what are the best academic biblical commentaries and why? biases, credentials, etc.,

[Unix]

I've suggested this volume to WORDsearch and offered to key it to them for free: Gospel of John by Francis Moloney, Oct. 2005 revised Edition or 2016 Edition - (check with the publisher if there's any difference between those two Editions)?
Paperback. Publisher: Michael Glazier
632 pages.
... Just that volume from the series, no other volumes from the series (Sacra Pagina (Old Testament equivalent is Berit Olam -series)).
The publisher of the 1998 and 2016 Editions has the webpage: Search Products
Other software platforms only carry the 1998 Edition.

I've looked at all those sets, and I sometimes find an additional good volume from them.

I've also looked at Tim Challies list.

Besides surveys I've of course read reviews on many individual volumes here and there, on for example AMZ and in journals. I always see to that I get to look at the physical copy to make my own judgment as well. It even happens that I read a lot from a commentary volume before I make up my mind to buy it. I also think about functionality of commentaries in softwares and how I can look up things in lexicons from commentaries, i.e. most of the advanced Bible Study softwares recognize transliteration schemes, so You can reverse engineer the transliterated original languages found in most commentaries, to the non-transliterated and then fairly accurately look up in lexicons and theological dictionaries.
This besides that I look at how critical scholarship is used and how the commentaries would function as reception history.

It's true that most lists online have a conservative bias!

What I do nowadays is to put commentaries I have to a greater use. I'll see if I can afford adding a bunch of various books (other than commentaries too) to the spare Logos account, used Logos Bible Software | eBay ... and despite what the ad says, I do think the WORDsearch account the seller has could be merged with mine after purchase, it would be a matter of that entire account of the seller would have to be merged with mine (in one go, that is). But I wouldn't change the name, email or password of the OliveTree account because there's a great risk it would be re-locked, they discourage trading accounts. If I'm able to, the purchase would add commentaries such as:
The 1978 The Gospel of Luke: The New International Greek Testament Commentary
The JPS Torah Commentary: Leviticus
Exegetical Commentary on First Corinthians by Spiros Zodhiates
... as well as Concise Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament (Danker, 2009) (although this one like I said unfortunately separately, although I already have two BlackBerry Playbook tablets with Playbook OS 2.0, both bought used, so I would be able to keep the installations separate). I don't have BDAG under Logos, but I have the previous Edition, BAGD, under my actual main account that I use. As well as that I have BDAG under Accordance (bought used, Accordance purchases can be transferred multiple times, also as easily if they were purchased with academic pricing) along with HALOT (also bought used).
What's good about the above ebay deal is that it doesn't include a Logos base-package. What I don't like about that above ebay deal, is the inclusion of The original Expositors Bible Commentary (EBC) (12 vols) - I would have to find another taker for that one (WORDsearch btw currently has a sale on the revised Edition, I don't have that one either), from start, as the licenses can't be transferred twice after the purchase by the original customer from the supplier (it used to be possible years back):

TheNorwegian has given a good list. In addition, I'd add the Anchor Bible and Hermeneia. However I should note that the best commentaries for specific books tend to come from different series or aren't part of a series. I have a couple of series, Word and Hermeneia, but I also have individual commentaries on several books.

I've looked for a list, but most of the things I find online have a conservative bias. This one is good for the commentaries it lists, Best Commentaries on Each Book of the Bible - Tim Challies, but it omits what I consider the best commentary on Romans, by James Dunn (in the Word series). What I normally do is look at the reference I just pointed to, and look for the book at Logos.com and do my best to filter out all the junk:

I use mainly two sets of scholarly commentaries. Both of them are very thorough and not necessarily easy read. In addition to theology and verse by verse exegesis, they cover subjects like textual criticism, literary forms, grammar, meaning of words, historical background, etc.

New International Commentary of the New/Old Testament (NICNT/NICOT) [...]

Word Biblical Commentary (WBC) goes even deeper than NICNT/NICOT. [...]

I also like the New International Greek Testament Commentary (NIGTC), but you need to have some knowledge in Greek to really appreciate this series. [...]

From a Catholic perspective, the series Sacra Pagina (SP) is good. I am Protestant, but still found the volumes have checked from SP to be very helpful.

 

[Biblicist]

what are the best academic biblical commentaries and why? biases, credentials, etc.,

Before I add in my bit, I’m surprised that no one has asked you what your particular interests may be with the Scriptures, for instance, are your leanings more toward the NT or OT or maybe both? If they are with the OT then my input will probably amount for very little as my focus is with the NT; if you belong to one of the historical denominations then you will probably need to obtain some key material by the various early churchmen which underpin these particular systems which is something that I have no need to consider.​

As much as my own library is growing each year, where I rely heavily on my BibleWorks program for Biblical analysis, I decided awhile back to go down the hardcopy pathway instead of relying on software for my commentaries but this is my choice where it may suit some but not others. Even though software programs such as Logos, Accordance and BibleWorks are absolutely indispensable for the more serious student of the Scriptures, even Logos (Accordance?) which concentrates heavily on commentaries and other types of books only contains a mere sample of the commentaries that are available and many of the better ones are still only available as hardcopy.

As a general rule, I would not recommend any commentaries that were produced prior to maybe the 1980's, as in my opinion, even though many were produced by some very fine theologians they are still a product of a rather primitive approach to the exposition of the Scriptures; but as I said before, if you belong to one of the older denominations then you will have no choice but to obtain this older material.

The benefit of the newer material is that the better (and usually more expensive) commentaries are peer-reviewed, where unlike the older material which are based more on the insight of a single individual, the contemporary theologian (post 70's) will balance his views against other respected theologians where their views may even be in opposition; but this gives the student of Scripture an advantage in that they can quickly broaden their own understanding of a Scripture or doctrine against a number of others and often from inside a single commentary.

What often gets overlooked in these types of discussions is that many can often avail themselves of a good Christian college or university library which might not even involve any cost if you are prepared to access their books onsite. Then there is the option of paying a yearly fee for the better libraries which will often give you access to scholarly online journals from your home. This is an option that I am now beginning to utilise more effectively but it can be hard to find the time that matches their opening hours. One of the advantages of this approach is that I am able to legally scan in various chapters of books that I could not justify buying and this has the advantage of not only being free but the material is easily searchable as either a PDF or MSWord document.

 

[Unix]

If You have some grasp of the development since, You can use some older commentaries than the '80s, some of them have been heavily quoted, which is why I for example bought a print copy of Conzelmann's commentary on 1 Cor in the Hermeneia -series in great shape, with dust-cover. It could be a true statement that You can trust a new peer-reviewed commentary better, but I also want to know from what time and preferably even what author, certain insights originate from. We're talking in-depth study.
In in-depth study You are probably focusing on a part of the Bible that You particularly like, isn't that so? Or just find key to understand, in order to understand other dependant things. In this scenario You are likely to have multiple commentaries on a single part of the Bible, so even commentaries that are not peer-reviewed, will do, as You can use all of the ones You have at the same time.
Won't study even close to the entire Bible in-depth, ever, also for reasons that the one and same exegetical or historical-critical approach is not entirely necessary for each part.
I do have some sets, for example the Anchor Yale Bible Commentary under Accordance - with a few volumes duplicated under my actual main Logos/Verbum account or as printed matter (and most of the Anchor Yale Bible Reference Library under the spare Logos account). That's the major one I have almost complete, I'm lacking for example the new Ruth -volume, which I want to get the next time I upgrade the OT-set. I'm pleased with this series and didn't find it too expensive.
As most who read my posts must have understood, I also totally avoid certain certain series.
If I have any question it's probably at least somewhat adequately covered in some commentary I have tucked away somewhere (not referring to hiding print books in boxes, that I don't do).
I agree that journals are also a good source, I have those almost solely under Accordance, under Logos/Verbum I have mainly some really old ones:

As a general rule, I would not recommend any commentaries that were produced prior to maybe the 1980's, as in my opinion, even though many were produced by some very fine theologians they are still a product of a rather primitive approach to the exposition of the Scriptures; but as I said before, if you belong to one of the older denominations then you will have no choice but to obtain this older material.

The benefit of the newer material is that the better (and usually more expensive) commentaries are peer-reviewed, where unlike the older material which are based more on the insight of a single individual, the contemporary theologian (post 70's) will balance his views against other respected theologians where their views may even be in opposition; but this gives the student of Scripture an advantage in that they can quickly broaden their own understanding of a Scripture or doctrine against a number of others and often from inside a single commentary.

 

[Biblicist]

If You have some grasp of the development since, You can use some older commentaries than the '80s, some of them have been heavily quoted, which is why I for example bought a print copy of Conzelmann's commentary on 1 Cor in the Hermeneia -series in great shape, with dust-cover.

Yes, it was only three weeks back that I was able to obtain an electronic copy of Conzelmann's work on 1Cor 12, 13 & 14 through the Christian college library that I now access which Gordon Fee quoted extensively in his commentary of First Corinthians back in 1988. I must admit that I was certainly intrigued by the layout of his commentary.

It could be a true statement that You can trust a new peer-reviewed commentary better, but I also want to know from what time and preferably even what author, certain insights originate from. We're talking in-depth study.
In in-depth study You are probably focusing on a part of the Bible that You particularly like, isn't that so? Or just find key to understand, in order to understand other dependant things. In this scenario You are likely to have multiple commentaries on a single part of the Bible, so even commentaries that are not peer-reviewed, will do, as You can use all of the ones You have at the same time.

I tend to suspect that most students of Scripture will be inclined to focus on a given area of the Scriptures, for some it could be the NT or the OT, and for NT students they might focus more on the Gospels or the Epistles. Of course how we focus our interests, or with what commentaries we purchase will be to a large degree governed by the amount of finances that we can direct toward these often expensive resources.

At this point of time I am undertaking a study on 1Cor 13 where I am relying heavily on the Christian library that I use for those commentaries that I do not own nor could I really justify purchasing. But as you said, the older commentaries from particularly around the 1950's to the 70's can certainly be useful when they are compared side by side, but for the contemporary student they would be better off buying a single large contemporary peer-reviewed commentary than say with a number of older ones. A good example of this would be with Keener's massive four volume set on Acts where he seems to cover most options on a given passage.

Won't study even close to the entire Bible in-depth, ever, also for reasons that the one and same exegetical or historical-critical approach is not entirely necessary for each part.

Oh yes indeed! As much as the more novice student of Scripture might be prone to presume that there are such things as the all-rounded theologian, I would be inclined to say that such a wonderful creature is little more than an idealistic hope as we would both know that there is simply too much to know about too many subjects.

I do have some sets, for example the Anchor Yale Bible Commentary under Accordance - with a few volumes duplicated under my actual main Logos/Verbum account or as printed matter (and most of the Anchor Yale Bible Reference Library under the spare Logos account). That's the major one I have almost complete, I'm lacking for example the new Ruth -volume, which I want to get the next time I upgrade the OT-set. I'm pleased with this series and didn't find it too expensive.

Oh . . . so you only lack Ruth, oh dear, you do not want to know how sparse my own reference material is toward the OT.

As most who read my posts must have understood, I also totally avoid certain certain series.
If I have any question it's probably at least somewhat adequately covered in some commentary I have tucked away somewhere (not referring to hiding print books in boxes, that I don't do).
I agree that journals are also a good source, I have those almost solely under Accordance, under Logos/Verbum I have mainly some really old ones:

That's interesting, when I referred to the online Theological Journals I was thinking more of the scholarly sites that only provide access to their resources for a fee, is this something that Logos provides? As I've already mentioned, I use BibleWorks software but for no other reason that it was the way that I started, so it would be hard to move across to Logos or Accordance though these two programs may be more suitable for most. The library that I access provides free access to BibleWorks but I admittedly was hoping that it would have been with at least Accordance so that I could obtain some hands on experience with a different package.

 

[Daniel Marsh]

That is not how I calculate it. Nothing to do with numbers of denomination.

There are at least 5 different mutually exclusive interpretations of eucharist, indeed more.
Ditto Baptism - in fact more. (Method, age, and efficacy)
Ditto Salvation (eg double predestination, once saved always saved, saved but can lose, not saved till the end)
And there are many other similar variants from..
LGBT issues
Other sacraments, number , effect
Priest hood, who can be, and whether they need succession.
Godhead (modalism is still alive and well, filioque and so on)
Mary issues - intercession of saints
Authority who gets to decide doctrine and how empowered?
Liturgy necessity and content
Purgation, purgatory, theosis, etc
Value, necessity, interpretation of suffering.
Value or necessity of tradition, and what it is.
Value or necessity of works. What are works?
Marriage, divorce and variants. Who can ? And can they be remarried?
Pro life, pro choice, date of abortion, contraception etc.
There are at least a dozen issues (more I listed) with 5 variants, and someone somewhere believes in all variants. Non denoms are fundamentally designer christianity, mix and match the bits you like from the long list above. So have all sorts of flavours.

12 to power 5 is a massive number!
On top of that a lot of arcane variants....

Like I am aware of a presbyterian congregation that fractured on the basis of what happens to a child dying prebatism! ( Saved or condemned or dont know. Mutually exclusive choice... there)

So easily hundreds of thousands of variants.

And the one thing you can be certain of, almost all of them are preaching one or more false doctrines because those doctrines in the categories above are almost all mutually exclusive.You cannot be pro life and pro choice.


All because of a lack of authority , and the fact that scripture is not and does not claim to be either exhaustive or a manual on christian life.

So there is no such thing as a single authoritative bible commentary.
All view scripture through a lens of tradition.

Just read some of what Calvin wrote, the sheer arrogance not just in what he writes about some scripture, but the tone with which he says it! the man was a disgrace. The Lord prefers the humble.

The above chaos and carnage in faith, is the inevitable outcome of the false doctrine of sola scriptura, and is Luther, Calvin and Zwinglis true legacy. The legacy of excessive pride.



.

The variants you list usually come in clusters thus making your calculation a whole lot smaller. One should for example interpret "sola scriptura" in the context of all five of the Solas. IMO, I think one would start with Christ alone.

• Sola Fide, by faith alone.
• Sola Scriptura, by Scripture alone.
• Solus Christus, through Christ alone.
• Sola Gratia, by grace alone.
• Soli Deo Gloria, glory to God alone.

Christ alone

Christ alone, from the latin Solus Christus, is one of the five Solas of the Reformation. It emphasizes that salvation is made possible for man only by the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ.

Relation to the other Solas
Sola scriptura - Christ's life, death and resurrection is chronicled perfectly in the Holy Scriptures. Only from Scripture is it possible to derive any knowledge of His saving work.
Sola gratia - The knowledge of Christ's redeeming work is made accessible to man in spite of his hardened heart (which views the gospel as "foolishness" - 1 Cor 2:14)
Sola fide - Grace produces faith, which brings actual salvation upon the believing sinner.
Soli Deo gloria - Christ is glorified whenever someone believes in His redeeming work. His Resurrection is often referred to the glorification of His mission on earth.

Christ alone | Theopedia

 

[Daniel Marsh]

Thanks to all who listed resources for me to check out.

Daniel

 

[Shempster]

My advice is to stay far away from the commentaries that are accepted as the best.
All you will end up doing is to further educate yourself in the going balderdasheries of theology.
Read the bible for yourself and ask God for the meanings. Don't be too surprised if your findings clash with the mainstream.

 

[Biblicist]

My advice is to stay far away from the commentaries that are accepted as the best.
All you will end up doing is to further educate yourself in the going balderdasheries of theology.
Read the bible for yourself and ask God for the meanings. Don't be too surprised if your findings clash with the mainstream.

Or maybe, if you choose to ignore the wisdom of those who know more than we do, then don't be all that surprised if you end up knowing very little of the Scriptures or that you are unable to engage with serious theology. People who ignore the wisdom of others are prone to the peril of self imposed ignorance with all of its evils.

 

[Unix]

I often do stay away with the ones "accepted as the best", for example if they at the same time are both popular and some Bible Study software company tries to force-feed them on us (meaning with incentives). I could give many examples of that, of what commentaries I avoid. Suffice to say that I agree with hedrick that many lists on the internet have conservative bias and that like I said I don't want to get aquainted with the popular commentary surveys by Longman (on the OT) and Carson (on the NT). Carson is an example of a commentator I avoid, another example of a volume (actually I don't have any volume from the series) is Baker Exegetical Commentary on the New Testament: Galatians by Douglas J. Moo:

My advice is to stay far away from the commentaries that are accepted as the best.

I want to add one commentary that I want to get:
Old Testament Library: Exodus by Brevard Childs, from the '70s.

 

[Unix]

See the quote where I'm quoting myself about the eBay ad. The seller's counter-bid is $438.01 for which price I might get it, my money comes a few hours after that particular offer ends, so only available for me if it can be extended somehow. What do You think? The rest of this post is EDIT: I just sat thinking about how much cheaper are these resources really? Excluding BDAG for which I would say the regular price $150 is fair even though I wouldn't actually take it to my own actual main account even slightly cheaper, so the cost of rest of the resources is like 25% of their supplier storefront saleprice - i.e. when they are on a sale, for example Boice went for $75 once and $100 once, and the Zondervan Illustrated Dictionary of the Bible is sometimes very heavily discounted. The other lexicons and language dictionaries I already have under both accounts, except under the spare account I don't have the TDNT (10 vols.) which I would therefore take. So this deal would be for the spare account. Merge the WORDsearch account with my account. Use that OliveTree account separately on my other BlackBerry Playbook tablet, eventually give away either it or my existing OliveTree account.
So meaning 75% off the lowest supplier prices for the fluff that can't be avoided (I don't want to use the I-want-to-avoid -excuse on many items, but of course am on the few items I already have under both accounts), is it worth it? Many of the titles I wouldn't "hunt" for, but all in all this is a decent deal considering it would complement the spare Logos account fairly nicely and add a 1 Cor resource to my WORDsearch and add a few other interesting titles such as a couple somewhat modern OK commentaries and the Concise Greek lexicon by Danker which is desirable as it's fair bang-for-the-buck and not available under other platforms than OliveTree. Would never need to complement with Greek lexicons again.
The value for me (not giving any value to the non-core resources I wouldn't hunt for) would be on par with what I would pay ($438) for this deal. But should I expect cheaper than how much I value the resources in $$?
The currency exchange rate was temporarily somewhat favourable during end of January 2017 but is quickly worsening right now for me, it may still dive a bit in the 30 hours left before I have my money. This doesn't impact all that much, it's just unfortunate that I can't be quicker and have to wait. The currency exchange rate has not been really good for about 2½ Years now, this has led me to favour used resources for the spare account. Under my actual main account that I use I avoid used Logos resources as they would quickly lock me in and disable me from ever giving away or selling parts of my somewhat big library which at least has been expensive, so it would not be worth it for savings on a few items, and I don't want to make any major new deal for my actual main account that I use:

What I do nowadays is to put commentaries I have to a greater use. I'll see if I can afford adding a bunch of various books (other than commentaries too) to the spare Logos account, used Logos Bible Software | eBay ... and despite what the ad says, I do think the WORDsearch account the seller has could be merged with mine after purchase, it would be a matter of that entire account of the seller would have to be merged with mine (in one go, that is). But I wouldn't change the name, email or password of the OliveTree account because there's a great risk it would be re-locked, they discourage trading accounts. If I'm able to, the purchase would add commentaries such as:
The 1978 The Gospel of Luke: The New International Greek Testament Commentary
The JPS Torah Commentary: Leviticus
Exegetical Commentary on First Corinthians by Spiros Zodhiates
... as well as Concise Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament (Danker, 2009) (although this one like I said unfortunately separately, although I already have two BlackBerry Playbook tablets with Playbook OS 2.0, both bought used, so I would be able to keep the installations separate). I don't have BDAG under Logos, [...]:

 

[Biblicist]

See the quote where I'm quoting myself about the eBay ad. The seller's counter-bid is $438.01 for which price I might get it, my money comes a few hours after that particular offer ends, so only available for me if it can be extended somehow. What do You think? The rest of this post is EDIT: I just sat thinking about how much cheaper are these resources really? Excluding BDAG for which I would say the regular price $150 is fair even though I wouldn't actually take it to my own actual main account even slightly cheaper, so the cost of rest of the resources is like 25% of their supplier storefront saleprice - i.e. when they are on a sale, for example Boice went for $75 once and $100 once, and the Zondervan Illustrated Dictionary of the Bible is sometimes very heavily discounted. The other lexicons and language dictionaries I already have under both accounts, except under the spare account I don't have the TDNT (10 vols.) which I would therefore take. So this deal would be for the spare account. Merge the WORDsearch account with my account. Use that OliveTree account separately on my other BlackBerry Playbook tablet, eventually give away either it or my existing OliveTree account.
So meaning 75% off the lowest supplier prices for the fluff that can't be avoided (I don't want to use the I-want-to-avoid -excuse on many items, but of course am on the few items I already have under both accounts), is it worth it? Many of the titles I wouldn't "hunt" for, but all in all this is a decent deal considering it would complement the spare Logos account fairly nicely and add a 1 Cor resource to my WORDsearch and add a few other interesting titles such as a couple somewhat modern OK commentaries and the Concise Greek lexicon by Danker which is desirable as it's fair bang-for-the-buck and not available under other platforms than OliveTree. Would never need to complement with Greek lexicons again.
The value for me (not giving any value to the non-core resources I wouldn't hunt for) would be on par with what I would pay ($438) for this deal. But should I expect cheaper than how much I value the resources in $$?
The currency exchange rate was temporarily somewhat favourable during end of January 2017 but is quickly worsening right now for me, it may still dive a bit in the 30 hours left before I have my money. This doesn't impact all that much, it's just unfortunate that I can't be quicker and have to wait. The currency exchange rate has not been really good for about 2½ Years now, this has led me to favour used resources for the spare account. Under my actual main account that I use I avoid used Logos resources as they would quickly lock me in and disable me from ever giving away or selling parts of my somewhat big library which at least has been expensive, so it would not be worth it for savings on a few items, and I don't want to make any major new deal for my actual main account that I use:

For those who have never had the opportunity to delve into the better commentaries and other technical resources, or where they may only still be at the entry level to a more serious approach to their studies, I can only half imagine the bewilderment that many must be going through when they see the vast array of options, where they are further compelled to either go down the software or hardcopy option with the various commentaries or even with both.

For those who have been able to embrace the many technical Biblical resources, we probably all come to a point where through maybe our own individual sweat and probably tears, that we have realised that there is rarely the provision made in either our churches or even within many Biblical institutions where new students can gain the necessary skills to utilse the many incredible Biblical aids that are increasingly coming onto the market.

As for the various exchange rates, depending where people live, I suppose many have discovered that if they wait for a sale to appear at a local Christian Bookstore that many of the more expensive commentaries and Biblical aids can often be purchased at a price that is comparable to the best online sources; but of course, this process almost becomes a science in itself.

 

[Unix]

That must be true, but it wouldn't be helped by having such users look only at the standard responses to their kind of questions about what to buy. I could of course help out if anyone's interested and flesh out a couple of levels from least comprehensive and easiest to one a bit more advanced step, concluding what commentaries to buy an mention examples of tools with perhaps a couple of systematic theologies or something thrown in (although those usually span many pages). Meanwhile it can be a bit bewildering for sure to look at the lists as users must be wholly unfamiliar with titles and not know the scope and/or use of them making the purchases they should get, hard to spot. What do You suggest? Should I start compiling these two "beginner" (they are not necessarily beginners in studying the Word) lists?:

For those who have never had the opportunity to delve into the better commentaries and other technical resources, or where they may only still be at the entry level to a more serious approach to their studies, I can only half imagine the bewilderment that many must be going through when they see the vast array of options, where they are further compelled to either go down the software or hardcopy option with the various commentaries or even with both.

Over here seminaries are open with that they don't teach You to actually use software packages - this was about two Years ago, they may be forced to change their mind on that point soon. But I've had a plan for a very long time: I will dedicate Years to what I have committed to, I count on learning to use what I need to use, and when I can't do some of the more simple things I'll just resort to software packages that are easier to use, that I have such as WORDsearch (and OliveTree is definitely easy to use on both Blackberries that I have):

For those who have been able to embrace the many technical Biblical resources, we probably all come to a point where through maybe our own individual sweat and probably tears, that we have realised that there is rarely the provision made in either our churches or even within many Biblical institutions where new students can gain the necessary skills to utilise the many incredible Biblical aids that are increasingly coming onto the market.

I can spot a decent deal by just glancing it, the problem is distinguishing the excellent deals when I preferably shouldn't spend all my money. I can admit that one thing which impacts what I choose to do with the deal, is that regarding some resources (for example BDAG, Boice) I don't want the Bible Study software companies to see my interest for the resources, buying used under spare account keeps them from getting a precise hunch of what I want. This may seem really silly, but I've sometimes thought about these kind of things for 1½ decades now, wherever I've been. The forces that drive what come out under which Bible Study platforms and at which price, are a bit ugly sometimes. I know, this is not a good parameter to throw in, I have much better reasons too for taking or not taking a deal. But I'm a fairly open person and not embarrassed about how I think sometimes. Notice I used the word "sometimes" twice in this paragraph connotating what I do. Another reason for buying used is of course that that way I would not in any direct manner be feeding the supplier - that's perhaps a better reason as their position regarding number of books under the storefront is too strong for healthy competition to exist. Also I understand the seller, I haven't asked for the reasons but perhaps the seller is switching to a different platform or format or downsizing or something and wouldn't want to keep the books despite their value, I would feel better aiding such a decision, than about making the supplier, Logos, more aggressive. Also, I'm not entirely satisfied with OliveTree and had already stopped buying from them so this would be the way to, with as clear conscience as possible, get a rudimentary library as a bonus.
I may perhaps sound like a person who just shops for the fun of it, but I'm not, I'm serious about that I want to eventually find people whom to collaborate with, and then these accounts will come in handy since the overwhelming majority will still by then not be having any actual Bible Study software libraries since before:

As for the various exchange rates, depending where people live, I suppose many have discovered that if they wait for a sale to appear at a local Christian Bookstore that many of the more expensive commentaries and Biblical aids can often be purchased at a price that is comparable to the best online sources; but of course, this process almost becomes a science in itself.

 

[Biblicist]

That must be true, but it wouldn't be helped by having such users look only at the standard responses to their kind of questions about what to buy. I could of course help out if anyone's interested and flesh out a couple of levels from least comprehensive and easiest to one a bit more advanced step, concluding what commentaries to buy an mention examples of tools with perhaps a couple of systematic theologies or something thrown in (although those usually span many pages). Meanwhile it can be a bit bewildering for sure to look at the lists as users must be wholly unfamiliar with titles and not know the scope and/or use of them making the purchases they should get, hard to spot. What do You suggest? Should I start compiling these two "beginner" (they are not necessarily beginners in studying the Word) lists?:

You may have to excuse my previous post as I suppose that I was simply putting to pen the frustrations that I feel for those who have been unable to connect to the better Biblical resources, be they based on software or hardcopy.

When we peruse through CF, we both undoubtedly come across posts where Christians have expressed their own frustrations with not being able to obtain the sort of information that should be readily available to their hand; then we have those poor individuals who for various reasons deem Biblical knowledge to be something best avoided.

As to my own suggestions; how I wish that there was a simple solution to all this.

Sometime last year I approached the Bible College whose library that I use about establishing night classes so that Believers could gain some knowledge with how to use the better Biblical resources; as much as the Registrar understood the need, he mentioned that most of the larger churches in his part of our city are not really all that interested with encouraging their members to study. Undoubtedly this type of attitude is prevalent elsewhere as well and of course I tend to wonder just how many lecturers there are who hold their Masters or Doctorate who would be all that confident with teaching study techniques?

Even when it comes to the better contemporary commentaries, or I suppose with any commentary for that matter, it can be one thing to use these tools but it can be another thing for a reader to gain the necessary exposure to such material to be proficient with their use. I find this to be a problem when I post material from various commentaries and lexicons (usually within a spoiler to try and avoid overloading those who are less experienced) in that various posters have a tendency to read into the material above what a commentator is actually saying, or even when a commentator is carefully trying to avoid being too specific on a given issue. For that matter, some even completely miss what a commentator is saying where they essentially replace his thoughts with their own, which admittedly is something that we all need to avoid doing.

At this point of time I am undertaking a serious study on 1 Cor 13 where I already have around 18 commentaries and specialist hardcopy on this chapter, but I am in the process of obtaining some more material from the library that I use just so that I can be sure that I am providing a proper summary of what various commentators have to say on this chapter, where the less experienced student will fall for the trap of relying on a small portion of what they have to say on a given passage which more often that not will miss the mark; but of course, it is one thing to point people to the better commentaries but then the more difficult task is to help them to realise that they need to be very careful with what they are reading and to pay particular attention to key terminology and how the author and other commentators may use a given expression.

PS. I will come back with a few suggestions or at least with the methods and tools that I use for my own studies.

 

[Mountainmike]

The variants you list usually come in clusters thus making your calculation a whole lot smaller. One should for example interpret "sola scriptura" in the context of all five of the Solas. IMO, I think one would start with Christ alone.

• Sola Fide, by faith alone.
• Sola Scriptura, by Scripture alone.
• Solus Christus, through Christ alone.
• Sola Gratia, by grace alone.
• Soli Deo Gloria, glory to God alone.

Christ alone

Christ alone, from the latin Solus Christus, is one of the five Solas of the Reformation. It emphasizes that salvation is made possible for man only by the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ.

Relation to the other Solas
Sola scriptura - Christ's life, death and resurrection is chronicled perfectly in the Holy Scriptures. Only from Scripture is it possible to derive any knowledge of His saving work.
Sola gratia - The knowledge of Christ's redeeming work is made accessible to man in spite of his hardened heart (which views the gospel as "foolishness" - 1 Cor 2:14)
Sola fide - Grace produces faith, which brings actual salvation upon the believing sinner.
Soli Deo gloria - Christ is glorified whenever someone believes in His redeeming work. His Resurrection is often referred to the glorification of His mission on earth.

Christ alone | Theopedia

Since sola scriptura is demonstrably bunk, and the other solas are derivatives of it by wrongfully using scriptura as the sole authority, to attempt to Define all else, then all of the battle cries of the reformation tumble like dominoes.

There are more permutations not less.
Despite " clusters", because there are many more areas of disagreement than those I listed, and non denominationals assume carte Blanche to believe any collection of interpretations since they are not subject to denomination "Clusters"

Worse than that , even the clusters are false, since many denominations no longer have any consistent pattern of beliefs, empowering pastors to make it up for themselves.

The main point I made is true.
Since truth is unique , and since Protestants preach mutually exclusive variants of almost all areas of doctrine, them all Protestants post reformation preach untruths, the only question is which, not whether.

Sola scriptura , and empowering a priesthood of all believers to make it up for themselves was the doctrine that empowered endless schisms.

Luther regretted he ever let pandora out of the box in later life, lamenting that " every milkmaid now had their own doctrine" but it was too late :the genie could not be put back in the bottle.

Meanwhile as scripture itself decrees, the pillar of truth is the church - which by infallibility of councils defined the New Testament amongst other things.
And truth was handed down to the first Christians. Which is why Paul says" hold true to tradition we taught you" The New Testament did not exist in present form for early centuries and it would bewell over another millennium before most could own one or read one.

If you lose the authority of the church, you lose the New Testament too.

 

[Daniel Marsh]

Christ Alone is the starting point of the Solas.

The Historical Creeds starts with God the Father and Christ,
Nicene Creed | Theopedia

The authority of Scripture rests on God, not the other way around.

 

[Unix]

Nowadays scholars use a mix of commentaries by Protestants as well as by Catholics.
(Small update regarding the deal with used Bible Study softwares: the price went up to $437.77 + that I have to pay the license transfer fee (in the original form of the ad the seller would have paid that) when I wanted the Boice set included, i.e. from the $438 which used to include the license transfer fee. And I forgot to clarify that I'm not taking EBC at all nor the few Logos volumes I already have, licenses can't be transferred twice so it's much better to leave that to the original seller to find additional buyers for the remainder. I've done all the final negotiations, I'm still waiting if possibly OliveTree replies me tonight confirming me what's OK to do. Don't be shy to say something against the deal if You happen to see this comment right now! To me, more talk for and against is always edifying.)
There's a risk to grow bald from too much study (it's usually difficult for a man to know whether he will go bald somewhat early, I haven't started loosing any hair), at the same time my view is that all of us here bring the tradition to the future Year by Year as we likely keep a closer eye to interpretation/hermeneutics than the average person who is interested in what tradition and/or the Bible says also as they may ask us and we may post our findings publicly, plus the sum of each persons own theology is something that in one way or another or to one degree or another shines through.
Anyway, would I have caught some other interest than things pertaining to this, I would have gone with that to a bigger extent and more in the future. But I've beaten out my path already. I'll make sincere efforts to revive at least two other interests as well: To build some physical strength and to assemble my moped and get that small spare part which I dropped, to my 125 cubic centimetre motorcycle. I owe these two things to myself, they would give me energy. I would particularly like driving the moped.

 

[Daniel Marsh]

Nowadays scholars use a mix of commentaries by Protestants as well as by Catholics.
(Small update regarding the deal with used Bible Study softwares: the price went up to $437.77 + that I have to pay the license transfer fee (in the original form of the ad the seller would have paid that) when I wanted the Boice set included, i.e. from the $438 which used to include the license transfer fee. And I forgot to clarify that I'm not taking EBC at all nor the few Logos volumes I already have, licenses can't be transferred twice so it's much better to leave that to the original seller to find additional buyers for the remainder. I've done all the final negotiations, I'm still waiting if possibly OliveTree replies me tonight confirming me what's OK to do. Don't be shy to say something against the deal if You happen to see this comment right now! To me, more talk for and against is always edifying.)
There's a risk to grow bald from too much study (it's usually difficult for a man to know whether he will go bald somewhat early, I haven't started loosing any hair), at the same time my view is that all of us here bring the tradition to the future Year by Year as we likely keep a closer eye to interpretation/hermeneutics than the average person who is interested in what tradition and/or the Bible says also as they may ask us and we may post our findings publicly, plus the sum of each persons own theology is something that in one way or another or to one degree or another shines through.
Anyway, would I have caught some other interest than things pertaining to this, I would have gone with that to a bigger extent and more in the future. But I've beaten out my path already. I'll make sincere efforts to revive at least two other interests as well: To build some physical strength and to assemble my moped and get that small spare part which I dropped, to my 125 cubic centimetre motorcycle. I owe these two things to myself, they would give me energy. I would particularly like driving the moped.

International Critical Commentary Holy Scriptures OTNT. Old Testament CEC, ed. by Plummer, scholars of America, Europe, 19th cent. 33 vols as 24..Briggs, Driver, : Edited by C.A.Briggs, S.R.Driver, A.Plummer. and many 19th century scholars of America and Europe. : Free Download & Streaming : Internet Archive

If the International Critical Commentary set is part of the deal, you may want to download it for free at the above link and try to get a cheaper price.

You may want to google each item on their list to see if it is free in PDF files in public domain first.

 

[Unix]

OK thanks for making me aware. No I would not buy many ICC -volumes used, if I would buy them I would buy them new mainly ones that are still copyrighted for a long while. No ICC-volumes included and I was aware many of them are old. I can't recall any significant PD books in the offer, the value for me consists of copyrighted top-shelf books:

International Critical Commentary Holy Scriptures OTNT. Old Testament CEC, ed. by Plummer, scholars of America, Europe, 19th cent. 33 vols as 24..Briggs, Driver, : Edited by C.A.Briggs, S.R.Driver, A.Plummer. and many 19th century scholars of America and Europe. : Free Download & Streaming : Internet Archive

If the International Critical Commentary set is part of the deal, you may want to download it for free at the above link and try to get a cheaper price.

You may want to google each item on their list to see if it is free in PDF files in public domain first.