by the philosophies of atheists, agnostics, ungodly and a host of other threats to New Testament Christianity. We need to do all that we are able while we have opportunity before our children leave our care and enter a some times dark world where their faith will be tested. Have we fortified them to withstand these attacks? If you are not supplying them with materials from Apologetics Press (or other faithful proponents of Christian apologetics), then you may be unaware of some excellent teaching tools available today.

In this book, brother Butt dispels the common falsehood that faith is some “leap in the dark”. Tragically many are taught due to a distorted view of faith. I can recall hearing it said that the difference between belief and faith is whether the object is seen or unseen. If you can see it, then it is belief. If you cannot, then it is faith. That is partially true but misses a key component. Some extrapolate the unseen into no proof to back it up. Sadly, that is what many Christians are sometimes left to believe—that there is no evidence for their beliefs. What they fail to realize is the scientific method is only one measure of evidence. Some become so narrow in their definition of evidence that they fail to realize that testimony constitutes evidence. The book points out that faith in the Bible is not a “leap in the dark” (suggesting no proof), but is based on testimony that can be substantiated.

The book also deals with substantiating the testimony with a discussion of archaeology. There are many events in the Bible that have been mocked at by skeptics until the spade proved their attacks wrong—in spades! The Bible is unique in that it has been used as a guide by archaeologists to explore great treasures that would boggle the mind. That is solid testimony to the accuracy of the Bible. Skeptics such as William Ramsay set out to disprove the Bible by using archaeology and other tools to check the accuracy of books such as Acts and have come away converted to the accuracy of the sacred record.

A Matter of Fact also hits on key points that evolutionist would like to call trite but these are really unanswerable truths. For example, no rational person can deny that there is design in the world. The clear implication is that where there is design there must be a designer. The truism has spawned a movement known as “Intelligent Design Movement” where scientists have acknowledged that even though one may be uncertain about the Designer’s identity there certainly is design. Christians already know who the identity of the Designer is.

The book also calls to the attention of young people, that while all these facts are great and powerful, they must recognize that they are accountable to the God of heaven. It relays a story of one teenagers transition from the faith of a child to that of a young adult who submits to God by being united in Jesus death, burial and resurrection in baptism.

I highly recommend it for the church library. If possible, I suggest you purchase a copy of the book for each of the members of the teenage class for them to keep. There are challenging Study Questions at the end of each chapter to help the student review and ensure they have grasped the key points of the material. This is an excellent book to supply to your teenagers. Our teenagers were eager to keep their copy for their future reference.

Out With Doubt – A Look at the Evidence for Christianity, Kyle Butt

Out With Doubt – A Look at the Evidence for Christianity, Kyle Butt

Looking for an excellent book to begin a study of Christian Evidences with teenagers? This is a good place to start. The book deals with various topics relating to Christian Evidences: the existence of God, the inspired word of God, pain & suffering, creation and age of the earth, evolution and theistic evolution, dinosaurs, and facts surrounding the life of Jesus Christ—his existence, the miracles performed and his resurrection. I appreciated Butt’s rebuttal of the compromise with evolution often called “theistic evolution”. Efforts to harmonize the Bible with macroevolution per Darwin and such are not possible. The sooner our teenager realize this the better in order to protect them from an untenable compromise. All of these topics could be expanded to additional books with a greater degree of detail; however, this book is designed for those unfamiliar with these areas so as to encourage a lifelong study of these great themes.

Christian Evidences (or Apologetics) is an exciting field of study. I have been a student of this field of study since my teenage years and have never grown weary of it. I know that young people’s faith and resolve have been strengthened by studies along these lines. Often when I am looking to begin studying on a complex issue, I seek out literature that seeks to make the “complex understandable”. This is what this book does.

In this book, brother Butt dispels the common falsehood that faith is some “leap in the dark”. Tragically many are taught due to a distorted view of faith. I can recall hearing it said that the difference between belief and faith is whether the object is seen or unseen. If you can see it, then it is belief. If you cannot, then it is faith. That is partially true but misses a key component. Some extrapolate the unseen into no proof to back it up. Sadly, that is what many Christians are sometimes left to believe—that there is no evidence for their beliefs. What they fail to realize is the scientific method is only one measure of evidence. Some become so narrow in their definition of evidence that they fail to realize that testimony constitutes evidence. The book points out that faith in the Bible is not a “leap in the dark” (suggesting no proof), but is based on testimony that can be substantiated.

An aspect of the book that I also appreciate is the Afterward. I have several books by Josh McDowell which are excellent reading. One of my criticism of McDowell’s work is his explanation of the plan to be saved as reciting the “sinner’s prayer”. One should be careful to think critically and validate material in books. Even the Bible demands to be tested (1 Thessalonians 5:21). When one compares the “sinner’s prayer” with the Biblical plan, one realizes that the “sinner’s prayer” is nowhere found in the Scriptures, but baptism for the remission of sins is clearly taught in the New Testament. Brother Butt makes an appeal to young people to consider the biblical plan of salvation and obey it.

I became more familiar with this book thanks to our teenage class. The teacher and I were looking for an idea of how to generate interest in the teenage class. When we examined this book, we decided it would be a useful tool to teach a subject that we had not taught as much as we would have liked. . The discussion questions helped stimulate the critical thinking for both the students and the teacher. The church decided that a book would be given to each teenager to keep for his or her own personal libraries for future reference. At the conclusion of the class, I spoke to the teenagers and the teacher about the class to see what the results were. The teenagers I spoke to were eager to keep the book (plus there were none sitting around unused later). The teacher and students thought it would be a good idea to have a follow-up class on the material. The study was viewed as very profitable to the point that we are seeking to maintain in the curriculum so no young person who goes through the teen years attending our classes will miss this vital material. I highly recommend it for the church library since it makes excellent reading for new Christians who may be unfamiliar with the field of Christian Apologetics as well.

A Study Guide to Greater Bible Knowledge, Wayne Jackson

A Study Guide to Greater Bible Knowledge, Wayne Jackson

Some of us have been richly blessed with godly parents who have made it a priority to take us to Bible classes, worship services, gospel meetings, etc. They taught us the Bible at home and made sure we had excellent reading materials to instruct us in the way of the Lord. They lovingly and patiently answered our questions and followed up to make sure we had a sound understanding of God’s word (Prov. 22:6; Eph. 6:1-4). If you have been blessed with godly parents, possibly this article will be an occasion to thank your parents (and God) again. (If they are no longer with you, you can still thank God for them.) However, not all of us have had this blessing. Some of us may be new Christians striving to get a grasp of the Bible, ideas on how to study it effectively, and tools that can assist. Learning God’s Word is critical for not only the church but the survival of our nation. In Amos 8:10-12 there is mention of a famine of the word of God in the land, and the problems it created. In the United States, there is such a famine--not in the lack of Bibles but in the lack of reading, respect and serious study of it. But where do we begin trying to remedy the situation for someone who may not have the foundation of instruction we often take for granted? How can we help new Christians begin the life journey of drinking more and more deeply from the living fountain found in God’s Word?

This is where Wayne Jackson’s book A Study Guide to Greater Bible Knowledge can be of assistance. In chapter 8 on “Tools for Bible Study”, brother Jackson opens the chapter with one of my favorite quotes by T. W. Brents:

“If you will show us a man who reads nothing but the Bible,
we will show you one who reads and understands very little of it.”

There are reference materials available that can help others learn more about the Bible. Of course some books are better than others, but one should not ignore many of the great aids available by those who have devoted much of their lives to just one facet of Bible study. In hours we can learn what others have spent years investigating. This book helps provide not only foundation information but also guidance on how to dig deeper.

The book provides an overview of Bible History and an analysis of the books in the Bible. It discusses principles in sound interpretation of the Scriptures and various approaches one can use in study the Scriptures. It includes a chapter on the study of Bible words (etymology), grammar or syntax, and the equally important topic of context. Some do not like to study vocabulary…and it shows. Jesus used the very tense of verbs in the Old Testament to refute the critics of His day. Surely if Jesus focused on the very tense of the verb and criticized the Sadducees for not doing so, our scholarship should be no less precise.

All these subjects and more are covered in this volume in a concise manner and written on a level that new Christians can read and begin their journey to greater Bible knowledge. It would be an excellent guide for the new Christian to read and then come back with follow-up questions. Each chapter includes discussion questions that would be of assistance for a new converts class. Brother Jackson is a first rate scholar who recognizes that scholarship veiled in unnecessary complexity is of little value. In fact, words that do not teach are in direct contradiction to the meaning of “scholarship”. This is not to exempt one from working at their study. Brother Jackson is an excellent researcher who writes to be understood. I have profited from his writings in the Christian Courier and his books for several years. I have always appreciated his commitment to write to be understood by new or average Bible students seeking to advance and grow. In Hebrews 5:12-14, the writer admonishes his audience that their lack of study has inhibited his ability to communicate to them fully. Brother Jackson’s work provides an effective guide to transition from the milk of the Word to its meat. Jesus said “Blessed our those who hunger and thirst after righteousness for they shall be filled.” (Matthew 5:6, NKJV) Use this book to help yourself and others gain access to the eternal food and drink of God’s Word.

General Epistles, Winford Claiborne

General Epistles, Winford Claiborne

While a student at Freed-Hardeman University, I was blessed to have the opportunity to study the general epistles directly from brother Claiborne in his General Epistles class. Brother Claiborne and I have developed a close friendship over the years but do not think this review has been impacted by personal bias. One of the many reasons for our enduring friendship is a love of books and serious study of the Scriptures.

I was captivated by the material presented in class and took copious notes. In fact, I have taught the adult Bible class on James, 1 Peter and 2 Peter relying largely on a review of my notes from class. I plan on using the material from this book for the epistles of John and Jude as well. When brother Claiborne began publishing books to support the International Gospel Hour, I reminded him that I was still interested in the rest of the material we did not cover in class due to time. (My class notes stop at 1 John 2:11.) Occasionally I would go further and tease brother Claiborne that he should produce this book so I would
get the full value for the tuition I paid for the class. When he told me that he had completed the book I became anxious for my copy. Bother Claiborne is a serious student of the Scriptures and his lecture on the general epistles was deep and meaningful. This book fulfills my request and then some! Thanks brother Claiborne!

For those who have his book CHRIST—Prophet, Priest & King, you will recognize the same outline form in this material as well. It includes treatment of the epistles of James; 1, 2 Peter, 1, 2, 3 John & Jude. As I read the pages of the book it takes me back to the days I had him in class. It is excellent for preparation of lessons to teach classes for high school, college and adult classes. I plan on recommending the book to Christian men who have yet to teach an adult-level Bible class because they do not have as much time to spend in preparation. This book allows a person to quickly grasp the material on a deeper level so as to enrich any class. In addition, the general epistles (sometimes called catholic epistles) are rich in lessons, which need to be preached from the pulpit. This book does an excellent job of presenting expository material for preaching. Plus, brother Claiborne provides examples from modern theologians that help enrich one’s study (including those who he takes serious issue with.) Those who are familiar with brother Claiborne will recognize his style in his chapter “Jude: An Addendum” where he details some false concepts some have espoused relating to the epistle of Jude. His methodic treatment in thoroughly refuting their error is so reminiscent of the times I have spent with him that I can literally hear his voice as I read through the material. I wholeheartedly agree with brother Sain’s words in the Preface,

“…Winford Claiborne is a dedicated student of God’s Word. Thus, when he speaks, whether orally or in print, he will know his subject well. And, with a fine command of the English language, he knows how to communicate effectively. Not everyone who hears him will agree with him, but all who listen will know what the truth is, and that he will not compromise the truth.” (Page 7)

This book is a product of teaching the material at the college level for at least fourteen years so it has been tried and tested! This is a book to be added to all libraries—members, preachers and churches. Do not miss this invaluable resource to help equip future teachers and preachers of God’s word!

***NOTE***This is a new book so you may need to order your copy directly from International Gospel Hour at http://www.gospelhour.net/. All proceeds to to support preaching the gospel on the radio.

Happy Father's Day Dad

This Father’s Day is extra special for me because this month also marks my father’s completion of forty years of preaching the gospel. We have been so blessed to have every conceivable convenience that the greatest challenge is to select a gift that conveys appreciation adequately. Children with godly fathers should know that there is no gift one can buy that can match the love they shed upon you freely. Thankfully, godly fathers are not materialistic.

I have read that earthly fathers have the duty of training their children to know their Heavenly Father (both father and son). The older I become as a father with my own son, the more I realize the truth of this. What characteristic does our Heavenly Father and our earthly Christian fathers have common? Love. John, the apostle of love, wrote “Anyone who does not love does not know God, because God is love” (1 John 4:8, ESV). Love is God’s motivation and is the root for our salvation, manifold blessings and hope of eternal life—“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only [unique, DRK] Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.” (John 3:16, ESV). Indeed a father’s love and life can provide a picture of the love the Father has for His creation.

As I mentioned before, this month marks the completion of my father’s forty years of preaching. He would be quick to point out, and I agree, that this is an accomplishment for my mother as well. He spent the first twenty years of preaching for congregations in Tennessee, West Virginia, Ohio and Illinois. For the first twenty years of his preaching, my sisters (Hazel and Sherry) and I received additional specialized instruction from our father via the pulpit. Many fathers rely on preachers in the pulpit to provide the whole counsel of God to their family, but in our case we received this directly from our father. So, he was able to guide our minds and guide our steps to walk in the paths as in the day of Jeremiah—“Thus says the LORD: ‘Stand by the roads, and look, and ask for the ancient paths, where the good way is; and walk in it, and find rest for your souls.’ But they said, 'We will not walk in it.'” (Jeremiah 6:16, ESV) I have commented to my dad that his decision to relocate from Columbus, Ohio to attend the Nashville School of Preaching has had a profound impact on our family—on both his children and now his grandchildren. Sometimes I wonder how much young people give thought to the impact of this in the selection of their mate—there is more at stake than the happy couple themselves.

The first twenty years had its fair share of challenges as we did not have a large income to go on elaborate vacations or out to eat all the time. The ironic thing is that those things do not matter as much as I thought they would at one time. We took less expensive vacations such as camping in Monroe County close to family, which have provided the kind of memories money cannot buy. We did not have the latest in automobiles either, but I remember each of the ones we had and the memories shared in them. I did not participate in sports like some of my classmates did; however, I have cherished memories of playing ball in the gravel parking lot at church building in the New Philadelphia, Ohio. Being the son of a preacher meant not being able to do certain things that brethren were permitting their children to be involved in such as dancing. I shocked an elder of the church when I told him I had never been to a dance “including the Prom.” I have heard some say attending certain dances is a “rite of passage” to which I respond “a passage to what?” Parents, honestly ask yourselves where your children will do their dancing after they complete their passage into adulthood. We were also expected to do things that other children of members were not expected to do. Do you even have to wonder how many gospel meetings we were expected to be in attendance for? We had to be there for each and every single service—regardless of the time, homework, tests, etc. And this was not because the elders or members expected it. This is because my parents demanded it. If a grade was in jeopardy because of having to go without a full night’s rest, so be it. If homework was an issue, then we were expected to do it immediately when we got home. Whatever the situation, we were there and our lives are far more blest because of it. I almost laugh when I hear parents today make excuses for their children to miss a gospel meeting. Notice I wrote that parents are making excuses for their children! Their excuses are not funny and the loss is no laughing matter. I laugh thinking back at trying these excuses on my parents and the results. I have also had the blessing of becoming friends of my parents’ friends. Gospel preachers who visited were friends of our family and many of them remain cherished friends today. Indeed, the blessings have far outweighed whatever the costs and sacrifice that was made. Why more members of the church with children do not have visiting preachers in their homes is hard to understand. What a treasure to share with your children!

The second twenty years of my father’s preaching has been in Martinsburg, West Virginia. Ironically, one of the reasons I decided not to preach full time is all the moving that we had to do for the first twenty years. (Elders and church leaders, please take note of that!) When my parents moved to Martinsburg, I was a student at Freed-Hardeman University. So I never lived in Martinsburg as in the twenty years prior. Not being able to hear my father preach from the pulpit regularly has been a loss for me. I tell members where he preaches to make sure they appreciate (and demonstrate it) the preaching he does because places he formerly preached have members who wish he still preached for them! I have admired my father’s work at Martinsburg--a congregation without elders who went on to establish an eldership, install deacons, and hire an additional preacher for the work there because of the steady growth. Indeed, God gives the increase but there is still the work of planting and watering.

They say one of the highest compliments a son can give his father is for the son to want to be like the father or for others to see their father in you. My father has received that compliment more times than he is probably aware. I am thankful that he considers it a compliment. They say words are cheap, but these words were not cheap. They came at a great cost of sacrifice my father and mother made in our lives so these words can be echoed back to them.

Happy Father’s Day Dad! I love you.