New Interpreter's Bible

I thought I would raise, once again, the New Interpreter's Bible to the Logos community. Our friend and long time contributor, Dan, has gone "above and beyond" to bring this collection to the front and into production. You can read the previous posts to appreciate his enthusiasm. I'm there.

I think given the $800 price tag from the publisher in hardcopy this represents a great value from Logos.

Don't forget that the Logos sales staff can arrange a payment plan. As mentioned on the Logos website, it makes ownership easier than you think.

Smile

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Comments

Steve Farson

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/561227#Comment_561227

Yes agree. Will probably be picking up the NIB Dictionary and Commentary set elsewhere sometime this year. But if it appears here first, will probably buy here.

For anyone considering the NIB, I checked it out at my seminary library. Was very impressed.

fgh

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/561223#Comment_561223

OT has such a bare bones simple desktop software as to be almost laughable to compare it to Logos or Accordance, but time and time again they have shown how they can offer prices Logos will never match

Not "but": "thus". Simple software means lower development costs, so of course they can sell cheaper.

Dan Francis

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/561379#Comment_561379

OT has such a bare bones simple desktop software as to be almost laughable to compare it to Logos or Accordance, but time and time again they have shown how they can offer prices Logos will never match

Not "but": "thus". Simple software means lower development costs, so of course they can sell cheaper.

OT's study guide is not a horrible thing, indeed it works quite well. I am not saying Logos books are not more valuable because they are in the Logos environment, just it is not always enough a value that can be justified. An example is the NIDB I think that it is a fine product and I do think that Logos has a fair pre pub price on it, but it frequently offered for an even lower price in OT, and a Bible dictionary is not something that requires great integration to be useful. If Logos lowered their pre pub price to the $99 level, yes they would need many more but they also will get more people interested.

-Dan

Gordon Jones

The pre-pub price of the 16 volume Oxford History of the Christian Church series has just plummeted from $619 (originally $699) to $399! Clever Logos!

Now, my dear Logos, please do something similar to the pre-pub price of the New Interpreter's Bible and let's get it into production!! [:)]

Oxford History of the Christian Church (16 vols.)
https://www.logos.com/product/33171/oxford-history-of-the-christian-church

tom

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/561227#Comment_561227

I used to be a Logos only guy. But that is no longer realistic for me.

same here

DAL

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/562562#Comment_562562

Maybe if Logos brought the price down to $299.95 it would sky-rocket past the "almost there" line. I'm sure it'd be easier on a lot of people. Question: Wasn't the price dropped down to $399.95? I see it's now $479.95. Moving the price up won't help one bit. Anyway, I guess some works are just destined to never make it to Logos (e.g. Mattoon's Treasures from the Scriptures). [:(]

DAL

Adam Rao

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/562576#Comment_562576

I think the fact that the New Interpreter's resources (and other Abingdon resources, more generally) are not yet in Logos is one of the saddest things I've encountered since switching to an all-digital reference library. Accordance may get these resources soon (as it appears they will), and they're adding the Anchor Yale Bible series, yet Logos is still the only place to get the Westminster Bible Companion, Sacra Pagina, etc.

It seems reasonable to conclude that one should have both software packages and mix and match resources, but consolidating into one or the other would be ideal.

Personally, I've given up on ever getting the New Interpreter's resources digitally. I've switched almost exclusively to the Anchor dictionary even though I tend to prefer NIDB. And, as much as I still love the NIB commentary series, it's almost not worth the trouble when Interpretation is available. (Again, another resource that, inexplicably, is available for Logos, but not for Accordance!)

I've switched to Logos and am staying the course. If NIB and NIDB come to Logos, I'll buy them immediately (I've already ordered both on pre-pub and wouldn't cancel the order). If not, so be it. By the time NIB is made available, it'll be almost 20 years old anyway. Perhaps it's time to move on.

Now, if only we could get Old Testament Library/New Testament Library; NETS (!?!?!?!?); Comfort's Text Commentary ...

Dan Francis

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/562637#Comment_562637

Personally, I've given up on ever getting the New Interpreter's resources digitally. I've switched almost exclusively to the Anchor dictionary even though I tend to prefer NIDB. And, as much as I still love the NIB commentary series, it's almost not worth the trouble when Interpretation is available. (Again, another resource that, inexplicably, is available for Logos, but not for Accordance!)

I've switched to Logos and am staying the course. If NIB and NIDB come to Logos, I'll buy them immediately (I've already ordered both on pre-pub and wouldn't cancel the order). If not, so be it. By the time NIB is made available, it'll be almost 20 years old anyway. Perhaps it's time to move on.

Interpretation have volumes pushing 30 in a few instances (Interp 1982-2005 and NIB was 1994-2002).... If there was anything like the NIB newer out there I would be happy with it. I am not saying the NIB is perfect, but a very nice balance of critical work with devotional/applicable reflections too. Now I will admit Westminster volumes sometimes have a similar frame work but not always (and not nearly as technical as i would like) as well as not including the full alexandrian canon.

-Dan

Adam Rao

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/562674#Comment_562674

Dan,

Don't misunderstand – I said that I've given up on getting the NIB/NIDB digitally. I already have the hardcover books sitting on my shelf!

I will admit, however, that I barely use the NIDB anymore b/c it's just so much easier to do basic Bible dictionary work in Logos via ABD. That makes me sad b/c I love NIDB for its nice balance between biblical studies and theological content, but it's just a reality given the time I have, I suppose.

But, I still use the NIB almost every day for my work. The same goes for a wide variety of OTL/NTL volumes. These are the two resources that no one (so far) has that would make it possible for me to switch to an (almost) all-digital workflow if they were made available. And, yes, I'd gladly buy them for a different software – OliveTree, Accordance, Kindle – if they both were available (i.e. NIB and OTL/NTL) in the near-ish future.

(And I should add – Yes, it's true that many of the Interpretation volumes are getting old. That's why it'd be great to see the Abingdon OT/NT Commentaries available for Logos, too!)

Dan Francis

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/562735#Comment_562735

Don't misunderstand – I said that I've given up on getting the NIB/NIDB digitally. I already have the hardcover books sitting on my shelf!

Strange things happen... It won't surprise me if they pop up in Logos, because when all is said and done there are so many things going on of which we know only a small part. All I can say is it is a good thing to have everyone who thinks they might want them to get their pre pub in, in order to receive the best price, I know there has been more than one pre pub item i failed to get in and and has ended up costing me more to get.

-Dan

Adam Rao

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/563805#Comment_563805

Don't misunderstand – I said that I've given up on getting the NIB/NIDB digitally. I already have the hardcover books sitting on my shelf!

Strange things happen... It won't surprise me if they pop up in Logos, because when all is said and done there are so many things going on of which we know only a small part. All I can say is it is a good thing to have everyone who thinks they might want them to get their pre pub in, in order to receive the best price, I know there has been more than one pre pub item i failed to get in and and has ended up costing me more to get.

-Dan

I wholeheartedly agree and have had my pre-pub order placed for quite some time now. Here's hoping we'll see it come to fruition one day!

Dan Francis

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/563906#Comment_563906

New Interpreter's Bible is under contract.... Time to get your orders in if you want to get the pre pub price.

-Dan

Mathew Voth

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/569905#Comment_569905

Miracles happen!!!!

Mike Childs

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/569905#Comment_569905

New Interpreter's Bible is under contract.... Time to get your orders in if you want to get the pre pub price.

-Dan

Thank you, Dan. Without out your tireless efforts promoting the New Interpreter's Bible Commentary, I doubt this would have happened. There is no telling how many people you persuaded to order the NIB. I know that I was influenced by your posts.

Congratulations on seeing persistence pay off.

And thanks to Logos for not giving up on this project.

Kent Hendricks

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/569905#Comment_569905

Just jumping in here. We jumped the gun on the NIB. It is not quite over 100% yet.

The one that is over 100% is the NIDB.

Sorry for the confusion.

Dan Francis

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/569920#Comment_569920

Just jumping in here. We jumped the gun on the NIB. It is not quite over 100% yet.

The one that is over 100% is the NIDB.

Sorry for the confusion.

Ok hopefully not too far off.. [:(]

Paul Knopf

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/569920#Comment_569920

That's still great news

Steve Farson

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/569920#Comment_569920

Just jumping in here. We jumped the gun on the NIB. It is not quite over 100% yet.

The one that is over 100% is the NIDB.

Sorry for the confusion.

Just pull the trigger!

[:P][:D]

Milford Charles Murray

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/569920#Comment_569920

Just jumping in here. We jumped the gun on the NIB. It is not quite over 100% yet.

The one that is over 100% is the NIDB.

Sorry for the confusion.

Peace, Dear Brothers and Sisters! *smile* It's been a good day ... a long day, but a good one! However, my mind seems a bit messed up .... I'm stumped at NIDB .. I know I'm going to be sorry I asked, but what is NIDB, please!

JPH

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/570056#Comment_570056

https://www.logos.com/product/8801/new-interpreters-dictionary-of-the-bible

Milford Charles Murray

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/570060#Comment_570060

https://www.logos.com/product/8801/new-interpreters-dictionary-of-the-bible

which I will own ...........

when it gets here! !!! *smile* Thank you! Sorry to be dense ... it does happen sometimes ...

Psalm 29:11

JPH

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/570061#Comment_570061

which I own ...........

hmmmmmm, me thinks you're pretty special then since it's still in prepub [;)]

Milford Charles Murray

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/570062#Comment_570062

Sorry that the confused has become the confuser! *smile* I edited my reply ... *smile*

JPH

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/570063#Comment_570063

Sorry that the confused has become the confuser!

you're awesome Milford. you make people smile on these forums [:D]

Milford Charles Murray

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/570064#Comment_570064

You, My Friend, are very kind! and ... I needed that after a few difficulties in my day ...! Every now and again we need a stroke or two ......... And! All the time we need to be giving strokes -- so Bless you as your pass out a few, eh?! *smile*

Dan Francis

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/570069#Comment_570069

Well the Dictionary and Commentary were both listed at one point as being under contract, but at least the dictionary is being worked on.

-Dan

David Carter

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/569920#Comment_569920

The one that is over 100% is the NIDB.

Out of interest, how did the NIDB go from being around 30% of the way there to 100% virtually overnight? Seems rather odd (not that I'm complaining)

Dan Francis

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/570177#Comment_570177

The one that is over 100% is the NIDB.

Out of interest, how did the NIDB go from being around 30% of the way there to 100% virtually overnight? Seems rather odd (not that I'm complaining)

It seems safe enough to say what was told to me now... New e-texts from Abingdon brought down productions costs for producing them, not all of the new e-texts for the NIB have been apparently received. God willing it will go into production when they are received. But I still won't stop trying to get more people to sign up till it ships... lol

-Dan

Josh

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/570217#Comment_570217

The fact that this has taken such a long time to reach 100% actually makes me wary about owning this resource. Why is it that most people have decided to pass up on this?

Bruce Dunning

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/570220#Comment_570220

The fact that this has taken such a long time to reach 100% actually makes me wary about owning this resource. Why is it that most people have decided to pass up on this?

Personally I think that it is the cost compared to the perceived value.

Josh

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/570227#Comment_570227

The fact that this has taken such a long time to reach 100% actually makes me wary about owning this resource. Why is it that most people have decided to pass up on this?

Personally I think that it is the cost compared to the perceived value.

That is interesting that you would say this since this is the pre-pub price. It's only going up from here.

Mike Pettit

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/570220#Comment_570220

The fact that this has taken such a long time to reach 100% actually makes me wary about owning this resource. Why is it that most people have decided to pass up on this?

The very reason why so many people are desperate to see this resource in production are the exact same reasons why others do not have any interest in it. In the fine words of William Blake:

THE VISION OF CHRIST that thou dost see

Is my vision’s greatest enemy.

Thine has a great hook nose like thine;

Mine has a snub nose like to mine.

Thine is the Friend of all Mankind;

Mine speaks in parables to the blind.

Thine loves the same world that mine hates;

Thy heaven doors are my hell gates.

Dan Francis

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/570233#Comment_570233

This is just me personally, but i find the NIDB has less info than Anchor or ISBE, I know many people who think of it as the best dictionary out there.. I think it is good but Anchor is more in depth as far as I am concerned. I own NIDB in hard cover and am glad to have it. It usually gives me all the information I am looking for.

-Dan

Travis Walter

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/570242#Comment_570242

The Dictionary is 53% off and the Commentary is 20% off. Hard sell on the commentary. Wish Logos would drop the price a bit say to $300. Yes that would that a huge chunk out of the numbers needed to get it into production, but I bet a lot more people would buy it.

I think $25/book is a good value, so thats where my $300 came from.

Gordon Jones

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/570254#Comment_570254

If Logos' production costs are to be lower than anticipated then I would really love to see the pre-pub price lowered too - not just to bless my own wallet but to attract more people to the NIB and get it into production.

Travis, I imagine that 1000s of people would jump at the chance to get NIB in Logos for $300 including the many who own and love the print edition yet hitherto have not ordered the Logos version because they can't justify nearly $500 for a set they already own

Bruce Dunning

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/570276#Comment_570276

If Logos' production costs are to be lower than anticipated then I would really love to see the pre-pub price lowered too - not just to bless my own wallet but to attract more people to the NIB and get it into production.

[Y]

Paul Strickert

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/570276#Comment_570276

Don't think of these as 12 volumes; think of them as 24. The content of each volume could easily fill two regular-sized books in other commentary series. So, that's what -- $20 per volume?

Bruce Dunning

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/570286#Comment_570286

Don't think of these as 12 volumes; think of them as 24. The content of each volume could easily fill two regular-sized books in other commentary series.

That is true. It is 11,591 pages. That is almost 1,000 pages per volume.

tom

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/570217#Comment_570217

But I still won't stop trying to get more people to sign up till it ships... lol

[y]

Dan Francis

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/570329#Comment_570329

I noticed one person state that they personally prefers older scholarship, and I will not deny the vast wisdom that comes to us from scholars in past years. Why I like the New Interpreter's Bible is for me I find it is spiritually nourishing as I use it for my devotional studies, I find it has a good base level of comment on critical/historical issues and the reflections have great theological insight, to me. This is the only commentary of it's type (critical with reflections) out there that covers the whole Alexandrian cannon used by the catholic church. Anchor Bible offers a fine critical analysis on the apocryphal books but it usually very shy on theological reflections and even a few of the anchor volumes are very slim on the critical notes. I find nothing available historically that is close to what NIB is for me.

-Dan

Adam Rao

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/570464#Comment_570464

The news about the NIDB is good news, indeed! That said, I've seen items that are "under contract" languish there for a very, very long time. (NA28 w/ Apparatus, anyone?) Here's hoping Logos doesn't take nearly as long with this!

Mike Childs

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/570711#Comment_570711

The news about the NIDB is good news, indeed! That said, I've seen items that are "under contract" languish there for a very, very long time. (NA28 w/ Apparatus, anyone?) Here's hoping Logos doesn't take nearly as long with this!

Quite true, but I hope this means any issues between Cokesbury and Logos regarding publication, etc., have been settled. And it will not be too long before NIDB and NIB Commentary are both available in Logos. In the past, my conversations with Cokesbury editors through email have made me fear that they were not especially interested in having their material published by Logos. They preferred the model of publishing their own software version. But I am not so sure that has worked out to be as successful as they hoped. That is why I hope this change in status of the NIBD indicates that Cokesbury is now open to having Logos publish their material.

I even hope that eventually we will see the Bicentennial Edition of Wesley's works in Logos, as it is the only critical edition edited by modern Wesleyan scholars. Probably just a dream, but I like to dream.

Dan Francis

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/570713#Comment_570713

They preferred the model of publishing their own software version. But I am not so sure that has worked out to be as successful as they hoped.

The main problem is their self publishing was based on folio which is a decent database software... not it is true that the dictionary was published as internet explore type thing but it was a massive fail in my mind and I think in Abingdon's mind too since the registration card that came with it included a survey on which Bible software you use.It is just sad it has taken so long for Abingdon and Logos to get contracts hammered out. It is nice that Olivetree got all of the abingdon New Interpreter products but the 12 volume set, but unfortunately the lack of citation capacity makes it less desirable for heavy usage (that being said had the NIB 12 volume came there it would have been enough for me). God willing, hopefully by June we will have both the dictionary and the 12 volumes in Logos.

-Dan

PS: Michael I do hope you get your Bicentennial Edition of Wesley's works in Logos.... just painfully slow how long it takes to get things into logos sometimes. Heck we have been waiting long for the final volume of Job longer than anything else (taking about length of time under contract, for a work that has been published).

-Dan

Dan Francis

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/570752#Comment_570752

Found this article and thought I would share it....

______________________________________________________________________________________________

Abingdon Press completes 'New Interpreter's Bible'

6/25/2002

By Kathy Gilbert

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (UMNS) - A 12-year project will draw to an end for Abingdon Press when it releases the 12th and final volume of The New Interpreter's Bible in July.

Some 97 authors from 21 Christian communions have been involved in preparing this collection of commentaries on all the books of the Bible and the Apocrypha.

"The New Interpreter's Bible is probably not best thought about as being like a study Bible," said Harriett Olson, executive with the United Methodist Publishing House. "It is a whole shelf full of the best scholarly resource we could gather about the biblical text (the commentary sections), combined with discussions dealing with ways that the text can be viewed or applied in our contemporary settings (the reflection sections)."

Each of the biblical books is introduced by an article dealing with that book and its setting, as well as general articles on the different schools of biblical interpretation and the varied types of writings included in the biblical cannon. The entire Bible is reprinted in the New Revised Standard Version and the New International Version. Commentary and reflections on the Scriptures appear in each section.

"It contains a tremendous amount of material in a very accessible format," Olson said.

"The New Interpreter's Bible represents our strong and abiding commitment to find the intersection where deep faithfulness, superior scholarship, and practical service in support of the witness of the church all meet," said Neil M. Alexander, president and publisher at the Publishing House. The book will enliven the church's engagement with Scripture while fostering "vital teaching and preaching in congregations," he said.

Leander E. Keck, Winkley Professor of Biblical Theology Emeritus at Yale Divinity School, served as convener of the editorial board and senior New Testament editor. The project was launched in 1990, and the first volume was released in 1994.

"From the start, the aim of the NIB has been to make the best insights of current biblical scholarship accessible to a wide circle of readers without talking down to them," Keck said. Contributors have included scholars, pastors and lay people representing diverse traditions - Protestantism, Catholicism and Judaism - and roles in church life. The roster of writers includes 21 women, and is racially and ethnically diverse: six African Americans, five Hispanic Americans, a Native American and three Asian Americans.

Introductions to each biblical book address historical, sociocultural, and literary and theological issues.

"The NIB presents the user with the diversity of approaches and theological perspectives that characterizes biblical study today," Keck said. "If some consider this diversity to be a weakness, others will find it a strength because it invites the users to participate in the conversation about the meaning of Scripture in our time."

"The greatest virtue of the New Interpreter's Bible is that, unlike most commentaries, it witnesses to the indissoluble link between biblical study and preaching," said Richard Lischer, James T. and Alice Mead Cleland Professor of Preaching at Duke Divinity School. "The New Testament was the church's first sustained sermon, and it was meant to be preached in succeeding generations. The Scripture was never intended to be segregated from its practical and liturgical use among communities of faith. That is what makes it the lively word. The New Interpreter's Bible confirms that the most searching biblical scholarship can be done with reverence. Such scholarship does not inhibit proclamation but energizes it."

Though the new Bible has been well received by scholars and is being used in seminaries and other settings, it is intended primarily for the church pastor or teacher, Olson said.

"The commitment to participating ecumenically in biblical scholarship and making the best of that work available to the church is deep in our United Methodist DNA," she said. "United Methodists have a deep hunger to know more about the Bible and a desire to interpret it well - our work at the United Methodist Publishing House and Abingdon Press is to under gird that work."

"In the past dozen years, the United Methodist Publishing House has committed major resources to enhance the study of Scripture in the churches - the NIB and the Disciple Bible Study Program. This commitment should not be taken for granted; it is a major achievement that will bear fruit for years to come," Keck said.

______________________________________________________________________________________________

-Dan

http://sdarchives.umc.org/umns/news_synd.asp?ptid=&story={41FD8C17-2054-4314-B90A-B5219F711682}&mid=2912

Gordon Jones

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/570220#Comment_570220

I still don't understand why Logos isn't promoting this resource more, and I'm surprised that it hasn't lowered the asking price to get it into production. It's an issue of supply and demand - lower the price and demand will rise, and I am certain that demand would suffice to cover the costs to get the NIB into production. At least there has been some movement in recent months. Patience, patience, patience. :-)

tom

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/579862#Comment_579862

I still don't understand why Logos isn't promoting this resource more, and I'm surprised that it hasn't lowered the asking price to get it into production. It's an issue of supply and demand - lower the price and demand will rise, and I am certain that demand would suffice to cover the costs to get the NIB into production. At least there has been some movement in recent months. Patience, patience, patience. :-)

Out of the 800+ prepubs, this is listed as the 27th most popular prepub. Out of the top 120 prepubs, only six are not under development, and this resource is the second one listed that is 'almost there.'

Because so many people have ordered this resource and it is still a ways from going into development, I believe we are going to be waiting a long time because due to the fact that Logos needs to expand its customer base so that more people will order this wonderful resource.

Dan Francis

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/579978#Comment_579978

New Interpreter's Bible (12 vols.) may make it under contract soon. I hope everyone interested gets in on the PrePub price.

-Dan

Dan Francis

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/591918#Comment_591918

http://evernote.com/pub/danielwilliamfrancis/nibsamples has samples from every book of the Bible.

-Dan

Deacon Steve

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/591931#Comment_591931

http://evernote.com/pub/danielwilliamfrancis/nibsamples has samples from every book of the Bible.

-Dan

I'm getting a page not found error.

Dan Francis

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/592052#Comment_592052

Sorry try this.... NIB SAMPLES

-Dan