Zondervan Encyclopedia of the Bible vs. International Standard Bible Encyclopedia (Bromiley)

I am looking to add a Bible encyclopedia to my L4 Platinum, and I am looking for insight into the Zondervan Encyclopedia of the Bible and the International Standard Bible Encyclopedia. I'm wondering about a comparison in scholarship as well as integration with Logos since the ZEB would have the latest technology or if that even matters.

Also, how would either the ZEB or ISBE compare with the Baker Encyclopedia of the Bible that is already in my library? If there would be mostly redundancy, there are always other resources to buy.

Thanks.

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Matthew C Jones

Also, how would either the ZEB or ISBE compare with the Baker Encyclopedia of the Bible that is already in my library? If there would be mostly redundancy, there are always other resources to buy.

I've got ISBE but I'd trade it for ZEB. Just to muddy the water a little; you should also consider Anchor Yale Bible Dictionary http://www.logos.com/products/details/1678 . I know they call it a dictionary but it is fascinatingly more than just a dictionary.

IMO there is benefit to having all three. My preference 1) ZEB 2) Anchor Yale 3) ISBE

All three of them are better than Baker Bible Encyclopedia. Any one of them will give you a LOT more than you have now.

Friedrich

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/103696#Comment_103696

Also, how would either the ZEB or ISBE compare with the Baker Encyclopedia of the Bible that is already in my library? If there would be mostly redundancy, there are always other resources to buy.

I've got ISBE but I'd trade it for ZEB. Just to muddy the water a little; you should also consider Anchor Yale Bible Dictionary http://www.logos.com/products/details/1678 . I know they call it a dictionary but it is fascinatingly more than just a dictionary.

IMO there is benefit to having all three. My preference 1) ZEB 2) Anchor Yale 3) ISBE

All three of them are better than Baker Bible Encyclopedia. Any one of them will give you a LOT more than you have now.

Matthew, I gotta ask: is this a revised ZEB that you are comparing? I have used the "original ZEB" that had been around a couple decades, and at the time, I thought ISBE B.L.E.W. it away, as far as comprehensiveness, depth of scholarship, everything. It was not even a contest. But that was probably late 80's early 90's. Just curious. and, have you had experience with both editions of ZEB?

Bill Moore

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/103703#Comment_103703

Dan, that's a good point. ZEB was originally called the Zondervan Pictorial Encyclopedia of the Bible. I have it and the Bromiley ISBE in print. I was under the impression that the ZEB was an update of the ZPEB. I would agree that the ISBE is better, in my view, than the ZEPB but wondered about the ZEB.

Alan Charles Gielczyk

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/103707#Comment_103707

I have both ISBE and Baker. I have ZPEB in print and have to say ISBE is far superior.

Friedrich

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/103726#Comment_103726

lol, I am dreaming acronyms now!

Jim VanSchoonhoven

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/103744#Comment_103744

I have all 4 sets that have been mentioned, I am a conservative dispensationalist. Although the Anchor Yale Bible Dictionary is a little bit more liberal than I like, it is the most useful to me, ISBE is very close to being as useful and either of these are very good, the next one in usefulness to me is the Zondervan however, it is not on the same level as the first two, and Bakers is even futher behind than Zondervan. And the gap between Zondervan and Baker is Bigger than the gap between Zondervan and the top 2.

I would not want to give up either the Anchor Yale Bible Dictionary or ISBE, but I would not feel bad about giving up the other two if I had the Anchor Yale Bible Dictionary and ISBE!

In Christ,

Jim

Matthew C Jones

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/103703#Comment_103703

Matthew, I gotta ask: is this a revised ZEB that you are comparing? I have used the "original ZEB" that had been around a couple decades, and at the time, I thought ISBE B.L.E.W. it away, as far as comprehensiveness, depth of scholarship, everything. It was not even a contest. But that was probably late 80's early 90's. Just curious. and, have you had experience with both editions of ZEB?

Not in software format. I have limited access to a hardback set. I grew up using 1915 ISBE & wore out three sets of ZPBE.

Here's a better breakdown:

There is the 1915 ISBE (formerly available in Logos 3.0, now oop)
& there is the 1979~1995 ISBE http://www.logos.com/products/details/1569
They are two different contents.

There is the Zondervan Pictorial Bible Encyclopedia in the Pradis format "Scholar's Edition"
& there is the Zondervan Encyclopedia of the Bible (Pre-Pub) http://www.logos.com/products/prepub/details/5467
They are two different contents.

My choices in order of preference of all titles would be:

1) Zondervan Encyclopedia of the Bible (still hoping to get it)
2) Anchor Yale Bible Dictionary (got it)
3) 1979~1995 ISBE (got it)
4) Zondervan Pictorial Bible Encyclopedia (got it in Pradis)
5) 1915 ISBE (had it, want it back)
6) Baker Encyclopedia of the Bible (got it)

I always enjoy reading Anchor. There is always has something in the articles no other work has. What Jim just said is true regarding the sometimes liberal slant of Anchor. But I generally don't look for doctrinal guidance from a Bible dictionary.
If I am able to get the Logos format of ZEB, I may discover my high esteem of it is because it was the one I didn't have. Greener grass scenario.. But for now I feel comfortable with my lineup. My advice: GET THEM ALL!

Jeremy

For an encyclopedia that is more academic and conservative, but still accessible and modern, check out the IVP set of dictionaries (Pentateuch, Historical Books, Jesus and the Gospels...).

Kevin Becker

There's an interesting review of ZEB here http://rdtwot.wordpress.com/2009/10/31/the-zondervan-encyclopedia-of-the-bible-revised-full-color-edition/

Also, the product recommendations on Zondervan's webpage seem a little on the thin side. Perhaps it just hasn't been widely reviewed yet but it seems like you might be better off to go with Anchor counterbalanced with the IVP dictionaries. (Unless all the pretty pictures are important to you).

Allen Browne

I have the older Zondervan Pictorial Bible Encyclopedia on paper. Used if for many years and found it concise and useful.

In Logos, I've bought the ISBE. It's way better IMHO.

If you've never uses ISBE, there's a *very* old (1939) copy here: http://www.internationalstandardbible.com/ . It really has been updated since those days, so that may not even be a useful comparison.

Daniel Bender

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/103726#Comment_103726

I have both ISBE and Baker. I have ZPEB in print and have to say ISBE is far superior.

This is my experience as well. Zondervan's Encyclopedia is one resource that I have in print that I would not get in digital format. As others have suggested I would go with either IVP or Anchor if I were looking to beef up my library with another encyclopedia.

Friedrich

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/103764#Comment_103764

My choices in order of preference of all titles would be:

1) Zondervan Encyclopedia of the Bible (still hoping to get it)
2) Anchor Yale Bible Dictionary (got it)
3) 1979~1995 ISBE (got it)

okay, thank you for clarifying a bit. I was getting confused by the ZPBE. But still am curious: what makes the ZEB better (even with your "limited use") over ABD or ISBE (revised)?

Friedrich

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/103818#Comment_103818

There's an interesting review of ZEB here http://rdtwot.wordpress.com/2009/10/31/the-zondervan-encyclopedia-of-the-bible-revised-full-color-edition/

Also, the product recommendations on Zondervan's webpage seem a little on the thin side. Perhaps it just hasn't been widely reviewed yet but it seems like you might be better off to go with Anchor counterbalanced with the IVP dictionaries. (Unless all the pretty pictures are important to you).

Thanks for the link Kevin. INteresting. I have always liked Silva, whether his writing in linguistics or commentaries like Philippians. The article had me thinking "cool" . . . until I got to the last paragraph about dates articles left alone "out of respect for the integrity" . . . [W]

Jeremy

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/103850#Comment_103850

My choices in order of preference of all titles would be:

1) Zondervan Encyclopedia of the Bible (still hoping to get it)
2) Anchor Yale Bible Dictionary (got it)
3) 1979~1995 ISBE (got it)

okay, thank you for clarifying a bit. I was getting confused by the ZPBE. But still am curious: what makes the ZEB better (even with your "limited use") over ABD or ISBE (revised)?

The ZEB is more up to date.

Friedrich

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/103859#Comment_103859

The ZEB is more up to date.

here's hoping that up-to-date also equates with quality and depth ("non-updated" articles in ZEB notwithstanding.)

Kolen Cheung

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/103861#Comment_103861

For the IVP, there are several of them. Which one do you refer to? Thanks.

e.g.

The
Essential IVP Reference Collection Version 3

IVP Dictionary of the Old
Testament Bundle (2 Vols.)

And how about this? What's the difference?

Encyclopedia
of Christianity (Vols. 1–4)

Ron Corbett

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/103895#Comment_103895

I have both the ABD and the ISBE which are at the top of my PRIORITIES list in my Library. Truthfully, I got the Essential IVP Reference Collection before I bought any LOGOS package and this is what inspired me to "take the plunge" and go all the way with LOGOS. The IVP Dictionaries have great articles - sound, scholarly and up-to-date. I have never been disappointed yet. If anyone does not yet have them, I would suggest - put THESE at the top of your list. 18 books at a great price - you can't go wrong.

SteveF

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/103895#Comment_103895

The
Essential IVP Reference Collection Version 3
IVP Dictionary of the Old
Testament Bundle (2 Vols.)

The OT bundle are the latest 2 resources from IVP

To get "all" the IVP dictionaries available buy BOTH.