Wesleyan Bible Commentary (7 vols.) - Reviews?

SineNomine
SineNomine Member Posts: 7,043
edited November 20 in Resources Forum

Does anyone who has all or part of the Wesleyan Bible Commentary published in the 1960s by Eerdmans have any particular insights into it, or know of any reviews worth reading of either the set as a whole or of its individual volumes? Its value to non-Methodists is of particular interest to me.

“The trouble is that everyone talks about reforming others and no one thinks about reforming himself.” St. Peter of Alcántara

Comments

  • MJ. Smith
    MJ. Smith MVP Posts: 53,441

    the weekly bump for attention 1

    Orthodox Bishop Alfeyev: "To be a theologian means to have experience of a personal encounter with God through prayer and worship."; Orthodox proverb: "We know where the Church is, we do not know where it is not."

  • Ken
    Ken Member Posts: 52

    If you're looking for an Arminian commentary, I'd snatch up the Logos 7 Wesleyan Starter Library before anything. Who knows when that will disappear. It's an amazing deal and has Ben Witherington/Craig Keener/David DeSilva's Socio-Rhetorical series (it only covers the NT), along with Adam Clarke and Wesley's old commentaries, which are still great themselves.

    I haven't used the Wesleyan, but from what I understand, it's still a bit inspired and done in the spirit of Adam Clarke. It uses the KJV, despite being made in the 60s. It's not as critical as the more mainline Methodist Interpreter's commentary that was also made in the 60s.

    Then again, you could have them all in the Bronze version. It adds on the Wesleyan.

  • Floyd  Johnson
    Floyd Johnson Member Posts: 4,007 ✭✭✭

    Does anyone who has all or part of the Wesleyan Bible Commentary published in the 1960s by Eerdmans have any particular insights into it, or know of any reviews worth reading of either the set as a whole or of its individual volumes? Its value to non-Methodists is of particular interest to me.

    Sorry I missed this post earlier.

    This set is one of the first commentaries I consult.  Not particularly critical, probably more of a laymen's commentary.  The authors were scholars in their day.  It does cover the whole Bible.  I requested it several years before it was picked up by LOGOS, glad they added it.  

    Blessings,
    Floyd

    Pastor-Patrick.blogspot.com

  • SineNomine
    SineNomine Member Posts: 7,043

    This set is one of the first commentaries I consult.  Not particu loo self critical, probably?y more of a payments commentary.  The authors were scholars in their day.  It does cover the whole Bible.  I requested it several years before it was picked up by LOGOS, glad they added it.

    Thank you. I ended up acquiring it.

    If you're looking for an Arminian commentary, I'd snatch up the Logos 7 Wesleyan Starter Library before anything.

    I did.

    Then again, you could have them all in the Bronze version. It adds on the Wesleyan.

    Actually, that's a different commentary series. But now I have both of them.

    “The trouble is that everyone talks about reforming others and no one thinks about reforming himself.” St. Peter of Alcántara

  • Ken
    Ken Member Posts: 52

    Actually, that's a different commentary series. But now I have both of them.

    Ah, you mean the one with the black cover? https://www.logos.com/product/4749/wesleyan-bible-study-commentary-series

    I've never used it myself. Either way, sounds like you're set!

  • Mike Childs
    Mike Childs Member Posts: 3,124 ✭✭✭

    Does anyone who has all or part of the Wesleyan Bible Commentary published in the 1960s by Eerdmans have any particular insights into it, or know of any reviews worth reading of either the set as a whole or of its individual volumes? Its value to non-Methodists is of particular interest to me.

    There are some legendary Wesleyan Biblical scholars who wrote in the 1960's Eerdmans Commentary set.  For example, Dennis Kenlaw (who was a famed Old Testament scholar and longtime President of Asbury College) wrote the Commentary on Ecclesiastes and Song of Solomon.  He is reason enough for me to buy the set.  W. Ralph Thompson wrote commentaries on several of the Books.  Wilbur Dayton who was Professor of New Testament and Greek at Asbury Seminary wrote for this set also.  And many others.

    What you have here is the best evangelical Wesleyan / Methodist scholarship available in 1967.  If you can get it at a reasonable price, this set is a hidden gem.  These writers have timeless insights into Scripture, and you are unlikely to find them anywhere else.

    But if you want the latest scholarship, this is not the set for you.


    "In all cases, the Church is to be judged by the Scripture, not the Scripture by the Church," John Wesley

  • Kathleen Marie
    Kathleen Marie Member Posts: 812

    Thanks for the review. I bought a Logos 6 library just to get the older white cover set. The black set is listed as $186.00 for me. What exactly is the difference between the two sets? When I bought the white set, I did not know about the black set.

    Is the white set "acceptable" for a student to quote in academic papers? What about the black set?

  • SineNomine
    SineNomine Member Posts: 7,043

    Is the white set "acceptable" for a student to quote in academic papers? What about the black set?

    That will depend on your professor.

    “The trouble is that everyone talks about reforming others and no one thinks about reforming himself.” St. Peter of Alcántara

  • Kathleen Marie
    Kathleen Marie Member Posts: 812

    Is the white set "acceptable" for a student to quote in academic papers? What about the black set?

    That will depend on your professor.

    Thanks!

    What are the main differences between the two sets?

    Warning. Both sets are on sale in legacy packages, and that sale end tonight.

  • Mike Childs
    Mike Childs Member Posts: 3,124 ✭✭✭

    Its main appeal is to old Wesleyans like me.  It has commentaries written by the best Wesleyan scholars of the 1960's, such as the long-time Old Testament scholar Dr. Dennis Kinlaw, who was for many years president of Asbury College in Wilmore, KY.  Such scholars are well worth reading.

    However, the set is a bit dated.


    "In all cases, the Church is to be judged by the Scripture, not the Scripture by the Church," John Wesley