Summary
We find The New Unger’s Bible Dictionary to be a substantial, conservative reference work that has served pastors for decades. It offers a wide range of entries on people, places, customs, doctrines, and key biblical terms, often giving more than a brief definition, and regularly supplying the kind of background that helps us read a passage with clearer eyes.
We also appreciate its steady confidence in the reliability of Scripture. The tone is not speculative, and it generally aims to clarify rather than impress. For day to day ministry, that matters. When we are pressed for time and need quick orientation on a name, a place, or a theme, this dictionary usually gets us moving in the right direction.
Why Should I Own This Resource?
We should own this dictionary because it is built for practical use. The entries are typically direct, the cross referencing is helpful, and the scope is broad enough that we can consult it for both ordinary reading questions and sermon preparation.
We also find it useful for giving context without pushing us away from the text. Geography, ancient practice, and biblical history are treated as servants to interpretation, not substitutes for it. That makes it a good companion for pastors who want background help while keeping exegesis central.
We do want to use it with the same discernment we apply to any single volume reference work. Some entries, especially where interpretive frameworks come into play, may lean in a more conservative evangelical direction that will not always match every Reformed instinct. Even so, the overall stance is pastorally safe and the utility is real.
Closing Recommendation
We recommend The New Unger’s Bible Dictionary as a strong, workmanlike tool for pastors and serious readers who want reliable definitions and helpful background in one substantial volume. It is not the only dictionary we should own, but it is a worthwhile one.
Merrill F. Unger
Merrill F. Unger was an American evangelical scholar of the mid twentieth century, shaped by a conservative theological outlook and a strong commitment to the authority of Scripture.
He is best known for his work in biblical reference literature, where he sought to make the historical, cultural, and theological world of the Bible accessible to pastors and students. Unger combined careful scholarship with a clear apologetic instinct, particularly in defence of the reliability of the biblical record. His writing often addressed questions raised by critical scholarship, not with polemic, but with measured argument and detailed explanation.
Unger continues to be valued for his clarity, breadth of knowledge, and pastoral usefulness. He wrote with the working minister in view, aiming to support preaching and teaching rather than replace them. While some aspects of his scholarship reflect the debates of his own era, his core commitment to Scripture as the Word of God remains evident and instructive.
Notable works include The New Unger’s Bible Dictionary, Unger’s Bible Handbook, and Biblical Demonology.