Catholic Bible Dictionary

by Scott Hahn (Editor)

More than a generation has passed since the appearance of the last major Catholic Bible dictionary. It has been a fertile generation for biblical scholarship, an eventful time for biblical archaeology, and a fruitful time for the Church’s interpretation of the Bible. It is time for a new resource.Scott Hahn, internationally renowned theologian and biblical scholar, has inspired millions with his insight into the Catholic faith. Now he brings us this important reference guide, written specifically for Catholics, which contains more than five thousand clear and accessible entries and covers a wide range of people, places, and topics. From Genesis to Revelation, the whole of salvation history is presented and explained in smart, easy-to-understand prose.Catholic Bible Dictionary is an invaluable source of information, insight, and guidance for Catholics and others who are interested in enriching their understanding of Sacred Scripture. Scott Hahn draws from two millennia of scholarship to create an accessible and comprehensive tool for deeper and more rewarding biblical study.

Genres: Catholic, Reference, Religion, Theology, Nonfiction, Christian, Faith

1010 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 1, 2009

About the author

Scott Hahn is a renowned Catholic theologian, apologist, speaker, and bestselling author whose work has had a profound impact on contemporary biblical theology and Catholic thought. A former Presbyterian minister, Hahn converted to Catholicism in 1986 after an intense personal and theological journey, which he details in his popular book Rome Sweet Home, co-written with his wife, Kimberly Hahn. Their story of conversion has inspired countless readers around the world and remains a landmark in modern Catholic apologetics.
Hahn holds the Father Michael Scanlan Chair of Biblical Theology and the New Evangelization at the Franciscan University of Steubenville, where he has taught since 1990. He is also the founder and president of the St. Paul Center for Biblical Theology, a non-profit organization dedicated to promoting biblical literacy among the laity and biblical fluency among clergy. Through the Center, Hahn leads a wide range of initiatives, including publications, pilgrimages, Bible studies, and the scholarly journal Letter and Spirit.
Educated at Grove City College (B.A.), Gordon–Conwell Theological Seminary (M.Div.), and Marquette University (Ph.D. in Systematic Theology), Hahn brings a deep academic foundation to his work. His dissertation, Kinship by Covenant, was later published by Yale University Press and received praise for its theological insight and scholarly rigor.
Throughout his career, Hahn has emphasized the covenant as the key to understanding salvation history, showing how the biblical narrative reveals a divine plan that unites all of humanity into God's family. His works explore themes such as the Eucharist, the role of Mary, the sacraments, and the authority of the Church, often drawing on the writings of the early Church Fathers to bridge the ancient faith with modern understanding.
He is the author or editor of over forty books, including The Lamb’s Supper, Hail, Holy Queen, First Comes Love, Letter and Spirit, Swear to God, Reasons to Believe, The Creed, The Fourth Cup, and Holy Is His Name. Many of his books have become staples in Catholic households, study groups, and seminaries.
In addition to his writing, Hahn is a highly sought-after speaker, having delivered thousands of lectures across the United States and abroad. He appears regularly on EWTN and has collaborated with Lighthouse Catholic Media to bring his teachings to an even broader audience.
Scott Hahn lives in Ohio with his wife Kimberly. They have six children and numerous grandchildren. Together, the Hahns continue to lead efforts in evangelization and Catholic education, embodying a lifelong commitment to deepening faith and understanding through Scripture and tradition.

Reviews

[Sheila · Rating 5 out of 5]

The first two things a Bible Dictionary needs to be are informative and exhaustive, and this large volume, nicely presented with clear text, well-placed white space, headings that are easy to find, and good cross-references, fits the bill. It covers everything from Old and New Testament references to the Son of God, to the definitions of cherubim and seraphim, with excellent articles on the history of Babylon, locations of towns, relationships of people, and more. It answers questions, encourages thought, and just might leave you with more questions built on what you've learned.

I’ve used the dictionary to look up Jesus' disciples, in hopes of learning where they came from, where they went and how they died. And I've found information drawn together from many traditions and nicely laid out. Of course, this being a Catholic dictionary, the dates of feast days are given too, adding immediate interest.

Deuterocanonical books are included in the articles, making this an excellent resource to learn, for example, about the “missing” years of the Maccabees in Jewish history. But apocryphal stories are left out--it's a Bible dictionary after all.

The Bible’s various versions are nicely described under V, and the different types of war and warfare under W, including details of weapons used in different eras. Whatever you're looking for, if it's vaguely Biblical, you'll find it here. (But I couldn't look up food, which was a shame. I had to find it in posts about other cultures and lives.)

In all, this is a valuable resource, easy to use, pleasing to the eye, and filled with fascinating details; highly recommended.

Disclosure: This book was provided to me for free in exchange for an honest review.

[Brooke · Rating 5 out of 5]

Dr. Hahn gives Catholics (and any scholar interested in The Church) a marvelous gift with this Dictionary. I marked it "read" simply because I reference it frequently. It's a resource anyone can use and you may rest assured that the annotations are thoroughly researched and are published with the utmost confidence. I can't put it down - I will pick it up to research one topic or passage and then I'll spend an hour reading from it.

I think Saint Nicholas would approve of my Christmas gift... It's been more than useful and will remain so.

[Michelle Morgan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Catholic Bible Dictionary by Scott Hahn
What a amazing addition to my Bible Study tools. I found this Dictionary to be a great study tool. It was easy to use and very informative. I would say it would be a benefit to anyone, no matter their religion’s belief’s. The dictionary is in alphabetical order defined according to the New Testament and Old Testament meaning, with reference to the Scripture passages. This book covers people of the Bible, places and a wide variety of other topics. It also explains the books of the Bible, giving the author, date written, content, and purpose. I can not wait to show others in our Bible study class this book. I give the Catholic Bible Dictionary 5 stars.
I want to give a high-five to Scott Hahn and publisher Doubleday Religion for providing me with a well researched, easy to understand study tool. Blogging for Books provided me with this book in exchange for my honest review and I am so grateful for their, the authors and publishers generosity.

[John · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent resource for anyone who wants to look up any characters, authors, rituals, or ideas presented in the Bible. Very readable entries that don't bog down in minutiae, and yet at the same time give you a lot to chew on. A must have.

[Margaret Chind · Rating 5 out of 5]

My first introduction to the writing of former protestant minister and Catholic convert author Scott Hahn was through his book on Mary during my research for my senior independent study for my Bachelor of Religious Studies. My three favorite religious writers that speak to my soul are C.S. Lewis, Henry Nouwen, and Scott Hahn. The way that details are used in Hahn's book create an understanding, but also a desire to continue a study on my own. My last study with his writings was The Lamb's Supper and Study Guide. Through The Lamb's Supper, Hahn goes in depth to not only the gospels, but also Revelations and many Old Testament and other scriptures in between. Now to discover that he has written an entire Catholic Bible Dictionary is very exciting for me!

When I saw the opportunity to review this dictionary, I automatically assumed it was a new release, however I discovered that it is actually a 2009 release and has more recently been released as an eBook version as well. This book is a hefty jacketed hardcover measuring at nearly 8x9.5" with over a thousand pages. Again, I assumed seeing the cover that this was going to be full of picture through out with the words interspersed, but I was wrong again. There is an 8-page full color insert, however, the whole of the book is black text. I came to realize this is a dictionary, and not an encyclopedia (in the title, right, silly me). Yet, this is not just a dictionary as in look up a word read a sentence... it is more along the lines of what you would find in an encyclopedia in the text. It is thorough and interconnecting on topics and over all educational and fascinating!

While I know I do not expound often on my faith beyond the obvious fact that I have a Christian faith, but my background in obtaining a religious studies bachelor's degree left me with a curiosity and fondness for the written parts of the Catholic Faith (I'll let you know if I ever find a physical church that lives the Faith I've read about, but then I do live in the countryside...). I was born and raised a United Methodist and that is where we currently attend due to availability and so on, but I digress. Part of my K5 child's education is with the Seton Home Study School and I'm teaching and learning more basics of the Catholic Faith as we go along and so far I agree with it. --- Getting to the point! --- The Catholic Bible Dictionary is a fabulous resource. Educational for my own studies, and perfect for further explanation in my daughters studies.

In the beginning of October, I started using this as a school resource and found: Today we contributed on our Religion lesson by looking up Angels. I've always enjoyed Hahn since my theological course days and I'm not surprised to find I enjoy his dialogue in this Catholic Bible Dictionary. It is much like an encyclopedia with the verbose content that I appreciate.

There was so much to learn and mentally absorb. While the world of type it in and search is prevalent, being able to physically pick up a book and sit with it in lap and we read more and discussed topics was the makings of a great school day. Teaching my children to be lifelong learners is an important component of our schooling and the Catholic Bible Dictionary is proving to be an important resource just worthy of that. While I still miss the idea of the photos that could be included, that would have made for an even larger book, and huge digital file that my person eReader couldn't hold, so perhaps that's for the best. But the concept sure is a delightful one.

posted: http://creativemadnessmama.com/blog/2...

I received this product free for the purpose of reviewing it. I received no other compensation for this review. The opinions expressed in this review are my personal, honest opinions. Your experience may vary. Please read my full disclosure policy for more details.

[Ashley · Rating 4 out of 5]

Please see my full review at http://inmymargins.blogspot.com/2014/...

Summary: This is a very strong reference work that will be appreciated by libraries, churches, and parishioners alike. The clarity, scope, and backgrounds knowledge and context are exceptional. It falls short in parts by not giving enough metaphorical interpretation and by weighing some minor topics over crucial ones, but overall, I strongly recommend purchasing it in hardcover for your collection.

[Siobhain · Rating 5 out of 5]

Catholic Bible Dictionary was hugely helpful to me in a study of the Old Testament. I learned so much in reading topics related to my Bible study that I then decided to read the book cover to cover which I thoroughly enjoyed. I am now studying Isaiah and am thankful for this fabulous resource as I have yet to memorize all of the helpful information that it provides. I highly recommend this book to any student of the Bible.

[Don Gonzalez · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very good scriptural lay based dictionary. It's a must have on any catechist's book shelf.

[Maxwell Ladhoff · Rating 5 out of 5]

Incredibly useful resource, great to have on hand and not just as a reference, but as a way to educate yourself when you have a few spare minutes.

[Rory Fox · Rating 4 out of 5]

In just over a thousand pages this provides a dictionary of biblical names and places, as well as an analysis of ideas related to the bible. Characters like Adam and Eve appear alongside entries on Biblical Inspiration, Sacrifice and Papal Primacy. I particularly appreciated the way that ancient cities like Caesarea Maritima are given their modern names (Kaisariyeh), so that readers can easily find them on modern maps.

One of the distinctive features of this biblical dictionary is that it incorporates the Deuterocanonical books, whereas a non-Catholic biblical dictionary would typically ignore them. There are entries on each of the seven Deuterocanonical books, and where appropriate they appear as references within other articles. Thus, the entry on ‘Sarah’ states that there are two women of that name in the bible. One is the wife of Abraham in the book of Genesis, and the other is the wife of Tobias in the Deuterocanonical book of Tobit.

This inclusion of the Deuterocanonical books is generally done well, but there were a few gaps. For example, the entry on ‘Magic’ makes it clear that magic was condemned in various Old Testament books. What the entry does not mention is that Magic also seems to appear in the book of Tobit. That is an important issue, as the book’s inclusion of magic is sometimes cited by those who reject its canonicity, as a reason for doing so.

Another useful feature of the book was the incorporation of traditions relating to the bible. For example, it records the traditional names of the two thieves who died with Jesus. The good thief is named as Dysmas and the bad thief is named as Gestas. Those names appear in Apocryphal literature, but not in the bible itself.

An occasional entry seemed arguably incomplete. For example, under ‘Canon’ the Catholic Old Testament, with its Deuterocanonical books, is identified with an Alexandrian Jewish tradition. That represents a hypothesis rather than a proven point, but that nuance wasn’t explained in the text. Under ‘Deuterocanonical’ we were also told that the orthodox Churches accept the Deuterocanonical books. But that is a little too simplistic, as there is diversity among Orthodox voices, especially when it comes to the Russian Orthodox Church.

There was also the occasional point that was arguably mistaken. For example, under ‘Centurion’ we are told that a Centurion was in charge of 100 soldiers. Actually, at the time of Jesus, it was more like 80 soldiers in a standard century, and 160 per century in the double strength First Cohort of a legion.

There were also some omissions in the dictionary. For example, there was no entry on ‘Fruit(s) of the Spirit’ (Galatians 5, 22-23). That was surprising because there are theological questions about whether the word ‘fruit’ is singular or plural, and also about whether there are 9 or 12 fruit(s) of the Spirit.

Overall, however, this book is a very good resource for biblical studies. It is accessible to adults and older teens, and it generally presupposes no prior expertise on the issues it covers. Catholic readers may be interested to know that the book also carries an ‘imprimatur,’ confirming its accuracy in its presentation of matters relating to Catholic doctrine.

These are comments based on the 2009 edition of the text.

[Kenny · Rating 4 out of 5]

Does this book contain definitions for all the words in the Bible? No. It has entries for people and places found in the Bible as well as entries for religious terms/ideas not stated directly in the Bible and entries on each book in the Bible.

Does this book give the pronunciation of the names of people and places in the entries? No.

Does this book give etymologies for the words listed? No. It will often give the meaning of the name of a person or place in Greek, Hebrew, etc.

It does have a section of maps at the end of the book.

The entries will have citations referring to the Bible, book, chapter and verse and to paragraphs in the Catechism of the Catholic Church.

Entries sometimes have cross-references to other entries.

All in all, an informative reference book for Bible studiers.

[Mike H. · Rating 5 out of 5]

Scott Hahn is a top-notch expert on the Bible but he's also a highly capable communicator. I'm not an expert on the Bible so Hahn's dictionary comes in hahndy (hahahahn) when I can use some insight into a biblical subject.

Having just finished listening to the audio version of his recently published book The Fourth Cup: Unveiling the Mystery of the Last Supper and the Cross, I can recommend it as well to those interested in how the details surrounding Christ's sacrifice relate to the Old Testament.

[read by kam]

WANT TO REFERENCE THIS SOO BAD <3