Theology Research Guide

	Databases	Reference	Books	Journals	Videos	Web Sites
	This guide will point you to many key resources in theology. If you need help with your research, ask a librarian.

Databases 

Search library databases for journal, magazine, and newspaper articles, case studies, editorials, reports, reviews, and other documents. The following databases are recommended for research in theology.  

To select the database(s) most suited to your needs, click on  to read more information about each database. 

Most Frequently Used Databases for Theology

• ATLA Religion Database with ATLASerials  
• Catholic Periodicals and Literature Index  
• Proquest Religion  
• Religion and Philosophy Collection  

You may also select other databases from all database options.

Are you looking for an article you can't find from the links above?

• Request an item through Interlibrary Loan | Help 
• Ask a librarian 

Help Using the Databases

• ATLA Guide 
• EBSCO Mobile 2.0 Guide 
• Proquest Religion Guide 

Additional database guides and tutorials are available. 

Reference Resources 

Theology Reference- Select Works

Select from the following reference works to find in-depth definitions, background information, commentary on scripture, and more:

Online theology reference resources are available at Quick Reference: Theology Etexts.

Books and Ebooks

Library Catalogs

• ODU Library Catalog - search for books, ebooks, and other materials in ODU Library and online 
• OhioLINK Library Catalog - search for materials statewide from 89 academic libraries 
• Library Catalog Guides & Tutorials 

Where to Browse in the Library

Books and other materials can be found in ODU Library's Reference Stacks, Reference Atlases, and Main Stacks in the following ranges of the Dewey Decimal System: 200s (theology) and 900s (history). A select list of the 200s follows: 

• 203 - Religion and ethics
• 220s - Bible, biblical commentaries, bible dictionaries/encyclopedias, concordances
• 220.9s - Biblical archaeology
• 221s - Old Testament
• 225s - New Testament
• 230s - Christian faith, doctrine
• 241s - Christian ethics
• 248s - Christian spirituality
• 261s - Catholic social thought
• 262s - Papacy and Vatican documents
• 270s - Church history
• 282s - Catholicism
• 296s - Judaism
• 291s - Religion and mythology

More explanation of the 200s in the Dewey Decimal System is available.

Are you looking for an item you can't find through the links above?

• Request an item through Interlibrary Loan | Help 
• Ask a librarian 

Journals 

Browse or Search for Theology Journals

• Browse Journals in theology available through ODU Library 
• Search for a journal in the ODU Library Catalog  
• Search for an e-journal using Electronic Journal Finder or Electronic Journal Center 
• Access the theology databases for more journals (in each database look for a link to Publications) 

Videos

•  Search for a video in the library 
•  Search for videos on the web: Google Videos | Additional Video Search Engines 

Web Sites 

Visit the following sites for authoritative information on Catholicism, Protestantism, Judaism, and other religions, as well as church history, ancient history, biblical archaeology, and biblical resources.

Ancient History

• E.N.T.E.R.- Electronic New Testament Educational Resources 
• Internet Ancient History Sourcebook 
• LIVIUS: Articles on Ancient History 
• UNRV: The Roman Empire 
• See additional links below

Archaeology, Atlases, and the Dead Sea Scrolls

• Bible Atlas Online  
• Dead Sea Scrolls: The Ancient Library of Qumran and Modern Scholarship (Library of Congress) 
• Internet Archaeology Resources 
• The Orion Center for the Study of the Dead Sea Scrolls and Associated Literature 
• PACE: Project on Ancient Cultural Engagement 

The Bible Online

• All-in-One Biblical Resources Search 
• Gutenberg Bible 
• New American Bible 
• Navigating the Bible II [Hebrew Bible] 
• Online Bibles, Catholic Information Network 

Biblical Resources

• Blue Letter Bible (with Strong's Concordance) 
• Catholic Resources for Bible, Liturgy, Art, and Theology 
• Synoptic Parallels of the Gospels 
•  See also Quick Reference: Theology Etexts 

Church Documents Online

• Christian Classics Ethereal Library (CCEL) 
• Early Church Fathers, full text from CCEL 
• Electronic New Testament Educational Resources 
• Fathers of the Church Writings, Catholic Information Network 
• Scripture Resources on the Web, from Pontifical College Josephinum  

Church History

• Early Church Fathers, full text from CCEL  
• The Ecole Initiative: Creating a Hypertext Encyclopedia of Early Church History on the World Wide Web 

Dictionaries, Concordances, Statistics, and other Reference Resources

• Catholic Encyclopedia (1913, with updates)  
• Christian Classics Etheral Library Reference Titles 
• Electronic New Testament Educational Resources 
• Index Theologicus, Tubingen 
• New Schaff-Herzog Encyclopedia of Religious Knowledge (Protestant)  
• Pocket Catholic Dictionary (Abridged version of the Modern Catholic Dictionary) 

Gateways to Information in Religion and Theology on the Web

• Biblical Studies on the Web 
• The New Testament Gateway 
• Religious Studies Web Guide 
• Virtual Religion Index  
• Wabash Center: Internet Guide to Religion 

Judaism

• Academic Jewish Studies Internet Directory 
• CHABAD.org (Scroll down for links on Judaism) 
• Jewish Encyclopedia [contents of 12-vol. encyclopedia originally published 1901-1906] 
• Jewish Virtual Library 
• Judaism 101 
• Web Sites for Jewish Studies 
• A Commentary on the New Testament from the Talmud and Hebraica, by John Lightfoot (1602-1675) 

Periodicals Web Sites

• Biblical Archaeology Review 
• Bible Review 
• Theology Today 

Protestantism

• Baptist General Convention 
• Christian Church Disciples of Christ 
• Church of God International 
• Lutheran Church 
• Presbyterian Church (USA) 
• Religious Studies Web Guide: Christian Resources (by denomination) 
• Southern Baptist Convention 
• United Church of Christ 
• United Methodist Church 

Roman Catholicism

• All Catholic Church Ecumenical Councils 
• The Catholic Church, from Pontifical College Josephinum 
• Catholic Encyclopedia 
• A Catholic Guide to Biblical Interpretation 
• Catholic Information Network 
• Catholic Resources on the Net 
• Ex Corde Ecclesiae 
• The Mary Page, at the University of Dayton 
• Order of Preachers (Dominican) Homepage 
• Papal Encyclicals and Announcements 
• Roman Catholic Diocese of Columbus 
• Theology Library, at Spring Hill College 
• Vatican Web Page 

 Past last updated: 22 March 2013 | ODU Library Reference Services