I can only afford one of these, to complement my IVP black dictionaries set.
New Interpreter’s Dictionary of the Bible (5 vols.)
or
Anchor Yale Bible Dictionary (6 vols.)Price is almost the same.Recommendations, please.
I can't really help you since I only know the AYBD. Perhaps these links From Best Commentaries can help you:
1) Comparison of Bible Dictionaries
You will see on this page that the NIDB gets a slightly higher score of 75.0 against the AYBD's 73.5
2) More information on each Dictionary can be found here (you will also find some reviews)
New Interpreter's Dictionary of the Bible
The Anchor Yale Bible Dictionary
I hope this helps.
Thanks, that will help to give me a better idea.
I forgot to mention that I will be using them in my pursuit of an M.Div.
I don't know if that makes a difference...
Yale.
https://community.logos.com/forums/t/86462.aspx
for examples and other discussion.
Dan
Just looking at the publications date, Anchor (which has excellent reputation) is starting to be old by scholarly standards. I am sure there is still lots in there of value but it would not be very up to date (1992). The NIDB (a set that I don't know personally) is more recent (2006-2009).The editor is a well-known academic. It would be good to know if AYDB is scheduled for a revised edition. If that were the case, there would probably be some time before it comes out and then is released to Logos. Possibly such an update would be free or discounted for those who own the current edition but that's a lot of speculation.
I suspect that the date is a big reason the NIBD receives a higher score than AYBD.
Francis, those standards you're mentioning. Are they standards that belong to the scholars? Or standards that are scholarly? Or flagpoles with scholars standing on each others shoulders?
Now, I'm just joking. I fully realize they're housed in the Scholars Quotable Standards, Opinions, and Statistics library in Mannheim Germany. The german name is just to long to write out. But when people say 'most scholars believe ... ', this is where the information comes from.
I have Anchor. I purchased NIBD. It lasted on my PC for all of an hour. Thin articles, and many highly opinionated. Many may enjoy them. But not me.
I own both. I have found AYBD to be much more in depth and helpful. The articles in it are really lengthy and informative. By comparison, NIDB articles feel short and basic.
When I want a quick definition I find myself using NIDB. When I want to study a topic more in depth I find myself quickly moving on to AYBD.
Same here.
-dan
When I want a quick definition I find myself using NIDB. When I want to study a topic more in depth I find myself quickly moving on to AYBD. Same here. -dan
That's right! And for quick definitions the cheaper ones are just a good! Just one man's opinion here, but don't let the age fool you. The older the wiser saying applies to AYBD vs NIDB. NIBD may be more recent (younger), but as many have stated, is not as indepth as the AYBD. I had the same debate as you, but the difference was I already owned the AYBD and needed something to supplement it, and my IVP along with other encyclopedias supplemented my AYBD better than the "over priced" NIDB -- I'm not saying is not useful, but cheaper works can give you similar results. Instead of the NIDB I went for the New Interpreter's Bible (12 Volumes condensed in 1). And with the money I saved by not buying the NIDB it felt like the NIB was cheaper than the pre-pub price (at least in my head...LOL).
My question to the OP would be: Why did you wait for the NIDB to get more expensive instead of getting it at prepub for $139? Unless you just started using Logos, I really don't see why you let the prepub price slip for no reason. Anyway, a good and honest suggestion is: Go for the AYBD and if you just recently bought Logos ask for the "special price" on it, you'll be surprised how much you can save!
DAL
Francis,
I'm new to Logos, but I don't think they would give the update for free at all.
I own all black IVP dictionaries and to upgrade the one on Jesus and the Gospels to the 2nd edition would cost me about $42, although I already own the first edition.I think Logos will bleed you every chance they get.
Thank you very much, everyone.
I think I will go for the AYBD, then. Unless anyone feels I am well-covered by the black IVP Dictionaries and should spend my money in something else that I might need later.
I am a new Logos user and I'm trying to be smart with how I use the resources God has given me as I prepare to begin my M.Div. at Fuller this Fall.
Blessings!
Like many of the above, I have found AYBD quite useful. And in general, I think good dictionaries are more important for Logos than commentaries. But do you have HALOT and BDAG?
Yes, I do. Thanks!
Can anyone that's travelled this road before suggest anything else?
Unless anyone feels I am well-covered by the black IVP Dictionaries and should spend my money in something else that I might need later.
I suppose that it depends on how you study, your level, etc. For my part, I rarely use Bible dictionaries but perhaps it is because they are not as in depth as Anchor's. I do use the IVP dictionaries however and I have the entire collection. If someone has both, they may be able to comment on what Anchor would contribute above and beyond the IVP dictionaries or if one overlaps significantly with the other.
In contrast to what someone else mentioned here, I use commentaries extensively and by far, more than any other resources except perhaps language resources.
I think Logos will bleed you every chance they get.
Personally I have been a Logos user for over 15 years, and that has never been my experience. In actually, Logos is quite generous.
New Interpreter's Bible (12 Volumes condensed in 1).
It is not condensed into one it is combined into one. There is a difference.
I don't think they would give the update for free at all.
Updates are free, revisions are not. The print world operates on the same principle.
Thank you, Jack, for your input.
I'm a little frustrated with many of the "combos" they sell. Some really useful books are combined with some real losers, and there's no way to only buy the one you need. Also, the upgrade above (on the IVP Dictionary on Jesus and the Gospels) seemed too extreme. What I do with print books is sell the old one, and then add a little more money and buy the new edition. I can't do that with Logos. Or is there a way to sell the books you no longer need/want? That would be great.
I have AYBD and use it often. I also have the IVP Dictionaries and use them more often. But my eye has been on NIDB for some time and will likely be in my library soon...likey. [H]
"over priced" NIDB -- I'm not saying is not useful, but cheaper works can give you similar results.
Yes and i have said elsewhere Eerdmans Dictionary of the Bible for me is a great start off point too. At regular price NIDB seems for me to be very overpriced. This is just my opinion, I do know of others on here who value it above all other sets. For me Anchor is still the best over all... And in one volumes EDB meets top spot in my mind.
-Dan
I have the AYBD, IVP, and NIDB as well. I would definitely get AYBD before NIDB. I find that the IVP dictionaries are well complemented by the AYBD, but I also find myself supplementing with the Dictionary of Deities and Demons in the Bible.
'm a little frustrated with many of the "combos" they sell.
I agree with you in this, but some of it is publisher-driven. There is also the possibility that those "real losers" could not be moved otherwise [^o)] Personally, I wish all resources were available individually, but sometimes we must wait for bundles to be broken. If the contents of the bundle is worth the asking price—to you, then purchase, otherwise wait for something that better fits you wants and wallet.
the upgrade above (on the IVP Dictionary on Jesus and the Gospels) seemed too extreme.
Admittedly, Logos resources frequently come at a premium price. It is up to the purchaser to determine if the added feature of a Logos version are worth the price. Sometimes revised versions do not contain enough new material to justify the price. Here, we must do some research to determine what has changed in the resource.
Or is there a way to sell the books you no longer need/want?
You can't do that on the Logos forums, but I believe that stilltruth.com has provisions for doing this. Also there is eBay, Craig's List, et. al.
Hope this helps. If you need any other information, let us know.
New Interpreter's Bible (12 Volumes condensed in 1). It is not condensed into one it is combined into one. There is a difference.
Yes indeed! That's the word I had in mind, but I guess something else came out when typing. Hey, I was ready to go to bed so brain was cooperating. [|-)]
Isn't there a Facebook or Twitter page to buy/sell Logos resources? Google and you may find it. There is a flat $20 resource transfer fee, regardless of how many titles you are transferring. This tends to make bigger transactions better.
I did not know you could actually sell your books to other users. This sounds like it would help many people get rid of books they don't want, and obtain books they want.
One thing to note.. If you buy X collection to get a book. You can not sell all the other books. Logos requires sales be of complete sets.
