Favorite Logos Commentaries for Sermon Preparation?

David R. Bess
David R. Bess Member Posts: 87 ✭✭
edited November 2024 in English Forum

What are your favorite commentaries for Logos sermon preparation?  Could you briefly explain why?

I'm still debating the value of doing a base upgrade.  I'm thinking that since I use commentaries for sermon prep more than just about any other resource in Logos (other than the Bible itself), it might be best to add commentary sets rather than a base upgrade.  If I would do the upgrade, I'd be going from the minimal base to gold or platinum.

I'd appreciate any input!

Blessings,

David B.

Comments

  • Graham Criddle
    Graham Criddle MVP Posts: 33,287

    Hi David

    The top three I use are NICOT/NICNT, New American Commentary and the "Preaching the Word" series.

    The NICOT/NICNT series are really good at providing detailed perspectives and insights on the text and various views and opinions on it. I find them useful when I want to explore particularly difficult passages and understand various views on them.

    The NAC series is a less academic series but one I have found provides consistently good commentary in an accessible way.

    The PtW series provides very good illustrations and application ideas which I often find helpful

    All three are good in that they cover most of the Bible (though not all - with PtW having the smallest coverage)

    NAC is included in Silver and PtW is included in Platinum.

    The NICOT/NICNT series is not included in any base package. Its currently discounted at http://blog.logos.com/2013/05/save-400-on-the-nicotnicnt/ (until the end of the month) and, recently, individual volumes have been made available (as opposed to needing to buy the complete set) - http://blog.logos.com/2013/11/last-chance-to-get-introductory-discounts-on-nic-volumes-and-collections/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+LogosBibleSoftwareBlog+%28Logos+Bible+Software+Blog%29

    Hope this helps, Graham 

  • Dan Pogue
    Dan Pogue Member Posts: 196 ✭✭

    Greetings David!

         I am not a Pastor, nor do I have any Greek or Hebrew training.  The commentaries that I use the most are these:The Bible Knowledge Commentaries, Baker NT Commentaries, The Preachers Commentaries Series, The Pillar NT Commentaries, the Pulpit Commentaries and the John MacArthur Commentaries.  Some of these commentaries come with the base package. 

         I don't know if this helps or not.  I don't know if you have a base package or not.  I appreciate the commentaries and I know that there are better ones out there, yet I cannot afford them.  Others may be able to suggest what the best commentaries are for your needs.

    Blessings,

    danp

  • Graham Owen
    Graham Owen Member Posts: 665 ✭✭

    The NAC series is a less academic series but one I have found provides consistently good commentary in an accessible way.

    The PtW series provides very good illustrations and application ideas which I often find helpful

    Would agree about these two sets, can't comment on NICOT/NICNT as I do not own them.

    I would add:

    Tyndale which like NAC is consistently good and easily accessible.

    The Bible Speaks Today - very clear covers the NT the volume on the Sermon on the Mount is a definite favourite of mine.

    One curve ball that I find useful is the UBS Handbooks. The target audience is translators so not an obvious choice except the sections where they discuss how to translate ideas and/or concepts that may not exist in other languages/cultures can be a great source of ideas for communicating something in a way that gets peoples attention.

    God Bless

    Graham

    Pastor - NTCOG Basingstoke

  • Rich DeRuiter
    Rich DeRuiter MVP Posts: 6,729

    What are your favorite commentaries for Logos sermon preparation?  Could you briefly explain why?

    I'm still debating the value of doing a base upgrade.  I'm thinking that since I use commentaries for sermon prep more than just about any other resource in Logos (other than the Bible itself), it might be best to add commentary sets rather than a base upgrade.  If I would do the upgrade, I'd be going from the minimal base to gold or platinum.

    I'd appreciate any input!

    Blessings,

    David B.

    I use a variety of types of commentaries. I like NICOT/NICNT, Word, NAC (and sometimes others), for exegetical work. I like the IVP Bible Background commentary (OT & NT) for what it does, along with the FSB and some other study Bibles. I also find hommiletical commentaries helpful - especially Preaching the Word and The Preachers Commentary. One final commentary I have found surprising helpful (sometimes more than others) is the NIV Application Commentary, in fact the NIVAC on Esther was better (IMHO) than NICOT, Word or NAC. Your work-flow may be different than mine, but I'd like to suggest that by diversifying the types of commentaries you use, you may discover things in the text and find ideas about how to present them that you hadn't considered before.

    As for base package vs. a la carte, I recommend looking at base packages as the most economical way to build a diverse study library. Every once in a while, opening up a few systematic theologies, or looking at how someone else has dealt with various pastoral or leadership issues (e.g.) has proven more helpful than I anticipated. When you look at the packages (I think Gold is probably the 'sweet spot' for most studious pastors), disregard volumes you're not interested in, and look at those that you need and/or plan to buy some day. Then begin totaling up what it would cost to purchase those individually (a la carte), and compare your final price to the base package price. For most people wanting a diverse study library, they quickly find that the base package price they're looking at is an incredible deal.

     Help links: WIKI;  Logos 6 FAQ. (Phil. 2:14, NIV)

  • Graham Owen
    Graham Owen Member Posts: 665 ✭✭

    Every once in a while, opening up a few systematic theologies, or looking at how someone else has dealt with various pastoral or leadership issues (e.g.) has proven more helpful than I anticipated.

    Good point Rich...

    And the great thing about Logos is you can access that information using the cited tool, I always spend some time looking at how the verse that I have in focus has been used by others in other types of book.

    David

    Once you have decided the best way of acquiring Logos, not an easy choice, you'll find lots of people here who can help you use the different resources to dig deeper into God's Word.

    God Bless

    Graham

    Pastor - NTCOG Basingstoke

  • David R. Bess
    David R. Bess Member Posts: 87 ✭✭

    Right now, the NAC is the favorite commentary in my Logos library (I have 37 of 40 volumes).  I have the Preachers Commentary series, which is somewhat helpful.  I have seven volumes of PtW, which are very good.  The NICOT/NICNT sounds fascinating.

    If I do a base package upgrade from my minimal package (I have several older titles in addition to the Logos 5 minimal set), it will be either to Gold or Platinum.  I've done better this year with not using much of my professional expense allotment. Since the remaining balance is "use it or lose it," I plan to expand Logos in the most efficient way possible.

  • Michael S.
    Michael S. Member Posts: 674 ✭✭

    I know this thread is a little old, but was wondering if anyone had any exposure to the Welwyn commentaries?