Martin Hugh Manser - The Complete Topical Guide to the Bible

1997, 2007 Martin H. Manser Published by Baker Books a division of Baker Publishing Group P.O. Box 6287, Grand Rapids, MI 49516-6287 www.bakerbooks.com First published as Dictionary of Bible Themes and adapted from the NIV Thematic Study Bible, first published 1996. Ebook edition created 2017 Ebook corrections 11.24.2020 All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any meansfor example, electronic, photocopy, recordingwithout the prior written permission of the publisher. The only exception is brief quotations in printed reviews.

ISBN 978-1-4934-0613-5 Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data is on file at the Library of Congress, Washington, DC. Scripture quotations labeled NASB are from the New American Standard Bible, copyright 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. (www.Lockman.org) Scripture quotations labeled NIV are from the Holy Bible, New International Version. NIV. Copyright 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.

Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved worldwide. www.zondervan.com Contents Major Bible Topics Introduction The unfolding of your words gives light; it gives understanding to the simple. Ps 119:130 The study of Scripture lies at the heart of the Christian faith. It is therefore important that readers of Scripture are given every means of help so that they may get as much benefit and enjoyment as possible out of reading the Bible. This book is designed to allow its users to appreciate to the full the unfolding of the unity and richness of Scripture by studying its central themes.

What Is Scripture All About? This book was planned to allow its users to identify and explore the leading topics of Scripture themes such as God, Jesus Christ, the Holy Spirit, the human race, sin and salvation, the Christian life, the church and the hope of glory. This book identifies these and many other key topics and traces them throughout the course of Scripture. In this way the Bible is allowed to speak for itself. The main topics of Scripture are identified, key biblical references are provided and the mutual relationship of topics is set out clearly. Over 2,000 topics detailed in this work cover doctrinal, ethical, historical and cultural subjects. In addition to dealing with the great themes of the Christian message of salvation, the topics also deal with practical issues of Christian living.

This approach allows a unifying of Christian wisdom, both theological and practical, for the edification of Gods people. The Thematic Approach The approach adopted in this work differs significantly from a lexical approach. A thematic approach is based on related ideas; a lexical approach is based on individual words. The difference between them can be appreciated by considering the topic of assurance. A word-based approach would be limited to identifying biblical passages in which words such as assure or assurance appear. A topical approach, however, goes beyond this and explores all the basic elements of the topic.

It identifies its basic ideas, its presuppositions and its consequences, in order that the topic in all its fullness can be unfolded. Thus the material that deals with assurance covers the grounds of assurance (e.g., the knowledge of God, the certainty of his word, the work of the Holy Spirit), the nature of assurance (of a relationship with God, of salvation, of eternal life and a future hope) and the relationship between assurance and the life of faith. An extensive system of cross-referencing allows the dynamic relationship of the many biblical topics to be understood and explored. The topical approach will be particularly welcomed by those who are preparing studies or talks on biblical topics and wish to ensure that they have included or referred to the central passages within Scripture. It will also be valued by readers of Scripture who become interested in a biblical passage or topic and wish to follow it through to discover other passages of relevance, as well as other biblical topics that cast light on the particular importance of the passage or topic being studied. The thematic study of Scripture is also important in another respect.

Tracing the great biblical topics throughout Scripture allows us to appreciate the essential unity of Scripture. As we trace the unfolding of Gods purposes of redemption throughout the pages of the Bible, we come to appreciate more fully how Scripture bears witness to the same God and his same purposes throughout the great themes that bind it together. Application of Gods Word The editors hope that this new work will bring a fresh quality and depth to readers understanding and grasp of the riches of Scripture. It is a work that has been designed to meet the many needs of Gods people in todays world, including personal study of Scripture or in preparation for preaching and teaching. As a psalmist declared, it is the unfolding of Gods word that brings light and understanding to his people (Ps 119:130). Alister E. Alister E.

McGrath
Martin H. Manser Contributors Martin H. Manser, Managing Editor Alister E. McGrath, General Editor J. I. Packer, Consultant Editor Donald J.

Wiseman, Consultant Editor J. Gordon McConville, Assistant Consultant, Old Testament Stephen H. Travis, Assistant Consultant, New Testament How to Use This Book The heart of the Complete Topical Guide to the Bible is more than two thousand topics that cover the key themes of Scripture. Two ways of helping readers find their way into this material are provided: The topics are carefully organized into nine major categories: God, Jesus Christ, Holy Spirit, creation, humanity, sin and salvation, Gods people, the life of the believer, and last things. The Alphabetical List of Topics with Topic Numbers provides a complete list in alphabetical order of all the topics. Selective cross-references are also provided for ease of use.

Readers can use the topic number to locate the topic in the Bible topics section. Topics cross-refer you to the various parts of Scripture at which each topic occurs and are organized under descriptive headings. You can use the resources of the Bible Topics section in a variety of ways to support your Bible study. Classification of Topics The editors have given considerable thought to the arrangement and categorization of topics. Each topic has been assigned a four-digit number, given with the aim of reflecting the topics core subject matter and allowing both ease of reference and an understanding of the overall place of the topic in Scripture. For example, one major group of topics focuses on God, another on Jesus Christ, and another on sin and salvation.

The classification is intended to make the identification and exploration of topics as simple as possible. Each topic number consists of four digits. The first digit stands for one of nine main groups of topics: 1000 God 2000 Jesus Christ 3000 Holy Spirit 4000 Creation 5000 Humanity 6000 Sin and Salvation 7000 Gods People 8000 The Life of the Believer 9000 Last Things Within each of the major categories, topics have been arranged in subcategories. For example, under 2000 Jesus Christ come: 2003 Jesus Christ, qualities of 2200 Jesus Christ, titles and descriptions of 2300 Jesus Christ, ministry and work of 2400 Jesus Christ, gospel of 2500 Jesus Christ, history of Within each subcategory, general topics are in many instances given first, followed by topics in alphabetical order. For example, under the subcategory 2200 Jesus Christ, titles and names of comes first the general topic 2203 Jesus Christ, titles and names of followed in alphabetical order by specific names and titles, e.g., 2206 Jesus, the Christ 2218 Jesus Christ, Son of God 2221 Jesus Christ, Son of Man In many cases, topics have been divided in logical order into more manageable sections. For example, the topic of the church has been divided as follows: 7020 church, the 7021 church, OT anticipations of 7022 church, and Jesus Christ 7023 church, and Holy Spirit 7024 church, nature and foundations of 7025 church, unity and fellowship of 7026 church, leadership of 7027 church, purpose and mission of 7028 church, life of All the topics are listed in alphabetical order in the alphabetical index.