What do You think of the Essential Reference Bundle $570?

Essential Reference Bundle. I don't have any of the titles in it, so it doesn't matter that it doesn't have dynamic pricing.

I haven't decided yet which Bible dictionary to choose, but I have returned the The Oxford Dictionary of the Christian Church, rev. ed. - there is a similar one in the essential reference bundle. ISBE is in the essential reference bundle.

What I'm most worried about, are the Church History titles. So far I haven't found any Early Church History books in Logos that I would want.

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WR82

I have LaSor, and it's o.k. I had to buy it as a textbook. A little dated, and at times has some strange theories on biblical authorship, like multiple authors for Isaiah... However, it has some very good info on wisdom literature and especially the minor prophets. Some absolutely beautiful commentary there. Use it along with other resources on the OT.

I would have gotten Tremper Longman's introduction had it not been a class requirement.

The other resources? I am not sure. It depends on what you are doing... If I had a library nearby with these resources I would try to them there before I purchased them, to make sure you really need to own them.

tom

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/463928#Comment_463928

has some strange theories on biblical authorship, like multiple authors for Isaiah...

FYI... this is not 'strange', but it is a standard understanding among biblical scholars.

Daniel Lee

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/463930#Comment_463930

has some strange theories on biblical authorship, like multiple authors for Isaiah...

FYI... this is not 'strange', but it is a standard understanding among [liberal] biblical scholars.

Fixed it for you.

Mike Childs

There is some pretty good stuff there, but there is also a lot that I would not be interested in. I think I would probably pick out the things I might use, and see what kind of price I could get on those items.

JT (alabama24)

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/463932#Comment_463932

There is some pretty good stuff there, but there is also a lot that I would not be interested in.

In other words, not all of it is "essential"? [:D]

Alan Charles Gielczyk

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/463930#Comment_463930

has some strange theories on biblical authorship, like multiple authors for Isaiah...

FYI... this is not 'strange', but it is a standard understanding among biblical scholars.

Not among the scholars I read. But yes, many liberal scholars understand it that way. I just wouldn't say it is standard.

DMB

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/463948#Comment_463948

Yes, there's some really strange scholars out there. Here's the loco from WBC's Isaiah:

'Who wrote Isaiah? The text never claims that Isaiah son of Amoz wrote anything. (The reference in 8:16 is ambiguous on this point.) He is mentioned in the titles in 1:1, 2:1, and 13:1. He is the subject of narratives in 7:1–16, 20:1–6, and chaps. 36–39. A prophetic scribe could have recorded his ministry in these narratives. However, early readers took Isaiah son of Amoz as the writer of the entire book. But scholars and readers, especially in the last two centuries, have had difficulties with this assumption because the book deals with some historical events at least two centuries after the time of Isaiah son of Amoz.'

Unix

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/463977#Comment_463977

I'm OK with that about Isaiah. Back to topic

David Thomas

ISBE is about the only title in the Essential Reference Bundle that I would care to own. In my opinion, this is a much better Reference Bundle - http://www.logos.com/product/8588/the-essential-ivp-reference-collection-version-3

Unix

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/464028#Comment_464028

Are there several items in the Essential Reference Bundle that presuppose a bit of Gk knowledge?

Is the The Encyclopedia of Christianity, vols. 1-5 no good and not equivalent to The Oxford Dictionary of the Christian Church, rev. ed.? If it is good, is it better than Oxford?

Several have suggested IVP to me, but I don't think it's worth the money for example because some of the volumes in it are on a too easy level (I have some other reasons too not to buy):

In my opinion, this is a much better Reference Bundle - http://www.logos.com/product/8588/the-essential-ivp-reference-collection-version-3

Xegesis

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/464039#Comment_464039

Several have suggested IVP to me, but I don't think it's worth the money for example because some of the volumes in it are on a too easy level (I have some other reasons too not to buy):
In my opinion, this is a much better Reference Bundle - http://www.logos.com/product/8588/the-essential-ivp-reference-collection-version-3

I called Sales a day before Logos 5 discount went away and was able to get IVP for more than half off having already owned NBD. So if cost is your main reason try calling sales for a discount.

Lynden O. Williams

I haven't decided yet which Bible dictionary to choose

Go with Anchor Yale Bible Dictionary. I have it and have found it to be very valuable in my work.

http://www.logos.com/product/1660/anchor-yale-bible-dictionary

Josh

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/463977#Comment_463977

But scholars and readers, especially in the last two centuries, have had difficulties with this assumption because the book deals with some historical events at least two centuries after the time of Isaiah son of Amoz.'

Supernatural prophecy....nah....that's not naturally possible. lol

Unix

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/464045#Comment_464045

A firm 'NO!' - that's several times above my budget as it doesn't even cover Church, hence doesn't replace all that many smaller or specialized dictionaries:

Go with Anchor Yale Bible Dictionary. I have it and have found it to be very valuable in my work.
http://www.logos.com/product/1660/anchor-yale-bible-dictionary
I haven't decided yet which Bible dictionary to choose

I'm extremely hesitant when it comes to dictionaries of limited use that are above $100. So IVP is way above my budget. My main concern is the New Testament and Sirach as is evident from the many threads I've started on Logos User Forums and elsewhere since ~ a week. I want to point out that I do have other reasons why I consider a few other options before IVP. So with IVP I would be paying for many things that are of no interest to me. Besides, they have recently split up the IVP bundle so if I necessarily want one volume from it I'll just buy that individual volume at any time I need to.

I'm interested in Church resources but they have to be quality or else I'll do without.

Early Church history is of little interest to me since I don't rely on Logos for that - I still go with printed matter and I believe Logos has censored or not found a market for the kind of critical liberal scholarship items that I would desire on Early Church History. Besides, even as printed matter it's extremely hard for anyone to meet my requirements - I hope that in the future there will come some good book or else I'll just have to study that on a more advanced level to get to the point and find out about titles.

I have been thinking about the Essential Reference bundle for almost 11 months:
http://www.christianforums.com/t7644634-post60808154/#post60808154
The Essential Reference Bundle might diversify my library. The theology, psychology and Church documents volumes in it are interesting and I believe some of them are of high quality. One major reason why I haven't thought earlier on that I would like to buy this bundle, is that I didn't find ANY reason to have anything like the ISBE. Later I also tried out a base-package that has the Oxford Dictionary of the Christian Church (had decided well before the L5 offer roll-out that that dictionary is really good) and there was then even less reason for the Essential Reference bundle. Now that I have returned the base-package there might be a reason to buy the bundle.

This also depends on how much I want to study the Church. Perhaps they should rename the bundle to a more descriptive title such as "Theology Church Dictionary Psychology Bundle"?

Unix

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/464062#Comment_464062

Which is better, The Encyclopedia of Christianity, vols. 1-5 or The Oxford Dictionary of the Christian Church, rev. ed.? Regarding the Early Church I want liberal critical scholarship.

Anyone more with opinions on the other titles in the bundle? Other than ISBE for which there is another thread for discussion: I have Harper's. A bit more adv. dict.? (presupp. a bit of Gk).

Unix

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/464792#Comment_464792

Which one of them would replace: Christianity and Politics: A Brief Guide to the History?:

Which is better, The Encyclopedia of Christianity, vols. 1-5 or The Oxford Dictionary of the Christian Church, rev. ed.?

From the Essential Reference bundle, I might need: Ancient Near Eastern Texts, LaSor, A New Eusebius: Documents Illustrating the History of the Church to AD 337, Creeds, Councils and Controversies: Documents Illustrating the History of the Church, AD 337–461 at some point in college, although those would probably only complement the mandatory books (which I don't know which they are and I'm not going to look that up now as it may change). I would value those to ~¼ the price purchased individually. ($79.95+$50+$22.95+$33.95)/4=$46.71. Plus all the resources I list below (some of them could be of some value in college):

Is Introducing Old Testament by Drane better? (There is however a 2011 3rd Edition of Drane that Logos doesn't have: ISBN 978-0-7459-5503-2):

I have LaSor, and it's o.k. I had to buy it as a textbook. A little dated,

The Religious Context of Early Christianity could be interesting. I would value that to ~ 2/5 the price purchased individually. $28.95*2/5=$11.58.

The Making of the New Revised Standard Version of the Bible I would value $5.

Historic Creeds and Confessions I would value $2.50.

God and the Future: Wolfhart Pannenberg's Eschatological Doctrine of God I would value $3.50.

Faith in the Millennium I would value $2.50.

Forgiveness in Context: Theology and Psychology in Creative Dialogue I would value the 2/5 price purchased individually. 79.95*2/5=$31.98.

Captured by the Crucified: The Practical Theology of Austin Farrer I would value ⅓ the price purchased individually. 32.95/3=$10.98.

Ascension and Ecclesia I would value ¼ the price purchased individually. $49.95/4=$12.49

Justification: The Heart of the Christian Faith I would value $9.

Barth's Moral Theology: Human Action in Barth’s Thought I would value $1.50

Naming the Silences: God, Medicine, and the Problem of Suffering I would value just $9 since I don't like the religious affiliation of the authors' uni.

Creatio Ex Nihilo: The Doctrine of ‘Creation out of Nothing’ in Early Christian Thought I would value $6.

The Doctrine of Creation: Essays in Dogmatics, History and Philosophy I would value ¢50.

So, put together (this means without ISBE and The Encyclopedia of Christianity), I would value the content: $153.24 ~ $153.

ISBE I would currently value $120 and the Encyclopedia of Christianity $220.

So the total value for me would be: $493.

So, I need just a little bit of convincing. [:D] And to make up my mind which dictionaries are the best. Anyone with an opinion/recommendation of any of the above books is welcome!

Unix

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/464885#Comment_464885

Rosie seems to think that The Encyclopedia of Christianity is better: http://community.logos.com/forums/p/46276/343997.aspx#343997

Which is better, The Encyclopedia of Christianity, vols. 1-5 or The Oxford Dictionary of the Christian Church, rev. ed.?

The Amazon review of Studies in Early Christology. I would value this title $15.

New Testament Times I would value $3.

So now the Σ of how I value the books is $511. [:P]

Lynden O. Williams

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/465268#Comment_465268

See if you can get an Academic discount since you are a student.

Unix

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/465351#Comment_465351

No I can't.

Unix

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/464062#Comment_464062

The question is whether I should go with NIDNTT and maybe something like The Dictionary of Historical Theology $45, Amazon reviews 4⅓ stars: The Dictionary of Historical Theology. Do You think the latter would complement my library?
... instead of the Essential Reference bundle?
I have:

Christianity: The Complete Guide Bowden Ed. 2006, mid-prize,
A New Dictionary of Christian Theology Richardson & Bowden Eds. 1983, cheap,
(TDNT) (10 vols.) since OLL, http://www.logos.com/product/8491/theological-dictionary-of-the-new-testament
the end-of-2011 Oxford Encyclopedia of the Books of the Bible Coogan Ed., it costed some but I tried to get it cheap,
Dictionary for Theological Interpretation of the Bible, which I got cheap "used".

I have only one Church History book, it is as printed matter. It's really good. It's from the '70s.

Should I really invest in Church History resources? Which is better, The Encyclopedia of Christianity, vols. 1-5 or The Oxford Dictionary of the Christian Church, rev. ed.? Is The Encyclopedia of Christianity much better?:

I'm interested in Church resources but they have to be quality or else I'll do without.

Is there anyone who thinks I should trust Logos and buy a bundle that has Church history and/or individual books? And what about this type of theology books? I wouldn't be a in a big hurry to decide otherwise, but I've got an offer from someone who is selling "used".

Unix

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/465842#Comment_465842

Here are some opinions of the The Encyclopedia of Christianity!
Anyone with a further opinion about it? This is the resource I'm mainly interested in. I've lost interest in most of the other titles in Essential Reference Bundle.

Unix

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/466468#Comment_466468

bump! Anyone with an opinion about The Encyclopedia of Christianity?