Word Study Tools

In response to my Hot List for Pastor's post, mwh wrote: 'Oh let not my lord be angry, and I will speak again but this once.' Do you want to add five word study tools (by which you qualified your statement to begin with)? Just curious."

Here's my reply:

Well, I will - but I may show my ignorance here. What I use is pretty simple:

1. A Greek Testament. I have the United Bible Societies text, 4th edition.

2. A Greek Concordance. Mine is in the Online Bible program. The only problem is that its keyed to the TR (Textus Receptus) instead of the UBS4. But with a little cross-checking with good commentaries and/or the UBS4, it works fine. I use this just to locate where Greek words are used in the NT.

3. A Greek Lexicon. Of course the standard is BDAG. I don't have it, b/c I've never wanted to plunk down the money. Again, I use the one on Online Bible. I'm wary of citing it for authoritative definitions, but it seems fairly accurate in giving the basic lexical meaning of the word. Some day, I'll get the BDAG.

4. Some kind of parsing guide. I again use what's available in my software. It's not very sophisticated, but I don't know Greek well enough for much more info than it gives me. If I want to make a point out of a case, mood or tense, I usually check it with (1) a Greek Grammar (I've got two, a basic text and an advanced text), (2) a good commentary, or (3) someone who knows Greek better than I do. I try not to go out on limbs with Greek (especially after reading Exegetical Fallacies!!)

5. A Theological Dictionary. I don't use this often, but I do have the Theological Dictionary of the New Testament (TDNT, edited by Kittel). I think most contemporary scholars have concluded that its not always reliable, but I have it for occasional reference.