NIB Not Ranked?

Any idea why these commentaries are not ranked? You would think that they would be in the race of at least the top 5 commentaries, but they aren't. The only book of the Bible in this series that is ranked is Numbers and it's at number 9.

Dan, your input would be greatly appreciated...

Thanks!

DAL

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MJ. Smith

Ranked where? Is this a Logos question?

DAL

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/599958#Comment_599958

Ranked where? Best commentaries dot come

Is this a Logos question? It depends, could be yes in the sense of that set coming out of production soon and need to know how good it really is before I dish out the cash to buy it or no in the sense that Logos just sells the resource regardless of its ranking in other sites or users' voice which can be subjective.

Mark Smith

Any idea why these commentaries are not ranked?

Since some of the volumes have now been out for 20 years, it must be due to the type of commentary. It apparently does not attract the kind of reviewers for individual books of the Bible that bestcommentaries.com uses.

This does make it harder to decide if one wants the set, doesn't it?

DAL

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/599976#Comment_599976

Any idea why these commentaries are not ranked?

Since some of the volumes have now been out for 20 years, it must be due to the type of commentary. It apparently does not attract the kind of reviewers for individual books of the Bible that bestcommentaries.com uses.

This does make it harder to decide if one wants the set, doesn't it?

Yes, it kind of makes it harder, since is not a cheap set either. I think I may just go for the NIB Dictionary since it's more recent (2006-2009). We'll see, I still have some more time to think about it.

DAL

Unix

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/599989#Comment_599989

You can try out the Ephesians volume separately in Logos, just purchase it at the Vyrso site, the publisher is Abingdon and the author is Pheme Perkins! The NIB Edition has more pastoral material added to it.

DMB

We'll wait for the expert (Dan). But I'm not surprised NIB's not highly ranked on that site. First, the site is on the conservative protestant side, and second, NIB is designed as a more compact commentary (one reason I like it .. 'Get to the point!'). I put NIB in the same class as Oxford and New Jerome, both not in the Hermeneia/AYB world, and both 'to the point'.

Commentary's are a tough call. I wish Logos has a program of 'test download'. Maybe it dies within an hour? That's how long it takes me to figure out if I have a winner, or I need to see what the Logos customer service number is.

Dan Francis

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/600077#Comment_600077

We'll wait for the expert (Dan). But I'm not surprised NIB's not highly ranked on that site. First, the site is on the conservative protestant side, and second, NIB is designed as a more compact commentary (one reason I like it .. 'Get to the point!'). I put NIB in the same class as Oxford and New Jerome, both not in the Hermeneia/AYB world, and both 'to the point'.

Commentary's are a tough call. I wish Logos has a program of 'test download'. Maybe it dies within an hour? That's how long it takes me to figure out if I have a winner, or I need to see what the Logos customer service number is.

First off I am no expert, a long term user and i have used it in conjunction with my Logos Library. I am passionate about it. One might call it a food processor of Commentaries in my mind. Nearly indispensable. But there are many other tools some more suited to one task or another. But your kitchen is the poorer for not having a decent food processor.

I believe N.T. Wright considers his contribution (Romans) one of his finest works and have heard more than one say it is worth it's price for it alone. The NIB is one of the most useful because of it's nature. A three volume treatment on Isaiah (Joseph Blenkinsopp Anchor Yale Bible) is obviously going to be more in-depth in many ways than a 520 pages treatment in NIB. Despite this I will say in this example If I was told I could refer only to NIB or Anchor for the rest of my life I would choose NIB because the information there is more than adequate and the devotions parts are nourishing to my soul. The pages are larger than most books too... Lets take a look at two resources I can compare in identical format.... I have folio editions of NIB and Interpretation. Interpretation's 43 volumes placed in that digital format equals 25 MB, NIB 12 complete in the same format is 121 MB. (Now there are a few maps and 2 translations of the bible in the 121mb count so lets remove a good 21 MB. You can see there is almost 4 times more raw data in the NIB text wise than you find in Interpretation. I will say NIB is also more consistent than many series (it has weaker parts here and there, none so bad as to pop out in my mind after using it for over 15 years (indeed I have used volume one since 1995, a year after the first volume's release, with final volume released 2001). I have encountered volumes in Anchor worth their weight in gold to me and i have seen several that to me seem little more than the depth you will encounter in good study Bible. I do not consider NIB a perfect commentary, but to switch to a sports metaphor it seems to consistently seems to punch above it weight. I do not believe I could honestly say any book covered it the number one on it;s book (with the possible exception of Wisdom/Sirach both these books benefit from the Anchor volumes on those books and provide the finest treatment I know on those two books of the apocrypha). But I have said this before and do mean it. If the NIB was the only commentary I could own and refers to I would not feel hard done by. It provides good solid critical textual scholarship and wonderful reflections.

As for choosing the NIDB over NIB, I enjoy it but for me it would not be a hard choice choosing the NIB. NIDB in my mind is good resource but far below Anchor and even below ISBEr. But it makes a nice go to resource and then go to ISBEr or Anchor if I want more depth.

And finally getting back to Denise Logos offers test drives for 30 days 100% money back guarantee no questions if you feel for any reason you want to return it you just have to call and get your money back.

-Dan

Rosie Perera

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/599976#Comment_599976

Any idea why these commentaries are not ranked?

Since some of the volumes have now been out for 20 years, it must be due to the type of commentary. It apparently does not attract the kind of reviewers for individual books of the Bible that bestcommentaries.com uses.

Here is where bestcommentaries.com describes its ranking philosophy: http://bestcommentaries.com/about/

DAL

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/600267#Comment_600267

Well, I might as well test drive it for 30 days. That way if I choose to keep it, at least I was able to secure the lowest price possible; and if I choose to return it, then I would lose nothing anyway. So far I'm not completely sold, but from the samples I've been reading, the reflections are good and the exposition of the text is good quality. Not bad for an ecumenical commentary - I hope the label is the correct one and is not intended as something negative. During those 30 days, I will make it a homework/goal to read the Romans volume by N.T. Wright. I've heard too many good things on it to just ignore it. We'll see, I think we'll still have to wait a while before it makes it out of pre-pub, but it's ok. Thanks for your input Dan on the NIDB. I think I'll just focus on the NIB instead. I have AYBD and the IVP set of dictionaries plus other decent ones. I'll probably get ISBEr later when it goes on sale. I figure NIB covers the whole Bible and it would be more useful than just a dictionary.

DAL

Dan Francis

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/600282#Comment_600282

Well, I might as well test drive it for 30 days. That way if I choose to keep it, at least I was able to secure the lowest price possible; and if I choose to return it, then I would lose nothing anyway. So far I'm not completely sold, but from the samples I've been reading, the reflections are good and the exposition of the text is good quality. Not bad for an ecumenical commentary - I hope the label is the correct one and is not intended as something negative. During those 30 days, I will make it a homework/goal to read the Romans volume by N.T. Wright. I've heard too many good things on it to just ignore it. We'll see, I think we'll still have to wait a while before it makes it out of pre-pub, but it's ok. Thanks for your input Dan on the NIDB. I think I'll just focus on the NIB instead. I have AYBD and the IVP set of dictionaries plus other decent ones. I'll probably get ISBEr later when it goes on sale. I figure NIB covers the whole Bible and it would be more useful than just a dictionary.

DAL

This seems most wise to me. I hope you find it worth keeping but if not you can easily return it. That is one big way I will give Logos it's due. They want happy customers, they cannot please everyone but I have seen them bend over backwards at times trying to make their customers happy. Even hearing of them offering refunds months past the 30 day offered satisfaction guarantee. I wish everyone owned the NIB because it seems very good to me, but I am under no delusion to think everyone will want to own it, but Logos gives people the opportunity for everyone to try it for themselves to see what they think.

-dan

PS: I do know in CS people may complain about Logos lack of price matching often but even there when they can, they do seem to offer equal value for special promotional items.

DAL

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/600471#Comment_600471

Well, we now have a "GUESSTIMATE DATE" And by then, I don't have to worry about being able to afford it or not. It will only be a matter of deciding whether to keep it or not. Cool! [Y]

Dan Francis

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/600908#Comment_600908

LOL... That is messed up.... Since I had been told their hope was to have it released within 6 weeks of going under contract. But then that is why they don;t give estimates early on... Here is to August...

-Dan

DAL

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/600919#Comment_600919

LOL... That is messed up.... Since I had been told their hope was to have it released within 6 weeks of going under contract. But then that is why they don;t give estimates early on... Here is to August...

-Dan

Well, as long as there are no contract disputes with the publisher and then all of the sudden they say, "Well, sorry guys, we won't be able to offer the NIB anymore" then we should be fine, if not, that would be such a bummer. [6] [A] So hopefully August it will be! [:P]

Dan Francis

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/600920#Comment_600920

"Well, sorry guys, we won't be able to offer the NIB anymore" then we should be fine, if not, that would be such a bummer. So hopefully August it will be!

Well I can't see problems coming. Accordance has released all four of the NIB family (12 volume commentary, dictionary, one volume commentary, and study Bible) and Olivetree has all but the 12 volume set. If Logos lost it after doing all the work something is really wrong in the world of contracts.... but then again they had a solid contract for anchor reference and then had to wait months to release it after all the work was done.

-Dan

DAL

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/600926#Comment_600926

Wow, I hope the one volume comes out and the Study Bible too. I wouldn't mind having those either. The dictionary, I might just wait or just not get it at all, since I have plenty in that department.

DAL

Dan Francis

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/600929#Comment_600929

Since there are no links to competitors products on this page I will share Thanks for the NIB Family. Which tells more about how I like using them together. With examples from Psalm one.

-Dan

DAL

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/600933#Comment_600933

Since there are no links to competitors products on this page I will share Thanks for the NIB Family. Which tells more about how I like using them together. With examples from Psalm one.

-Dan

Thanks for sharing!

Dan Francis

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/600938#Comment_600938

I am surprised there is no release time frame for the dictionary.

-dan

DAL

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/601208#Comment_601208

I am surprised there is no release time frame for the dictionary.

-dan

Great, that may give me extra time to decide whether to get it or not. [:P]

Dan Francis

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/601248#Comment_601248

I am surprised there is no release time frame for the dictionary.

-dan

Great, that may give me extra time to decide whether to get it or not.

At 139.99 I would say it is a fair bargain... OT had it at either 90 or 100 on release and I got it there... which seemed like a very good bargain. If you can easily afford it when it comes available i would say go for it, but if you are stretched for funds I wouldn't feel too hard done by to let it pass.. Eerdmans Dictionary of the Bible is nearly as good a resource in a more compact form.

-Dan

Dan Francis

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/601255#Comment_601255

I am surprised there is no release time frame for the dictionary.

-dan

Great, that may give me extra time to decide whether to get it or not.

At 139.99 I would say it is a fair bargain...

Time is almost up....FYI

Ships 7/17/2014

New Interpreter’s Dictionary of the Bible (5 vols.)

DAL

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/605875#Comment_605875

Thanks for the reminder. [Y] I may just go ahead and invest in it while it's cheap. I'm afraid the price will go up too much, once it goes live.

DAL

Nick Steffen

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/605875#Comment_605875

Appreciate the heads up, Dan, but as good a price as it is I have a hard time placing an order. Having ABD and Eerdman's I am already blessed with wonderful encyclopedic material and haven't really experienced the need for much more at this point. Plus I'm trying to save up for the NIB in August. But feel free to prove me wrong.

Dan Francis

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/606083#Comment_606083

I think you are fairly well covered. NIDB is nice but it is not needful in my mind. Now if memory serves Unix says it is a must have and far superior to Anchor. I enjoy it and think it is worth having but in a competition between NIB and NIDB the NIB wins hands down each and every time. I know I earlier in this thread called NIB a food-processor of Biblical study.... NIDB in my mind would rate as a "magic bullet", very handy, ideal in someways, but not a replacement for full sized blender in my mind. But try it and see, you can always return it if you don't think it is going to be useful enough to warrant it.

-Dan

DAL

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/606108#Comment_606108

I think you are fairly well covered. NIDB is nice but it is not needful in my mind. Now if memory serves Unix says it is a must have and far superior to Anchor. I enjoy it and think it is worth having but in a competition between NIB and NIDB the NIB wins hands down each and every time. I know I earlier in this thread called NIB a food-processor of Biblical study.... NIDB in my mind would rate as a "magic bullet", very handy, ideal in someways, but not a replacement for full sized blender in my mind. But try it and see, you can always return it if you don't think it is going to be useful enough to warrant it.

-Dan

Here's Unix's review:

Unix 10 months ago

Just going to review this briefly, You can find more about my thoughts about the NIDB on the forums. Pre-ordered in Logos end of the Winter 2013. I now have it in print. It has non-transliterated Gk. Seriously, the Gk alphabet is easy to learn, once You've learned it You prefer non-transliterated. Also, this is the most thoroughly up-to-date Bible dictionary there is. GREAT replacement for the now dated Anchor Yale Bible Dictionary. NIDB is the major Bible dictionary. Integration level in Logos will be superb once it ships. Having a few key reference works in Your Logos library enhances Your experience!

I think he likes the fact that is more recent than the AYBD and that it has non-transliterated Greek, other than that, he's not really saying much other than the fact he likes it (which is his opinion and opinions are subjective).

Personally, I'll test it for 30 days and compare it to my AYBD and other encyclopedias and if it doesn't seem as something I MUST have then I'll return it and purchase the Eerdmans Dictionary of the Bible instead. After all, they're reference material and personally I don't go to them every single day.

DAL

J David Shuttleworth

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/601255#Comment_601255

Bless you all!!

I would like to know what NIB is short for? Is it the New Interpreter's Bible, please elaborate for those of us who are a bit less knowledgeable as all of you esteemed scholars!!

[:D]

Nick Steffen

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/606180#Comment_606180

You're absolutely correct. NIB = New Interpreter's Bible

https://www.logos.com/product/8803/new-interpreters-bible

Dan Francis

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/606110#Comment_606110

I think he likes the fact that is more recent than the AYBD and that it has non-transliterated Greek, other than that, he's not really saying much other than the fact he likes it (which is his opinion and opinions are subjective).

That is most certain, he has said he values it to such an extent that :

[quote]Unix | Forum Activity | Replied: Mon May 19, 2014 7:45 AM

I want the NIDB with two accounts! Big Smile Not sure what to do with the spare copy but I'm not planning to sell it. I have it in print as well, new from a sale at cokesbury last Summer. I will most probably meet new people at universities who need the NIDB but a problem arises if they are Logos users already because what I'm thinking of is gifting the entire extra Logos account I have - there's not much in it.

________________________________________________________________________________________________

I am not as ardent a fan if the NIDB as Unix but he is by no means the only person who deeply values it and I was just using him as one example of a person valuing NIDB above Anchor.

-Dan

PS:

[quote] Michael Childs | Forum Activity | Replied: Fri Jan 3, 2014 6:35 AM

Unix:

I've discussed and researched facts and reviews about all the multi-volume Bible Dictionaries that have been issued in English since the '70s, and found the New Interpreter's Dictionary of the Bible (5 vols.) to be the very best! In addition to that it must be the most recent - a valid concern when it comes to Bible dictionaries, the Editors seem good, and it had many contributors.

It's pretty cheap on pre-pub for a five-volume Bible dictionary.

I have it as printed matter.

Oh, and lest I forget, it has another feature that surely adds value: article entry headwords are also in non-transliterated Greek, i.e. with the Greek alphabet - so double clicking Gk words in Your books or Gk Bible will be opening up the NIDB if an entry found.

I'm not that biased, I don't have an order for the New Interpreter's Bible Commentary.
If You want to find out a little bit about me, look at my Faithlife profile and perhaps recent posts.

Spot on, UNIX. You are correct. The New Interpreters Dictionary of the Bible may be the very best Bible Dictionary out there.

DAL

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/606108#Comment_606108

I think you are fairly well covered. NIDB is nice but it is not needful in my mind. Now if memory serves Unix says it is a must have and far superior to Anchor. I enjoy it and think it is worth having but in a competition between NIB and NIDB the NIB wins hands down each and every time. I know I earlier in this thread called NIB a food-processor of Biblical study.... NIDB in my mind would rate as a "magic bullet", very handy, ideal in someways, but not a replacement for full sized blender in my mind. But try it and see, you can always return it if you don't think it is going to be useful enough to warrant it.

-Dan

LOL call me crazy, but I have finally made up my mind about the NIDB! I checked some sample pages on Abingdon Press' website and compared the articles there with the ones I have from AYBD, IVP Dictionaries and other Bible Encyclopedias/Dictionaries and I have come to the conclusion that I really don't need this resource. I have plenty and some of the articles are elaborated better on other dictionaries than in NIBD!!! I see some articles include outlines and some don't. Also, there's the Hebrew and Greek words Unix was talking about, but other than that, I'm pretty much well covered with what I currently own. I think I'd rather invest on the NIB instead that way it'll be $139.95 bucks cheaper and it'll be like paying only $340 for the 12 volume set (at least in my mind...hehehe). I might add Eerdmans Dictionary of the Bible later on, but quite frankly, I don't think I need that one either. I have other resources on my priority list and that one can certainly wait too. Talk about being indecisive, but not anymore! [8-|]

Blessings!

DAL

Dan Francis

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/606349#Comment_606349

Glad you decided...

-Dan