By Donald K. McKim
Westminster John Knox Press.
Louisville, Ky. 355 pages
There are those who learn English by reading a good English language dictionary. The best would be the Oxford English Dictionary. Some people have a complete OED as a reference book. (I am one of them.) It’s a joy to dip into it frequently and come away not just with a new word but a deep understanding of the universe contained in that single word. All of this is true for the second edition of this dictionary of theological language. Don McKim has artfully assembled the equivalent to the OED for theological terms. One can read it to learn theology in the same way one learns a new language. And one can read it for the pleasure of discovering the intricate web of words that make up the theological universe. This edition contains 7,000 entries (1,000 more than the previous edition) that are linked together with a set of cross-references that display the breadth of the tradition. The annotated bibliography and works consulted is an additional rich resource. Every student and pastor should own this book for the sheer joy of wider learning. This book should also be in the church library because active members will find it valuable for their growth in theological understanding.
