Zondervan Bible Reference Bundle (87 Vols.), is it worth it?

I'm wondering if anyone has placed a prepub order for on the Zondervan Bible Reference Bundle? I have the Expositor's Bible Commentary from Pradis and would like to have it in Logos, and thus have placed an order for it, plus a few other items (including the New International Encyclopedia of Bible Difficulties) in the bundle. As I'm considering other resources in the bundle too (e.g. the NIV Application commentaries) I'm wondering if I may benefit getting the whole bundle instead. I think I probably won't be taking the plunge to get the whole bundle due to the forbidding price tag, but nonetheless I'd like to hear your views on some of the resources inside the bundle.

1. What do you think of the following resources, do you find these useful: New International Dictionary of New Testament Theology (4 Vols.), New International Dictionary of Old Testament Theology and Exegesis (5 Vols.), Zondervan Illustrated Bible Backgrounds Commentary: New Testament (4 Vols.), Zondervan Illustrated Bible Backgrounds Commentary: Old Testament (5 Vols.), Zondervan Encyclopedia of the Bible (5 Vols.)

2. I'm wondering why the NIV Application Commentary for the Old Testament only contains the books of the Prophets?

Thanks and looking forward to hear from you soon!

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Friedrich

I'm wondering if anyone has placed a prepub order for on the Zondervan Bible Reference Bundle?

I did place it months ago, but i deleted that order within the last month/two. The reason for it, for me, was

the total cost
- relevant because I was going to upgrade to Portfolio and also wanted other pre-pubs--which I had zero copies of
- relevant because the discount was not that much different than the total package price after the pre-pub, so I can wait and not lose much
- relevant because the resources of Z that I have on Pradis received the largest discount, but the ones I don't have had in many cases, ZERO discount
the fact that I had much of it on Pradis already
- I might get discounts better than the pre-pubs (wait and see!) but if not, I am not losing much, save for some works I already have (EBC, eg.)

also, just still a bit miffed at the way Z. seems to do things.

1. What do you think of the following resources, do you find these useful:

New International Dictionary of New Testament Theology (4 Vols.)

I have found this overall very useful. I actually like it better than the vaunted TDNT/TDNTA. Colin Brown, the editor, also adds his own thoughts to the original German writers. I like seeing an overview of classical and OT (and LXX) usage. I like how they group usage in NT by Pauline, Johannine, etc. that said, I have grown more in appreciation for my own concordance work, with Logos making it much easier. This articles have at times severe biases. (can't think of examples) and at times their scriptural "proof" is thin (a discovery made easier by the Logos "hover" text window--awesome!). I have gone to the EDNT a bit more of late, but NIDNTT is a very good resource and worth it.

New International Dictionary of Old Testament Theology and Exegesis (5 Vols.)

Don't have it, but am interested.

Zondervan Illustrated Bible Backgrounds Commentary: New Testament (4 Vols.), Zondervan Illustrated Bible Backgrounds Commentary: Old Testament (5 Vols.)

have the NT, not the OT. I like it over all for its pictures (use in presentations). I thought it was very helpful in Hebrews. I have found it useful, but extremely thin, in other books (Matthew, eg.). It is good, but not crucial. Having the pictures makes it different than the IVP set. But I think overall the IVP is more thorough (albeit by one author)

2. I'm wondering why the NIV Application Commentary for the Old
Testament only contains the books of the Prophets?

That is what is available, i believe, even in Pradis. They haven't published the rest.

Some works are very good, most are pretty good. It comes down to what you have in your library that balances/offsets it, what your budget is, what ELSE you want on pre-pub (and comparing the cost/savings ratio of those to Z stuff you want), etc.

Be interested in your decision.

Peace

Kevin Becker

I don't think the reference set is worth it... but it's a moot point for me, I don't have the 2K to drop on it.

The NIDOTTE is an great work, superior to its New Testament cousin in almost every respect. It organizes the entry by Hebrew word and not by English. It was a vital stop for me when I was doing word studies in exegesis class.

Friedrich

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/85962#Comment_85962

The NIDOTTE is an great work, superior to its New Testament cousin in almost every respect. It organizes the entry by Hebrew word and not by English. It was a vital stop for me when I was doing word studies in exegesis class.

Never have used it, so thanks for that tidbit of info. I would like to get it some day.

Amy Leung

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/85960#Comment_85960

Thanks, Van and Kevin, for your insights!

relevant because the resources of Z that I have on Pradis received the largest discount, but the ones I don't have had in many cases, ZERO discount

I looked closely at the figures again and you're right, some of them don't make sense (some items have the same prepub and retail prices!). Anyway I don't need many of the items so it makes more sense to get the individual items than the whole bundle. This would bring it down from 2k to 1.5k if I take the Expositor's, NIVAC's and the dictionaries I mentioned rather than the whole collection. That's still a lot of money considering my recent spendings with Logos and I need some time to think through it. [:^)]

On the NIDNTT: I have found this overall very useful. I actually like it better than the vaunted TDNT/TDNTA. Colin Brown, the editor, also adds his own thoughts to the original German writers. I like seeing an overview of classical and OT (and LXX) usage. I like how they group usage in NT by Pauline, Johannine, etc. that said, I have grown more in appreciation for my own concordance work, with Logos making it much easier. This articles have at times severe biases. (can't think of examples) and at times their scriptural "proof" is thin (a discovery made easier by the Logos "hover" text window--awesome!). I have gone to the EDNT a bit more of late, but NIDNTT is a very good resource and worth it.

Sounds good, I think I'll look for these two (NIDNTT, NIDOTTE). It looks like they're useful resources.

On the Zondervan Illustrated Bible Backgrounds Commentary: New Testament (4 Vols.) and Zondervan Illustrated Bible Backgrounds Commentary: Old Testament (5 Vols.): have the NT, not the OT. I like it over all for its pictures (use in presentations). I thought it was very helpful in Hebrews. I have found it useful, but extremely thin, in other books (Matthew, eg.). It is good, but not crucial. Having the pictures makes it different than the IVP set. But I think overall the IVP is more thorough (albeit by one author)

I need to do some thinking on this one. I do not quite understand how it could be thin on some books, one would expect something better for a multivolume collection (the IVP is a single volume). Maybe they are just pictures in it. [:)]

On the "NIVAC for the Old Testament": That is what is available, i believe, even in Pradis. They haven't published the rest.

I see. I probably end up getting the items I ordered in the first place plus a couple dictionaries.

Thanks for your information! [:)]