Where To Find It in the Bible

The Ultimate A to Z Resource

By Ken Anderson
Thomas Nelson Publishers, $19.99

ISBN 0785211578

A to Z Reference for
Modern Bible Students

Review by Jay Graham

For a while there it seemed not many people were looking for biblical answers to today's issues and concerns. If they didn't happen to find the answer or read what somebody else had already found, they just didn't get what the Bible said. And what do we do about all those words we commonly use today but which weren't around in Bible times, words like computers or nutrition or psychology? To compound matters even more, there are many different versions and translations of the same biblical text, so where to find specific words, verses, and passages can be a real problem.

Christian writer and producer Ken Anderson approached these needs for scriptural guidance by developing a contemporary topical resource, Where to Find It in the Bible. He's not concerned about whether you think this resource is a concordance or not. He just wants to direct you to what the Bible has to say.

The topics, based on text from NKJV, KJV, NRSV, NIV, and CEV versions, are alphabetically listed in bold print. Under each is a list of relevant biblical words or phrases, each showing its biblical reference. Topics cover common contemporary words and phrases-no out-of-date or erudite theological language here. You'll find terms like Animal Rights (6 entries), Dictator (6 entries), Fund-raising (12 entries), Gangs (2 entries), and Perks (3 entries).

But Anderson is not trying to give us just new bells and whistles for our modern times in the more than 3700 entries. He also includes terms more closely associated with traditional Bible study but nonetheless of contemporary importance like Devotions (5 entries), Greed (28 entries), Missionary (76 entries), and Satan (22 entries). Cross references are given at the end of the entries for a topic, eg., under Speechless, the cross reference is See Mute.

The type is a good size and the format is designed for easy reading by both young and not-so-young. The pictorial elements are not as well-done. The text is illustrated with a few slightly corny cartoons, and some objects on the front cover are not listed inside. The illustrations may appeal to younger readers, and Where to Find It in the Bible is an excellent choice to introduce them to biblical reference tools.

Now Bible readers, students, Sunday school teachers, and youth directors can discover what the Bible has to say about today's topics and issues. As the back cover of this Ultimate A to Z Resource proclaims, "You can find it in the Bible . . . if you know where to look."

Jay Graham reviews books and studies the Bible with teenagers in Greensboro, NC.