I’ve just been informed by Kent Hendricks at Logos that they’re going to be producing a digitized collection of Broadman & Holman’s Bible reference materials. I can’t speak to the quality of the entire collection but I do own three of the works in question:
I’ve benefited greatly from the Holman Illustrated Bible Dictionary which I received as a gift for the Christmas of 2003. My major problem with that particular dictionary has always been its binding. The binding is terribly loose and has been since it was brand new. At over 1700 pages, this is a problem and I’m not confident that it will hold up well over the years. I suppose that a digital version of this work would eliminate that problem. For my thoughts on the other two works you need look no further than my (relatively) recent reviews of them (here and here).
One thing I found strange and I hope that Logos reconsiders is including the actual HCSB translation in the digital version of The Apologetics Study Bible. A note on the pre-pub page says:
Please Note: The Apologetics Study Bible does not contain the Bible text, but includes the study notes, articles, and all of the other great features found in the equivalent print version.
If this is the case then I don’t know that this can be rightly called The Apologetics Study Bible, but perhaps should rather be called The Apologetics Study Notes/Articles. They might be banking on all of their customers having one of their base library packages, which all (Original Languages Library excepted) include the HCSB as part of the package. But for people like me who don’t have one of these base packages but do have Libronix, this will be a problem. In fact, looking through all of the reference material, I’d think it necessary to include the HCSB as a 14th volume in the package since reference to it will constantly be made throughout the other 13 works offered.
But go on over and check it out. It might be something that’s worth your while.
B”H
I’m not a big fan of Holman’s stuff, but I do have the atlas that is included in the collection. It’s a pretty good atlas. And Logos sure does need a better atlas than what they got.
That’s a good point about the Bible translation. I hope they listen to your advice.
Nick, I’m not big on the HCSB.
Patrick: It’s like anything else, they have some good stuff and some not-so-good stuff. I’ve enjoyed the three works I’ve mentioned above (esp. the Gospel Harmony), and I also have a couple of books published by B&H, one of which is fantastic (I haven’t read the other). But I hope they take my advice as well because if they don’t I’m not sure how popular an item that package will be.
TC: I think it’s a decent translation, but it’s no KJV, that’s for sure! But since the works in the package reference the HCSB I think it should be included as part of the package.
I once purchased the Apologetics Study Bible but returned it. I just wasn’t feeling it.
TC: I don’t use it much but I like it. If an apologetic question comes up I’ll crack it open for a quick answer and see if I want to dig any deeper in some other books or not.
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