Why is it taking the Adam Clarke Commentary so long to become available?

Gary Osborne
Gary Osborne Member Posts: 325 ✭✭
edited November 2024 in English Forum

This is one of the most important resources I have in my print library (I also have it in another bible software program I use).  It's just unbelievable to me that it's been sitting in Community Pricing for as long as it has without any movement.  Quite disheartening.  It's also keeping me from using Logos exclusively and as much as I want to. 

Can anyone please explain why it's taking so long?

Thanks.

Comments

  • NB.Mick
    NB.Mick MVP Posts: 16,269

    Can anyone please explain why it's taking so long?

    We all can only guess - am I correct that you refer to http://www.logos.com/product/16526/the-works-of-adam-clarke ?

    Some initial guesses (I'm in since Jan 2012 but not at the going rate):

    - the price point is much too high for a work that may be had for free elsewhere?

    - Logos' production cost is too high since they bundled a large commentary set with a dictionary set?

    - this product is not experiencing recent publicity, such as in a thread (you took care of that) or a blog post?

    Have joy in the Lord! Smile

  • Daniel Yoder
    Daniel Yoder Member Posts: 541 ✭✭

    This collection is fairly high-priced, although it would be great to have in Logos.  It is completely stuck in the mud.  With more bidders we could get this into production and drop the price a bit. 

  • Bruce Dunning
    Bruce Dunning MVP Posts: 11,163

    I've big on this resource but the price is just too high. I think that the price is scaring people off and the hope of it dropping significantly (to be more in line with other CP resources) is not promising.

    Using adventure and community to challenge young people to continually say "yes" to God

  • George Somsel
    George Somsel Member Posts: 10,150 ✭✭✭

    This is one of the most important resources I have in my print library (I also have it in another bible software program I use).  It's just unbelievable to me that it's been sitting in Community Pricing for as long as it has without any movement.  Quite disheartening.  It's also keeping me from using Logos exclusively and as much as I want to. 

    Can anyone please explain why it's taking so long?

    Thanks.

    I frequently place a lowball bid on something I'm not really that interested in getting but might want to consider at a later date.  I note, however, that I haven't even placed a lowball bid on this.  Why?  Well, it is really much to high priced as it now stands, but that isn't the reason.  I would say that there are two reasons:

    1. It's a one-man commentary.  I haven't been interested in a one-man commentary since Matthew Henry (or one of the greats such as Calvin).  One person cannot adequately cover everything in both OT and NT.
    2. It's got whiskers, and these whiskers are not only fully grown, they are completely grey.  I will tolerate old commentary by some of the greats such as Aquinas, Calvin and Luther, but Clark isn't anywhere near in that category.

    george
    gfsomsel

    יְמֵי־שְׁנוֹתֵינוּ בָהֶם שִׁבְעִים שָׁנָה וְאִם בִּגְבוּרֹת שְׁמוֹנִים שָׁנָה וְרָהְבָּם עָמָל וָאָוֶן

  • Matthew C Jones
    Matthew C Jones Member Posts: 10,295 ✭✭✭

    This collection is fairly high-priced, although it would be great to have in Logos.  It is completely stuck in the mud.  With more bidders we could get this into production and drop the price a bit. 

    It might be better if all bidders over $50 would drop their bids to $50 even. Then the projected "successful bid" would show as $50 and attract more attention.

    I just dropped mine.

    Logos 7 Collectors Edition

  • Mike Pettit
    Mike Pettit Member Posts: 1,041 ✭✭

    And a lot of us already have it in Logos anyway as an old Ages product, so we would not buy it again.

  • Mark Smith
    Mark Smith MVP Posts: 11,835

    This is one that would benefit from being split into two parts: the six volume commentary and the other 18 works. I'll bet the 6 volume commentary would get enough commitments to publish in a short time.

    Maybe Logos would consider this as it is unlikely any of it will be published as currently offered.

    Pastor, North Park Baptist Church

    Bridgeport, CT USA

  • Daniel Yoder
    Daniel Yoder Member Posts: 541 ✭✭

    I also dropped my bid to $50.

    I agree that Logos should consider breaking this collection up. 

  • Gary Osborne
    Gary Osborne Member Posts: 325 ✭✭

    I frequently place a lowball bid on something I'm not really that interested in getting but might want to consider at a later date.  I note, however, that I haven't even placed a lowball bid on this.  Why?  Well, it is really much to high priced as it now stands, but that isn't the reason.  I would say that there are two reasons:

    1. It's a one-man commentary.  I haven't been interested in a one-man commentary since Matthew Henry (or one of the greats such as Calvin).  One person cannot adequately cover everything in both OT and NT.
    2. It's got whiskers, and these whiskers are not only fully grown, they are completely grey.  I will tolerate old commentary by some of the greats such as Aquinas, Calvin and Luther, but Clark isn't anywhere near in that category.

    I completely agree with you about one-man commentaries being things I generally stay away from.  But I completely disagree that Clarke is not to be numbered with Calvin, Luther, Henry and the like.  His 6 volume commentary set is a classic that has stood the test of time and is the foremost Arminian based resource of its kind.  It is an essential for anyone that wants to see something that isn't Reformed in nature. 

    Having said all that, I too just dropped my bid down to $50, even though the truth is I'd personally pay plenty more for it.  In fact I'll gladly offer Logos my Calvin Commentaries and give them $50 beside if they'll give me the Adam Clarke Commentary set.  [:D]

  • Gary Osborne
    Gary Osborne Member Posts: 325 ✭✭

    This is one that would benefit from being split into two parts: the six volume commentary and the other 18 works. I'll bet the 6 volume commentary would get enough commitments to publish in a short time.

    Maybe Logos would consider this as it is unlikely any of it will be published as currently offered.

    This suggestion is perfect and really should be considered by Logos if they can't make the entire bundle available soon. 

  • George Somsel
    George Somsel Member Posts: 10,150 ✭✭✭

    I completely agree with you about one-man commentaries being things I generally stay away from.  But I completely disagree that Clarke is not to be numbered with Calvin, Luther, Henry and the like.  His 6 volume commentary set is a classic that has stood the test of time and is the foremost Arminian based resource of its kind.  It is an essential for anyone that wants to see something that isn't Reformed in nature. 

    Just to be clear, I wouldn't number Matthew Henry with the others.  His significance to me is that his is the first commentary I ever bought from a Mennonite-owned bookstore in the town where I grew up with the money I earned during the summer.  The man has a heart and is therefore good to read from that aspect, but I wouldn't rely on him for the understanding of any passage.

    george
    gfsomsel

    יְמֵי־שְׁנוֹתֵינוּ בָהֶם שִׁבְעִים שָׁנָה וְאִם בִּגְבוּרֹת שְׁמוֹנִים שָׁנָה וְרָהְבָּם עָמָל וָאָוֶן

  • Mike Childs
    Mike Childs Member Posts: 3,135 ✭✭✭

    I completely agree with you about one-man commentaries being things I generally stay away from.  But I completely disagree that Clarke is not to be numbered with Calvin, Luther, Henry and the like.  His 6 volume commentary set is a classic that has stood the test of time and is the foremost Arminian based resource of its kind.  It is an essential for anyone that wants to see something that isn't Reformed in nature. 

    Just to be clear, I wouldn't number Matthew Henry with the others.  His significance to me is that his is the first commentary I ever bought from a Mennonite-owned bookstore in the town where I grew up with the money I earned during the summer.  The man has a heart and is therefore good to read from that aspect, but I wouldn't rely on him for the understanding of any passage.

    You wouldn't, but I would rely upon Clarke as much as Calvin.  Clarke's original language skills are superior to Calvin's.  But a difference of opinion is what makes a horse race.  And I do greatly respect, and still read Calvin's commentaries.  Not intended as a put down to Calvin, bless his Tulip heart!

    I have not bid because I already have the Adam Clarke Commentary, and few other of his resources in Logos format from Ages.  While I would like to have the other works, not $100 worth.  I am thinking of bidding $40, which is the most I would pay for the resources I don't already have.

     

     

     


    "In all cases, the Church is to be judged by the Scripture, not the Scripture by the Church," John Wesley

  • Gary Osborne
    Gary Osborne Member Posts: 325 ✭✭

    Just to be clear, I wouldn't number Matthew Henry with the others.  His significance to me is that his is the first commentary I ever bought from a Mennonite-owned bookstore in the town where I grew up with the money I earned during the summer.  The man has a heart and is therefore good to read from that aspect, but I wouldn't rely on him for the understanding of any passage.

    You wouldn't, but I would rely upon Clarke as much as Calvin.  Clarke's original language skills are superior to Calvin's.  But a difference of opinion is what makes a horse race.  And I do greatly respect, and still read Calvin's commentaries.  Not intended as a put down to Calvin, bless his Tulip heart!

    Definitely agree about Clarke being far more than a devotional or "long in the tooth" commentary.  His commentary, especially for its day, was very solid with the original languages (much better than Calvin's).  It really is a solid theological commentary in its approach - as compared to something like Matthew Henry.  I think a lot of people that have never used it don't realize that.

  • George Somsel
    George Somsel Member Posts: 10,150 ✭✭✭

    Just to be clear, I wouldn't number Matthew Henry with the others.  His significance to me is that his is the first commentary I ever bought from a Mennonite-owned bookstore in the town where I grew up with the money I earned during the summer.  The man has a heart and is therefore good to read from that aspect, but I wouldn't rely on him for the understanding of any passage.

    You wouldn't, but I would rely upon Clarke as much as Calvin.  Clarke's original language skills are superior to Calvin's.  But a difference of opinion is what makes a horse race.  And I do greatly respect, and still read Calvin's commentaries.  Not intended as a put down to Calvin, bless his Tulip heart!

    Definitely agree about Clarke being far more than a devotional or "long in the tooth" commentary.  His commentary, especially for its day, was very solid with the original languages (much better than Calvin's).  It really is a solid theological commentary in its approach - as compared to something like Matthew Henry.  I think a lot of people that have never used it don't realize that.

    There is more than simply theological commentary.  The fact that the older commentaries are more interested in theology than in the content of the text is why I don't care for them (besides there have been a few discoveries since that time).  I don't think Clark could hold a candle to Calvin so far as languages and patristic knowledge is concerned.  I like to older commentaries I mentioned simply for the history of interpretation.  I do my own linguistic work with an occasional nod to some modern commentators.  The interest I have in modern commentators is primarily for the other facts that they drag in from history and other commentators.

    george
    gfsomsel

    יְמֵי־שְׁנוֹתֵינוּ בָהֶם שִׁבְעִים שָׁנָה וְאִם בִּגְבוּרֹת שְׁמוֹנִים שָׁנָה וְרָהְבָּם עָמָל וָאָוֶן

  • DAL
    DAL Member Posts: 10,870 ✭✭✭

    This is one that would benefit from being split into two parts: the six volume commentary and the other 18 works. I'll bet the 6 volume commentary would get enough commitments to publish in a short time.

    Maybe Logos would consider this as it is unlikely any of it will be published as currently offered.

    Well said Mark! I'm only interested in the commentaries anyway.  So Logos should probably split this collection in 2 (one: commentaries, two: the other stuff).

    DAL

  • Bruce Dunning
    Bruce Dunning MVP Posts: 11,163

    It might be better if all bidders over $50 would drop their bids to $50 even. Then the projected "successful bid" would show as $50 and attract more attention.

    [Y]

    Using adventure and community to challenge young people to continually say "yes" to God

  • Gary Osborne
    Gary Osborne Member Posts: 325 ✭✭

    DAL said:

    Well said Mark! I'm only interested in the commentaries anyway.  So Logos should probably split this collection in 2 (one: commentaries, two: the other stuff).

    DAL

    [Y]

  • Kevin A. Purcell
    Kevin A. Purcell Member Posts: 3,421 ✭✭✭

    As great a program as Logos is and the company behind it, this is one of the weaknesses. Their system of publishing takes too much money to make a public domain work like this worth the cost for them or for us. Since I can simply fire up another program that offers the text tied to a verse the added value of a Logos version is lost. I wouldn't pay anything for this work because I have it in almost every other Bible software I run regularly. I'm not blaming Logos. Just explaining why I won't ever bid on it.

    Dr. Kevin Purcell, Director of Missions
    Brushy Mountain Baptist Association

    www.kevinpurcell.org

  • Gary Osborne
    Gary Osborne Member Posts: 325 ✭✭

    JPH said:

    I'm in for $50.

    [Y]

    I hope more people are willing to place a bid.  This is a top notch resource!

  • Mike Childs
    Mike Childs Member Posts: 3,135 ✭✭✭

    DAL said:

    Well said Mark! I'm only interested in the commentaries anyway.  So Logos should probably split this collection in 2 (one: commentaries, two: the other stuff).

    DAL

    Yes

     

    I agree that the vast majority of people who would consider Adam Clarke are interested in the commentaries.  Really, only someone very interested in Methodist history / heritage is going to want the rest.  There are a few of us, but not that many.  This collection should be split.

     


    "In all cases, the Church is to be judged by the Scripture, not the Scripture by the Church," John Wesley

  • Evan Boardman
    Evan Boardman Member Posts: 738 ✭✭

    Would you say his commentary is better than Wesley's?

  • Gary Osborne
    Gary Osborne Member Posts: 325 ✭✭

    Would you say his commentary is better than Wesley's?

    Absolutely.  And this is coming from someone who truly respects and loves Wesley.

  • Mike Childs
    Mike Childs Member Posts: 3,135 ✭✭✭

    Clarke's commentary is much more through than Wesley's.  Wesley's "commentary" would be what he called "Explanatory Notes", more like a "study Bible" notes than a full blown commentary.


    "In all cases, the Church is to be judged by the Scripture, not the Scripture by the Church," John Wesley

  • Gary Osborne
    Gary Osborne Member Posts: 325 ✭✭

    Clarke's commentary is much more through than Wesley's.  Wesley's "commentary" would be what he called "Explanatory Notes", more like a "study Bible" notes than a full blown commentary.

    Absolutely correct.  Clarke's Commentary is just that, an in-depth commentary.  It's a fabulous and well known resource that I think Logos needs to make available asap.

  • Stephen Steele
    Stephen Steele Member Posts: 707 ✭✭
  • Mike Pettit
    Mike Pettit Member Posts: 1,041 ✭✭

    I smell an imminent Methodist base package to explain the jump to production.

  • David Carter
    David Carter Member Posts: 1,099 ✭✭✭

    NB.Mick said:

    - the price point is much too high for a work that may be had for free elsewhere?

    Indeed.

    I've been in at $20 for over two years, basically so I would get notified when it was about to cross the line and could then decide whether to adjust my bid. I won't be adjusting it to the current $90 or anywhere near that. A ridiculous price for a work that is in the public domain in my opinion.

  • Gary Osborne
    Gary Osborne Member Posts: 325 ✭✭

    NB.Mick said:

    - the price point is much too high for a work that may be had for free elsewhere?

    Indeed.

    I've been in at $20 for over two years, basically so I would get notified when it was about to cross the line and could then decide whether to adjust my bid. I won't be adjusting it to the current $90 or anywhere near that. A ridiculous price for a work that is in the public domain in my opinion.

    It is expensive, but I'm still buying it.  This has been a "holy grail" resource for me since moving from another bible software program to Logos several years ago.  To have this commentary working in Logos is a dream come true for me!  Thanks Logos!!

  • David Carter
    David Carter Member Posts: 1,099 ✭✭✭
  • David Wilson
    David Wilson Member Posts: 1,238 ✭✭✭

    If all those who had bid $50 would raise their bids to $80 we would all likely get it for $70.

    If it becomes part of a new base package in the next few weeks then we could trade it in for the base package of simply cancel the order if the base package gets released first.

  • David Wilson
    David Wilson Member Posts: 1,238 ✭✭✭

    Thanks to all those who responded, it moved significantly closer to $70 today..... we still have a chance to get it over the line at $70.... 
    would probably take too many people to move their $50 bids to $60 now given the short time remaining so we may have to bid $80 if we want to be sure of getting this....  I wonder what it will jump to after noon time tomorrow ..... [*-)]

  • DAL
    DAL Member Posts: 10,870 ✭✭✭

    Went in for $80.  Hopefully it'll drop down to, at least, $70.

    DAL

  • John Kaess
    John Kaess Member Posts: 765 ✭✭✭

    I think if just a few who bid at $50 or $60 would go up to $70 we could all get it for $70.  It's really, really close.

  • Whyndell Grizzard
    Whyndell Grizzard Member Posts: 3,523 ✭✭✭

    $40 or less people- quit high balling these bid products your paying to much!

  • Mark Smith
    Mark Smith MVP Posts: 11,835

    Pastor, North Park Baptist Church

    Bridgeport, CT USA

  • Ted Hans
    Ted Hans MVP Posts: 3,174

    Dell, studio XPS 7100, Ram 8GB, 64 - bit Operating System, AMD Phenom(mt) IIX6 1055T Processor 2.80 GHZ

  • Mark Smith
    Mark Smith MVP Posts: 11,835

    Ted Hans said:

    $70

    I just got my email telling me I missed out at $50. I am surprised it went for as much as it did. I note it is now $179.

    Pastor, North Park Baptist Church

    Bridgeport, CT USA

  • DAL
    DAL Member Posts: 10,870 ✭✭✭

    Ted Hans said:

    $70

    I just got my email telling me I missed out at $50. I am surprised it went for as much as it did. I note it is now $179.

    I went in for $70 because I thought, "hmmm $50? What the heck, $20 more won't hurt my wallet - so might as well, since there is no way to get the old libronix version that used to include both Wesley's and Clarke's works." 

    I still think it went for a little more than I would have liked to pay and I still think Logos should've split the collection in 2, but hey, it is what it is. [:)]

  • DAL
    DAL Member Posts: 10,870 ✭✭✭

    Well, it seems like the commentaries have been made available separate.  Those of us who went in for $70 for both the O.T. and N.T. along with Clarke's other writings must be happy to know that we DID get a great deal.  Check out the price for Clarke's N.T. commentary its $79.95 and the same goes for Clarke's O.T. commentary.  So that means that it would cost almost $160 to get both O.T. and N.T.! We did well and got a little extra with his other writings...LOL [Y]

    DAL

  • Whyndell Grizzard
    Whyndell Grizzard Member Posts: 3,523 ✭✭✭

    Dal- glad you got a deal, me too, kept my $$ [:D]

  • Robert Harner
    Robert Harner Member Posts: 461 ✭✭

    Dal- glad you got a deal, me too, kept my $$ Big Smile

    That's what you call a win-win   [;)]   Like Dal I considered it worth it - but turns out I keep my $$ too - it's part of the Collectors Edition. [G]