International Standard Bible Encyclopedia (ISBE) (1979–1995) (4 vols.)

The description for the International Standard Bible Encyclopedia (ISBE) (1979–1995) (4 vols.) states it is written by conservative scholars. What exactly does this mean? Who on this forum would be able to give a positive or negative review of this resource?

Grace and Peace,

Chris

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Ron

Hi Chris,

Take a look at these threads, hopefully they will help:

http://community.logos.com/forums/p/6648/51490.aspx

http://community.logos.com/forums/t/21039.aspx

Ron

Also:

http://community.logos.com/forums/t/31000.aspx

http://community.logos.com/forums/p/25182/187348.aspx- In this thread, Dan's comments (several replies down) in particular probably answer your questions about "conservative" scholars

Rich DeRuiter

Who on this forum would be able to give a positive or negative review of this resource?

As the first part of your query was already addressed, I thought I'd contribute to the second part.

After the Anchor Yale Bible Dictionary, ISBE is my favorite, and was my favorite until I got the AYBD. I often use it together with the AYBD, when I want to confirm something I didn't know before, or want to go deeper. They often complement each other quite well. ISBE has been a standard among evangelicals (as was it's predecessor, the 1915 edition).

As far as price difference goes, it's substantial, and I'm not sure that the AYBD would offer most folks much advantage, even though it's 2X the price. For someone in academic work, or someone who really does a lot of work with Bible dictionaries and Bible encyclopedias the AYBD edges out ISBE for depth, breadth and current scholarship. Even then ISBE makes a good companion, IMHO.

However, if you already have AYBD, you won't find much in ISBE that isn't found in AYBD, and unless you want a second extensive Bible dictionary, there would be few advantages in getting it.But if you do want a second, nothing else Logos offers is in the same league with AYBD except ISBE, though, as I said, it is not as current on somethings (very few, really).

If you'd like to have a sample article, let me know which one you'd like.

Christopher Easton

Thank-You for these links they have been very helpful!

Christopher Easton

I do have Anchor...Thanks Richard! This helps me alot. If I decide I could use another dictionary for comparison I will grab this one. I will place it at the bottom of my priority list. I have always been satisfied with information given in the Anchor alongside of staples used in my study.

Todd Phillips

However, if you already have AYBD, you won't find much in ISBE that isn't found in AYBD, and unless you want a second extensive Bible dictionary, there would be few advantages in getting it.

While AYBD has many strengths over the ISBE, one advantage I find for the ISBE over the AYBD is that the ISBE is more willing to discuss theology. An ISBE article will often discuss the historical theological understanding of a biblical concept while the AYDB tends to stick with analysis of the biblical and contemporary extra-biblical texts (and their contextual backgrounds).

A comparison of the articles on Baptism and the Lord's Supper shows this:

For the Lord's Supper, the ISBE adds sections on development of Eucharistic doctrine and liturgy from the Early Church through the Reformation that the AYBD doesn't discuss.
For Baptism, the ISBE includes sections on Baptist, Reformed, and Lutheran views of baptism written by different authors (note that it only includes those three views), whereas the AYBD specifically avoids discussing various doctrinal views.

Of course if one already has a theological dictionary or encyclopedia, then the need for theological topical discussion in a bible dictionary will be lessened. But it makes the ISBE more of a one-stop resource.

Allen Browne

Who on this forum would be able to give a positive or negative review of this resource?

I have the ISBE prioritized as my first Bible Dictionary, and wouldn't be without it. (I don't have AYBD.)

If you want a taste (albeit quite outdated) of what the older ISBE was like, you can check out some articles on-line at http://www.internationalstandardbible.com/

Christopher Easton

Thanks for the link!

Steve Johnson

While AYBD has many strengths over the ISBE, one advantage I find for the ISBE over the AYBD is that the ISBE is more willing to discuss theology.

Nice observation about theology references in the ISBE, Todd.

My two cents worth: I think ISBE is more
conservative, albeit perhaps less scholarly. Don't
get me wrong: both are excellent. I think AYBD is more likely to take a
form-critical approach while ISBE seems more historical-grammatical.

Matthew C Jones

After the Anchor Yale Bible Dictionary, ISBE is my favorite, and was my favorite until I got the AYBD. I often use it together with the AYBD, when I want to confirm something I didn't know before, or want to go deeper. They often complement each other quite well. ISBE has been a standard among evangelicals (as was it's predecessor, the 1915 edition).

When the new International Standard Bible Encyclopedia (ISBE) (1979–1995) came out, the first edition was dropped from the Logos offerings. My favorite is AYB with ISBE a close second. I just wish for "posterity" I also had the 1915 edition. There may be enough difference there to shed a better light on the contemporary thinking of Bible scholars from that era. Similar reasoning to why I think Thayer's Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament has a place on my bookshelf.

Todd Phillips

When the new International Standard Bible Encyclopedia (ISBE) (1979–1995) came out, the first edition was dropped from the Logos offerings. My favorite is AYB with ISBE a close second. I just wish for "posterity" I also had the 1915 edition.

It's still offered by Logos: http://www.logos.com/product/903/international-standard-bible-encyclopedia-1915-edition

Matthew C Jones

When the new International Standard Bible Encyclopedia (ISBE) (1979–1995) came out, the first edition was dropped from the Logos offerings. My favorite is AYB with ISBE a close second. I just wish for "posterity" I also had the 1915 edition.

It's still offered by Logos:

Thank you Todd. I had no idea.

Now I've got to put together a hundred dollars to start my "posterity" library. [E]