How many commentaries are to many?

Lee said:

I was just thinking the other day how many are to many?

In practice, any you can't use are "too many." The trouble with that definition is that we often buy in sets (e.g. I just got some more as part of the upgrade pack I chose for Logos 6). But when I'm buying commentaries these days, I ask what it will provide that I don't already have. Since most commentaries cross-reference the significant literature, there's no point buying more that just say the same thing.

Lee said:

Also what is the best way of counting in library view?

1. Open the Library pane in a new window (via a right-click).
2. Show in Details view.
3. Click on the Type column.

Logos 6 now collapses your library by Type, and gives you a count of each type. You will see how many Bible Commentaries you have, as well as how many other commentaries you have (on things like ancient Greek or Latin texts).

What is this "too many" of which you speak?

no such thing as too many. I will have enough when I have a copy of all of them. OK... well maybe all the ones I care about

[Y]

John Kaess said:

What is this "too many" of which you speak?

Ha! I have found that with the new search features in L6 I am using more of my commentarie. For instance the search {Milestone<bible ref>} combined with "within" help find very specific topics in relation to particular passages. Having more commentaris can only broaden the scope. 

Lee said:

Also what is the best way of counting in library view?

Allen Browne said:

1. Open the Library pane in a new window (via a right-click).
2. Show in Details view.
3. Click on the Type column.

Alternatively, "type:commentary" in the Library such field will achieve the same thing (but is, perhaps, slightly less cluttered as it removes every other type from the Library pane). Additionally, this will also work in iOS.

Blessings

1.  When you run out of money, one more is too many.

2. When you wife says, "Honey, could you help me figure out how to pay this bill?"

3.  When you have bought everything ever written.

4. When God says, "ENOUGH ALREADY!"

1568 for me Dan.

It looks like the most accurate is: type:"bible commentary"    (I have 3,397)

type:"commentary" ANDNOT type:"bible commentary"  -  shows another 79

Lee said:

I was just thinking the other day how many are to many?

In an attempt to give a realistic answer, I'll tell you what works for me, knowing YMMV.

I almost never look at more than four or five different commentaries on a particular passage, and that number will drop to about three if I have a commentary that I really like. I have those on about two-thirds of the books in the Bible...the go-to commentaries which really meet most of my needs.

While some will say you can't have too many, that's just silly. You can.

Some caveats:

If you are a specialist (i.e., research academic, etc.), you'll need more of a greater variety than if you are a layperson teaching a SS class.

If you have a settled confessional view of Scripture, you'll need fewer commentaries because you can focus on those which are friendly (or at least, not hostile) to your view.

If you count your spiritual health by how many books you have on your shelves, vs. by how many you've read and digested, then you'll need many, many more.

You will almost never find a set that is consistent with regard to quality from volume-to-volume. Prepare to build an eclectic set (which means you'll have some redundancies if you buy whole sets).

That's my two euros worth. As I said, YMMV.

I think a more accurate warning for this context is that the number of books on your shelf don't correlate to being a successful pastor, or exegete either.

However, I still stand firm on wanting more commentaries. Many have a lot of duplicated content, but that one line in that one commentary that sets you thinking in a different direction. that deepens your view makes it (to me) worth it all in the end.

I may not read every page on every book, but I read every page I can relevant to whatever the Lord has me studying at the time.

1600 commentaries sounds like a lot, till you divide it by the number of books in the bible. That averages out to 24 per book of the bible. If a chapter is all that is relevant to what you're studying, thats only 24 chapters. When I read fiction for pleasure that was a days read, not a weeks, and I study for a week leading up to when I preach; longer if I can.

I think there are some assumptions being made about the value of others methods when it comes to studying the bible. I can have quite a few more commentaries before I reach the point where I am unable to read them all before a sermon. I don't think its covetous or sinful for me to want to do my part of the sermon to the best of my ability; and in my process that requires more books. Maybe it doesn't in yours, and thats fine. I knew a guy who would write a 3 point sermon on a potty break after lunch before class. No books required. His ministry was fruitful - and he argued more spirit led. So long as we are using the gifts and resources we are given as God directs, then Praise God. I don't know what that looks like for most of you, but I do know what that looks like for me. The same is most likely true of you in regards to yourselves, and certainly true for you of your view of others.

As a student, I've taxed my library quite a bit on certain subjects. I currently have a paper I'm writing on eschatology for a prof that disagrees with me and I daresay scripture (lets face it, any of us who hold a position convictionally & having studied the topic believe that scripture supports their view) on the subject. This may well be the most sources I have ever used or consulted in a paper... I'm over 30 pages of works consulted/works cited. This paper has guided some of my more recent purchases as well as some in my immediate future. Its a blessing to me, to have this many titles in my library.

So just be careful tossing around judgement, as I am sure there are many out there that serve in a context, or with giftings' that make owning a bunch of commentaries worth while.

I picked many commentaries along with base packages. But in reality I am using about 3 sets constantly and if something is not cover d there, small chance it's covered on the other ones.  Usually I am doing my own research. Saying that, I would prefer to have few highly ranked commentaries sets, then hundreds of mediocre ones

I don't ONLY want average either