Pastorum Series Question

Andrew Baguley
Andrew Baguley Member Posts: 641 ✭✭✭
edited November 2024 in English Forum

In reviewing the Lexham Bible Guides (http://community.logos.com/forums/p/59989/426615.aspx#426615), I raised the question of whether the Pastorum Series would be better value.  I can't find any reviews or discussion on the forums regarding these yet, and haven't had time to review them properly, but I thought I'd have a quick look and this has led me to a question that possibly also applies to the Lexham Bible Guides.

There are four to seven questions for each passage, and each is linked to a commentary that should supply an answer to the question.  Looking at the Luke volume, there are a lot of linked commentaries.  Luke Chapter 1 has links to 13 different commentaries (BECNT, Baker, NICNT, NAC, WBC, Anchor, Lange, IVPBBC, Holman, Tyndale, Augsburg, Lenski, EBC), with others referenced elsewhere.  This raises the question of how many pastors own enough of these commentaries to be able to answer the questions well, but it made me consider another question.

Picking a passage almost at random (Luke 2:25-35), there are five questions, each with a linked commentary. Focusing on just the first study question "What is the “consolation of Israel” that Simeon was waiting for?", I wondered why it had chosen to link to the Augsburg Commentary to answer this question.  The answer Augsburg gives is "the restoration of the kingdom to Israel ... also the confidence in God’s triumph over the nations and their gods which oppress Israel."  However, other commentaries linked to this passage also answer this question.  EBC says "the time when, according to Isa 40:12, God would end Israel’s time of alienation and suffering through the advent of the Messiah", Baker says "deliverance from sin through the Savior, namely, Jesus", BECNT says "God’s decisive salvific act for his people... national redemption... the new exodus".  Therefore, my question is this...

Why does this question get a link to the Augsburg Commentary?

Is it the longest reference, the clearest reference (it's in bold in the commentary), the best theological answer?  Why?

What is the reasoning behind each of the linked commentaries for the questions they address (both in the Pastorum Series and in the Lexham Bible Guides)?  I haven't seen anything to suggest an answer, but this strikes me as a key question.  I know cynics might say that Logos are just looking to link to a wide range of commentaries looking for extra sales, and Logos might say it's to provide a good chance that at least some of the linked commentaries will be in our libraries but, specifically, how/why has the choice been made?  Is it little more than random, so consulting our favourite commentaries (based on theology, clarity, availability or whatever) are just as good?  I think this is key to understanding just how valuable the Pastorum Series and Lexham Bible Guides actually are.  After all, if the linked commentary really does have the best answer, and the reader has access to all of the linked commentaries, it must be worth knowing which is the best to turn to.  Otherwise, we just have some reasonable questions and ways to open some books that we already own.  So, what is the answer to:

Why does the question ""What is the “consolation of Israel” that Simeon was waiting for?" get a link to the Augsburg Commentary? (and how are the other links chosen?)

Logos?  Anyone?

Comments

  • Kenneth Neighoff
    Kenneth Neighoff Member Posts: 2,636 ✭✭✭

    I was wondering why the volume on James, does not have any links to Varner's volume in the EEC.

  • James H. Schafer
    James H. Schafer Member Posts: 167 ✭✭

    I didn't find any value in the Mark volume since most of the links were to resources I do not have although in Logos4 I was at Platinum level and have upgraded to Gold in Logos 5. I couldn't find it worth while to *buy* more resources at this time, so I called to cancel  the volume and for a refund.

    Personally, I think they authors need to do their research in more common volumes that even the lowest level of packages will have what they refer to in their links. Of course, if these are designed to sell more resources as well as provide a tool for study assistance then I understand, but won't be investing in them.

    Just my 2cents for what it's worth.