Transcript Concordances - Faulkner University

Concordances
Bible Atlases
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Should provide maps sufficiently
detailed
– To accurately plot historic sites
– To give the names as they appeared in
Bible times
– To show ancient roads & highways &
places of importance.
Bible Atlases
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Should clearly mark geographical
features, but not so as to crowd the
text on a given page.
Longitude and latitude should show
the location of places in terms of
degrees from the Equator and the
Prime Meridian.
Bible Atlases

By means of an atlas you will be able
to
– Locate as nearly as possible the places
made famous by those living in Bible
times
– Trace the movements of peoples and
armies
– Understand the significance of events
mentioned in the Bible
Bible Atlases
The Zondervan NiVAtlas of the Bible by Carl G. Rasmussen
(1989) is a work with many excellent features. Replete with
colorful maps by Carta of Jerusalem, the reader soon
becomes aware of the fact that this work is in reality an
historical geography of the lands of the Bible. This does not
detract from its value, but only serves to warn the beginning
Bible student that not everything with the word “atlas” in the
title is in reality an atlas.
The biblical text used throughout this atlas is the New
International Version (MV), but this does little to improve the
overall worth of this work. The value of what Rasmussen
wrote lies in his eye-witness report of the geographic features
of the Holy Land coupled with a masterful description of
different historic events that took place at these sites. The
result is an “atlas” that lends itself to being read through from
cover to cover. Used in this way, the benefit to the user will be
great.
Bible Atlases
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The Macmillan Bible Atlas was edited by Y. Aharoni and M.
Avi-Yonah—two Jewish scholars of international repute. The
revised third edition (1993) is the work of A. F. Rainey and Z.
Safrai. MBA is a work of rare excellence, containing maps
identifying biblical sites and events; and inasmuch as it
follows the chronology of the Bible (though some of the
dating is questionable), it may be used to good effect when
ever one is studying an historical book of either the Old or
New Testa ment. Concentration is on the Holy Land, and so it
evidences a lack when it comes to treating the expansion of
the early Church. In spite of this limitation, MBA quickly grows
on the user until it becomes one of the first sources (if not the
first) the researcher reaches for whenever trying to locate
where an event took place.
Bible Atlases
The Moody Atlas of the Bible by Barry J.
Beitzel (1985) is a work of considerable
erudition. It begins appropriately with an
extensive section on “The Physical
Geography of the Holy Land,” and this is
followed by informative discussions of “The
Historical Geography of the Holy Land” and
“The History of Biblical Mapmaking.” Colored
maps, plates and pictures further enhance
this excellent work. Coverage extends to
both Testaments, the Old as well as the
New.
Bible Atlases
By means of an atlas you will be able to locate as
nearly as possible the places made famous by those
living in Bible times (e.g., Shechem, Bethel, Shiloh,
Mizpah, Zion, Ephesus, Troas [ Troy], Athens,
Corinth, Rome, and the islands of the
Mediterranean visited by the Apostle Paul during his
travels), and trace the movements of peoples and
armies (e.g., the mute of the Exodus, the
settlement of the twelve tribes in Canaan, and
attacks upon Jerusalem by Syrians, Assyrians,
Babylonians, Egyp tians, Romans). And you will also
come to understand the significance of events
mentioned in the Bible (e.g., the routing of Sisera’s
army, Judges chap. 4; the location of Joppa,
Tarshish and Nineveh in the Bookof Jonah; the
close proximity of Bethpage and Bethany to the
Mount of Olives, Luke 19:29), and a host of other
details.
Bible Atlases
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–
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While you need accuracy for your own study, be
aware of aids that can assist you in your
communication of this kind of information to Bible
classes.
Manna Bible Maps (Power Point)
Then and Now Bible Maps (also have a Power Point
version)
Concordances
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Use and Misuse
1) To locate a verse in the Bible.
– Not a misuse, but there are far more
valuable uses of the tool.
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2) To collect disconnected statements
which without discrimination are
arbitrarily woven into a doctrinal
framework.
– At best is an abuse of the purpose of the
tool.
Concordances
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Proper Uses
1) To determine the true meaning of
words.
– May be done more surely by concordance
than by lexicon; word meanings are to be
determined more through usage than
definition.
– A foreign student, wishing to pay high
respect to an American teacher, addressed
him in a letter, “August and awful Sir!”
Concordances
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Proper Uses
Dictionary definitions on which he
depended may have contained the
desired meaning, but usage gives those
words an entirely different connotation.
An illustration of this principle in a study
of the term “Son of man.”
– Obvious meaning would seem to be the
true humanity of Jesus.
Concordances
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Proper Uses
An illustration of this principle in a study
of the term “Son of man.”
– Study of term by means of concordance,
however, revises this original conception
and replaces it with a messianic meaning.
– Term is J’s favorite designation of himself,
used with far greater frequency.
– Further, in the Gospels it is used by Jesus
only (one exception when enemies ask
what he means by it).
Concordances
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Proper Uses
An illustration of this principle in a study
of the term “Son of man.”
– Many of passages in which Jesus uses the
title are those in which he is making
exalted claims for himself.
– Is used only 3 times outside the Gospels—
in Acts by Stephen with messianic meaning
and twice in Revelation where it has
exalted significance.
Concordances
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Proper Uses
An illustration of this principle in a study
of the term “Son of man.”
– Where did it come from? Concordance
takes you back to the Psalms, Ezekiel and
Daniel.
– NT usage suggests a strong affinity to
Daniel’s usage, where the one with this
title is given an “everlasting dominion” that
“all the peoples, nations, and languages
should serve him.”
Concordances
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Proper Uses
2) For the enriching of word meanings.
– II Cor. 5:14 Paul writes that “the love of
Christ constraineth us.”
– Strongest lexical meaning given for
“constrain” is “to urge, impel.”
– Survey of usage elsewhere in NT points to
a richer meaning.
– The seizure of a dread disease (Lk. 4:38)
– The overwhelming force of the pressure of
a great throng of people (Lk. 8:45).
Concordances
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Proper Uses
2) For the enriching of word meanings.
– The inescapable ring of force which closes
in on a besieged city (Lk. 19:43).
– The tight clutch with which a prisoner is
held (Lk. 22:63).
– What did it mean for P. to be “constrained”
by the love of Christ? It meant he was
caught up by a mighty energy equal to
those described above.
Concordances
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Proper Uses
3) To distinguish the fine shades of
meaning in synonyms translated by the
same English word.
– A reader of the KJV might be perplexed by
Paul’s statement in Gal. 1:6-7 about
“another gospel, which is not another.”
– Without Greek knowledge, he could
determine (e.g., from Young’s Analytical
Concordance) that two different words are
translated by the English word “another.”
Concordances
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Proper Uses
– Following the two words through the
concordance, he would find that in many
cases no distinction in meaning is made.
– But where they are used in juxtaposition,
or with distinct meanings, one means
“another of a different kind” whereas the
other means “another of the same kind.”
– Translations may help, but the meaning
may be made even clearer by tracing
shades of meaning through the
concordance.
Concordances
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Proper Uses
4) For studying the distinctive truths of
any particular book of the Bible.
– One can readily discover the importance
which any great truth assumes in any book
by noting the relative frequency of the
occurrence of the words which express it.
– The idea of faith in the Gospel of John is
an example.
– One might be surprised to find the noun
“faith” is not found, but the verb “to
believe” is used 100 times.
Concordances
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Proper Uses
4) For studying the distinctive truths of
any particular book of the Bible.
– In comparison with 19 occurrences of both
noun and verb in Matthew, 20 in Mark, and
20 in Luke, John’s 100 uses of the word
show how important belief is in his gospel.
– The exclusive use of the verb tells us that
to John faith is an activity, not a concept.
– To understand it better, one studies the
context of each passage listed.
Concordances
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Proper Uses
5) To trace the growth of an idea
through the Bible.
– Would involve tracing the word which best
conveys the idea, and related words, first
through the OT, and then through the NT.
– An involved process.
– An example of this: J. B. Lightfoot’s “On
the Meaning of Pleroma,” in Saint Paul’s
Epistles to the Colossians and to Philemon.
Concordances
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Proper Uses
6) To make a character study.
– Nearly every concordance has a section
which lists all the leading characters of the
Bible in each instance where their names
are mentioned.
– To spot those instances, to study the
circumstances surrounding each one, to
survey the interrelations of other
characters, makes Bible characters come to
life.
Concordances
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Proper Uses
7) To interpret the significance of
outstanding place which for one reason
or another became the centers of
outstanding events.
– Places sometime assume more than
geographical importance; they become
symbols of spiritual significance.
– For example, trace references to the city of
Shechem.
Concordances
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Proper Uses
– There Abraham raised his first altar.
– There Jacob rededicated himself to God
upon his return to Canaan.
– There Joseph had gone to find his brothers
when he was sold into slavery.
– There that the Israelites stopped and held
a solemn ceremony after entering the
promised land.
– Is it any wonder that Joseph instructed
that his bones be buried there?
Concordances
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For independent, first hand Bible study,
a good concordance may be the most
indispensable tool.
Questions answered by concordance
use—
– What is the relative frequency or
infrequency of a word or idea?
– In what areas of the Bible is it used most
frequently?
– What are the interrelations of thought
which gather around it?
Concordances
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Questions answered concordance use—
– Is there any discernible growth in the idea?
– How does it point forward to Christ?
– What light does Christ cast back on it?
Concordances
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Advice
– Avoid an abridged concordance.
– Use a concordance based on the
translation you are using.
– All modern concordances owe a debt to the
past; it is helpful to have an understanding
of the leading tools of the recent past so as
to be aware of the strengths upon which
contemporary compilers have relied.
Concordances
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Advice
– Important to understand that publishers
occasionally display some semantic
elasticity in hawking their concordance
wares.
– The three principal terms are “analytical,”
“exhaustive,” and “complete.”
Concordances
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Analytical
– An analytical concordance is one in which
the words of the translated Bible are
presented alphabetically, with passages in
which each term occurs being apportioned
under the respective Hebrew or Greek
words underlying the term.
Young’s Analytical
Concordances
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Exhaustive
– An exhaustive concordance is one that lists
passages in sequence under a headword,
without classifying under the various
original terms and in some way accounts
for every occurrence of a word in the
translation, including the word “if” and
other frequently used conjunctions,
relatives, and particles.
Concordances
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Complete
– A complete concordance is one in which
every word is cited and at least one
passage is indicated for a word, as is the
case especially for words that occur
hundreds or thousands of times.
– When in doubt, read the preface.
– In the case of reprints that lack detailed
editorial information, caveat emptor,
“buyer beware.”
Concordances
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Young’s Analytical Concordance to the
Bible
– Based on text of the AV
– Form of the different Greek & Hebrew
words accompany the English word
– Provides ready reference to each passage
in which that word appears, making it easy
to study words like “faith,” “love,” and
“obedience.”
Concordances
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Young’s Analytical Concordance to the
Bible
– The arrangement also show how different
Heb & GK words have translated by a
single English word (e.g., “lord,” “sleep,”
“son,” “will.”
– The flexibility as well as the precision of
the original languages is thus readily
evident.
– Included at the end is a handy lexicon to
words appearing in the Old & New
Testaments.
Concordances
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Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance of the
Bible
– Also based on the AV
– Format established by Strong has set a
standard of excellence for accuracy and
completeness.
– Unique feature: against each entry there is
a number directing the researcher to a
Hebrew or Greek index at the back that
contains information about the word used
and its meaning(s).
Concordances
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Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance of the
Bible
– E.g., under “offering” a number is
indicated: 4503. Lower down, another
number is given: 8641.
– References to 4503 & 8641 in the “Hebrew
and Chaldee Dictionary” at the back will
give you the meaning(s) of each word.
– Greek words can be traced in the same
way.
Concordances
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Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance of the
Bible
– what this means is that with little technical
knowledge of the biblical languages, you
may have access to the learning of others.
– Tools like the Theological Wordbook of the
Old Testament and the Logos Library
System on CD-ROM have been coded to
Strong’s Concordance.
Concordances
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R. L. Thomas, New American Standard
Exhaustive Concordance of the Bible
– Patterned after Strong’s
– Illustrative of the new works available
today
– Lists every word which may be used to
locate a verse in the NASB & also notes the
Hebrew, Aramaic or Greek word from
which the English is translated.
– 10 yrs of work went into the work &
computers were used to compile an
alphabetical listing of words and
frequencies.
Concordances
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R. L. Thomas, New American Standard
Exhaustive Concordance of the Bible
– As with Strong’s, the Hebrew-Aramaic and
Greek dictionaries are included at the back.
– They have been arranged in such a way
that those lacking a knowledge of the
original languages may nevertheless be
appraised of the root form of the word, the
frequency of its occurrence, and its
meaning(s).
Concordances
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George V. Wigram, The Englishman’s
Hebrew and Chaldee Concordance of
the Old Testament
– Arranged by Hebrew word, this work lists
passages in the OT containing the term
with its translation in the KJV
– Because it is the usage of the word that
determines its meaning, and because
language is always changing, by using a
concordance you will be able to
Concordances
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George V. Wigram, The Englishman’s
Hebrew and Chaldee Concordance of
the Old Testament
– By using a concordance you will be able to
Assess the general meaning of a given word
 Tie in its usage with different writers and/or
eras of history (e.g., Mosaic period, united or
divided monarchy, early or later prophets)
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Concordances
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Solomon Mandelkern, Veteris testamenti
concordantiae Habraicae atque
Chaldaicae
– Contains citations according to sense,
proper placement of entries misplaced
under false roots, corrections of
grammatical confusions, and the addition
of hapax legomena omitted in previous
works.
– If beginning student only uses the biblical
references at side of each citation, study
will be enhanced.
Concordances
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Solomon Mandelkern, Veteris testamenti
concordantiae Habraicae atque
Chaldaicae
– For more advanced student, this tool will
not only give the accuracy that thorough
research requires, but will also enable him
to study words in relationship to important
grammatical distinctions.
Concordances
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Gerhard Lisowsky, Konkordanz zum
hebraischen Alten Testament
– Photographically reproduced from L’s
handwritten manuscript
– With emphasis placed on nouns and verbs,
this work is particularly helpful to the
student engaged in word studies.
Concordances
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Edwin Hatch and Henry Redpath,
Concordance to the Septuagint
– Includes the Apocryphal books
– Zealous student will wish to compare the
Greek words used to translate their
Hebrew equivalent.
– Each Gk word in the canonical and
apocryphal books is listed with its Hebrew
counterpart in a corresponding numerical
sequence.
Concordances
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Edwin Hatch and Henry Redpath,
Concordance to the Septuagint
– Because the usage of a given word is
crucial in determining its meaning(s), the
inclusion of the Apocrypha is important.
– Were this not the case, we would have
needed another concordance to the noncanonical writings.
Concordances
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The Englishman’s Greek Concordance to
the New Testament
– Arranged in the same way as its OT
counterpart.
– Based on the text of AV and cites in
alphabetical order by the Gk word the
Biblical references together with a brief
quotation.
– Is relatively easy, therefore, to determine
the meaning(s) assigned a word by the
translators of the KJV.
Concordances
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The Englishman’s Greek Concordance to
the New Testament
– Included in this large work is a complete
index of the words of the English text with
the Greek words from which they are
translated.
– From this index the student will find, for
example, a listing of the 27 different
English words used to translate “logos”
(“word”).
Concordances
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William F. Moulton & Albert S. Geden,
Concordance to the Greek Testament
– Is now complete with full citations
including particles.
– Has become one of the basic reference
tools for students of the NT.
– Familiarly known as “Moulton and Geden.”
– Based on the text of Westcott and Hort.
– Contains quotations of Scripture that are
longer than in most concordances of its
kind.
Concordances
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William F. Moulton & Albert S. Geden,
Concordance to the Greek Testament
– Replete with
grammatical hints
 the usage of the word in the LXX and
Apocrypha
 citations in Hebrew (if the passage in question
happens to be a quotation from the OT).
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Concordances
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Computer concordance to the Novum
Testamentum Graece/ComputerKonkordanz zum Novum Testamentum
Graece
– Indispensable to the study of specific
Greek words used in the NT.
– Based on the 26th edition of the NestleAland text and the 3rd edition of the United
Bible Societies’ Greek New Testament.
– Lists every word appearing in NT with the
frequency of occurrence.
Concordances
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Computer concordance to the Novum
Testamentum Graece/Computer-Konkordanz
zum Novum Testamentum Graece
– as a general rule, words are arranged in
accordance with their root form
– In case of some irregular verbs, however, the
word is also listed under the different forms.
– Words occurring in pericope are included with an
asterisk following each entry.
– An appendix lists the appearance of conjunctions,
particles, et cetera.
Use of Concordances
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One of the primary uses of a concordance is,
of course, to help the user find in a moment
the location of any passage, if only a leading
word is recalled.
If, for example, one has forgotten where
Paul’s extensive treatment of marriage
occurs, one can look up the word “marry” in a
concordance.
A cluster of references to 1 Corinthians 7 will
be readily apparent.
But to limit the concordance to this function is
to sacrifice its magnificent interpretive
possibilities.
Use of Concordances
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SYSTEMATIZER
For serious Bible students a concordance of
the original language is indispensable, but
even for them a concordance based on a
version or translation can be of great
assistance.
Consider these themes: The Disastrous Tree,
The Inevitable Tree, The Tree that Lived on
Borrowed Time, The Murder Tree, The
Resurrection Tree.
A preacher in desperate search for a sermon
series could do worse. These were all
suggested by a brief glance down the
RSV/NRSV concordance column marked
“tree.”
Use of Concordances
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LINGUISTIC CONTRIBUTION
For workers in the original languages, the use
of concordances can prove to be a departure
for an excitingly new interpreter’s world.
Shaking off the shackles of dependence on
commentaries is akin to a revival experience.
In a lexicon a word is like a friend in a coffin;
a concordance restores him to life.
Take the word parakale,w as an example.
The lexicon BAGD includes as primary
“meanings” (a) summon, (b) appeal to, urge,
exhort, encourage, (c) request, appeal to,
entreat, implore, (d) comfort, encourage,
cheer up.
Use of Concordances
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LINGUISTIC CONTRIBUTION
The editors refer 2 Cor. 1:4b to the passages
under “d.”
This passage speaks of “God, who comforts
us in all our affliction.
But it is the concordance that loads this word
in its context with real meaning.
There is more here than a cosmic
handholding.
We see from a comparison with other
passages that the word is used primarily of
the will — not the emotions — and that the
alleged lexical “meanings” are in fact glosses
on the word.
Use of Concordances
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LINGUISTIC CONTRIBUTION
There are not really four different
“meanings” to the word.
The lexicographer considers the way a
word is used and takes snapshots from
various angles.
A concordance helps one do what the
lexicographer does but permits its user
to look anew at the evidence.
Use of Concordances
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GRAMMATICAL USE
Concordances are useful for unveiling the
nuances of grammatical constructions.
A simple case in point is the mh. klai/e of Luke
7:13, where the NRSV renders, “Do not
weep.”
A glance in Moulton-Geden leads the eye to a
similar prohibition in Luke 8:52.
There it is quite evident that the prohibition is
aimed at an act in progress, and that more
accurately it should be rendered, “Stop your
weeping.”
Use of Concordances
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GRAMMATICAL USE
In 7:13, then, Luke’s Jesus is
undoubtedly saying to the woman, “Dry
up your tears now.”
He calls her to an exercise of her faith.
It is as though he consoles her: “There
is really no need for tears, for I am
here:’
Use of Concordances
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THEMATIC AND TOPICAL CONTRIBUTION
Look up the word VIsrah,l.
A glance in Moulton-Geden shows that the
concentration lies in Matthew, Luke, Acts, Romans.
The reader has learned to expect this in Matthew and
Paul, but Luke-Acts comes as a surprise in view of its
apparent interest in Gentiles.
Indeed, the concordance reveals that the references
to Israel in Luke-Acts outnumber those in Matthew
and Romans taken together.
For an understanding of the purpose and objective of
the two-volume work this discovery is of compelling
significance, and it reverberates with theological
overtones.
Case Study
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The preceding examples illustrate a few of the many possible
advantages accruing to diligent users of concordances. But it
has been our experience that beginners in a more serious
type of Bible study, when it comes to working on their own,
are as bewildered as high school freshmen on their first
theme. Where do I start? What do I look for? There is no rule
of thumb one can follow, but an illustration of how one might
proceed may be useful. Suppose my text is Luke 16:19-31.
There are no special problem words. All appear quite simple.
The story revolves, though, around a rich man and a poor
man. Here I begin the probe. I note that this Gospel suggests
a revolutionary approach to the matter of poverty and riches.
Therefore, the word ptwco,j would seem to merit further
investigation. I take down Moulton-Geden. Under ptwco,j l find
Luke 4:18; 6:20; 7:22; and others. It is the poor who are the
chosen recipients of the messianic benefits. But why? I go to
Hatch and Redpath. There are more than one hundred
references. I cannot possibly look at all of them. But the
heaviest concentration is in the Psalms. A study of these
passages reveals that the “poor” are the people in Israel who
depend on the Lord. They are the ones who look to God for
salvation (see Ps. 70:6 [ 69:6 [ Rahlfs]).
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The rich man, by contrast, is representative of
Israel’s self-sufficient element. This thought in turn
suggests that I look up the simple word path,r, which
appears three times in this pericope. I know that it
will be impossible to consider all the passages in
which such a common word occurs. Therefore I
stay with Luke and let my eye wander down the list
of passages in Moulton-Geden. No bells ring until I
reach Luke 3:8. This reference is especially
resonant because VAbraa,m is mentioned. I could find
no better commentary than this. !t is the rich man’s
purely formal religious association that has cost him
his soul and the fellowship of God. It is equally
evident that the point of the story is not a plea for
slum clearance. Following these leads! concentrate
on such important terms as evlee,w (16:24) and
metanoe,w.
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“But how can I possibly look up every word if, as you suggest,
even a common word like path,r may be richly significant. There
is no need to make a panicky dash to the bookshelf marked
theological tranquilizers (i.e., “Best Sermon Helps of the
Year”). This is like tackling troubles. Tussle with one at a time.
Move out of strength, not weakness. The first time around on
a particular text, work on two or three words. File the data in
your computer under some such rubric as “Searches,
Concordance.” The next time you meet the text brood over it
a little more, and check on a few other possibilities.
Detectives sometimes sift 100 false leads. But number 101
may nail the crook. The nuggets no longer lie on the surface
of the biblical text. It takes a deal of panning to get a single
grain. But what a thrill when the discovery is made! And it
makes no difference if later on you find it buried in an old
commentary. Have no regrets over what appears wasted
effort. There comes from study such as this a conviction
wrought by the impact of truth, a feeling of intellectual
ownership that only personal contact can give.
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1.
In hope that this study may prove to be stimulating especially
to seminarians beginning their exegetical studies, the
following summary and supplementary exhortations (recall
the word parakale,w are submitted:
When preparing the exegesis of a particular passage, begin
your use of the concordance with the less-common words.
Then think in terms of possible thematic or theological
implications, always remembering, of course, that it is the
writer’s thought, not some later theologian’s idea that you are
endeavoring to discover and understand. Try to establish
associations with what you have previously extracted and
learned from Scripture. This procedure will alert you to the
significant in the insignificant. Look up the word in the author
you are working with. Branch out into other authors,
beginning with those that have the fewest references. Pass
up those passages that evidently have little or nothing to
contribute to clarity. Despite Jerome’s warning, you must run
some hazards.
3. Proceed to check the word in Hatch and Redpath.
Find either the heaviest or the lightest area of
concentration, and begin there. If you still have
time and find that the Septuagint renders several
Hebrew words with one Greek word, give yourself a
real treat and follow the same process in
Mandelkern.
4. Keep in mind that the New Testament relies heavily
on Psalms, Isaiah, and Jeremiah. Key concepts can
usually be traced to these particular Old Testament
writings. Wade directly into these sections if the
listings are heavy elsewhere.
5. Note cognates and track them down. Learn to know
the whole word family. Again, don’t let the
staggering possibilities keep you from doing
something. Even God used up a week to make the
world. Try one word-family at a time. Work on
another the next time you treat the text.
(Danker, 19-21)