The Lexham Geographic Commentary on the Gospels is a new resource available in L7 Silver base packages and up. This volume explores well-known passages and events recorded in the Gospels from the often overlooked but illuminating angle of geography.
Dr. Barry Beitzel (Professor Emeritus at TEDS) brings his 40+ years of experience to the commentary as the General Editor. His hand-picked team of scholars use their expertise and years of on-the-ground teaching experience in Israel to expose the geographical significance of key events recorded in the Gospels.
Many will never have the opportunity to explore the land of Israel, but the Geographic Commentary regularly plants you in the disciples' footsteps and helps you see the ancient world through their eyes. Did you know, for instance, that when Jesus told the disciples they could uproot a mountain a cast it into the sea with a little faith that he was referring to a specific mountain? The disciples did—and knowing which one makes this teaching moment all the more powerful.
Note: this is an early release of 27 articles; the full resource of 50+ articles will be completed in October.
In addition to the distinctive bent towards the geographical impact of a story, the Geographic Commentary is unlike every other commentary in Logos. Instead of leaving the content in its original form, we have conducted a custom enrichment process for each article in which the original content is connected to other resources, tools, and features in your Logos library. The result is a commentary that is more than a digital island of knowledge, it is a powerhouse of information that is augmented by an array of complementary content.
This enrichment process blurs the line between the Geographic Commentary and Logos Bible Software, taking advantage of how the two might interact and enhance the other. In this way, the commentary seeks to "show" just as much as it "tells."
The different articles of the commentary can be accessed through 1) the table of contents, 2) Passage Guide, or 3) Link Sets. While the former assumes you want to read the Geographic Commentary, the second and third options help you get here even if you're not looking for it.
Once you're reading an article, you'll discover portions of the text that are linked to features and tools in Logos, giving you the option to go deeper or get a quick refresher (e.g., Factbook entries, Bible Word Studies, Topic Guides).
In addition to portions of text that link out, you'll come across different media thumbnails that supplement your reading experience through the visual medium. But these are only teasers: click on the thumbnail to be taken to the full-size image or video, or fully-functioning interactive or Atlas map.
There's also a key points section at the beginning of every article to give you the highlights before you dive into the details.
Fun fact: You can get a preview of the commentary here! So why wait? Start reading now!
The preview is kind of ... useless since it only gives a tiny block of a single entry before moving on to a tiny block of the next entry. perhaps you could simply post one entire article from start to finish?
Sarcasm is my love language. Obviously I love you.
I'm very excited about this... it looks great!
TCBlack: The preview is kind of ... useless since it only gives a tiny block of a single entry before moving on to a tiny block of the next entry. perhaps you could simply post one entire article from start to finish?
There's a significant difference between "useless" and "not useful for me".
Please use descriptive thread titles to attract helpful posts & not waste others' time. Thanks!
TCBlack: ... perhaps you could simply post one entire article from start to finish?
...
perhaps you could simply post one entire article from start to finish?
Attached is Jack Beck's article on Indicting Hypocrisy with Imagery from the Temple Mount.
To view it, download the attachment, unzip the contents, and open the file GCG.54.en.enriched.xml in a browser (double-clicking probably won't work: drag the file to a browser window).
GCG.54.en.enriched.xml
This is a web page view, taken from our internal production process: so it lacks links for Bible references and bibliographic citations, the styling isn't full-fidelity, and other minor caveats (these features are all correctly present in the Logos resource). But it shows the content and media, and the hyperlinks should take you to correct positions within Logos. So it should provide a good feel for the resource.
4162.GCG.54.zip
SineNomine: TCBlack: The preview is kind of ... useless since it only gives a tiny block of a single entry before moving on to a tiny block of the next entry. perhaps you could simply post one entire article from start to finish? There's a significant difference between "useless" and "not useful for me".
Sean Boisen: TCBlack: ... perhaps you could simply post one entire article from start to finish? Attached is Jack Beck's article on Indicting Hypocrisy with Imagery from the Temple Mount.
Thank you Sean, that is precisely what I wanted to see.
This is great. I was all set to buy L7 Bronze but am going to get Silver now just for this resource.
Author of the Chronological Word Truth Life Bible Series
WordTruthLifeBible.com
Sean I looked at the example you posted and I noticed there was a link to Mobile Ed Whitewashed Tombs. I'm assuming if you don't have that course, the link would not work, correct? Or would it include that one video to watch?
Matillo, the link will not work for me since I don't own that course. So there's the answer.
Will that stinks. I really appreciate them giving us these great resources but it stinks when they make you buy more to get the full benefit
This is a great new feature!
Using adventure and community to challenge young people to continually say "yes" to God
Mattillo: Will that stinks. I really appreciate them giving us these great resources but it stinks when they make you buy more to get the full benefit
We've only included 2 such links in the resource as it now stands: everything else should be included as part of other Logos media.
That is good to know. Thank you Sean. I know this is a long shot but if there are only 2, any chance they could be made available to those that have the resource? :)
Not the entire linked resource... Just the point referenced
Hope to try this out soon...
For those who are interested: we've created a Faithlife Group that's dedicated to discussing the Geographic Commentary. So if you learn something new and want to share, or if questions are raised you want addressed, don't hesitate to use that group as a venue for ongoing discussion.
We look forward to interacting with you!
Faithlife Group: Geographic Commentary
Just curious when the rest of this resource might be released... Great resource!
Is this a stand alone product or just with a collection; I cannot find it under a title search.
As of now, no option to buy solo. Only comes in L7 Silver base packages and up. They only released half of it thus far. The other half was expected in December but we haven't heard anymore since
Why not sell it as a stand alone resource? I think a lot of people would want it.