What do I do...?
I want to pick up the few remaining MacArthur commentaries in the March Madness sale to complete my set in addition to a couple other resources, but I also have the Mobile Ed course on Isaiah ($229) shipping in April too.
I guess I'm not really looking for an answer, just expressing a combination of frustration and disappointment because I know I'll have to pass on something.
Maybe MacArthur will win next year and they will be less expensive.
Pick what's most important. I don't know how many commentaries you want to add, but you might be able to get one or two without eclipsing your plan to get something you really want and need next month.
There's always something one winds up postponing. My wishlist is a great reminder. Later doesn't mean never.
What is your most urgent need? What are you lacking the most? What can you better do without in view of what you already have? What do you think will have the most long term overall benefit (in case you're never able to purchase one)? If all else fails: heads or tails?
What do I do...? I want to pick up the few remaining MacArthur commentaries in the March Madness sale to complete my set in addition to a couple other resources, but I also have the Mobile Ed course on Isaiah ($229) shipping in April too.
MacArthur lot more benefit there, MED products always require more purchases a lot more costly- MacArthur will bring you immediate relief with excellent teaching grounded in the WOG!
Payment plan or cut down on the ones you may not use as much. That's what I did with the Carson's Treasury. I don't need any of it now (plus I own most of it), so I used that money to buy something I will use sooner rather than later.
DAL
Ps. Remember, sometimes you can't have it all 👍
Not even if I want it all? [:'(]
I'm having the opposite problem. There isn't anything I am going to buy, as of now, from MM. Maybe when the finals are done, but probably not.
I got some Barclay works i wanted and a volume of basic luther writings that was on my wish list.... after the winners are out I will see if there is anything else i want, but don't think so at this point in time.
-dan
I agree... this year's MM has me tapped out at this point. I grabbed the 1st edition of DJG, NICNT Thessalonians by Morris (awesome Thess commentary by the way), Torrey's difficulties in the bible, and Witherington's Letter's and Homilies volumes to supplement the Socio-Rhetorical ones I got from L6. I was really hoping for some MacArther discounts this year to grab his sermon archive but 30% off isn't the best price I've seen so maybe next year
NICNT Thessalonians by Morris (awesome Thess commentary by the way),
Hi, Mattillo: I was considering picking this volume up. Could you expand a little on why you give it high praise? And, thank you.
I have for the most part practical volumes in my cart waiting for the champ and runner up. Mostly practical McArthur books, Piper and Keller. Hopefully, I'll get to add some Bruce and Moo (Moo being the champ of course 👍).
NICNT Thessalonians by Morris (awesome Thess commentary by the way), Hi, Mattillo: I was considering picking this volume up. Could you expand a little on why you give it high praise? And, thank you.
Sure Scooter though don't expect a large response from me but I feel Morris' commentary does a great job of explained Thessalonians from a reformed perspective. I haven't been to seminary and I didn't find it hard to read and/or understand but he does go into the greek when he feels it is necessary (so I don't feel it was all that technical). I had to teach a short class on it and I started with reading MacArthur's commentary on Thessalonians. I noticed he used Morris' commentary several times (around 9 I believe) which made me interested in picking it up. I have in no way read it from cover to cover but every section I read I found clear answers. I'll post one of my favorites below and if you would like to see a chunk on a verse let me know which one and I'll post you an example. Challies (http://www.challies.com/resources/best-commentaries-on-1-2-thessalonians) listed it as one of his top 5 though I disagree with his assessment that it isn't the best for teaching as it worked fine for me. Maybe he meant in regards to college? Best commentaries doesn't have it ranked but I did notice Amazon has some good reviews on it if you want to see what others say https://www.amazon.com/First-Second-Epistles-Thessalonians-ebook/product-reviews/B0047GMJAC/ref=cm_cr_dp_d_btm?ie=UTF8&reviewerType=all_reviews&sortBy=recent
If you have any specific questions let me know Scooter
2 Thes 1:5
5 But God is over all, and neither their sufferings nor their bearing under their sufferings should be interpreted other than in the light of this great fact.12 It is at first sight somewhat difficult to follow the apostle’s train of thought. To us the fact of suffering seems to deny, rather than to prove, that God is working out his righteous purpose.13 But two things must be said here. One is that the New Testament does not look on suffering in quite the same way as do most modern people. To us suffering is an evil in itself, something to be avoided at all costs. Now while the New Testament does not gloss over this aspect of suffering it does not lose sight either of the fact that in the good providence of God suffering is often the means of working out God’s eternal purpose.14 It develops in the sufferer qualities of character. It teaches valuable lessons. Suffering is not thought of as something that may possibly be avoided by the Christian. For believers it is inevitable. They are appointed to it (1 Thess. 3:3). They must live out their lives and develop their Christian character in a world dominated by non-Christian ideas. Their faith is accordingly not some fragile thing, to be kept in a kind of spiritual cotton wool, insulated from all shocks. It is robust. It is to be manifested in the fires of trouble and in the furnace of affliction. Furthermore, not only is it to be manifested there, but, in part at any rate, it is to be fashioned in such places. The very troubles and afflictions that the world heaps on believers become, under God, the means of making those believers what they ought to be. When we have come to regard suffering in this light, it is not to be thought of as evidence that God has forsaken his people, but as evidence that God is with them. Paul can rejoice that in his flesh he fills up “what is still lacking in regard to Christ’s afflictions, for the sake of his body, which is the church” (Col. 1:24). Such suffering is a vivid token of the presence of God.The second point we must bear in mind is that in this verse the “evidence that God’s judgment is right”15 is probably not suffering itself, but the whole of the previous clause. That is to say, it includes also the bearing of the Thessalonians under suffering.16 God had used the persecutions and afflictions as the means of accomplishing that which he had pleased, namely, that the believers should be counted worthy (or perhaps “be shown to be worthy”)17 of the kingdom.18 Translations like “that you may be made worthy” (RSV) or “you will become worthy” (GNB) miss the point. There is no idea that their endurance of suffering constituted a merit that gained them membership in the kingdom. The thought is that all is of God. He called them, and then proceeded to lead them in the right way. This means that the suffering they endure is to be seen as his Fatherly discipline. It helped to shape them into what he would have them be. He gave them all the grace needed to endure. Then at the end it is not said that they are worthy but that they are counted worthy. It is still all of God. God gives the verdict in accordance with his eternal purpose. The concluding “for which you are suffering” brings their suffering into intimate relation with the kingdom. It does not modify the previous statement in the direction of attributing merit to suffering. The Greek preposition rendered “for”19 has the meaning “on behalf of,” perhaps “in the interest of,” and not “with a view to,” “in order to gain which.” The addition of “also” (which NIV omits) raises a small problem. It may link Paul with the Thessalonians. He was suffering for the faith, and they were suffering also. Or it may link present suffering and future glory. “You are both suffering and also being counted worthy” would then be the thought. Grammatically either is possible, but perhaps the former is slightly more probable (cf. Phil. 1:28).Leon Morris, The First and Second Epistles to the Thessalonians, The New International Commentary on the Old and New Testament (Grand Rapids, MI; Cambridge, U.K.: Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Co., 1991), 196–198.
Thank you, mattillo, for your work here. That is a good quote, I appreciate the Reformed perspective and, like you, I have not gone to seminary.
Thanks for the replies. I've got a few days to decide what to get.
I'm somewhat hesitant to pass on the MacArthur commentaries. They were gone for several years and I don't want to miss out on a chance to get them. Also, given the fact that dynamic pricing is not available, I was surprised to see them in March Madness.
Thanks again.
There is always the payment plan.
