New Interpreters Bible (12 Volume Set) [Hardcover]

Leander E. Keck (Editor)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 0687063477 | ISBN-13: 978-0687063475 | Publication Date: January 2003

Subjects and Themes: - Ancient Literature- Persons and Places in the Bible- Biblical Languages: Hebrew and Greek- Maps, Charts, and Illustrations- Excursuses of Biblical Topics- Reference Lists from the BibleIndexed terms are arranged so that: - Main headings are relevant- Cross-references guide readers to related areas of interest- Format is easy to scan- Scope encompasses names, places, and themes, plus Greek and Hebrew words in translation

--This text refers to the Paperback edition.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Leander E. Keck, convener of the Editorial Board and Senior New Testament Editor, is Winkley Professor of Biblical Theology Emeritus at Yale Divinity School. --This text refers to the Paperback edition.

Product Details

• Hardcover
• Publisher: Abingdon Pr (January 2003)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0687063477
• ISBN-13: 978-0687063475
• Product Dimensions: 18.4 x 13.8 x 11.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 54.5 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,069,139 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

96 of 96 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Alpha and Omega, July 12, 2003

By 

FrKurt Messick "FrKurt Messick" (Bloomington, IN USA) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (HALL OF FAME REVIEWER)    (TOP 500 REVIEWER)   

This review is from: New Interpreters Bible (12 Volume Set) (Hardcover)

The New Interpreter's Bible is a twelve-volume series, updating the popular Interpreter's Bible from a few decades ago. There are several key features common to all of the volumes of this series. First, each includes a two-column, double translation of the Biblical text (NIV - New International Version, and NRSV - New Revised Standard Version) arranged by topical unit or story. Then, they provide commentaries that look at the passages as a whole, as well as verse-by-verse. Third, interesting Reflection pieces that relate the passages to each other, to history, and to current concerns occur at the conclusion of each passage. Fourth, introductory articles for each book are provided that discuss transmission, historical background, cultural setting, literary concerns, and current scholarship. Finally, there are general articles about the Bible, each Testament, and various types of literature (Narrative, Gospel, Wisdom Literature, etc.) are provided to give general placement and knowledge about the text overall.

The list of contributors, editors, and consultants on the project is a veritable Who's Who of biblical and theological scholarship, representing all major traditions and schools of thought liberal and conservative. Leander Keck, of the Yale Divinity School, is the primary editor of the series.

The volumes were published individually, and can be purchased individually, which is a good thing, given that they are a bit expensive. But for any serious biblical scholar, preacher, student, or enthusiast, they are invaluable. A great way to purchase them, however, is by buying the entire set, as is on offer here.

The set includes seven volumes for the Old Testament/Hebrew Scriptures, and five volumes of the New Testament. Interspersed among the first seven volumes are the apocryphal texts. These books are called apocryphal because their status is not canonically clear within the Christian tradition. They are not contained in the official canon of the Hebrew scripture, and so Protestant tradition has tended to leave the books out of the Old Testament. However, these texts were included in the Septuagint, the primary Greek translation of the Hebrew scriptures in the ancient world, and so the Roman Catholic and the Orthodox churches consider the texts canonical.

High praise goes to the general editorial staff for working with such strong authors/scholars, that their work fits together well as part of this set while retaining their individual characteristics (much like the writers of the Bible itself!).

--Volume contents--

The following is a list of each volume in this twelve-volume set, and the contents of each.

Volume I: General Articles on the Bible; General Articles on the Old Testament; Genesis; Exodus; Leviticus

Volume II: Numbers; Deuteronomy; Introduction to Narrative Literature; Joshua; Judges; Ruth; I & II Samuel

Volume III: I & II Kings; I & II Chronicles; Ezra, Nehemiah; Esther; Additions to Esther; Tobit; Judith

Volume IV: I & II Maccabees; Introduction to Hebrew Poetry; Job; Psalms

Volume V: Introduction to Wisdom Literature; Proverbs; Ecclesiastes; Song of Songs; Book of Wisdom; Sirach

Volume VI: Introduction to Prophetic Literature; Isaiah; Jeremiah; Baruch; Letter of Jeremiah; Lamentations; Ezekiel

Volume VII: Introduction to Apocalyptic Literature; Daniel; Additions to Daniel; Hosea; Joel; Amos; Obadiah; Johan; Micah; Nahum; Habakkuk; Zephaniah; Haggai; Zechariah; Malachi

Volume VIII: General Articles on the New Testament; Matthew; Mark

Volume IX: Luke; John

Volume X: Acts; Introduction to Epistolary Literature; Romans, I Corinthians

Volume XI: II Corinthians; Galatians; Ephesians; Philippians; Colossians; I & II Thessalonians; I & II Timothy; Titus; Philemon

Volume XII: Hebrews; James; I & II Peter; I, II & III John; Jude; Revelation

22 of 25 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Excellent, But Expensive, Resource...., December 21, 2005

By 

Texaspresbyterian (Houston, TX United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: New Interpreters Bible (12 Volume Set) (Hardcover)

.... and it takes up a whole shelf in my library....

I would like to give this 4 1/2 stars, but five is too many.

This is the best Bible commentary I have used. It is not constrained by length as so many are. The dual NIV/NRSV is plus, and of course I read my NJB along with it.

I absolutely love the depth of analysis, particularly of the OT Hebrew (I have yet to use this much in the NT, having just started with the set a few months ago). Allowing the author a "personal reflections" section is a nice plus. Even when I don't agree with the reflection, it stirs good internal debate, and is a source of discussion questions for adult Sunday School.

The inclusion of the Dueterocanonicals is also welcome as these are unfortunately missing from most Protestant commentaries.

The one negative is that some of the commentary is a little liberal (in some cases, even feminist - e.g., Phyllis Trible) for me, but it does nicely balance out the more conservative International Bible Encyclopedia and the International Bible Commentary. Overall though, as the next reviewer points out, the scholars involved in NIB are from a range of theological camps.

This work is also available on CD for a little less, but in the end I decided I like hard copy better.

This was a LOT of work and all those involved in producing it are to be praised for their efforts!

12 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Expensive but invaluable Bible commentary, February 28, 2007

By 

Greg (Australia) - See all my reviews

This review is from: New Interpreters Bible (12 Volume Set) (Hardcover)

The NIB commentary (in twelve volumes or CD-ROM) is basically an extremely comprehensive historical-critical commentary on the entire Bible, including all the books of the OT including the apocryphal books, and also the entire New Testament. The commentary brings together dozens of biblical scholars from different Christian confessions, ranging from Evangelical and Pentecostal Christians to Anglican, Catholic and Orthodox scholars. The series also includes a number of essays on various academic and technical points, ranging from hermenutical theories of Biblical interpretation to feminist questions about biblical interpretation and so on.

While at times the overly-liberal agenda of some of the commentators can get a bit tiresome, overall the quality of the commentary is outstanding from both a theological and scholarly perspective, and incorporates the most up to date knowledge of the historical and cultural context of the scripture as well as useful reflections on how it can be applied to modern-day life.

The main drawback of this series is its heavy expense, which would put it out of reach of many individual buyers, though in my experience this set is quite easily found in most good university theology libraries, catechist resource centres, and in many parish libraries. Along with the Jerome Bible commentary and a good study Bible, this set in my view is essential reading for any priest, seminarian, theologian or theology student, and also any lay Christian interested in deeping their own faith or in a role where scriptural study or interpretation is required, including Ministry leaders, Bible Study Group leaders, RCIA team leaders and members, or catechists in any Christian denomination. If you have a difficult or obscure point in scripture and are uncertain, these volumes certainly help to get the context and message right, along with useful hints and reflections which would be useful in making a homily or sermon.