About the Dictionary

Siegfried H. Horn’s Bible dictionary, published under the name Seventh-day Adventist Bible Dictionary (SDABC, published in 1960 and revised in 1979) was a standard work among readers and researchers for decades and one of the best one-volume Bible dictionaries. However, this volume is no longer in print in English. So, the need arose to come up with a new dictionary. This need was discussed by the Biblical Research Institute of the General Conference of Seventh-day Adventists (BRI) and a proposal to publish a new dictionary was approved by General Conference leadership. It became one of the responsibilities of BRI to work on this project and publish it either in book form or electronically or both.

​The former and the new dictionaries are similar and yet distinct. Biblical dictionaries explain strictly terms found in the OT and the NT. The SDABC focused on terms found in the Bible and especially on archeological insights. This is no wonder because Horn was predominantly an archeologist and also an OT historian. The new dictionary provides new entries and expands the list of biblical entries. It still deals with biblical names, places, objects, animals, and plants, as well as other biblical terms. In addition, some archeological finds not mentioned in Scripture are discussed, for example, the “Mernepthah Stele” and the “Rosetta Stone.” It was also felt that a theological dictionary was needed and that it should be integrated with the biblical dictionary, hence the name Seventh-day Adventist Biblical-Theological Dictionary (SDAIBTD). A theological dictionary deals with terms used in theological parlance which are not used in Scripture but whose concepts are reflected in Scripture. For instance, the Bible attributes divinity to God the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit while at the same time insisting that there is only one God. This concept is expressed with the terms “Godhead” and “Trinity.” The Bible’s teaching about Jesus is referred to as “Christology,” and the teaching about last things is called “Eschatology.” The dictionary discusses, among many others, “omniscience,” “moral absolutes,” “natural theology,” and “rebaptism.” While not a historical dictionary, a few historical persons and movements are included. Examples include “Calvin,” “Luther,” “Wesley,” “monasticism,” “monophyticism,” “reformed theology,” and “Sabbatarianism.” Finally, the dictionary addresses some ethical considerations such as “artificial intelligence,” “cremation,” “organizational ethics,” “reproductive technologies,” and “surrogate motherhood.”​

​Another difference is that the SDABC was authored largely by one person, S. H. Horn. The SDAIBTD used writers from around the globe and specialists in the fields—OT scholars, NT scholars, systematic theologians, historical theologians, archeologists, and ethicists. The published entries had to follow specific guidelines for writers and were all peer-reviewed, sometimes through a multi-layered review process. Almost all major administrative divisions of the worldwide Adventist Church have a Biblical Research Committee (BRC), distinct from the Biblical Research Institute Committee (BRICOM). Entries were assigned to each of the division committees through an assistant editor, who distributed entries to scholars and processed them through the BRC review process before passing the vetted entries to the BRI for another review process performed by associate editors and the main editor. Additionally, entries assigned through BRI’s own larger committees (BRICOM and BRIEC [BRI Ethics Committee]) were submitted to and evaluated by the committees and then finally by BRI members and/or the main editor. Prior to writing, authors were informed about the philosophy of and the hermeneutical-theological approach to the project. They were required to have a high view of Scripture and reflect the Seventh-day Adventist understanding of the Bible, its teachings, and its principles that inform theology and ethics. Still, writers carry the final responsibility for their entries.

​The SDAIBTD’s target audience consists of informed church members, pastors, and Bible professors/theologians, whether Adventists, other Christians, or non-Christians. The biblical entries are based on the Hebrew, Aramaic, and Greek texts of Scripture. Hebrew, Aramaic, and Greek terms that are used in a specific entry are shown in transliterated form and italics for easier access.

​The editorial team is excited to present the Seventh-day Adventist Biblical-Theological Dictionary to its audience and believes that it can be useful and beneficial to the Bible student. We acknowledge all the diligent work of the contributors to the project. We acknowledge the extensive work of assistant editors, associate editors who are all members or former members of BRI, and most of all the main editor, Daniel Bediako. We appreciate their dedication to the project and all their time-consuming writing and editing to help this project become a reality, even under taxing circumstances at times. We thank God for the gifts given to His people, His love, and His grace. May this work be to His glory (1 Corinthians 10:31).

Ekkehardt Mueller
Founding Editor

Founding Editor

Ekkehardt Mueller (2017-2021)

Editors

Daniel K. Bediako (2021-present)
Keldie Paroschi (2025-present)

Associate Editors

Elias Brasil de Souza (Director, BRI)
Frank M. Hasel (Associate Director, BRI)
Alberto Timm (Associate Director, BRI)
Clinton Wahlen (Associate Director, BRI)

Division Assistant Editors

Kioshyn Ahn, North American Division of Seventh-day Adventists
Daniel K. Bediako, West-Central Africa Division of Seventh-day Adventists (2017-2021)
Daniel Dei, West-Central Africa Division of Seventh-day Adventists (2021-)
Vanderlei Dorneles, South American Division of Seventh-day Adventists
Graeme Humble, South Pacific Division of Seventh-day Adventists (2017-2021)
Laszlo Gallusz, Trans-European Division of Seventh-day Adventists
Barna Magyarosi, Inter-European Division of Seventh-day Adventists
Eike Mueller, Southern Asia-Pacific Division of Seventh-day Adventists
Joel Musvosvi, Southern Africa-Indian Ocean Division of Seventh-day Adventists
Daegeuk Nam, Northern Asia-Pacific Division of Seventh-day Adventists
Danijela Schubert, South Pacific Division of Seventh-day Adventists (2022-)
Eugene Zaitsev, Euro-Asia Division of Seventh-day Adventists

Editorial Assistant

​Marly Timm

Consulting Editors

Laszlo Gallusz
Dragoslava Santrac

Advisory Committees

​Biblical Research Institute Committee
​Biblical Research Institute Ethics Committee
​Division Biblical Research Committees