New Interpreters Bible Cdrom 12 Volume Set [CD-ROM]

As for the CD ROM edition, I have a big problem. I MUST run it from a CD drive. You can load the program into the hard drive but NOT the DATA to run it without the CD. I called them and they confirmed. My notebook computer (the light weight IBM ThinkPad X series) comes with external CD ROM that I don't usually carry it with me to reduce weight. So I have everything I need in the hard drive, including the entire Libronix Digital Library System, 1,000 MB of data. But now, I am not allowed to put this 85 MB of data into my hard drive. Even if I have a built-in CD drive on my notebook, I will still prefer to run it from the hard drive and not to carry the CD with me because I could lose it. I think it's just an outdated paranoia, which will hinder the widely usage of the great NIB, and prevent the growth of the software company itself. What a shame!

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 text 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. This CD set includes all of this text.

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. Each is included on the CD.

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

The one drawback, as noted by another, is that one must have the CD to use; it cannot be completely loaded on the hard-drive as a stand-alone. For me, this is not a major inconvenience, but might be for some, so please note the issue.