The Writings Of Robert L. Thomas, TH. D.: A Select Bibliography 1956-1999

By Dennis M. Swanson

Librarian, The Master’s Seminary

Dr. Robert L. Thomas has been involved in theological writing for over forty years. During that time, he has published in almost every conceivable venue and been extensively involved in the editorial direction of significant works in biblical studies. This bibliography breaks down his writings into their major categories. The entries are listed in chronological order within each section, with the exception of the Editorial Supervision and/or Translation category. Here his work is broken down according to the level of editorial oversight which he had for each project. Additionally, Dr. Thomas has been active writing and reading papers in several scholarly societies, such as the Evangelical Theological Society. Since most of those papers have subsequently been published in other formats, only those papers as yet unpublished are listed in a separate category.

Editorial Supervision and/or Translation

• Executive Editor: The Master’s Seminary Journal. Sun Valley, CA: The Master’s Seminary, 1990 to Present.
• General Editor: New American Standard Exhaustive Concordance of the Bible. Nashville, TN: Holman, 1981.
• General Editor: The Master’s Perspective on Difficult Passages. Grand Rapids: Kregel Publications, 1998.
• General Editor: The Master’s Perspective on Contemporary Issues. Grand Rapids: Kregel Publications, 1998.
• Editor: The Amplified Bible. Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 1965.
• Editor: With Stanley N. Gundry. A Harmony of the Gospels: With Explanation and Essays. Chicago: Moody Press, 1978. Reprint, San Francisco: Harper and Row, 1991.
• Editor: Talbot Review: A Critique of Recent Theological Publications. La Mirada, CA: Talbot School of Theology. 1984–86.
• Editor: With Stanley N. Gundry. The NIV Harmony of the Gospels. San Francisco: Harper and Row, 1988.
• Editor: With F. David Farnell. The Jesus Crisis: The Inroads of Historical Criticism into Evangelical Scholarship. Grand Rapids: Kregel, 1998.
• Associate Editor: Rediscovering Expository Preaching: Balancing the Science and Art of Biblical Exposition. Dallas, TX: Word Publishing, 1992.
• Associate Editor: Rediscovering Pastoral Ministry: Shaping Contemporary Ministry with Biblical Mandates. Dallas, TX: Word Publishing, 1995.
• Consulting Editor: The Open Bible edition of the New American Standard Bible. Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson Publishers, 1978.
• Old and New Testament Translator 1961–70: New American Standard Bible. La Habra, CA: Foundation Press, 1970.

Books and Monographs

• Understanding Spiritual Gifts. Chicago: Moody Press, 1978.
• Revelation 1–7: An Exegetical Commentary. Chicago: Moody Press, 1992.
• Revelation 8–22: An Exegetical Commentary. Chicago: Moody Press, 1995.
• With C. Marvin Pate (ed.), Kenneth L. Gentry, and Sam Hamstra Jr. Four Views on the Book of Revelation. Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 1998.

Contributions to Multi-Author Works

• “I and II Thessalonians,” in The Expositor’s Bible Commentary, vol. 11, ed. Frank E. Gaebelein. Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 1978.
• “Inspiration and Translation” and “The Best Bible,” in The New Testament Student and Bible Translation. The New Testament Student, 5 vols., ed. John H. Skilton. Phillipsburg, PA: Presbyterian and Reformed, 1978.
• “Exegesis and Expository Preaching,” in Rediscovering Expository Preaching, John F. MacArthur and the Faculty of The Master’s Seminary. Dallas, TX: Word, 1992, 137–53.
• “Bible Translations and Expository Preaching,” in Rediscovering Expository Preaching, John F. MacArthur and the Faculty of The Master’s Seminary. Dallas, TX: Word, 1992, 303–20.
• With John F. MacArthur. “The Pastor’s Study,” in Rediscovering Pastoral Ministry, John F. MacArthur and the Faculty of The Master’s Seminary. Dallas, TX: Word, 1995, 202–16.
• “The Timing of the Millennium,” in Basic Theology: Applied, ed. Wesley and Elaine Willis, John and Janet Master. Wheaton, IL: Victor Books, 1995, 273–82.
• “A Critique of Progressive Dispensational Hermeneutics,” in When the Trumpet Sounds, ed. Thomas Ice and Timothy Demy. Eugene, OR: Harvest House, 1995, 413–26.
• “1 and 2 Thessalonians,” in The Expositor’s Bible Commentary with the New International Version: 1, 2 Thessalonians; 1, 2 Timothy; Titus. Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 1996, 3–111.
• “The Glorified Christ on Patmos,” in Vital Christological Issues: Examining Contemporary and Classic Concerns. Vital Issues Series, ed. Roy B. Zuck, vol 10. Grand Rapids: Kregel, 1997.
• “The Mission of Israel and of the Messiah in the Plan of God,” in Israel, the Land and the People, ed. H. Wayne House. Grand Rapids: Kregel, 1998, 261–82.
• With F. David Farnell. “The Synoptic Gospels in the Ancient Church,” in The Jesus Crisis, ed. Robert L. Thomas and F. David Farnell. Grand Rapids: Kregel, 1998, 37–84.
• “Redaction Criticism,” in The Jesus Crisis, ed. Robert L. Thomas and F. David Farnell. Grand Rapids: Kregel, 1998, 233–70.
• “The Impact of Historical Criticism on Hermeneutics,” in The Jesus Crisis, ed. Robert L. Thomas and F. David Farnell. Grand Rapids: Kregel, 1998, 317–37.
• “The Impact of Historical Criticism on Theology and Apologetics,” in The Jesus Crisis, ed. Robert L. Thomas and F. David Farnell. Grand Rapids: Kregel, 1998, 356–78.
• “1 Corinthians 13:11 A Revisit: An Exegetical Update,” in The Master’s Perspective on Difficult Passages. The Master’s Perspective Series, ed. Robert L. Thomas, vol. 1. Grand Rapids, Kregel, 1998, 209–23.
• “Theonomy and the Dating of Revelation,” in The Master’s Perspective on Contemporary Issues. The Master’s Perspective Series, ed. Robert L. Thomas, vol. 2. Grand Rapids: Kregel, 1998, 77–93.
• “The Hermeneutics of Progressive Dispensationalism,” in The Master’s Perspective on Contemporary Issues. The Master’s Perspective Series, ed. Robert L. Thomas, vol. 2. Grand Rapids: Kregel, 1998, 187–203.
• “Evangelical Responses to the Jesus Seminar,” in The Master’s Perspective on Contemporary Issues. The Master’s Perspective Series, ed. Robert L. Thomas, vol. 2. Grand Rapids: Kregel, 1998, 204–31.

Exegetical Digests and Self-Published Works

• The Question of Spiritual Gifts. Stanton, CA., by the author, 1973.
• Exegetical Digest of the Epistle of James. Stanton, CA., by the author, 1973. Revised 1977.
• Lexical and Syntactical Exegesis, Synthesis, Solutions, I Thessalonians. Stanton, CA., by the author, 1973. Revised 1978.
• Exegetical Digest of First Corinthians 12–14. Stanton, CA., by the author, 1975. Revised 1988.
• Exegetical Digest of the Epistle of I Peter. Stanton, CA., by the author, 1975.
• Introduction to Exegesis. Stanton, CA., by the author, 1979. Revised 1981, 1987.
• Exegetical Digest of the Epistle of II Thessalonians. Stanton, CA., by the author, 1979.
• What’s the Difference? A Study of English Bible Translations. Stanton, CA., by the author, 1982. Revised 1988.
• Exegetical Digest of I John. Stanton, CA., by the author, 1984.
• Exegetical Digest of First Timothy. Stanton, CA., by the author, 1985.
• Exegetical Digest of the Book of Revelation 1–3. Stanton, CA., by the author, 1985.
• Exegetical Digest of the Book of Revelation 4–7. Stanton, CA., by the author, 1987.
• Exegetical Digest of the Book of Revelation 8–14. Stanton, CA., by the author, 1993.
• Exegetical Digest of the Book of Revelation 15–22. Stanton, CA., by the author, 1993.

Contributions to Reference Works

• “Nanaea,” “Needle’s Eye,” “Neighbor,” “Net,” “Noise,” “Overlay,” “Overseer,” “Shoe, Shoe-latchet,” “Siloam, Tower of,” “Straight (street),” “Stumbling Block,” and “Syrophoenician,” in Zondervan Pictorial Encyclopedia of the Bible, 5 vols., ed. Merrill C. Tenney. Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 1975.
• “Conviction of Sin,” in Evangelical Dictionary of Theology, ed. Walter A. Elwell. Grand Rapids: Baker Book House, 1984.
• “Adversary,” “Angel,” “Angels, Fallen,” “Azazel,” “Belial,” “Cherub, Cherubim,” “Demon,” “Demoniac,” “Destroyer,” “Devil,” “Host of Heaven,” “Satan,” “Seraphim,” and “Teraphim,” in Nelson’s Illustrated Bible Dictionary, ed. Herbert Lockyer, Sr. Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson Publishers, 1986.
• “Dispensationalism, Progressive,” “Marriage Supper of the Lamb,” and “Revelation, Dating the Book of,” in Dictionary of Premillennial Theology, ed. Mal Couch. Grand Rapids: Kregel, 1996.

Periodical Articles

• “Computerized Research in New Testament Studies,” Biola University’s Faculty Forum, n.d.
• “The ‘Comings’ of Christ in Revelation Two and Three,” Talbot Bulletin 7:4 (July-Sept 1959): 3-4, 6.
• “A Philosophy of Translation and the New English Bible,” Bulletin of the Evangelical Theological Society 5:3 (Summer 1962): 80-89.
• “The Glorified Christ on Patmos,” Bibliotheca Sacra 122:487 (July 1965): 241-47.
• “John’s Apocalyptic Outline,” Bibliotheca Sacra 123:491 (October 1966): 334-41.
• “The Chronological Interpretation of Revelation 2–3, ” Bibliotheca Sacra 124:496 (October 1967): 321-31.
• “The Imprecatory Prayers of the Apocalypse,” Bibliotheca Sacra 126:502 (April 1969): 123-31.
• “Was Paul a Legalist?” Talbot Bulletin 17:4 (Fall 1969): 10-11.
• “A Crack in the Dam,” Talbot Bulletin 20:1 (Winter 1971): 9-11.
• “Tongues … Will Cease,” Journal of the Evangelical Theological Society 17:2 (Spring 1974): 81-89.
• “Inspiration and Translation,” Talbot Bulletin 22:4 (Fall 1974): 6-8.
• “The Best Bible,” Talbot Bulletin 24:1 (Winter 1975): 3-4.
• “An Investigation of the Agreements between Matthew and Luke Against Mark,” Journal of the Evangelical Theological Society 19:2 (Spring 1976): 103-12.
• “New Testament Interpretation,” Talbot Bulletin 27:4 (Summer 1979): 4-7.
• “A Hermeneutical Ambiguity of Eschatology: The Analogy of Faith,” Journal of the Evangelical Theological Society 23:1 (March 1980): 45-53.
• “The Rich Young Ruler in Matthew,” Grace Theological Journal 3:2 (Fall 1982): 242-60.
• “Issues of Biblical Interpretation,” Southern California Law Review 58 (January 1985): 29-34.
• “Another View [of Redaction Criticism: Is It Worth the Risk?],” Christianity Today 29:15 (Oct 1985): 8-I
• “The Hermeneutics of Evangelical Redaction Criticism,” Journal of the Evangelical Theological Society 29:4 (June 1989): 447-59.
• “The King James Controversy,” Masterpiece 3:1 (Jan-Feb 1990): 16-19.
• “Bible Translations: The Link between Exegesis and Expository Preaching,” The Master’s Seminary Journal 1:1 (Spring 1990): 53-74.
• “Dynamic Equivalence: A Method of Translation or a System of Hermeneutics?” The Master’s Seminary Journal 1:2 (Fall 1990): 149-76.
• “Literary Genre and Hermeneutics of the Apocalypse,” The Master’s Seminary Journal 2:1 (Spring 1991): 79-98.
• “Improving Evangelical Ethics: An Analysis of the Problem and a Proposed Solution,” Journal of the Evangelical Theological Society 34:1 (March 1991): 1-19.
• “Did the Jesus Seminar Draw from Faulty Assumptions,” Los Angeles Times (April 6, 1991): F18-F19.
• “The Relationship between Exegesis and Expository Preaching,” The Master’s Seminary Journal 2:2 (Fall 1991): 181-98.
• “Prophecy Rediscovered? A Review of The Gift of Prophecy in the New Testament and Today,” Bibliotheca Sacra 149:596 (January 1992): 84-97.
• “The Kingdom of Christ in the Apocalypse,” The Master’s Seminary Journal 3:2 (Fall 1992): 117-40.
• “The Structure of the Apocalypse: Recapitulation or Progression?” The Master’s Seminary Journal 4:1 (Spring 1993): 45-66.
• “1 Corinthians 13:1 Revisited, an Exegetical Update,” The Master’s Seminary Journal 4:2 (Fall 1993): 187-202.
• “An Analysis of the Seventh Bowl of the Apocalypse,” The Master’s Seminary Journal 5:1 (Spring 1994): 73-96.
• “Theonomy and the Dating of Revelation,” The Master’s Seminary Journal 5:2 (Fall 1994): 185-202.
• “The Hermeneutics of Progressive Dispensationalism,” The Master’s Seminary Journal 6:1 (Spring 1995): 79-98.
• “Evangelical Responses to the Jesus Seminar,” The Master’s Seminary Journal 7:1 (Spring 1996): 75-106.
• “Current Hermeneutical Trends: Toward Explanation or Obfuscation,” Journal of the Evangelical Theological Society 39:2 (June 1996): 242-56.
• “The ‘Comings’ of Christ in Revelation 2–3, ” The Master’s Seminary Journal 7:2 (Fall 1996): 153-81.
• “Correlation of Revelatory Spiritual Gifts and NT Canonicity,” The Master’s Seminary Journal 8:1 (Spring 1997): 5-28.
• “The Mission of Israel and of the Messiah in the Plan of God,” The Master’s Seminary Journal 8:2 (Fall 1997): 191-210.
• “General Revelation and Biblical Hermeneutics,” The Master’s Seminary Journal 9:1 (Spring 1998): 4-23.
• “Jesus’ View of Eternal Punishment,” The Master’s Seminary Journal 9:2 (Fall 1998): 147-67.

Unpublished Theses, Dissertations, and Society Papers

• “The Dispensational Interpretation of John 1:19–12:50.” Th. M. thesis, Dallas Theological Seminary, 1956.
• “The Argument of the Book of Revelation.” Th. D. diss., Dallas Theological Seminary, 1959.
• “The Apocalypse in the Early Church.” Paper presented at the annual meeting of the Evangelical Theological Society, Chicago, IL, December 1984.
• “The Hermeneutical Ramifications of Contextualization and Feminist Literature.” Paper presented at the annual meeting of the Evangelical Theological Society, Atlanta, GA, December 1986.
• “The Self-Concept of a Christian Disciple.” Paper presented at the annual meeting of the Far-West Section of the Evangelical Theological Society, San Bernardino, CA, April 1988.
• “A Review of Kenneth Gentry’s Before Jerusalem Fell.” Paper presented at the annual meeting of the Pre-Tribulation Study Group, Dallas, TX, December 1995.
• “The Great Commission in the Ancient Church and in Historical Criticism.” Paper presented at the annual meeting of the Evangelical Theological Society, Orlando, FL, November 1998.

Book Reviews

• Review of A Commentary on the First and Second Epistles to the Thessalonians, by Ernest Best. Christianity Today 18:4 (Nov. 23, 1973): 51-52.
• Review of The Origin of Paul’s Gospel, by Seyoon Kim. Journal of the Evangelical Theological Society 26:4 (December 1983): 502-05.
• Review of The New Testament Canon, Its Making and Meaning, by Harry Y. Gamble. Talbot Review 2:1 (Summer 1986): 8-9.
• Review of Biblical Interpretation and the Church, The Problem of Contextualization, D. A. Carson, ed. Talbot Review 2:1 (Summer 1986): 10-11.
• Review of The Discovery Bible New Testament, by Gary Hill. The Master’s Seminary Journal 1:1 (Spring 1990): 85-86.
• Review of Holy Bible, New Revised Standard Version. The Master’s Seminary Journal 2:1 (Spring 1991): 111-14.
• Review of Biblical Interpretation, An Integrated Approach, by W. Randolph Tate. The Master’s Seminary Journal 3:2 (Fall 1992): 235-36.
• Review of Dictionary of Jesus and the Gospels, Joel B. Green and Scot McKnight, eds., and I. Howard Marshall, consulting ed. The Master’s Seminary Journal 3:2 (Fall 1992): 222-25.
• Review of Redating Matthew, Mark & Luke, A Fresh Assault on the Synoptic Problem, by John Wenham. The Master’s Seminary Journal 3:2 (Fall 1992): 237-38.
• Review of Is There a Synoptic Problem? Rethinking the Literary Dependence of the First Three Gospels, by Eta Linnemann. The Master’s Seminary Journal 4:1 (Spring 1993): 111-12.
• Review of The Gnostic Empire Strikes Back, an Old Heresy for the New Age, by Peter Jones. The Master’s Seminary Journal 5:2 (Fall 1994): 217-18.
• Review of New Age Versions, by G. A. Riplinger. The Master’s Seminary Journal 5:2 (Fall 1994): 228-31.

Pending Publications

• Understanding Spiritual Gifts (rev. ed.). Grand Rapids: Kregel. Scheduled for 1999 release.
• Choosing a Bible Translation. Ross-Shire, Scotland: Christian Focus. Scheduled for 1999 release.
• Chart Book on the Life of Christ. Grand Rapids: Zondervan. Scheduled for 1999 release.
• Second Corinthians in the Mentor Commentary Series. Ross-Shire, Scotland: Christian Focus. Release date not currently set.
• Hermeneutics: The New Versus the Old. Grand Rapids: Kregel. Release date not currently set.