I bought one!
i bought a March Madness commentary set today!
I am one of those lay people who has been with Logos for awhile. I don’t have a massive collection as it is for my own enjoyment and growth but I love the software and hope it always has a download and own option.
Anyway, I looked at samples of them and I even own a volume or two of NICNT. But while they are very detailed I find them hard to read with my background. So I opted for the NIVAC. I love it so far!
Anyway, wanted to share my excitement.
Comments
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Nice it is a good set!
Keith Pang, PhD Check out my blog @ https://keithkpang.wixsite.com/magnifyingjesus
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Good choice! You will love it.
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I'm excited that you're excited!!! It's a blessing to see people excited about the Word! I hope you enjoy the set, I have several volumes and this was one set I wanted to get from the sale - but the budget would only take so much stretch. Praying for you to be encouraged by your studies as you grow in the Word!Stephen Smith said:Anyway, wanted to share my excitement.
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Stephen Smith said:
So I opted for the NIVAC. I love it so far!
Anyway, wanted to share my excitement.
That is great to hear. I think you will be blessed in the days ahead.
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Awesome! I know the feeling. Keep D.A. Carson’s warning ⚠️ in mind and you should be all set. (Taken from NT Commentary Survey by D.A. Carson Sixth Edition— sorry footnote didn’t paste for some reason).
“The NIV Application Commentary series (/Zondervan) provides fairly lightweight commentaries, easily accessible, that are then filled out by application of various kinds. At one level this aim is commendable: it works against the view that biblical interpretation has the right to remain a cool and distanced discipline with the interpreter standing over the text. Yet there are converse dangers. Shallow handling of the Word coupled with immediate application may unwittingly foster the view that Scripture has primarily utilitarian value. The applications themselves may be driven by many different agendas, so that false connections are constructed between text and application. Lazy preachers may so rely on the applications provided by this series that they fail to devote themselves to the hard work of cultural reflection and appropriate application—just as lazy preachers may so rely on the immediate conclusions of commentaries in general that they never really learn how to do exegesis. Once its limitations and dangers are acknowledged, however, this series can be a useful pump-primer in the move from text to application.”
DAL
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DAL said:
Awesome! I know the feeling. Keep D.A. Carson’s warning ⚠️ in mind and you should be all set. (Taken from NT Commentary Survey by D.A. Carson Sixth Edition— sorry footnote didn’t paste for some reason).
“The NIV Application Commentary series (/Zondervan) provides fairly lightweight commentaries, easily accessible, that are then filled out by application of various kinds. At one level this aim is commendable: it works against the view that biblical interpretation has the right to remain a cool and distanced discipline with the interpreter standing over the text. Yet there are converse dangers. Shallow handling of the Word coupled with immediate application may unwittingly foster the view that Scripture has primarily utilitarian value. The applications themselves may be driven by many different agendas, so that false connections are constructed between text and application. Lazy preachers may so rely on the applications provided by this series that they fail to devote themselves to the hard work of cultural reflection and appropriate application—just as lazy preachers may so rely on the immediate conclusions of commentaries in general that they never really learn how to do exegesis. Once its limitations and dangers are acknowledged, however, this series can be a useful pump-primer in the move from text to application.”
DAL
I agree with DAC- some of the issues within this set is like reading Hal Lindsey as a serious interpretation of the Revelation instead of a comedy club show.
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Just a few thoughts.... I have a range of commentaries in my Logos library that range from the complex to the simplistic. Many of these assist in providing diverse perspectives. But sometimes I just want to read some applications without struggling over the text - and this is where NIVAC comes in. It provides a readable and sometimes a refreshing eye opening approach that makes me pause and think.
Carson is right in some of his criticisms and warnings. Yet preachers and pastors are not the only readers of commentaries - many ordinary believers do so. The NIVAC can be a valuable asset in their libraries and to their growth in faith. Perhaps they may even overcome their malnourishment after spending too long listening to the sermons in many of our churches? God bless. Paul
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As others have weighed in, Carson makes a lot of good points. Consider carefully his warning and suggestions. In my use of the NT NIVAC commentaries, I have found that the exposition of the passage in the "Original Meaning" section is typically a lot more in-depth than I would have expected for an application commentary series. Many of the authors do a good job explaining the contours of a text and the major approaches to interpretation of disputed texts. I haven't used the "Bridging Contexts" and "Contemporary Significance" sections as much as is probably intended by the makers of this series, but I have found the exposition of the text in the first section really helpful at times. Enjoy the NIVAC series and may it draw you to God's Word to study it more thoughtfully and apply it more faithfully!
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Stephen, I too am happy and excited for you. The set has volumes from some well respected scholars such as Block, Bock, Keener, Longman III, Moo, and Walton.DAL said:Awesome! I know the feeling. Keep D.A. Carson’s warning ⚠️ in mind and you should be all set. (Taken from NT Commentary Survey by D.A. Carson Sixth Edition— sorry footnote didn’t paste for some reason).
“The NIV Application Commentary series (/Zondervan) provides fairly lightweight commentaries, easily accessible, that are then filled out by application of various kinds. At one level this aim is commendable: it works against the view that biblical interpretation has the right to remain a cool and distanced discipline with the interpreter standing over the text. Yet there are converse dangers. Shallow handling of the Word coupled with immediate application may unwittingly foster the view that Scripture has primarily utilitarian value. The applications themselves may be driven by many different agendas, so that false connections are constructed between text and application. Lazy preachers may so rely on the applications provided by this series that they fail to devote themselves to the hard work of cultural reflection and appropriate application—just as lazy preachers may so rely on the immediate conclusions of commentaries in general that they never really learn how to do exegesis. Once its limitations and dangers are acknowledged, however, this series can be a useful pump-primer in the move from text to application.”
DAL
I have many of the more technical commentary sets (including NICOT/NICNT, WBC, Pillar, NIGTC), but also have the NIVAC set and feel it's an excellent set for a layperson such as myself. I think that with the bulk of DAL's post being his quote from Carson, it might come across sounding a bit negative, but I don't think he meant it that way. E.g., here are a couple of excerpts from posts DAL has made in other threads regarding NIVAC, followed by links to those threads so you can read through all the posts in those threads if you haven't already come across them.
I bought NIVAC when it was dirt cheap - my advice, if finances allow, complete NIVAC and also get WBC because the price will double once September is gone and you might never get it this cheap again. I love both...
DAL
https://community.logos.com/forums/p/114908/762190.aspx
Wow sale is back! Advice, if you can afford them, get them all - stop cherry picking!
DAL
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Thanks Rick! I was definitely not being negative about the set, just a friendly warning and an invitation, if you would, to do your own study too and not depend solely on what the commentaries say.
In fact, even though the set is a little uneven, it’s better to get the entire series because it’s still good value for the money. The volume on Esther is one of the best I’ve read and a woman wrote it (Karen H. Jobes), so you get sound commentary from a woman’s perspective. The volume on Matthew by Michael J. Fox 🦊 wait, is not Fox, is Wilkins (joke), is another one of my favorites from that series. Overall, the series is great, and I’m sure it can help anyone to better understand and apply the text.
Have a nice weekend!
DAL
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Paul said:
Carson is right in some of his criticisms and warnings. Yet preachers and pastors are not the only readers of commentaries - many ordinary believers do so.
I am an ordinary believer and I must admit that sometimes it seems to me that Carson (and some others) at times seem to be looking down their noses at us. But maybe it's just me
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DAL, I've benefitted from so many of your posts that I can't begin to express my appreciation. In fact, the excerpt from Carson you shared reminded me how all-too-easy it is to get lazy and let reading a commentary take the place of our own prayerful, thoughtful study. And that's a bad thing, whether the commentary is highly technical and critical, or highly devotional and application oriented--even if the commentary is written by the most valued and respected of scholars. So your excerpt from Carson was a great reminder for me about commentaries in general. [:)]DAL said:Thanks Rick! I was definitely not being negative about the set, just a friendly warning and an invitation, if you would, to do your own study too and not depend solely on what the commentaries say.
In fact, even though the set is a little uneven, it’s better to get the entire series because it’s still good value for the money. The volume on Esther is one of the best I’ve read and a woman wrote it (Karen H. Jobes), so you get sound commentary from a woman’s perspective. The volume on Matthew by Michael J. Fox 🦊 wait, is not Fox, is Wilkins (joke), is another one of my favorites from that series. Overall, the series is great, and I’m sure it can help anyone to better understand and apply the text.
Have a nice weekend!
DAL
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Hi, David! I agree it can seem that way sometimes--and not just from Carson. But I don't think Carson means to be condescending in his tone.David Carter said:Paul said:Carson is right in some of his criticisms and warnings. Yet preachers and pastors are not the only readers of commentaries - many ordinary believers do so.
I am an ordinary believer and I must admit that sometimes it seems to me that Carson (and some others) at times seem to be looking down their noses at us. But maybe it's just me
I'm not of the reformed persuasion like Carson, but I have benefitted greatly from talks and messages he's given and from things he's written. I sense that he just views scripture with such high regard and has worked so diligently himself to understand and interpret scripture correctly, that it can be hard for him to appreciate the value some of us can find in the less technical resources geared toward the layperson. He does have a heart for helping the layperson as well though, as I think is demonstrated by his leadership role in the production of the Zondervan NIV Study Bible.
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David Carter said:Paul said:
Carson is right in some of his criticisms and warnings. Yet preachers and pastors are not the only readers of commentaries - many ordinary believers do so.
I am an ordinary believer and I must admit that sometimes it seems to me that Carson (and some others) at times seem to be looking down their noses at us. But maybe it's just me
Is not just you. After I read Exegetical Fallacies, I felt a little discouraged; especially, because it seemed like he just told me, "You've been doing it all wrong," but he didn't really tell me how to do it. Then it just encouraged me to study more diligently. It made me realize I'm not a scholar nor have his education, but I can be scholarly in my study of God's word. Aside from that, I've learned a lot from D.A. Carson and others.
3 John 2,
DAL
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Great choice and excited for you. Ever thought of purchasing the Lexham Bible Guides? check them out. Makes you do your own homework after looking at some very good comments. To buy them all will cost you, but in the end it will be WORTH it!
They are not denominational specific nor are they author favoured. Your choice, but do check them out.
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Stephen Smith said:i bought a March Madness commentary set today!
I am one of those lay people who has been with Logos for awhile. I don’t have a massive collection as it is for my own enjoyment and growth but I love the software and hope it always has a download and own option.
Anyway, I looked at samples of them and I even own a volume or two of NICNT. But while they are very detailed I find them hard to read with my background. So I opted for the NIVAC. I love it so far!
Anyway, wanted to share my excitement.
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Stephen Smith said:
i bought a March Madness commentary set today!
Me too!
Grateful for the March Madness format this year and all the offerings. I chose the Brazos Theological Commentary at 45% off. Awesome!!
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[Y] Good Choice!Stephen Smith said:i bought a March Madness commentary set today!
I am one of those lay people who has been with Logos for awhile. I don’t have a massive collection as it is for my own enjoyment and growth but I love the software and hope it always has a download and own option.
Anyway, I looked at samples of them and I even own a volume or two of NICNT. But while they are very detailed I find them hard to read with my background. So I opted for the NIVAC. I love it so far!
Anyway, wanted to share my excitement.
"In all cases, the Church is to be judged by the Scripture, not the Scripture by the Church," John Wesley0
