Enchanted in Logos land: Pricey Bible study software well worth the coin

By David Daniels and ChristianWeek | April 9, 2010

A couple of years ago, I surveyed the field of Bible study software packages for this column, highlighting some of the better known programs. At the time, I was using eSword for English language study and Gramcord for help with Greek and Hebrew, finding them to be quite sufficient for my purposes. However, I often looked longingly at the Logos system, but always resisted switching because the price seemed so high. Packages run from $265 to $1,690 US.

Recently, due in large part to the urging of a friend teaching Greek at Toronto Baptist Seminary, I purchased a Logos 4 package. He convinced me I would save hours of research using Logos. Though I am still learning how to harness the amazing potential of this software, viewing a growing number of publisher-provided training videos, I have already realized significant savings in ministry preparation time.

I bought the Scholar's Library (LE), a mid-level package containing nearly 500 titles. My collection holds approximately 40 English Bibles and interlinears, 20 original languages texts along with nearly 50 grammars, lexicons and other original language tools. Along with many excellent commentaries, there are high-quality maps, photos and other media resources, plus 30 books on practical ministry themes including preaching, teaching, illustrations and quotations. I also have a ministry resource library numbering more than 70 titles.

Without question, Logos ranks among the most expensive Bible study software programs on the market today, but I am now convinced that it also provides the greatest array of useful tools, particularly for those responsible for preaching and teaching within the Church.

In the Fall of 2009, Logos announced a major partnership with Zondervan to incorporate 87 volumes of their most popular reference titles into the Logos 4 system. Some of the titles included in the 87 volumes will be the 12-volume Expositor's Bible Commentary, the two-volume abridgment of the Expositor's series, the NIV Application Bible Commentary series (currently 20 volumes for the New Testament and eight for the Old), the popular four-volume New International Dictionary of NT Theology and the New International Dictionary of OT Theology and Exegesis (five volumes), the Zondervan Illustrated Bible Backgrounds Commentary (nine volumes in total), and the Zondervan Encyclopedia of the Bible.

Now, it is one thing to have a great number of resources your disposal, and quite another to use them effectively. In fact, I used to think that having hundreds of electronic texts in a study package would be unhelpful because they would never be used since they cannot be "seen" in the way one can see books on a shelf. But it is precisely at this point that the Logos 4 software becomes so valuable.

For example, entering a Bible reference in the search box will, within seconds, provide the specific location where that text is discussed in every single resource in my Logos library. This same can be done with words and phrases. Another exciting tool in this software is the Reverse Interlinear for both Testaments—English-Greek (NT) and English-Hebrew (OT). Currently this tool is available for the ESV, KJV, NASB95, NKJV and NRSV, and will soon include the NIV and NLT.

Any word on which you place your cursor in the text will take you to the Greek or Hebrew. Along with a full parsing of the word, you will be provided with lexical definitions. Anyone who has used print-based lexicons and grammars will immediately see the value of this tool.

Because every volume in Logos 4 is indexed, users can rest assured they have missed nothing of value, whatever text or theme they are exploring. So extensive is the integration of resources that you can place your cursor on any word in any resource that is opened and be provided with dictionary and lexical definitions of the term.

While I still prefer reading print-based books, magazines and journals, I find myself surprised (and delighted) with the awesome power of this Bible study software. Properly used, systems like Logos 4 are invaluable tools for busy preachers and teachers of God's Word.

Visit http://www.logos.com for more information.