Research Guides: Theology: Dictionaries & Encyclopedias

Reference Tools

The library has many print reference books such as dictionaries, encyclopedias, and biblical commentaries. We also have numerous online reference works. If you need assistance in learning how to use these imporant resources, please ask for help at either library.

Theology Specific Dictionaries and Encyclopedias

Anchor Yale Bible Dictionary
Extensive 6-volume dictionary for biblical studies.

Dictionary of the Bible
Covers the important places, people, themes, and doctrines of the Bible.
Cambridge Dictionary of Christianity
Reference work created by 800 scholars covering all aspects of Christianity.
Canterbury Dictionary of Hymnology
Ecumenical, international reference work for hymns in the Judaeo-Christian tradition.
Dictionary of Deities and Demons in the Bible
The Dictionary of Deities and Demons in the Bible Online contains academic articles on the named gods, angels, and demons in the books of the Hebrew Bible, Septuagint and Apocrypha, as well as the New Testament and patristic literature. This online version contains the second extensively revised edition.
Encyclopedia Judaica
Encyclopedia covering all aspects of Jewish life and culture.

Encyclopaedia of Islam
An essential tool for understanding Islam in history and in the modern world.

Encyclopedia of Religion
Comprehensive general encyclopedia covering religion and religious experience across cultures.
Encyclopedia of the Bible and its Reception
Covering the origins and development of the Bible, including the history of its interpretation and reception over time.
International Encyclopedia of Ethics
The definitive single-source reference work on Ethics
Oxford Dictionary of the Christian Church
Encyclopedic dictionary covering all aspects of the Christian Church.

Oxford Handbooks
Brings together the world’s leading scholars to discuss research and the latest thinking on a range of major topics. We have access to the history and religion handbooks, along with select titles from other disciplines.

Brill Encyclopedia of Early Christianity Online
More than 1,100 articles by ca 645 authors from over 35 countries, addressing a range of traditions, including iconographic, martyrological, ecclesiastical, and Christological traditions, as well as cultic phenomena, such as the veneration of saints.
Religion Past and Present
Encyclopedia of religion, theology, and biblical studies.

Search Reference Collections

Credo, Gale, and Oxford offer reference collections that let you cross-search many dictionaries and encyclopedias at once!

CREDO Reference
"Background information to start your research." Includes full-text articles from 1200+ dictionaries, encyclopedias, and other reference works.
Gale Virtual Reference Library
Online reference works from a variety of publishers.
Oxford Reference
Reference books by Oxford University Press, including the Oxford Digital Reference Shelf.