Q. Where can I find Biblical Studies and Theology reference works online?

The Library Catalog
If you are trying to access a known reference work online, the first place to search is the online library catalog. Almost all of our electronic reference works have a record and link in the catalog to the particular database where it is housed. 

To find the electronic version of a reference work, search the library catalog by title, then:

1. Click the "eBook" search filter on the left, under "format". The search result will now display only eBooks.
2. Click the "View eBook" link for your desired title.
3. If you access off-campus, you will be prompted to provide your Fuller ID user name and password.

If you need reference information on a particular subject, but do not know a specific title, you can conduct a keyword search describing your biblical or theological subject along with the kind of reference work you are looking for (e.g. dictionary, encyclopedia, atlas, etc.). For example, you could try "bible atlas," or "theology dictionary," even without knowing the exact title. Then follow the steps above to limit to eBooks and access.

If your first search does not find any relevant results try searching a broader term. For example, instead of "encyclopedia Pentecostalism," try "encyclopedia Christianity" or "encyclopedia evangelicalism." Due to the broad nature of reference works, they often address specific movements and figures within a larger category. 

If you are still struggling to find a relevant online reference work, you can either browse the library databases as described below, or contact our reference librarians at lib-reference@fuller.edu. Our expert librarians will be able to help find the sources you need!

Library Databases
If you would like to browse available online reference works, the best way to do this is through our electronic databases page. All of the databases containing major reference works in biblical studies/ theology can be found under the theology filter category. Below you will see a list of the relevant databases and a brief description of their contents:

1. Credo Reference database indexes full text articles from over 1000 general reference works, including 50+ reference works on Christianity. Major titles include: the Cambridge Dictionary of Christian Theology, Encyclopedia of Protestantism, Dictionary of the Theological Interpretation of the Bible, Evangelical Dictionary of Theology, the IVP Bible Dictionary Series, and the Routledge and Blackwell Religion Companions. 
2. Oxford Reference database incudes 40+ Oxford University Press reference works (25 specifically on religious studies) totaling over 380,000 articles. You can browse individual reference works or search the articles of multiple reference works at the same time. Topics include: theology, biblical studies, church history, and intercultural studies (particularly Islamic studies).
3. Hermeneia collection includes most volumes of the highly regarded and long running Hermeneia Biblical Commentary series. It is designed to be a critical and historical commentary to the Bible without pre-determined limits in size or scope.
4. Oxford Handbooks Online (Religion) contains over 75 handbooks with 2,800+ authoritative essays and articles on critical topics and emerging issues in religion. Some of titles include: The Oxford Handbook of Biblical Studies, The Oxford Handbook of Early Christian Studies, The Oxford Handbook of Evangelical Theology, and the Oxford Handbook of Religion and Science. 
5. Cambridge Companions Online includes the complete series of Cambridge Companions to Philosophy and Religion, 235 titles, along with an additional 424 titles of Cambridge History Companions. You also have access to the main database called Cambridge Core that includes other Cambridge eBooks. You can search your subject and use the "collection" filter to limit it to the companions if desired.
6. Ministry Matters In terms of reference, this database contains the New Interpreter's Dictionary of the Bible and Bible commentary, along with the New Abingdon New and Old Testament Commentaries. 
7. Encyclopedia of Religion Online presents a cross-cultural approach that emphasizes religion’s role within everyday life and as a unique experience from culture to culture. The original 2,750 entries have been retained, many heavily updated, and approximately 600 entirely new articles have been added by an international team of scholars and contributors.
8. Encyclopedia of the Bible and its Reception Online (EBR) renders the current state of knowledge on the origins and development of the Bible in its different canonic forms. At the same time, EBR also documents the history of the Bible's reception in Christianity, Judaism, Islam, and other religious traditions, as well as in literature, art, music, and film. It is edited by a team of international scholars, all experts in their fields, and currently comprises 14 v.'s; updated with new articles quarterly. 

Many of the current standard biblical language lexicons, such as BDAG, HALOT, etc., are not available online. Some notable exceptions are the Liddell-Scott-Jones Greek-English lexicon (site registration required) and The Brill dictionary of ancient Greek.

The STEP Bible from Tyndale house is also a helpful free tool that provides electronic interlinear bible versions incorporating the BDB Hebrew and LSJ Greek lexicons (dictionary details). Free standalone versions of the BDB Hebrew lexicon are also available in downloadable PDF and (Hebrew) searchable formats.