Replacements for Meyer's and Cambridge?

[why1942]

Of all the free modules I use in theWord the most, it would be Meyer's Critical and Exegetical Greek New Testament Commentary and Cambridge Greek New Testament Commentary for Schools and Colleges. 

 

Neither of these are apparently available for Accordance.

 

Can anyone recommend adequate replacements? If you are unfamiliar, they are verse by verse commentaries that lean heavily toward exegetical, technical Greek analysis. They have been very helpful in my studies. 

 

I'm looking for one or two exhaustive (meaning, in depth entries on most if not every verse) in commentary format that cover in detail the original language and translation issues. And, of course, as in all things, cost is prohibitive, but don't let that limit your recommendation.

 

And, while we're at it, do you have an recommendations for OT commentaries of the same type? Especially any dealing with the LXX either exclusively or with balanced treatment between the LXX and the Masoretic?

 

The key for all would be in-depth, exhaustive, and technical toward the original languages. Something I can find useful for the next 20+ years.

 

.............

 

If I can't find an adequate replacement, it does appear as if the My Notes module allows for copy and paste (probably the easiest) for each, but this will take a little time. I've tried exporting from theWord in RTF or XML but such does not render a very usable copy. Plus, it would take more time to put into the right format to import to Accordance via My Notes Folders than it would to just copy and paste an hour's worth of entries each day until it's finished. 

 

............

 

Here is an example of an entry from Cambridge:

 

2. ἐγέννησεν. In accordance with all the uncial MSS. the final ν (called ἐφελκυστικόν or ‘attached’) is added in the best critical editions before vowels and consonants alike. To this rule Tischendorf admits a few exceptions, as δυσί (ch. Mat 6:24), βαστάσασι (ch. Mat 20:12). It is probable that ‘ν’ ἐφελκυστικόν appeared invariably in the written prose language even in Attic Greek. See Winer, 43, 44, note 2, and Scrivener’s Introd. p. 486, 487.

2. τὸν Ἰσαάκ. The article is generally used with indeclinable proper names for the sake of perspicuity. See Winer, p. 141.

 

Here is an example from an entry from Meyer:

Mat 1:1. Βίβλος γενέσεως] Book of origin; מֵפֶר תּוֹלְדוֹת, Gen 2:4; Gen 5:1, LXX.; comp. Gen 6:9; Gen 11:10. The first verse contains the title of the genealogy which follows in Mat 1:2-16, which contains the origin of Christ from the Messianic line that runs on from the time of Abraham (genitive of contents). So Beza, Calvin, Grotius, Bengel, Wetstein, Paulus, Kuinoel, Gratz, de Wette, Baumgarten-Crusius, and others. The evangelist adopted the genealogical piece of writing (βίβλος), and which “velut extra corpus historiae prominet” (Grotius), without alteration, as he found it, and with its title also. Others (Bede, Maldonatus, Schleussner) take γένεσις as meaning life, and regard the words as a superscription to the entire Gospel: commentarius de vita Jesu. Contrary to the usage of the language; for in Jdt 12:18, and Wis 7:5, γένεσις denotes the origin, the commencing point of life; in Plato, Phaedr. p. 252 D, it means existence; in Hierocles, p. 298, the creation, or that which is created; and in Jam 3:6, τροχὸς τῆς γενέσεως is the τροχός which begins with birth. And if we were to suppose, with Olearius (comp. Hammond and Vitringa, also Euthym. Zigabenus), that the superscription liber de originibus Jesu Christi was selected first with reference to the commencement of the history, to which the further history was then appended with a distinctive designation (comp. Catonis Censorii Origines), as תּוֹלְדוֹת also confessedly does not always announce a mere genealogy (Gen 5:1 ff; Gen 11:27 ff.), nay, may even stand without any genealogical list following it (Gen 2:4; Gen 37:2 ff.),—so the immediate connection in which βίβλος … Χριστοῦ stands with υἱοῦ Δαυ., υἱοῦ Ἀβρ., here necessitates us to think from the very beginning, in harmony with the context, of the genealogy merely; and the commencement of Mat 1:18, where the γένεσις in the narrower sense, the actual origination, is now related, separates the section Mat 1:18-25 distinctly from the preceding genealogical list, so that the first words of chap. 2, τοῦ δὲ Ἰησοῦ γεννηθέντος, connect themselves, as carrying on the narrative, with Mat 1:18-25, where the origin of Jesus, down to His actual birth, is related. This is, at the same time, in answer to Fritzsche, who translates it as volumen de J. Christi originibus, and, appealing to the words in the beginning of ch. 2, regards βίβλος γενέσεως, κ.τ.λ., as the superscription of the first chapter (so also Delitzsch), as well as to Olshausen (see also Ewald and Bleek), who takes it as the superscription of the two first chapters.

 

Thanks in advance.

 

w

[JonathanHuber]

Ooh, I like older commentaries like that, even if understanding of NT Greek has changed since they were written. The most similar thing I can think of in Accordance is Eadie's commentary on some of the Pauline epistles (it's a lot more detailed and focused on the Greek text than the one image on the product page would suggest). It's part of the classic commentaries group which are all written in a similar style, but on the whole the group is not as detailed as Meyer nor is the whole NT covered. There's also A. T. Robertson's Word Pictures which covers the whole NT but not every verse. A modern commentary that really digs into the Greek text is the NIGTC, which is great but a lot more expensive (and, sadly, incomplete). For the OT, Keil and Delitzsch is good though they focus on the Hebrew text, not the LXX.

Edited April 2, 2020 by JonathanHuber

[Brian W. Davidson]

Lenski is good for NT Greek, https://www.accordancebible.com/store/details/?pid=Lenski%20NT%20Commentary

[why1942]

Ooh, I like older commentaries like that,

I completely agree. Since 99% of the modules in theWord are these older public domain titles, I've grown quite comfortable with them. And how can you beat the price. I just picked up the ISBE for Accordance for free, saving $40. I prefer the 1915 edition over the newer one. I wish Accordance would offer a small selection of these older commentaries and tools in their free package, but...

 

I have found New Linguistic and Exegetical Key to the Greek New Testament to be close to Meyer, at least at first appearance. No kindle versions online unfortunately. Worth consideration for only $40.

 

The Textual Guide to the Greek New Testament looks like a good replacement for theWord's Student's Guide to New Testament Textual Variants. At $40, still within my budget, especially if I can use the 25% storewide discount.

Edited April 3, 2020 by why1942

[Paul Meiklejohn]

why1942, since you are fairly new to accordance you might be interested in the Accordance exchange.  It has lots of free material. Bear in mind that they are all 'user notes and texts', so have a some search limitations and are listed differently in you acc. library.  

 

However, there are some excellent commentaries and articles there, and are all free for Accordance users.

 

 http://www.accordancefiles1.com/exchange/index.htm

 

Paul.

[why1942]

why1942, since you are fairly new to accordance you might be interested in the Accordance exchange.  It has lots of free material. Bear in mind that they are all 'user notes and texts', so have a some search limitations and are listed differently in you acc. library.  

 

However, there are some excellent commentaries and articles there, and are all free for Accordance users.

 

 http://www.accordancefiles1.com/exchange/index.htm

 

Paul.

Hey Paul,

 

Thanks very much for the recommendation. I found the exchange pretty quickly when I first started looking at Accordance. I downloaded Gill and I think a user bible. Nice to know there is some effort for trading free resources. I'm surprised there is not more available on there, but that's probably due to either 1. the limitations you specified above (search limits, locations listed) and/or 2. people who have purchased tools on Accordance do not need to put the time and effort into creating new modules from public domain works. With programs like theWord (and other free software) there is no other option. Either sweat equity or do without. 

 

If I end up putting Cambridge and Meyer into Accordance User Note format, I think I will check with the Exchange and see if they will allow it to be posted. Not sure of the copyright requirements, etc. But that will be awhile since I will be doing it with manual copy and paste. 

 

w

[Fabian]

Once I downloaded https://www.winautomation.com/download/  The 30 day of testing was enough to copy paste via automation all Bibles from e-sword. 

 

I created a workflow like this: 

 

 

Control-A (to select all where I started)

Control-C (to copy)

Click next (I have done this here and not after I go back to the app, because the app had then enough time to load the next chapter. Otherwise often only the half chapter was copied. Or the internet has time to load.)

Click (in the Word Icon, so Word opens)

Click in Word (to active it)

(I guess on my Win XP was able to go with a shortcut to the end if the Word document, that was necessary because my old XP was not fast enough and then the copy was in the middle instead at the end. If you have this too, I don’t on the Mac now, do this. )

Control-V (paste in)

Return (sometimes the Bibles ended in the chapters at the end of the line, but we have to have always a new line)

Control-S (to save)

Click (in the icon of the Bible app, or internet)

Loop (so it goes on)

 

Run: Go to where you want to start. And press run. After 2 hours it was on my Word file.

I guess the workflow is able to save for other. 

 

I guess there is a counter ( I had done this on a few more than the Bible had chapters and deleted the ones how was too much. I found that easier than to count always the chapters. 

 

Greetings 

 

Fabian

[why1942]

Once I downloaded https://www.winautomation.com/download/  The 30 day of testing was enough to copy paste via automation all Bibles from e-sword. 

 

I created a workflow like this: 

 

 

Control-A (to select all where I started)

Control-C (to copy)

Click next (I have done this here and not after I go back to the app, because the app had then enough time to load the next chapter. Otherwise often only the half chapter was copied. Or the internet has time to load.)

Click (in the Word Icon, so Word opens)

Click in Word (to active it)

(I guess on my Win XP was able to go with a shortcut to the end if the Word document, that was necessary because my old XP was not fast enough and then the copy was in the middle instead at the end. If you have this too, I don’t on the Mac now, do this. )

Control-V (paste in)

Return (sometimes the Bibles ended in the chapters at the end of the line, but we have to have always a new line)

Control-S (to save)

Click (in the icon of the Bible app, or internet)

Loop (so it goes on)

 

Run: Go to where you want to start. And press run. After 2 hours it was on my Word file.

I guess the workflow is able to save for other. 

 

I guess there is a counter ( I had done this on a few more than the Bible had chapters and deleted the ones how was too much. I found that easier than to count always the chapters. 

 

Greetings 

 

Fabian

Hey Fabian,

 

Thanks for the tip. I have a few bibles and several commentaries I would like to convert over. If I can automate the process that would be great.  

 

w

[Fabian]

I have wrote this from my memory, maybe you have to adapt it a little bit.

 

Greetings

 

Fabian

[Paul Meiklejohn]

 I downloaded Gill and I think a user bible.

 

 

 

Yes Gill is excellent and there's talk of trying to get a more professional version.

 

https://www.accordancebible.com/forums/topic/24678-john-gills-exposition-on-the-entire-bible/?hl=gill

[why1942]

Yes Gill is excellent and there's talk of trying to get a more professional version.

 

https://www.accordancebible.com/forums/topic/24678-john-gills-exposition-on-the-entire-bible/?hl=gill

 

I wish they would do the same with Meyer's and Cambridge, and all the other old resources for that matter. I think that would lower the bar for people to cross over from free software programs to at least trying out Accordance to see if they like it. 

 

w

[ukfraser]

I guess you've looked at the threads for feature requests and module requests on this forum and for such a relatively small team, developing applications for 4 platforms, its down to how to best use their resources and where the interest lies.

 

Please Keep requesting, but its easier to track in the various feature requests (for ios, android and full fat) and module requests in the various specific  threads. Then see how many others add their desire and that will help the team in the decision making as to assigning a priority. 

Edited April 4, 2020 by ukfraser