Until 14th Jan you can get NIVAC for $7.99. Check out this website and note the code that needs to be applied at the checkout:
http://zondervanacademic.com/blog/niv-application-commentary-software-sale-8-dollars/
The return of a good deal. Thanks for the alert.
Yes thank you Zondervan from one of your customers who paid $20+ for his volumes [6]
Thanks for pointing this out as I had not seen this blog post and the great offer. I don't have this series and it is something worth considering at this price.
It's a terrific series, well worth having and especially at this price. It is a good balance of serious scholarship and practical application.
It's not quite complete yet. The two volumes remaining to be published are Ezra/Nehemiah and Psalms vol. 2 (vol. 1 = Psalms 1-72).
According to one website, the former will be written by Douglas J Green and the latter by Jamie Grant.
Does anyone know when these books are due to be completed/published?
Thanks for the heads up.
Wow sale is back! Advice, if you can afford them, get them all - stop cherry picking!
DAL
Thanks for the heads-up! Now if I can only find that recommendation thread from the last time they were on sale ...
Thank you Paul for the heads up. Been waiting for this sale for a while. Got all the OT books on offer [:)]
Here is the hyperlink to the previous thread - https://community.logos.com/forums/t/104242.aspx?PageIndex=1
Agape,
Steve
Initial issues. sorry
Was deciding whether to get Peter Enns' Exodus, being aware of his position on the (in)errancy of the Bible. Then decided it's worth 8 bucks to read what he has to say about the supernatural events in the exodus.
Thanks for the heads-up! Now if I can only find that recommendation thread from the last time they were on sale ... Here is the hyperlink to the previous thread - https://community.logos.com/forums/t/104242.aspx?PageIndex=1 Agape, Steve
Yes, thank you! [:)]
Was deciding whether to get Peter Enns' Exodus, being aware of his position on the (in)errancy of the Bible.
Ha, was just having similar thoughts! Still undecided on that one ...
I can't afford that many right now (plus I'm supposed to be on a serious buying moratorium in 2016 [8-)]) but for now I'm leaning toward the major prophets. At least I have two weeks before the sale ends.
Thanks for the heads up!
Not sure how in the know they are but best commentaries says 2016 for Ezra... Psalms 2 no date there..
-Dan
Would someone be willing to post the commentary from Matthew 1:1-25 so that I could get a feel for the approach?
Hi Steve,
I was about to do that for you when I realised that doing so would create a very, very long forum post!
Can I suggest that a better way for you to see the text you mentioned, and see how it is laid out in the resource, would be to purchase the book.
Logos will let you try a book or any number of books and return it/them up to a month later, with no fuss. Just email customer service and tell them you'd like to cancel the order. But I think you'll want to keep any NIVAC volumes you download.
I hope that helps!
I decided I could not afford the entire set so I opted for those rated among the top three in bestcommentaries.com - http://bestcommentaries.com/topseries/
Thanks for the heads up. Just ordered 3!
I picked up the set last time they were on sale and really like them. I didn't expect to see this price again, but I'm glad it came around again for those who missed it the first time.
I have used bestcommentaries.com to help me purchase WBC volumes when they were on sale in the fall. Generally, it's helpful, but I ended up picking up a few that weren't so highly rated because I liked the authors. One "sleeper" in NIVAC is Gary Burge's commentary on the gospel of John. It's well worth it even though it's not as highly rated on bestcommentaries.com
It's fine, I said IF you can afford it hehehe but honestly even the not so high rated volumes have some good gems to offer.
One "sleeper" in NIVAC is Gary Burge's commentary on the gospel of John. It's well worth it even though it's not as highly rated on bestcommentaries.com
Thanks for the advice.
NIVAC has three sections: Original Meaning, Bridging Contexts, and Contemporary Significance (application):.
Five screen shots from 27" iMac with 5K display with Logos 6.8 (NIVAC full screen) converted from png to jpeg for forum posting (5.8 MB).
Keep Smiling [:)]
A lot of people may complain about the lack of dynamic pricing and high prices with Zondervan, but I think their sales were fantastic last year and now for the start of this year. Between the NIVAC and the WBC going on huge discount plus some other things they had on sale, I have no complaints. Dynamic pricing would be great, but if you aren't in a hurry and can pick up books as they go on discount, you can make out really well. Happy for all those who get a second shot at these. I picked up all of them last time and they have been very helpful.
I personally love this series. As in all multi-author commentary series' some books are stronger than others, but I haven't found one yet that hasn't been helpful.
I particularly enjoyed Gary Burge's Letters of John and Karen Jobes volume on Esther.
I'm sure that most of us are on a budget. If you had to rate which volumes you've found indispensable, which would you recommend?
I prioritised buying:
Deuteronomy
1 & 2 Chronicles
Ezekiel
Minor Prophets
Romans
Philippians
Colossians
Hebrews
2 Peter
Paul, I would add Gary Burge's commentary on the gospel of John and as Ryan indicates, his commentary on the letters of John.
You should not miss Karen Jobes's Esther (I know it isn't a book we study a lot, but it is a great commentary).
I'd second Garland's Colossians and Philemon and Guthrie's Hebrews.
In fact I now own virtually all the series on Kindle or Logos. The ones I identified I considered must haves in Logos as they are considered better than most in the series. Would anyone like to persuade me that I need any that I don't have. The only ones I don’t have are:
Genesis
Kings
Job
Proverbs
Ecclesiastes/Song of Songs
Galatians
1 Peter
If you think any of these are must haves please say why as I do have an extensive commentary collection.
If memory serves me correctly he Enns wrote the NIVAC Exodus commentary before his views on inerrancy began shifting (at least publicly). The publication date is 2000 which means he was writing it in the late 90's.
Thanks for some very helpful reviews. I picked up a couple more.
I have known Gary for a number of years. We have spent time together in Israel as well as here at home. Gary was the translator of the Gospel of John for the NLT. I too recommend his work.
[I have known Gary for a number of years. We have spent time together in Israel as well as here at home. Gary was the translator of the Gospel of John for the NLT. I too recommend his work.
Gary was my youth pastor when he was an intern at my church while he was in seminary. I came to Christ during that time and will be forever grateful for his ministry.
Thank you Jonathan.
I've now bought the Iain Provan volume. I did buy the Genesis one in Kindle format once, but returned within the week as it didn't seem very helpful on the passage I was preaching from. I do have access of the Galatians volume and so I haven't bought that one this time.
Thanks for your feedback.
Apparently you have to add them individually to your cart. I tried to get the NT bundle but the code doesn't work for it. It does work for individual volumes though. I have the OT and will be nice to have the NT as well.
Last day tomorrow for these deals.
Thanks for the reminder. Picked up Esther and John.
I don't know if he made your cut, but Guthrie's Hebrews was good, I thought--sometimes I disagreed, and of course I was always right. . . . seriously though, when preaching on Hebrews, it was one of the most helpful commentaries. Then I realized he wrote just about every commentary on Hebrews that was published in the last 20 years . . . half joking . . . he also contributed, e.g., to the Hebrews section in the CNTUOT (Beale, ed) as well as the Hebrews section in Zondervan's Illustrated Bible backgrounds commentary, just to name a few. Still, very helpful, thorough, without getting mired in technical jargon.
Have you perused any and found some you like? I am getting ready to get a few. I still have the complete *cough *cough Pradis *cough *cough (Lord help me!!) set, but thought I would like the top ones within Logos.
I decided I could not afford the entire set so I opted for those rated among the top three in bestcommentaries.com - http://bestcommentaries.com/topseries/ I don't know if he made your cut, but Guthrie's Hebrews was good, I thought--sometimes I disagreed, and of course I was always right. . . . seriously though, when preaching on Hebrews, it was one of the most helpful commentaries. Then I realized he wrote just about every commentary on Hebrews that was published in the last 20 years . . . half joking . . . he also contributed, e.g., to the Hebrews section in the CNTUOT (Beale, ed) as well as the Hebrews section in Zondervan's Illustrated Bible backgrounds commentary, just to name a few. Still, very helpful, thorough, without getting mired in technical jargon. Have you perused any and found some you like? I am getting ready to get a few. I still have the complete *cough *cough Pradis *cough *cough (Lord help me!!) set, but thought I would like the top ones within Logos.
I noticed that McKnight's Galatians ranks 17th . . . I have not used it yet, but I highly doubt it is because it is "bad," and more because it is New Perspective. I likely will add it. Scot is a good thinker and exegete, even if one doesn't always agree
NOTE to people searching: Logos search results will be incomplete if you search NIVAC only--some individual books/authors will not be found that way (For instance, Moo's on 2 Peter or Enns on Exodus). However if you search by author and NIV Application you will find them. FYI.
Thanks for the heads-up! I picked up Karen Jobes' Esther, Enns' Exodus, and Bruge's 1-3 John. In the process of trying to figure out which books of the Bible had the least amount of commentary materials available, I also did some resource prioritization (on commentaries) and am feeling well pleased, almost like discovering a bunch of clothes that had been buried in the back of the closet or something. Thanks FL, Zondervan, and Logos forumites.
Karen Jobes is awesome! Her BECNT on 1 Peter is one of THE BEST out there!
Luke by Darrell Bock
I have Bock in the Baker series . . . wondering how critical NIVAC would be then? Are his practical applications that good?
Bock on Luke:
Because I like boat stories, I just sort of nabbed this from the "Bridging Contexts" section and the "Contemporary Significance" section of Lk 8:22-25.
Bridging Contexts
THE MAJOR FOCUS in this passage comes in the disciple’s struggle of faith and in their discussion on Jesus’ authority. We too can have the same desperate feeling they did. Especially in the midst of events beyond our control, we often feel that God is somehow not aware or not watching—that he is asleep at the wheel and needs rousing to care for us. Jesus asks the disciples to reflect on God’s care. They do not need to panic; rather, they need to understand that God does care for them and is watching over them.The disciples need to be made aware that their teacher has authority that extends into the operation of the cosmos (cf. Paul’s words in Col. 1:15–20). The sovereignty of Jesus makes him far more than a prophet or ethicist. Confessing Jesus as Lord means that he is in control of nature with all its power. In our world where nature is often personified as its own cosmic force with an independent identity, the reminder of who really is the force behind creation is important.In bridging contexts, our sense of helplessness need not be limited to finding ourselves at risk in settings of nature. The storms of today can arrive in a rush of circumstances beyond our control. The point of connection is not in the precise situation the disciples face in the boat, but in the feelings of helplessness they have about where Jesus has led them. Events in our lives sometimes leave us feeling at risk, whether it be in a job situation that calls us to take a stand, in the severe illness of a loved one, in an unexpected tragedy, or in the breakdown of a relationship. Any of these can be a storm in which we doubt God’s goodness. We may feel God has left us to fend for ourselves.A modern, frank biographical sketch of such a restless journey comes from Dr. Larry Crabb.3 He tells the painful story of losing his brother suddenly in a plane crash on March 3, 1991. He chronicles the stages of his reaction as he discovers a new depth in his relationship with God. He notes five steps in his walk with God: I need you; I hate you; I hate me; I will survive; here’s how I will survive. Before light comes in the journey, darkness is usually there. At the foundation is trusting in God and not doubting him. God has never promised our lives would be empty of pain, disappointment, or storms. Anyone who tells you otherwise is not teaching about a true walk with God. What God does promise are resources to journey through the raging waters. Like the disciples who cry out in 8:22–25 and like Larry Crabb, stillness comes after the fierce storm.
Contemporary Significance
THIS PASSAGE IS a call for a deeper, trusting faith, even in the midst of circumstances beyond our control. There is no telling how often some of the disciples, as former fishermen, had been on the lake in the midst of a storm. Yet it was clear that they were powerless to deal with such forces. Though their faith was weak, they did the right thing in turning to Jesus for help. Only their cry that they were perishing was in error. Had they understood God’s care, they would have realized that divine care never takes a break, even when it leads into rough waters. Jesus’ call for faith is also a call to reassurance that God is aware of whatever storms we are going through and is watching over us.One of the great hymns of the faith was written in response to such a storm. In the nineteenth century, Horatio G. Spafford lost his four daughters when an ocean liner sank in the Atlantic; only his wife survived, sending a cable to her husband: “Saved alone.”4 Here was a storm that seemingly overwhelmed him. But what did this saint write as he contemplated what had happened? The first stanza tells us much, as does the chorus to this well-known hymn.
When peace, like a river, attendeth my way, When sorrows like sea billows roll— Whatever my lot, Thou hast taught me to say, It is well, it is well with my soul.
Parishioners are usually unaware of the dire circumstances under which these words were written. Here is one man who learned to trust God in the midst of the storm.The second question in the text deals with further reflection on the identity of Jesus. Luke tells the story of Jesus from the earth up. He starts with a portrait of Jesus as teacher, prophet, and king before he develops Jesus’ more transcendent qualities. Such an approach allows Luke’s readers to grow a step at a time in their appreciation of who this person is. Our rush to preach the exalted Jesus and our knowledge of the rest of the story often causes us to lose sight of how gradually Luke tells his story. Nonetheless, this text is crucial in building a bridge towards a more heavenly understanding of our Savior. Those in our world who wish to relegate Jesus to the status of sage or teacher fail to reckon with texts such as this one. The disciples, as they lived with Jesus and saw him work, came to understand that they were not following an ordinary rabbi. Luke has the disciples ask here, “Who is this?” and the rest of his Gospel shows the answer to this question.That answer is a central issue of life: He is the unique Son of God. Here is a Savior with the power to deliver and bring life out of death. I am reminded of Ephesians 1:15–23, where Paul prays especially that the Ephesian believers will come to understand that the power at work in us is like that which raised Jesus from the dead and set him over every force in the creation, both in this age and in the age to come. The One who has such power is able to deliver us, if he chooses, from whatever we face. All he asks is that we trust him as we go on the way. He also is able to deliver us ultimately from anything that overwhelms us in this life, a power that is perhaps the most crucial of all. The disciples are just beginning to come to grips with such power in the One they have walked with for nearly three years. We also must sit at his feet for some time before we really begin to comprehend how great Jesus is and how far his deliverance reaches.
