Theology Research Guide: Finding commentaries and dictionaries

Commentaries are works of biblical exegesis (analysis and discussion). Commentaries are often published in series. Many different authors have written commentaries, each with their own perspective. On the shelf, commentaries are usually grouped together with other commentaries on the same book of the Bible.

To find commentaries, do a subject search in the library catalog for:

Commentaries

Or, to get more specific, search:

Bible. O.T. [name of book] -- Commentaries

or 

Bible. N.T. [name of book] -- Commentaries

Here are a few examples:

A Bible dictionary will give you a brief overview of a broad topic. It is a good place to go for definitions, proper names, dates, and a bibliography of scholarly sources. It is organized alphabetically.

Several Bible dictionaries are located in the Reference section on the main floor of the library. Others are in the Circulating collection upstairs. 

You can find Bible dictionaries by searching the library catalog by subject for: Bible -- Dictionaries. Most of them are in the same call number range: BS440-BS443.

Here are some annotated Bibles.

When you find a useful book, look around it on the shelf for others. Similar books are shelved together.

Christianity:  BR

The Bible:  BS

• Dictionaries, handbooks, encyclopedias:  BS440-BS443
• Commentaries (whole Bible):  BS482-BS498

Old Testament commentaries:  BS1235-BS1655

New Testament commentaries:  BS2575-BS2825

Doctrinal Theology:  BT

Practical Theology:  BV

The library catalog is your gateway to books and ebooks, including commentaries and Bible dictionaries.