Customer Reviews

New Interpreters Bible (12 Volume Set)

5 star:		(4)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

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

.... 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!

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.

I first used this set at Duke U. in 1961. Over the years since then, the results of new research and new thought have been added. It remains one of the better Biblical study tools. And it is quite readable.

The price I paid was substantially below the publisher's price.

Excellent product
Excellent service
Arrived in Australia very quickly, in great condition, and at an extraordinary low postage rate.
Thank you

The amount and quality of information is incredible. But it's pretty hard to read any significant amount of the actual biblical text because they break it up every few verses for commentary and reflection.