Word Biblical Commentary - can you advise me?

Todays blog seems to offer wbc at a price you can't afford to miss. Best Commentaries seems not to comment on it. Amazon tantalisingly cuts off its preview pages just when they begin to interest me. Logos, as too often happens so far (will this change in the near future??), doesn't treat us to preview pages.

I'm tempted, but would like people's advice/comments. I realise I could cancel my order if I don't like it, but would prefer not to mess Logos around if I can avoid it Hmm

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Friedrich

Nicky, it's a good set. As with all sets, some are stronger than others (volumes). Several volumes were textbooks for me in seminary: Exodus, Philippians, Thessalonians, Romans (James DG Dunn--love him or hate him, he is a major player in the "New Perspective" on Paul, and a must have).

Pretty technical, each pericope offers:

Bibliography
Author's translation
Notes (text criticism)
Form/Structure/setting
Comment (detailed, verse by verse)
Explanation (comment without the detail, essentially)

And of course, the usual introductory material. In some ways it may be a bit dated (Thessalonians is by FF Bruce, eg), but it is still a standard and quoted by many.

It covers most of the Bible, save a few, like Acts (the originally intended author--a friend of my family--ended up not going through with it and no one replaced him).

If you can swing it, it is worth it.

Friedrich

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/176899#Comment_176899

if you would categorize it, I'd say it is conservative with a liberal bent. lol. Meaning, you are not getting something akin to Hermeneia or Anchor--but they are not afraid to push the envelope a bit (eg, Dunn, or AT Lincoln, who is not for Pauline authorship of Ephesians).

Paul N

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/176899#Comment_176899

Nicky, a question came up in my Sunday School class over a definition in Eph. ch 1 regarding the mentioning of the Spirit in relation to "the prince of the power of the air". Out of all of my commentaries, it was as if the Word Biblical Commentary knew my question was coming and gave a great and thorough answer with multiple ways to look at it. I was hugely impressed! I also believe every level of learner can benefit from the way its presented.

nicky crane

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/176900#Comment_176900

Dan, How did you reply so quickly?? I'm ordering[:D]

Friedrich

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/176902#Comment_176902

Dan, How did you reply so quickly?? I'm ordering

. . . that's why I'm an MVP . . . but I shall never reveal my trade secrets [H]

[:P] Have fun with it. And, btw, I think the Albanian flag/eagle is one of the coolest.

Jerry Bush

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/176905#Comment_176905

I hope to be able to afford this someday.

But Logos has offered this at $399 before and it has not been that long ago.

So even if I had the cash, it is kinda hard to get excited about $499.

Jerry

Jerry Bush

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/176922#Comment_176922

BTW, I am not referring to an outside retailer, but something Logos has done fairly recently.

Jerry

Daniel B.

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/176925#Comment_176925

Nicky,

While I cannot speak for the whole set, volume 44 (Colossians, Philemon) is very good. Below is a screenshot.

One of my professors 'highly' recommends the series. Whereas Dr. William Mounce in his book Greek for the Rest of Us, speaking on scholarly, exegetical commentaries notes:

"I hesitate to list this series (WBC). Some of the volumes are excellent, but others are totally irrelevant for you. The theological and scholarly position of many of the Old Testament volumes is considerably different from most of the New Testament volumes. There is much heavy duty scholarly interaction, and they are often difficult to read because it does not use footnotes for the technical discussions and references. The Greek is throughout the text but with translation. My commentary on the Epistles is in there" (p. 249).

While, yes, the utilization of footnotes as opposed to parenthetical notes would have increased readability, I believe it is (from my limited exposure to volume 44) probably an excellent set. If I had the money, I would definitely buy the full set. [Y]

Daniel

Matthew C Jones

I'm tempted, but would like people's advice/comments.

Knowing you from your forum posts I feel comfortable in saying you will probably benefit more from WBC than most Logos users. When I purchased it I quickly discovered how rusty my Greek had become after years of neglect. You won't have that hurdle to deal with. [:)]

Dan is correct in stating the authors will sometimes reach outside of conservative evangelical borders.(He called it "liberal.") This is a plus in my opinion. My limited experience with the series shows this to be in the externals only. The doctrinal conclusions are fairly conservative. I don't find the authors taking indefensible stands. WBC is well received across many denominational lines without becoming a fluffy love fest.

James Macleod

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/176922#Comment_176922

I hope to be able to afford this someday.

But Logos has offered this at $399 before and it has not been that long ago.

So even if I had the cash, it is kinda hard to get excited about $499.

Jerry

I picked it up last year for $399. I use it all the time. It may not be the "best" commentary set but it was well worth $400. It seems to come on sale regularly so I think I would wait for the $399 price.

Jamie

Friedrich

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/176953#Comment_176953

without becoming a fluffy love fest.

. . . but I LIKE fluffy . . . ! [:P]

Mark Smith

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/177021#Comment_177021

Out of the 60 or so Word volumes I have 28 rated 5 star based on the recommendations of folks like Carson, Longman and others. These volumes cover 15 OT books and 17 NT books.

Personally I dislike the format of the Word commentary, but appreciate the content in many cases (not all), so live with the design. BTW Carson has a good turn of phrase for the format:

"Moreover, your sanctification must endure the irritating format of this series."

Carson, D. A. (2007). New Testament commentary survey (6th ed.) (124). Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Academic.

nicky crane

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/176905#Comment_176905

Thank you everyone. I tried to reply twice before, but Logos hogs my slow internet connection when downloading! I look forward to using the WBC tomorrow. I see from the previews that it has interesting background to Exodus 1 and 2, which I'm studying in preparation for teaching the children about Moses in the bulrushes. I'm amazed how much I haven't understood about these well known stories each time I prepare to teach them yet again!

nicky crane

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/177060#Comment_177060

Incidentally, tho I take the Bible in the form God has allowed it to reach us very seriously, I'm not hyper-conservative. Though living in Albania for 17 years has taught me to have a much more Biblical viewpoint than I did before. A concerned friend was worried about my changing viewpoint, feeling it was a result of living among these "primitive people"! I thank God that he chooses to communicate with us through his Word, and want to understand his Word as far as possible for my own benefit as well as for that of those I teach. Thank you, Logos, for helping us with this!

Mark Barnes

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/177070#Comment_177070

The WBC has quite possible the worst format of any Bible commentary ever written (each passage gets looked at under several headings, which get in the way of flow and cause unneccesary repetition). That fact that people still buy and read it despite this says something for its other qualities.

Monty Bower

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/177084#Comment_177084

Marshall's commentary on Luke in the NIGTC is almost unreadable due to its lack of footnotes or endnotes. A Greek professor of mine said he admired Marshall's insights - when he could find them.

David Bailey

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/177152#Comment_177152

I would purchase this set. I like to have more commentaries. Unfortunately, I don't have the finances to do so at this time. Perhaps next year. [:(]

nicky crane

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/177152#Comment_177152

I'm over the moon with the commentary on Exodus 1 and 2. I can skip the sections that don't interest me. I'm learning so much about the background. I tend to do my Bible study in short chunks, so lack of continuity doesn't bother me. It was worth missing the POSSIBLE offer $100 less at some later date in order to have the commentary today (instant gratification[6]), And it looks as if it'll have the info about difficult specific verses that I don't always find in my other commentaries.[:D][:D][;)]

Tes

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/177250#Comment_177250

I'm over the moon with the commentary on Exodus 1 and 2. I can skip the sections that don't interest me. I'm learning so much about the background. I tend to do my Bible study in short chunks, so lack of continuity doesn't bother me. It was worth missing the POSSIBLE offer $100 less at some later date in order to have the commentary today (instant gratification), And it looks as if it'll have the info about difficult specific verses that I don't always find in my other commentaries.

Congratulation Nicky

Allen Browne

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/177250#Comment_177250

I'm over the moon with the commentary on Exodus 1 and 2.

Agreed, Nicky.

The Genesis volumes (by Gordon Wenham) are also excellent. Even his intro puts them in current perspective.

Then you can start enjoying the other volumes as time permits. :-) Goldingay, Longnecker, O'Brien, Mounce, Lane, Bauckham, and so on. Lots to discover.

Greg Corbin

I have used the WBC in paper form since 1994 every week in my preaching/teaching. I have found it to be very valuable - particularly for background, word studies, etc. I agree with those who say that the formatting can be confusing. The theological perspective of some of the authors is a little "out there" for this conservative Southern Baptist, but even in those volumes there are good exegetical insights. I have not bought the series in Logos yet, but I will eventually. I feel that the set is well worth the $400-500 range that it seems to go on sale for.

nicky crane

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/177260#Comment_177260

The Genesis volumes (by Gordon Wenham) are also excellent. Even his intro puts them in current perspective.

I remember Gordon Wenham from the time we were both students at Cambridge. He won't remember me. He was known to be bright then. So I follow his rise to fame with interest. I've already got his book on Torah as Narrative, or something to that effect, which interests me as I'm into Bible storying. I've started looking at what he says about "Abram believed God, and God counted him as righteous." We paraphrase the memory verses for the children, to try to make them comprehensible. In order to paraphrase, rather than parrot, you need to understand what the verse is about. They look up to me as a teacher, and I am constantly more and more aware how much I have to learn. People used to say I was wasting my brain working with uneducated people. But communicating to the unschooled stretches my theological knowledge to its limits and beyond! Thank God for the help of Logos![;)]

Tes

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/177459#Comment_177459

People used to say I was wasting my brain working with uneducated people. But communicating to the unschooled stretches my theological knowledge to its limits and beyond! Thank God for the help of Logos!

Thank you Nicky May God bless you,I have taken your comments to my heart ,they are very sweet,We need brothers and sisters, who take time to communicate the Gospel to the poor and unnoticed by the world,just as Jesus did with Samaritan woman in John 4: It is a great Job ,I am very glad to have a friend like you in the forum as well.

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/177459#Comment_177459

People used to say I was wasting my brain working with uneducated people. But communicating to the unschooled stretches my theological knowledge to its limits and beyond!

The uneducated are in most dire need of the best and brightest teachers...Not the educated. Likewise, God's lost people are in the most dire need of His best, brightest, and faithful-est teachers. Go get'em Nicky. And educate'em to the best of your abilities. Never hold back. You're not wasting your brains. You're exactly where God needs you to be. I applaud you. Cambridge...Wenham...Talk about holding back! [:)]

nicky crane

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/177465#Comment_177465

Bless you, Tes! You're such an encouragement, and surely not just to me![A]

Tes

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/177468#Comment_177468

People used to say I was wasting my brain working with uneducated people. But communicating to the unschooled stretches my theological knowledge to its limits and beyond!

The uneducated are in most dire need of the best and brightest teachers...Not the educated. Likewise, God's lost people are in the most dire need of His best, brightest, and faithful-est teachers. Go get'em Nicky. And educate'em to the best of your abilities. Never hold back. You're not wasting your brains. You're exactly where God needs you to be. I applaud you. Cambridge...Wenham...Talk about holding back!

May the Lord bless you JM that's it you are right.He is in the right place for the right people,: