Suggestions for NICOT/NICNT?
Hello everyone!
I want to pick at some of your experienced brains about the NICOT/NICNT commentary set. I have never gone through seminary nor plan to in the near future, though I am taking some online bible classes through RTS via ITunes U. I do have the money to purchase this set (be it through payments) and was wondering if it would be a wise investment for myself as I would consider myself pretty much a lay person. I do thoroughly enjoy digging into the Bible and putting together studies for our small group, but I am not doing any preaching/teaching at the moment. I guess it could be said that it would be more for personal knowledge at the moment.
I currently have the Scholar's Silver pack along with the ISBE. Would NICOT/NICNT be over my head or is it still beneficial for the layperson? Also would the money be better spent in a different area (e.g. upgrading to gold or platinum)?
The big draw for me is that this is the best sale I've seen and don't want to pass a great opportunity.
Thank you all for your input and time. God Bless.
Comments
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Andrew said:
Hello everyone!
I want to pick at some of your experienced brains about the NICOT/NICNT commentary set. I have never gone through seminary nor plan to in the near future, though I am taking some online bible classes through RTS via ITunes U. I do have the money to purchase this set (be it through payments) and was wondering if it would be a wise investment for myself as I would consider myself pretty much a lay person. I do thoroughly enjoy digging into the Bible and putting together studies for our small group, but I am not doing any preaching/teaching at the moment. I guess it could be said that it would be more for personal knowledge at the moment.
I currently have the Scholar's Silver pack along with the ISBE. Would NICOT/NICNT be over my head or is it still beneficial for the layperson? Also would the money be better spent in a different area (e.g. upgrading to gold or platinum)?
The big draw for me is that this is the best sale I've seen and don't want to pass a great opportunity.
Thank you all for your input and time. God Bless.
Andrew,
Thanks for your question and desire to dig into the word of God. If you may, allow me to answer your questions.
1. The NICOT/NT is a very usable set. Even for those who may have no experience with Greek or Hebrews, this is not a problem. Most of the conversations that deal with Greek or Hebrew are contained in the footnotes, so you may pursue those if you like. This is helpful in many ways, not least because it does not disrupt the follow of the main body of text.
2. The NICOT/NT is great for studying, and if you are taking classes like you mentioned above, these will be very helpful for papers, sermon preparation and personal study.
3. It is hard to say if upgrading would be a better option for you or not. It may very well suit your needs to upgrade. But let me say that the price of the NICOT/NT is at a low point and may not be this low again, just something to keep in mind as you make your decision.
In closing, I have the full set of the NICNT, and most of the NICOT and they are very good commentaries. Because I have done much of my graduate studies on the book of Hebrews, I keep up with all the major literature of Hebrews. Gareth Cockerill's recent addition to the NICNT is top notch and one of the best. The NICNT consistently produces scholarship that is readable and useful to all students of the Word of God.
Cliff
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Thank you very much for your input cliff. My major concern was if I wouldn't understand exactly where NICOT/NICNT was saying because it contained too much Hebrew/Greek. That doesn't look like the case!
As I said, the currently low price is a major draw to me.
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Scott posted some links to previews of several of the commentaries and I found the previews very helpful for me to make my decision. Scott's post is here: http://community.logos.com/forums/p/53591/391330.aspx#391330
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Andrew, a serious layperson would not have trouble with the NIC. Much of the more technical info is placed in footnotes. The NIC is one of he most accessible of scholarly commentaries available.
Pastor, North Park Baptist Church
Bridgeport, CT USA
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Andrew, I believe you would benefit from the NICOT/NT. It is for seriour study, but you sound very serious about studying God's Word. I think, as Mark points out, it is accessible for those with limited knowledge of Greek or Hebrew.
All commentary sets have volumes that are stronger and some that are weaker. But I believe the NICOT/NT has more strong commentaries than any other that I know.
"In all cases, the Church is to be judged by the Scripture, not the Scripture by the Church," John Wesley0 -
I must thank you all for this post for I was contemplating the very same question .... Thanks again, let the reading begin...[:)]
Nathan Madison
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Rick said:
Scott posted some links to previews of several of the commentaries and I found the previews very helpful for me to make my decision. Scott's post is here: http://community.logos.com/forums/p/53591/391330.aspx#391330
Wow thanks Rick! That will be very helpful.
To Mark and Michael, thank you very much for your input. Its nice to have some reassurance from those who have used them. After hearing what you all have said and reading some examples (thanks again!) I think I may be making taking the plunge.
God bless you all.
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The NICNT/OT is in my opinion the very best commentary set.
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Andrew, while I can't testify to owning the NIC set as someone who doesn't know the original languages, I can attest to buying it as a layperson. From my short experience with this series, it would absolutely seem to be a set that claims to be written for everyone from a layperson to a scholar and it can back it up. I think there is something significant here for everyone.
Now, that being said, the NIGTC is not in this handicapped class. With this specifically, the authors flat out tell you that this is for intermediate Greek students. I have three years of Greek and sometimes I struggle with this commentary, but it's a good struggle; much like exercising is a good struggle.
Wilson Hines
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