I would like to know if anyone on the forums has purchased the Focus on the Bible Commentaries.
After purchasing them do you consider them a commentary that you will use frequently?
I'm trying to decide if they are a good investment for sermon preparation help.
These commentaries are the equivalent to the BST Commentary series in content and style. They are non-technical and suited to either personal or group Bible study preparation. A good and practical set for those non-academically minded. Although the Logos product page for the CFP Bible commentaries does not give you sample pages (http://www.logos.com/product/4459/focus-on-the-bible-commentaries), there is the Wordsearch version that does (http://www.wordsearchbible.com/catalog/search.php?searchterm=Christian%20Focus%20Publications&viewall=1). Just click on the individual thumbnails for the product pages. On each page you'll see a 'View a Sample' button. Have a read and see what you think. I own the E4 (Free Bible Software) version and have not been able to upgrade as a package nor purchase individual titles, as these are not available. Wordsearch do have the individual titles option, so I may go that way to upgrade, even though it splits the Bible software platform.
But if you don't have the set, go for it!!
Comments
I probably shouldn't be replying since I do not own this set but a quick look at the Best Commentaries website can tell you how others rate it.
http://bestcommentaries.com/series/focus-on-the-bible-fb/
Apparently, the commentary on Judges is pretty good, but many are not ranked or have a low ranking.
Also, on the product page it says it is a chapter-by-chapter commentary. I personally prefer verse-by-verse.
William,
I have only the volumes by Dale Ralph Davis in print not Logos (Joshua, Judges, 1 & 2 Samuel, 1 & 2 Kings). They are quite interesting and would be useful for ideas for sermon crafting. I cannot say anything about the others and have found little on the Internet to help me make a decision to purchase them (I had them on my pre-pub list at one point but dropped them because I couldn't learn enough to justify buying the set). I'd buy just Davis' volumes if they were unbundled at a reasonable price.
Pastor, North Park Baptist Church
Bridgeport, CT USA
I would like to know if anyone on the forums has purchased the Focus on the Bible Commentaries.
After purchasing them do you consider them a commentary that you will use frequently?
I'm trying to decide if they are a good investment for sermon preparation help.
These commentaries are the equivalent to the BST Commentary series in content and style. They are non-technical and suited to either personal or group Bible study preparation. A good and practical set for those non-academically minded. Although the Logos product page for the CFP Bible commentaries does not give you sample pages (http://www.logos.com/product/4459/focus-on-the-bible-commentaries), there is the Wordsearch version that does (http://www.wordsearchbible.com/catalog/search.php?searchterm=Christian%20Focus%20Publications&viewall=1). Just click on the individual thumbnails for the product pages. On each page you'll see a 'View a Sample' button. Have a read and see what you think. I own the E4 (Free Bible Software) version and have not been able to upgrade as a package nor purchase individual titles, as these are not available. Wordsearch do have the individual titles option, so I may go that way to upgrade, even though it splits the Bible software platform.
But if you don't have the set, go for it!!
does not give you sample pages (http://www.logos.com/product/4459/focus-on-the-bible-commentaries),
Yes, Logos does give several sample pages at this link...they are all the way at the bottom of the web page.
I will be ordering them.
William,
When I was researching the FOBC series last month, I saved a few links that you might find helpful.
Steve Runge in his blog: Which Commentaries are Best? "I also make regular use of more devotional commentaries. The Focus on the Bible Commentaries and Christian Focus Biblical Studies Collection are great examples."
A few notable forum members have made brief positive statements about the FOBC or asked for Logos to produce additional volumes: Joe Miller lists them amoung "his current favorites". Paul Newsome inquires about additional volumes and Mark Smith offers a limited recommendation above.
Carson and Rosscup in their commentary review books describe the FOBC as "light", which I take as consistent with a devotional commentary.
Based this scant information, I bought a few volumes in pre-pub update to the FOBC series to try out for myself before investing in the entire series. However, I've not looked at them yet.
Is the FOBC series on sale?
Scott