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

Bill Moore said:

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.

Dan DeVilder said:

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?

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!

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).

Alan Charles Gielczyk said:

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.

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.