Do I need the latest WBC upgrade?
I am a bit puzzled by this blog post. First, as I read the description of the updates and compare the samples provided, I think "that's nice, but is it really worth $99"? But more puzzling to me is the question in the blog "are you still using 30 years old commentaries?". The editions of Martin and Butler I have are both from 1998 and the new editions are from 2014. In my books that 16 years, not 30.
But really, the main question is how much of a rewrite this really is. I have read in recent times new editions of several books. J.L. Martyn's History and Theology in the Fourth Gospel is adorned with a nice preface from Moody Smith, a good article indeed but perhaps not enough to justify a new purchase. Then there are a few insertions here and there with more recent bibliographic information and brief comments on some of them, but for the main part, one who reads the first edition probably has more 95% of the content of the latest. Burridge's second edition to What are the Gospels includes a new chapter on how his original edition was received and a bit of interaction with critics. That interaction is pretty limited however, as Burridge is sticking to his guns (as he does in all the subsequent articles he has written since that I am aware of -- I have read a fair number). There is no new insight per se. Again, one who had already been reading the first edition would not missing much as compared to the second.
Now of course it does not have to be that way in the new commentaries. Perhaps some of you have read the new editions and have comments about this? If I were doing research on 2 Corinthians or Judges, I'd probably want the new bibliographies and to quote from the most recent edition, but otherwise???
Comments
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As the time is getting very close, I have been wondering if this set is worth the $99 to dish out for 2nd edition. I will have to really consider this one and wish I had more information and comparative consultation, thoughts from others, reviews. I do think the price is high. I will say this, "I am glad that there is a 30 day money back." The biggest conflict is whether it is worth the initial output period. Does anyone have a good argument to why this upgrade is a worthy purchase? I have not seen the paper books to do a comparison. So, if anyone can, could they expound?
Rog {BlueBird}
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Before Zondervan bought Word new volumes were $25 and I think I bought them all. Now they are mostly pushing new editions and the price has increased so I'm not bothering this time.
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Check out the latest Logos blog that addresses this question specifically - https://blog.logos.com/2015/06/why-you-need-the-word-biblical-commentary-upgrade/
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Yes, I got the blog email after I posted. I appreciate the update and information, just still a debate as to whether it is worth $99. I will probably re-read the blog over a few times within the next few days. I have it ready and pre-ordered for some time now. As I mentioned before, I really do appreciate the 30 day guarantee, option for refund. I just am having a difficult time with the upgrade price since it has only been a few months of having the commentary set. The pre-pub came out right after I purchased, go figure.... At times I wish that they had free or greatly reduced upgrade options on recently purchased sets. Oh well, venting...
Rog {BlueBird}
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Is the upgrade worth the cost?
That is a very good question since the entire set has at times been available for under $500. Is this upgrade worth 20% of the whole?
"In all cases, the Church is to be judged by the Scripture, not the Scripture by the Church," John Wesley0 -
Francis said:
But really, the main question is how much of a rewrite this really is.
Let us consider the size of the new volumes:
Joshua
1983 – 1 volume at 344 pages
2014 – 2 volumes at 944 pages
2 Corinthians
1985 – 1 volume at 592 pages
2014 – 1 volume at 752 pages
One might consider 2 Corinthians a considerable rewrite with 160 additional pages, but Joshua, he’s nearly written 2 additional volumes (600 added pages) compared to the original. That seems far beyond a rewrite. As Joshua is my favorite book, I’m quite excited to own this and see what compelled him to write such a large work on this fantastic book.
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I love the error on the blog:
You notice it is not listed properly at the end but as Judges rather than Joshua.
-Dan
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Scott E. Mahle said:
Joshua
1983 – 1 volume at 344 pages
2014 – 2 volumes at 944 pages
That's a good approach and an impressive volume increase indeed. For 2 Corinthians, for the page increase, it would be interesting to see how much of it is accounted for in the new bibliography. Some volumes have very large bibliography like Keener's more than 100 pages long bibliography at the end of his 2 volumes commentary on John.
Joshua's caught my eye... (and thanks, Dan, for pointing out that it is not Judges).
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Interesting that they are updating existing volumes when Acts and 1 Corinthians are still missing, at least I have numbers 37 and 39 missing in my WBC series.
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Veli Voipio said:
Interesting that they are updating existing volumes when Acts and 1 Corinthians are still missing, at least I have numbers 37 and 39 missing in my WBC series.
I'm sure there are reasons but I look forward to when the set is complete.
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Michael Childs said:
That is a very good question since the entire set has at times been available for under $500. Is this upgrade worth 20% of the whole?
I managed to get my set of 59 volumes for $400. To me, it is definitely not worth 25% of a set that large for a few extra volumes. It is a good set, but right now I have other items on my wishlist I would rather spend $100 on.
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Veli Voipio said:
Interesting that they are updating existing volumes when Acts and 1 Corinthians are still missing, at least I have numbers 37 and 39 missing in my WBC series.
I have no idea about 1 Corinthians but I have heard from friends of the author of the Acts volumes that it is close to being completed... But that said how long does it take for a completed manuscript to be fully edited and ready to publish??? I would suspect within a couple years we should see it, but this is just an educated guess and an even more educated guess was at one time it was to be released by 2008, which has not happened despite places like amazon.com telling you it was.
-Dan
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Thanks Dan and Bruce! I look forward to the WBC Acts. Acts is my favorite Bible book. Sometimes I feel that my life is like the last trip of Paul [:)].
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Veli Voipio said:
Sometimes I feel that my life is like the last trip of Paul
. I think most of us can relate to storms, some to shipwrecks and not too many of us have poisonous snake bites. [;)]
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And I would hope even few of us have been flogged or had our backs beaten with rods. But I do realize these things can happen although thankfully not by most states or even religious folk.
-Dan
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