AYB or ICC?

In another thread I read some interesting comments about the relative value of the ICC in comparison with the AYB. This is not surprising since these two commentaries would probably appeal to the same market, and both are expensive. Some of us can't afford either, and fewer would probably buy both. It was pointed out that the AYB is cited by many other resources, and many of the older ICC volumes are available in free pdf. True.

I thought I would express my thoughts about it, but since the original thread was about another topic, it seemed best to do so in a new thread.

Of course, it is a personal preference, and we all have our own preferences.

But I would much, much prefer the ICC over the AYB. The ICC is not nearly so dated as it was just a decade or so ago. Newer volumes by noted scholars I. Howard Marshall, C. E. B. Cranfield, W. D. Davies, and numerous others indicate that the ICC will maintain its place as one of the premiere commentaries. There is a 6 volume upgrade coming out in Logos very soon. The newer volumes are not available in free pdf. And many those older volumes are still very good.

And the ICC is cited by many other resources as well - I suspect even more than AYB. What volumes in the AYB have anything like the broad critical acclaim as Cranfield's Romans?

Both AYB are left of center theologically (well, left of me, but who isn't?), and both are widely respected for scholarly excellence. But, for me, I would chose ICC every time.

I know many folks would disagree, but those are my thoughts about it.

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Comments

DMB

Since you're sort of 'posing the question', and as I expressed in the other thread, I mentally have an (unjustifiable) problem with the price on PDFs .

I remember about a year ago, a lady was considering the ICC set and quite frankly, I had to consider whether I was in my grave, and whether to turn over in it. I wonder why that is. She went and bought it too.

I also have the 'poor lady's' ICC ... that'd be Cambridge. I actually use it more than my more expensive (and modern) ones. And it too started out in PDFs as well. In fact, I'm in Cambridge this morning on the Wisdom of Solomon, which was heavily used by Cyprian.

The problem with AYB, is it has a lot of 'ringers' (personal opinion of course). Frankly, if I had the money, I'd get the Logos AYB only because I think it's a left-over Logos contract not to be repeated (price-wise). ICC's do-able over the long term.

Donovan R. Palmer

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/507587#Comment_507587

I prefer ICC over ABY for the reasons already stated here.

Matthew C Jones

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/507592#Comment_507592

I might prefer ICC over AYB if I had it in Logos. But due to the inconvenience of my PDF version I find I do not refer to ICC enough to develop that preference. Maybe Logos will put ICC on sale for Christmas.

George Somsel

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/507601#Comment_507601

I have both sets and use both on those few instances when I use a commentary. I probably have a slight preference for the ICC generally though some AYB volumes are top drawer. Where but in the AYB would you get such an idiosyncratic interpretation of Revelation as that by J Massyngberd Ford? (This volume is to be replaced). The willingness of an author to go out on a limb to express an unusual view can be quite valuable. If you can find the resources to purchase both, I would recommend doing so.

Adam Rao

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/507625#Comment_507625

Personally, I bought the AYB as a set. I plan on purchasing some ICC volumes separately. Both are solid commentary series, but the AYB had enough volumes in it that I needed/wanted that the set made sense for me. (I can't see myself using the vast majority of the ICC set, but there are definitely volumes that one needs to have if you want to do scholarly research. NT, for example – Davies and Allison on Matthew; Barrett on Acts; Cranfield on Romans; Best on Ephesians; Marshall on the Pastorals.)

At least with the ICC, you can buy separate volumes. The AYB only comes as a set. Something else to consider.

George Somsel

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/507625#Comment_507625

I should also note that Dahood's 3 vol AYB commentary on the Psalms is an absolute MUST.

elnwood

Set vs. set, I'd take the Anchor Bible, if I could afford it. There are many more good volumes than the ICC. They also have the most in-depth commentaries on the smaller books, like the minor prophets, Ruth, and Philemon, that you won't really find elsewhere.

For the ICC, I'd say get the upgrade and get individual volumes. I got Barrett on Acts, Cranfield on Romans, and Best on Ephesians during the March Madness sale. One of the McKane volumes was 50% off on the daily twitter deal not too long ago.

The Denver Seminary AB recommendations, highly recommended are starred:
*Propp on Exodus
*Milgrom on Leviticus
*Levine on Numbers
Bolling/Wright on Joshua
Bolling on Judges
Campbell on Ruth
*McCarter on Samuel
*Cogman/Tadmor on Kings
*Knoppers on Chronicles
*Seow on Ecclesiastes
Pope on Song of Songs
Blenkinsopp on Isaiah 40-55
*Lundbom on Jeremiah
Greenberg on Ezekiel
Hartman/DiLenna on Daniel
Andersen/Freedman on Hosea
Crenshaw on Joel
Andersen/Freedman on Amos
*Sasson on Jonah
Andersen/Freedman on Micah
Berlin on Zephaniah
*Meyers/Meyers on Haggai and Zechariah
Marcus on Mark
Fitzmyer on Luke
Brown on John
Fitzmyer on Acts
Fitzmyer on Romans
Fitzmyer on 1 Corinthians
Furnich on 2 Corinthians
Martyn on Galatians
Barth on Ephesians
Reumann on Philippians
Barth/Blanke on Colossians
*Fitzmyer on Philemon
*Malherbe on Thessalonians
Johnson on Timothy
Quinn on Titus
Koester on Hebrews
Johnson on James
*Elliott on 1 Peter
Neyrey on 2 Peter/Jude
Brown on John's epistles

ICC
Goldingay/Payne on Isaiah 40-55 (in ICC upgrade)
*Williamson on Isaiah 1-5 (in ICC upgrade)
McKane on Jeremiah
Montgomery on Daniel
Harper, Hosea and Amos
Macintosh on Hosea
Davies/Allison on Matthew
Barrett on Acts
*Cranfield on Romans
Thrall on 2 Corinthians
Best on Ephesians
Wilson on Colossians (in ICC upgrade)
*Marshall on the Pastorals

George Somsel

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/507664#Comment_507664

For the ICC, I'd say get the upgrade and get individual volumes. I got Barrett on Acts, Cranfield on Romans, and Best on Ephesians during the March Madness sale. One of the McKane volumes was 50% off on the daily twitter deal not too long ago.

The Denver Seminary AB recommendations, highly recommended are starred:

This leaves out both Speiser on Genesis and Dahood on Psalms which I would consider to be among the most important.

Adam Rao

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/507689#Comment_507689

Proverbs by Fox (the set only includes Vol. 1, but Vol. 2 is available separately), Lamentations by Hillers, Obadiah by Raabe, and Malachi by Hill are all worthwhile, too. The AYB is a great set.

Mike Childs

Interesting and helpful comments from everyone. Thanks. Hope to buy ICC as soon as I pay off my current Logos payment plan. And when that is paid for, perhaps then I will get AYB. That is, if Jesus does not come back first. [;)]