{"id":38860,"date":"2017-07-24T10:00:43","date_gmt":"2017-07-24T17:00:43","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/blog.olivetree.com\/?p=38860"},"modified":"2024-07-18T13:51:26","modified_gmt":"2024-07-18T20:51:26","slug":"3-ways-bible-dictionaries","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.olivetree.com\/blog\/3-ways-bible-dictionaries\/","title":{"rendered":"3 Ways Bible Dictionaries Improve Bible Study"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

You know what a Bible is. You also know what a dictionary is. But do you know what a Bible dictionary<\/em> is, or why you should use one? Here are three reasons to use a Bible dictionary, based on my own recent study<\/a> of God’s Word. Click or tap the below screenshots to make them easier to read.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

LEARN A LITTLE CHRISTIAN TRIVIA<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

I was reading Psalm 111 the other day and decided to pull open the Resource Guide. As I was scrolling, I noticed that \u201cHallelujah\u201d was listed under Topics. Now, I know that \u201cHallelujah\u201d means \u201cPraise the Lord\u201d (and the app told me this, too). But I was curious if there was any other information on the phrase that I hadn\u2019t heard before.<\/p>\n\n\n

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\"Bible<\/a><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n

When I tapped on \u201cHallelujah\u201d and opened my Vine\u2019s Complete Expository Dictionary<\/a>, I learned something hilarious<\/em>. You see, when I was in high school, I sang in the choir, and we always sang songs that incorporated \u201cAlleluia.\u201d Turns out that, according to Vine\u2019s, it\u2019s a misspelling of \u201cHallelujah\u201d! All this time I\u2019ve been wondering what the difference was\u2026<\/p>\n\n\n\n

LEARN ABOUT GOD\u2019S PROMISES IN HISTORY<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Exodus 4 is another passage I was looking at recently. Here, Moses is instructed to inform Pharaoh that Israel is Yahweh\u2019s \u201cfirstborn\u201d. If Pharaoh does not relinquish the Israelites, God promises to kill the Egyptian ruler\u2019s firstborn son.<\/p>\n\n\n

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\"\"<\/a><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n

\u201cFirstborn<\/em><\/strong>\u201d is most definitely a key word in this passage\u2013but what is its significance? There is a deep, rich history of God expressing the closeness of His relationship to the Israelites through this term, that is discoverable through using a Bible dictionary. Vine\u2019s provides references to many other passages that teach about the cultural view of firstborn children in the Israelite community, revealing that it was a coveted position that held many benefits. A firstborn son was considered to be the most loved and to receive the greatest inheritance.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

So, when the Israelites hear that God has called them His \u201cfirstborn,\u201d a lot of emotions are stirred! According to Vine\u2019s, being God\u2019s \u201cfirstborn\u201d meant enjoying a privileged position and blessings, in comparison all other nations. In Exodus 4, God is making it known that Israel is His prized child, and that no one\u2014not even Pharaoh\u2014can mess with them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

LEARN ABOUT GOD\u2019S PROMISES FOR TODAY<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

But it doesn\u2019t stop there. Vine\u2019s is searchable, like a normal dictionary, and you can find a word\u2019s definition for either the Old or New Testament. By looking up \u201cfirstborn\u201d in the New Testament, I found passage after passage where Jesus is referred to as the \u201cfirstborn\u201d (protokos<\/em>) of creation. The most interesting reference I found was when John the Baptist proclaims that \u201cHe (Jesus) was first (protos<\/em>) of me.\u201d He\u2019s saying much more than “Jesus was born before I was.” Instead, he is putting Jesus in the ultimate privileged position with God, receiving the highest blessing, because he is not just a son, but the <\/em>Son.<\/p>\n\n\n

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Now, the important question: how does this apply to our lives?<\/em> Time and time again we see God be faithful to His people, the Israelites. Better yet, we see the Father praise, glorify, and bless His Son. This seems like a pretty exclusive group.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

But, we\u2019re invited! When we believe in Christ\u2019s atoning work, we receive a warm welcome into this family. We enter this promise, into this privileged position with God. If you study the word \u201cfirstborn\u201d across the Old and New Testaments, you can learn more about the history of God blessing those He calls His own. For thousands and thousands of years, God has been drawing people to Himself\u2014and you are one of them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

ONE LAST THOUGHT<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Overall, the main reason to use a Bible dictionary is this: The Bible is not our own<\/em>. The Bible is a compilation of God speaking to His people through His people, in a time and culture we weren\u2019t around for.  So, although we have been welcomed into this family, we must recognize that this family has existed for thousands of years! That takes a bit of help and research to understand\u2014but it\u2019s worth the investment.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In this blog, I used Vine\u2019s Complete Expository Dictionary of Old and New Testament Words<\/a>\u2014but there are lots of other helpful dictionaries out there as well! Here are a few we like and have available in our store:<\/p>\n\n\n\n