The Oxford Dictionary of the Christian Church
It will come as no surprise to those already familiar with earlier editions (1957, 1974) that the third edition of this title remains unrivaled as the authoritative one-volume dictionary of the Christian church, its doctrines and practices, and its most influential historical figures. In addition, the reader will find a host of entries pertaining to the Bible and its world. Because of the rise of theologies of liberation since the publication of the second edition, and because of a growing awareness of the need to heed Christian cultures often regarded as on the fringes of Christendom, many doctrinal articles have undergone revision and many have been added. Prominent Evangelicals have also been included (though, owing to this work's decidedly historical thrust, only rarely does the name of a living figure appear). Since the first edition, the need to involve a growing number of experts working in collaboration has been acknowledged, and those named in the editor's preface and in the list of contributors now exceeds 480. The bibliographies for many entries have been updated since the second edition. For future editions, the editors might consider using a standard Bible translation other than the Authorized Version, whose usage has declined sharply in recent decades. From a researcher's standpoint, one might also hope to see the names of contributors under each entry. Nevertheless, this is highly recommended for general libraries, especially those that serve the needs of informed lay readers or ecclesiastical researchers.?Robert H. O'Connell, Denver, Col.Copyright 1997 Reed Business Information, Inc.