The Bible NETWork ~ Impacting the World for Christ one post at a time!

While those listing are organized by commentaries on individual books, I believe that you can recognize the sets that have repeated entries.

The general rule is not to buy sets unless you get a really good deal. Sets are uneven in quality. Most of the best sets have some weak entries.

Almost all evangelical authorities recommend the NICOt and the NICNT as sets to begin one's library. If I were going to buy a single set to begin a library, I would buy the New American Commentary from Broadman-Holman. It is more complete and more consistently conservative if not always the best on each book. The NICOT has a lot of gaps in its coverage while the NICNT would be better bought as individual volumes - unless you get a great deal.

Another option would be to buy the newer version of the Expositor's Bible Commentary, but make sure that you consider the coverage adequate for your needs. The older edition is at a much lower price than when I bought it in the 1980's, but except for Matthew and maybe Acts the NT is (although reliable) unremarkable by today's standards. Some of the OT volumes are still well worth the money.

John