Kittel’s Theological Dictionary of the New Testament

Kittel’s Theological Dictionary of the New Testament is a large, multivolume reference work that explains important Greek words and themes in the New Testament, along with their backgrounds in the Old Testament, ancient Judaism, and wider Greek usage. It is commonly abbreviated TDNT or simply Kittel.

The set can help you trace how a term develops across biblical and historical sources, but it should not be treated as a simple word-definition book. Its entries are extended theological essays, and some conclusions reflect older scholarship that needs to be compared with more recent research.

What Kittel’s Theological Dictionary of the New Testament contains

TDNT began as the German Theologisches Wörterbuch zum Neuen Testament. Gerhard Kittel initiated the project, and Gerhard Friedrich later completed the German edition. The English edition was translated and edited by Geoffrey W. Bromiley.

The standard English edition is a ten-volume set. The first nine volumes contain the main articles, while the final volume serves as an index and finding aid. Articles are arranged according to Greek terms, usually by their lexical form, and many entries discuss related words rather than only one isolated term.

A typical entry may examine a word’s use in several settings:

• Classical Greek and other ancient Greek literature
• The Septuagint, the ancient Greek translation of the Hebrew Scriptures
• Jewish writings from the Second Temple and later periods
• The New Testament, including differences among its authors
• Early Christian writings and later theological usage

Because the essays often include history, philology, theology, and interpretation, a single entry may run for many pages. Kittel is therefore closer to a collection of specialized monographs than to a compact classroom glossary.

Why students and Bible readers consult Kittel

Readers usually turn to TDNT when a New Testament word seems especially significant or difficult. They may want to understand a term such as logos, pistis, dikaiosynē, sarx, or ekklesia across different biblical and historical contexts.

Kittel can be especially valuable when you need more than a short gloss. A basic lexicon may tell you that a word can mean “faith,” “righteousness,” or “assembly,” while a TDNT essay may discuss how the term is used in the Septuagint, Paul, John, early Jewish literature, or the wider Greek world.

Its main strengths include:

• Historical breadth: entries trace a word through multiple periods and bodies of literature.
• Theological focus: articles often ask how vocabulary functions within biblical theology.
• Detailed discussion: longer entries can identify debates, distinctions, and patterns that short definitions omit.
• Cross-references: related Greek words and concepts can lead you to additional research.
• Research value: the set records a major stage in twentieth-century New Testament scholarship.

For pastors, teachers, and advanced students, the work can provide a helpful starting point for sermon preparation, word studies, and theological research. It can also show why a familiar English translation does not always capture every possible nuance of the Greek text.

How to use Kittel for a New Testament word study

A careful study begins with the passage, not with the dictionary. Before opening TDNT, read the verse and its surrounding paragraph several times. Identify the speaker, audience, genre, argument, and immediate subject.

1. Identify the Greek word. Use a reliable Greek New Testament, an interlinear tool, or a modern concordance to find the lemma, which is the dictionary form of the word.
2. Check the word’s form. Determine whether the passage uses a noun, verb, adjective, participle, or another form. Similar-looking words may have different roots or meanings.
3. Find the TDNT entry. Use the index volume, a digital search tool, or the alphabetical arrangement of the printed volumes.
4. Read the article selectively first. Begin with the sections that discuss the New Testament and the specific author or book you are studying.
5. Compare the word’s uses. Look at several passages rather than assuming that one translation represents the word everywhere.
6. Check the cited sources. Pay attention to whether an argument depends on classical texts, the Septuagint, rabbinic literature, or early Christian writers.
7. Test the conclusion in context. Ask whether the article’s proposed meaning fits the grammar and argument of your passage.
8. Compare another lexicon. Consult a more recent resource before making a strong theological or doctrinal claim.

This process prevents a common error: taking the most impressive statement in a long article and applying it directly to one verse. The article may be describing a word’s complete historical range, while the passage uses only one part of that range.

How Kittel differs from a Greek lexicon

A lexicon is designed primarily to define words and describe their meanings in particular contexts. A dictionary such as BDAG is organized around lexical information, grammatical categories, textual examples, and semantic senses. TDNT has a different purpose and style.

TDNT’s entries are usually longer and more discursive. They often tell the story of a term: where it appears, how its usage changes, how Jewish and Greek traditions influence its biblical use, and what theological themes interpreters have associated with it.

That difference affects how you should read each resource:

• Use a lexicon to check a word’s possible meanings in a specific passage.
• Use TDNT to explore historical development and theological discussion.
• Use a concordance to locate occurrences and compare passages.
• Use a grammar to understand syntax, tense forms, case endings, and sentence structure.
• Use a commentary to see how scholars interpret the whole passage.

No single reference work performs all of these tasks equally well. A responsible study normally combines several kinds of resources rather than asking one dictionary to settle every question.

Why word studies require caution

Older Bible study methods sometimes assume that every Greek word contains a deep, stable theological meaning that can be uncovered by tracing its etymology. That approach can be misleading. A word’s origin may explain its history without determining how an author uses it centuries later.

Another danger is the illegitimate totality transfer: importing every meaning associated with a word into a single verse. For example, if a term can refer to physical life, spiritual life, eternal life, and a person’s livelihood in different contexts, that does not mean all four senses are present whenever the term appears.

Pay attention to the difference between these questions:

• What can this word mean? This asks about its semantic range.
• What does this word mean here? This asks about the passage’s contextual sense.
• What does this author usually mean by it? This asks about an author’s usage and recurring themes.
• What theological idea is connected to it? This asks a broader interpretive question.

TDNT may help answer all four questions, but the answers will not always be identical. A good study keeps lexical meaning, contextual meaning, and theological interpretation distinct.

Important limitations of the older scholarship

TDNT remains influential, but it is not a neutral or final authority. The original work reflects the methods, assumptions, and debates of the twentieth century. Some entries give substantial weight to broad historical reconstructions that later scholars have questioned or revised.

Readers should also know that Gerhard Kittel’s association with National Socialism and antisemitic scholarship is a serious part of the work’s history. His academic contributions cannot be separated entirely from the intellectual and political environment in which some of them were produced. The dictionary should therefore be read critically, especially where it discusses Judaism, Jewish sources, or the relationship between Christianity and Judaism.

This does not mean that every statement in TDNT is unusable. It means that readers should distinguish between helpful linguistic evidence and interpretive claims shaped by older or problematic assumptions. More recent scholarship often presents Jewish literature and Second Temple Judaism with greater care and historical precision.

How the abridged Kittel compares with the full set

Many readers encounter Kittel through Theological Dictionary of the New Testament, Abridged in One Volume, edited and translated by Geoffrey W. Bromiley. This edition condenses the larger set into a single volume and is often more practical for pastors, students, and personal libraries.

The abridged edition preserves the general character of the original work but cannot include every argument, citation, and qualification found in the full articles. It is useful for orientation, yet its compressed format makes it even more important to check claims against newer lexicons and specialized studies.

The full set may be appropriate when you need:

• The complete historical discussion of a major theological term
• Detailed citations and references to primary sources
• Extended treatment of related Greek words
• Material for advanced academic research
• Access to an important history of New Testament interpretation

The abridged volume may be the better choice when you need:

• A manageable reference book for regular study
• Quick background before reading a commentary
• A broad survey without purchasing a large set
• A resource that fits on a standard bookshelf or study desk

Neither version should replace a current Greek lexicon. The abridged book is a convenient gateway to TDNT’s approach, while the full edition is better understood as a substantial historical research resource.

How to locate words and references in the printed volumes

TDNT uses Greek headwords, so readers who do not read Greek may need a concordance or index. A word may appear under its Greek lemma rather than under the English word used in a translation. For example, several English translations may render one Greek term in different ways, while several Greek terms may be translated with the same English word.

The final index volume is particularly useful for locating biblical references and related entries. If you are using a digital edition, search both the Greek spelling and likely English transliterations. Check spelling carefully, because Greek letters can be transliterated in more than one way.

A practical search routine looks like this:

1. Write down the English word from your translation.
2. Use a concordance or study Bible to identify the Greek lemma.
3. Search the lemma in Greek and in transliteration.
4. Check related forms and compound words.
5. Record the volume and page number for later reference.
6. Read the paragraph before and after the passage you need.

When taking notes, separate the author’s claims from your own conclusions. Record the source, page, biblical references, and any qualifications. This makes it easier to evaluate whether a statement is based on the New Testament itself or on a broader historical theory.

What newer resources can add

Modern readers often pair TDNT with later works that reflect developments in linguistics, textual criticism, Jewish studies, and Greco-Roman studies. These resources may organize meanings more clearly around actual contexts and may correct older assumptions about how words functioned in the first century.

Useful companions include a current Greek-English lexicon, a concordance, a New Testament grammar, a critical commentary, and specialized studies of the Septuagint or Second Temple Judaism. A good study Bible can help with orientation, but it should not be the only source for a disputed word study.

When comparing resources, ask:

• Does the author cite examples from the same period as the New Testament?
• Does the resource distinguish word meaning from theological interpretation?
• Does it account for syntax and literary context?
• Does it engage Jewish and Greco-Roman evidence responsibly?
• Does it acknowledge disagreement among scholars?

Modern works are not automatically correct, and older works are not automatically worthless. The goal is to weigh evidence carefully, understand each source’s method, and avoid making a major claim from an isolated dictionary quotation.

When Kittel is most useful for teaching and preaching

TDNT can enrich teaching when it clarifies a recurring biblical theme rather than distracting from the passage. For example, an entry may show how a term is used differently in the Synoptic Gospels, Paul, and John. That information can help a teacher explain why the same English word may carry different emphases in different books.

It is also useful for identifying connections between the Old and New Testaments. Discussions of Septuagint vocabulary can show how New Testament writers use Greek terms that already carry associations from Israel’s Scriptures. Those connections should be demonstrated from actual passages, not assumed merely because two words share a root.

For preaching, keep the final explanation focused. A congregation usually benefits from a clear account of what the word means in the passage, supported by a brief explanation of its wider background. A long history of every possible sense may obscure the text’s central claim.

Before using TDNT in a lesson or sermon, check three things:

• Context: Does the proposed meaning fit the surrounding verses?
• Evidence: Is the claim based on actual usage or only on etymology?
• Balance: Have you checked a newer lexicon or scholarly source?

Is Kittel worth buying?

The answer depends on your purpose, budget, and existing library. If you are beginning Greek study or need quick definitions, the full set is probably more than you need. A current lexicon and a good commentary will usually serve immediate passage-level work more efficiently.

TDNT becomes more worthwhile when you regularly study New Testament theology, teach advanced Bible classes, research historical interpretation, or want access to a major reference work that has shaped evangelical and academic discussions for decades.

Before buying, consider the condition and format. Used sets can be large and heavy, and older editions may have worn bindings or marked pages. A digital version can make searching easier, but check whether it includes the index, full page references, and usable Greek search functions.

The most sensible approach for many readers is to begin with a library copy or the abridged volume. If you frequently consult the entries and need their full documentation, then the complete set may justify the space and expense.

How to cite Kittel in research

Citations should identify the editor or author of the relevant entry, the title of the dictionary, the volume, the publication information, and the page. Since individual articles may have different authors, check the entry’s opening information rather than citing only “Kittel” for every claim.

Follow the citation style required by your school, publisher, church organization, or instructor. Page numbers are especially important because the set contains long articles, and readers need a precise location for verification.

When paraphrasing, represent the entry accurately. Do not present a nineteenth- or twentieth-century historical claim as though it were a direct statement of the New Testament. If the source is disputed, acknowledge that other scholars have reached different conclusions.

Used carefully, Kittel’s dictionary remains a substantial aid for understanding the history and theology of New Testament vocabulary. Its greatest value comes from disciplined reading: begin with the passage, examine the evidence, compare current scholarship, and let context control the final interpretation.

Frequently asked questions

What does TDNT stand for?

TDNT stands for Theological Dictionary of the New Testament. The abbreviation generally refers to the English translation of the German theological dictionary commonly associated with Gerhard Kittel and Gerhard Friedrich. It is also often called simply Kittel, although individual entries may have authors other than Kittel.

Is Kittel’s dictionary reliable?

TDNT contains valuable historical and linguistic research, but it should not be treated as the final authority on word meaning. Some methods and conclusions are dated, and its treatment of Judaism requires particular critical attention. Compare its claims with current lexicons, specialized studies, and passage-level commentaries.

Should beginners use the full ten-volume Kittel set?

Most beginners will find a modern Greek lexicon, concordance, and accessible commentary easier to use. The full set is best for extended research and theological study. The one-volume abridgment can provide a practical introduction, but it still needs to be read alongside newer scholarship.

What is the main danger of using Kittel for word studies?

The main danger is assuming that every meaning associated with a word appears in every biblical occurrence. Kittel discusses broad historical ranges, while a passage may use only one specific sense. Etymology, theology, and contextual meaning should be distinguished rather than combined automatically.