Good resource to have. I wish they would have spent more time addressing biblical matters, instead a large portion of the articles are presenting the critical textual perspectives.
This is certainly a stronger resource than the dictionary from the same series on the Gospels. Lots of good insights throughout, though still a few opportunities for discernment (like the article on the Holy Spirit where the author could not make up his mind on pronouns).
One of the greatest repositories of Pauline scholarship ever produced. While this statement could be challenged by modern scholarship, when Paul and his letters was produced it was the one of the greatest repositories. Yet since this work was produced a new theological view has arisen, the New Perspective on Paul. This view which is most well connected to E.P. Sanders and N.T. Wright, has gained footing in academic but has been mostly rejected by conservative pastors. Which is why this volume of the IVP Bible Dictionary series, is not only helpful to academia but to pastors in the pulpit.
When I entered seminary, this was one of the first books I checked out of the library, it helped me gain a knowledge, of Pauline literature that I could not have even dreamed of before. It examines the cultural context of Paul's letters in a way that could only be examined by reading hundreds of books. Thankfully IVP commissioned this volume which not only collects all of this information into one place but it is written in such a way that even a uneducated pastor would be able to read and glean valuable knowledge from. This is one of the greatest volumes in the series, and is the oldest as well. This volume is not just a book which looks great on a pastor's shelf but one that will be used again and again any time a pastor preaches through any of Paul's epistles.
This book was provided to me free of charge from IVP Academic in exchange for an unbiased, honest review.
IVP Dictionaries are one of the most beneficial tools for background research I have found. Their thorough research into the key terms/ideas/words/places/people is formatted so well making it is easy to use. Their bibliography at the end of each section helps you find more resources if you want to go deeper. Essential for any Bible nerd library.