Top Five Commentaries

Hey everyone,

I know this is a pretty broad question that will include varying opinion and usage. As a new user to Logos I just wanted to get a general concensus as to what are some of the better commentaries available. I currently have the Calvin Commentary on pre-pub and am really excited about getting in to it.

Jason

Jason,

When I am using Logos, I always look at The Word, Hermeneia, Interpretation, Socio-Rhetorical Commentary, and Harper's Bible Commentary.

For the books he wrote on, Lightfoot is always dependable -- often more so than recent commentaries.

Check out: http://www.bestcommentaries.com/best.aspx

It shows a Logos icon beside those commentaries that are currently available for Logos.

It depends on your needs. I am a seminary student and a pastor who preaches through books of the Bible, so I want more technical and exegetical commentaries to show up first since that is what I most often have to deal with. Someone with other ministry responsibilities would choose otherwise. Of the ones I have in my L4 library, I like the Baker Exegetical series and New International Greek series. The UBS Handbooks are good resources also, though not technically a commentary.

Of the ones I wish I had, top place would go to NICNT. After that would be Word and Hermenia. I have been pleasantly surprised by several of the individual books in the NIV Application commentary (check out the 2 Corinthians volume). These are more expositional/applicational but some of these do a great job of giving you a broad overview of a passage/book.

It does depend on what you are doing. I am also a seminary student so the more technical ones are at the top of my list also for the nt

I really think the New American Commentary set is underrated. It is a pretty good commentary that blends technical matters, but puts it in a way that most people can understand. The NIV Application is also very very good. I like how it divides the text into original meaning, bridging contexts and application.

Thanks for all the great replies. I'll need to spend a couple hours looking over all the suggestions. I know that a couple listed are a little out of my price range unless I pieced together book by book.

Am I missing something or is NICOT/NICNT sold only as a set? If so have there been any talks in opening up to sell individually?

God bless

Jason

I really think the New American Commentary set is underrated. It is a pretty good commentary that blends technical matters, but puts it in a way that most people can understand. The NIV Application is also very very good. I like how it divides the text into original meaning, bridging contexts and application.

I agree about the New American Commentary set. Somehow I looked down at the series before. May be because it was part of the Golden Edition and sometimes we get a feeling that only a secondary things get to be part of the Base Package. Well, I was wrong and I found with Logos the above assumption is totally wrong. I found NAC is very helpful in sermon preparation, especially some volumes. Also another Base Package commentary series, UBS handbooks are also excellent although their purpose is quite different.

I recommend NICOT/NICNT, Word Biblical Commentary series, Pillars series is also very good IMHO.

I use WBC, anything from F.F. Bruce, Barclay's Daily NT, College Press NIV, N.T. Wright's Everyone series.

Am I missing something or is NICOT/NICNT sold only as a set? If so have there been any talks in opening up to sell individually?

God bless

Jason

It's sold only as a set, and it doesn't look promising for individual volumes, per the agreement with the publisher. If you go to blog.logos.com and do a search for it, you'll find that discussion in the comments section (per Dan Pritchett, if I recall correctly).

Wonder when we will get N.T. Wright's "For Everyone" series in Logos format ?

Perhaps time to suggest ?

suggest@logos.com

Jason

If you want something on the Greek text, then New International Greek New Testament Series is not too technical and often quite insightful. Also on the New Testament the Pillar New Testament Commentaries are good, especially Carson's commentary of John's Gospel. I've found the IVP series good in preparing teaching Bible Studies. The Holman's New Testament Commentaries are helpful also. Word Biblical Commentaries are great for leading into further reading in journals and monographs. (Useful if you are near a Seminary/University Library.) The International Theological Commentary series is helpful in Old Testament, as is Keil & Delitsch's classic Old Testament Commentary series.

The useful thing is that most of these, except K & D, are available in single volumes, as well as sets which is handy if you are on a restricted budget. As an expository preacher (mostly) I tend to tool up for a new book. E.g. I  recently started a series on Esther and just bought some individual volumes.

Like you I have Calvin on PrePub (I already have the print books) and can't wait to get my hands on it. I find that I refer to commentaries far more, if I have them on Logos than when I have them in print. [:)]

Baker Exegetical commentaries are great.  Commentary sets usually have stronger and weaker volumes, but if you check out bestcommentaries.com, many of those in the Baker series are rated very highly.  If you get a set, that's usually one of the best bets.  (You can then complement your set with individual volumes that are highly rated at bestcommentaries.com)

NICNT and Pillar NT are also a strong sets, though individual volumes can be purchased since the sets are pretty expensive.  For practical application, I like the accessibility of The Bible Speaks Today (e.g., The Message of Romans) with John Stott as a contributor.  That series is great for helping inspire sermon ideas.

Hope that helps.

Actually, the NICNT might not be sold in individual volumes... must be wishful thinking on my part.  

My top 5 prioritized in Logos 4

1. NAC series

2. NICNT/OT

3. Word

4. IVP Bible Background

5. UBS Handbooks

I will move Expositor's above IVP when I get it.

This has been an interesting topic so Jason, thanks for starting it. I've learned a lot from reading people's replies and intend to investigate some commentaries I've not used or heard of.

My list is

1. Bible Knowledge Commentary (BKC)
2. The New Bible Commentary
3. IVP
4. UBS
5. Robertson's Word Pictures

My top five are weighted toward language analysis because I tend to analyze the text very carefully to get my insights. I use a lot more than five. In fact I think one of the best features of Logos is that you can cycle through a large number of resources that are all focused right on the passage you are considering, It makes study very efficient.

Depends on what you're looking for in a commentary.

My absolute favorite set, though not entirely scholarly [i.e., no Greek or Hebrew commentary in the text for the most part], is The People's Bible from Northwestern Publish House.  Written for lay people, but with enough insight to help any pastor with some thoughts for Bible Class or a sermon, easy to read, and not rambling.  Just a really well done piece of work.

How can I get my commentaries to show in my passage guide on logos for mac?

I really think the New American Commentary set is underrated. It is a pretty good commentary that blends technical matters, but puts it in a way that most people can understand. The NIV Application is also very very good. I like how it divides the text into original meaning, bridging contexts and application.

[Y][Y] I own both of these sets and I fully agree!

I, also, like BECNT and the UBS Handbook series.

For single volume commentaries, I tend to use the Grace New Testament Commentary and the Believer's Bible Commentary the most.

How can I get my commentaries to show in my passage guide on logos for mac?

This is a very old thread. In order to get proper attention to your problem, you should start a new thread with a bit more explanation. Your commentaries should show automatically in the default passage guide.

Terry - I concur with Jack... It would be best to start a new thread... Make sure to create it in the right forum. If you are using L4, please use the L4 Mac forum. If you are using L5, use the L5 one (there is no Mac only one for L5). 

Since I don't fully understand your issue, I can only make a guess... I think you are needing to prioritize your favorite commentaries. Once you explain more about your needs, we can go from there. Please do create a new thread though, since your issue is off topic for this thread. 

I love when an old post is revived.  It's like getting a birthday present a year after my last birthday.

I love when an old post is revived.  It's like getting a birthday present a year after my last birthday.

[:D]

I love when an old post is revived.  It's like getting a birthday present a year after my last birthday.

Isn't a year after your last birthday also known as this birthday? [;)]

.... except that maybe he is one of those Feb 29 children....

.... except that maybe he is one of those Feb 29 children....

For the books he wrote on, Lightfoot is always dependable -- often more so than recent commentaries.

Indeed, he is. 

My favorite set is the New International OT / NT Commentaries.  Then it would be Word Biblical Commentary, Tyndale, New American Commentaries, and the Ancient Christian Commentaries.