Has anyone here used this specific resource. I realize it's on sale at the moment, but I'm getting more particular about how I add things lately.
I have not bought it and am somewhat on the fence, as it sounds like you are. I could be persuaded, but currently am leaning towards getting the ICC volume and passing on Cornerstone.
Several years ago Cornerstone released some of the books in this series and I picked it up. I haven't purchased any since then because I find myself using others.
However, if there's a specific passage you are interested in, let me know and I can post a portion of it so you can get an idea of what the commentary is like.
Something about Cornerstone Commentaries I like. Maybe it is because of the way it begins by laying out key statements and noting important language points for each verse is similar to how I sometimes outline my class presentations. The method resonates. This is followed by easy-to-read, accessible commentary. While not in-depth, the commentary wording is rich enough for good, practical presentation for teaching. The series has a distinctive NLT flavor, which is not my personal favorite, but I find quite helpful wording things well for folks with limited English. Though not a must-have, Romans-Galatians is worth the sale price.
I have the one for Matthew/Mark, which I got as a freebie back when Logos introduced the series, so it's more a question of this volume alone. I'm sure it has value, but I couldn't find a single review on this volume.
the commentary wording is rich enough for good, practical presentation for teaching.
Good! That makes it worthwhile. Thank you!
I randomly selected this--excerpted parts of greater text: selection based on Rom 8:1-3
E. The Power and Glory of the New Life (8:1–39) 1. Living by the power of God’s Spirit (8:1–17)
NOTES8:1 those who belong to Christ Jesus. Lit., “those in Christ Jesus.” Some Gr. manuscripts (A D1) add “who do not walk according to the flesh,” and other mss (א2 D2 M) add to this “but according to the Spirit,” the reading reflected in the KJV. This longer reading almost certainly represents a later scribal qualification of the original text, emphasizing the point Paul is making in 8:1–14.
8:2 And because you belong to him, the power of the life-giving Spirit has freed you. Lit., “For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has freed you.” In this context, “law” is to be understood as “power”; “the law of the Spirit” contrasts with “the law of sin,” already introduced in 7:23. For the different possible grammatical relationships between “law,” “Spirit,” “life,” and “Christ Jesus,” see Cranfield 1980:373–376. Instead of the final “you,” evidenced by the best documentation (א B F G 1739*), some Gr. mss have “me” (A D M 1739c).
from the power of sin that leads to death. Lit., “from the law of sin and of death.” The Spirit both liberates believers from the power of sin and gives them eternal life. Alternatively, “the law of sin and of death” may be understood as a reference to the law of Moses (Dunn 1988a:418–419; Schreiner 1998:400), but the parallel phrase “the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus” (8:2, NASB) suggests that it is better understood as “the power of sin that leads to death.”
8:3 The law of Moses was unable to save us. Lit., “For what the law was unable to do”—that is, in this context, to break the power of sin.
because of the weakness of our sinful nature. Lit., “because it was weak through the flesh.” In this verse the weakness of the “flesh” is linked to the weakness of the body; see notes on 7:23, 24.
God did what the law could not do. Not in the Gr. text, but implied.
He sent his own Son in a body like the bodies we sinners have. Lit., “God sent his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh” (en homoiēomati [TG3667, ZG3930] sarkos hamartias). In order to save us, it was necessary for Christ to become like us (see esp. Heb 2:17–18; 4:15–16) yet remain sinless. Paul’s belief in the sinlessness of Christ is affirmed in 2 Cor 5:21 (cf. Heb 4:15; 1 Pet 2:22; 1 John 3:5). For different interpretations of “in the likeness of sinful flesh,” see Cranfield 1980:379–382.
God declared an end to sin’s control over us. Lit., “God … condemned sin in the flesh,” thereby overcoming its power in the life of believers.
as a sacrifice for our sins. Lit., “for sin” (peri hamartias [TG266, ZG281])—that is, as a sin offering (as the phrase is commonly used in the LXX). The NLT adds “sacrifice” to convey this concept. Some interpret the phrase more generally—“with reference to sin.”
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COMMENTARYIn chapter 8, Paul focuses on another aspect of the amazing salvation he has been describing since 3:21—the gift of the Spirit, which gives believers power over sin (8:1–14), confirms their status as sons of God (8:15–17), and assures them of ultimate glory (8:18–30). He brings the chapter to a close with a ringing declaration of the assurance of God’s eternal love for all who belong to his Son (8:31–39), a fitting conclusion to chapters 1–8.
The Spirit Gives Us Power over Sin. In sharp contrast to the despair that marks the end of chapter 7, Paul begins chapter 8 with the strong affirmation, “Now there is no condemnation for those who belong to Christ Jesus” (8:1). And why is there no condemnation? Because God declares us “not guilty” when we receive his Son and put our trust in him to save us, because Christ bore the condemnation we deserved—or such, at least, would be the theological response we would expect from Paul (1:16; 3:21–26; 5:1). But here, in a different context making a different point, he words it differently: Those who belong to Jesus Christ face no condemnation because the power of his life-giving Spirit has freed them from the dreaded power of sin and death to which they were enslaved (8:2; cf. 6:14, 18, 22). They no longer need to live in despair, under a cloud of failure and guilt. This emphasis on the Spirit as the ultimate liberating agent has already been expressed in 7:4–6, where the focus was on freedom from the law. Here, after the digression of 7:7–25, Paul returns to the same emphasis, but with the focus on freedom from sin and death. Freedom from sin and death (8:2) is clearly linked in Paul’s thinking to freedom from the law (6:14; 7:4–6), which evokes sin and gives the death sentence (7:7–11). In either case, true freedom is found only in the life-giving Spirit, for “wherever the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom” (2 Cor 3:17).
I know what you mean... I also usually buy a reasonably good volume at such discount, but for Advent, there are already 13 deals out, 11 more to come, and the dictionary of world missions is also on offer at a steep discount.
I definitely don't have another $150 Logos budget now... I'll decide on 24 December. Last year, we got a $20 voucher for Christmas. That would definitely be helpful this year as well.
