Logos Bible study software tips, tricks, and two cents
Do you use an electronic Bible study software like Logos? If so, please answer the following questions in the comment section.
1. What electronic bible study software do you use? {why do you use the one you use over others}
2. If you do use Logos Bible study software – what “package” do you own, and resources do you find most helpfull.
3. What add ones would you suggest?
4. Do you have any tips, or suggestions to help people that are new to the software?
62 Responses to “Logos Bible study software tips, tricks, and two cents”
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Why did ID delete an entire sentence out of my comment? Every encounter I've had with this comment platform has been sketchy! This is like the 4th blog using it that has done something screwy to one of my comments.
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Really? that's strange. My friend @humanerror LOVES ID…I've never had any issues with it..
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Nice! What is the best set that comes with the Scholars Gold? My issue is I have ALL of these resources, and not sure really what all I have. Rather overwhelming…
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My first suggestion is to just let Logos do what it does… run an exegetical guide and passage guide. Then go through all the resources it returns. Begin to learn what each title offers you. The more you do this, the more you'll learn how each title can serve you in your Bible study and which ones aren't really that helpful (to you). That's probably a good starting point. Also, running a bibliography report (catalog style w/covers) for your library will also let you see each title and get a description of the book. That might be helpful as well.
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That's what I usally do – run the passage guide and just start letting my eyes do the walking!
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I haven't used logos or accordance. Not sure how much more "advanced" they could be, but PC Bible works great for me. Add-ons are easy. Just added ESV last month.
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I would take me a while to go into it, but they are very advanced. (Search tools, lang. tools, etc.) the higher end version can run well over 1000 dollars. What resources do you use the most from PC Bible?
I'm in lay ministry, teaching a weekly bible study to married adults. So my needs are not as detailed as a pastor. I probably only use a 1/4 of the potential of PC Bible, so anything more would be overkill for me.
I compare versions of the bible, look at commentaries, sermons from lots of sources, greek/hebrew lookups, etc.
PC Bible V5 was about $250 originally and I've invested another $200 or so in add-ons. Love it!
Logos has been great! We just interviewed them about the new Mac version over at GodsMac.com a few weeks back. Great stuff!
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Can you leave the link to the interview here in case folks want to check it out? thanks!
Sounds like Rick should come to BibleTechConference.com in March? If you want answers, I'm sure you can get them there! I've only used it for over a month now, and am finding new ways to use it almost every time I open it.
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I'm sure you can find a way to do it. And I'd image(knowing you) that you would control the Logos 3.0 software, on the Kindle by a Wiimote!
March is super busy for me. I'm a youth speaker and I'll be doing lots of things in March. (Spring Break time) – I really just wanted to get some convo going on here for people who may be asking questions about these sorts of applications.
For commentaries, I use Wiersbe, Wesley, and a handful of general commentaries on the old/new testament. I also look at the life application commentary occasionally.
I use the "Faith Database" which lets you search over 10 Bible Translations, hundreds of early church documents, and over 1500 classics covering 2000 years of Christianity.
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I'm never heard of faith database. Is it an online only resource? Is it free? Something you buy? Please tell us more!
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Actually, it is more specifically a Catholic edition at this time. You can read more here.
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wow – I didn't know there was a "Catholic edition" how does that differ from a "Christian edition"?
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Logos for Mac! Received PC version for wedding present 4 years ago from someone on staff at Logos. UPdated to Mac version over Christmas. Now, the guy in their online tutorial videos works as my product manager at Precept.org. Before that, however, the morris proctor seminars were very helpful too.
For those going to seminary, Logos is a must, especially language students! I purchase most of my required seminary reading directly to libronix. Someone I know had a house fire… computer destroyed. All licenses restored and backed up when he purchased a new computer.
Pricey, yes! Worth every penny and then some… of course.
Nice! Which version did you get? Are you seminary? If so where?
I want to watch the Morris Proctor live dvd…I'd love to find someone who would let me borrow it!
The interview can be found online at http://www.godsmac.com/episodes/christmas-episode...
CRGlen says: LOgos on the Mac is still lame compared to the PC version, but, i am believing they are working hard to make up the difference. I live in both worlds PC at church and Mac and PC at home. I too received the Mac version for free. I originally bought the silver edition. I have added quite a few commentaries and various resources to it over the last few years. NOTHING compares to Logos, absolutely nothing… Case closed…
The Faith Database is not affiliated with Logos products. Logos does not have a Catholic version that I know of. Logos does offer quite a few Catholic add-ons, but they are kind of pricy for me. I think Logos is great though and I know a few Catholics who uses it all the time.
The Faith Database is geared more specifically towards Catholic Christians, but non-Catholic Christians could certainly find it beneficial. The difference between a "Catholic edition" and a "Christian edition" would namely be that Protestant Bibles do not include the deutercanonical books of the Old Testament (Tobias (Tobit), Judith, Wisdom, Ecclesiasticus, Baruch, I and II Machabees) and thus may not be included in a generically "Christian edition" of a Bible software. Another difference might be the commentaries may vary between a specifically "Catholic edition" and a generically "Christian edition." I'm not using the word "generic" to offend anyone. I'm using the term to mean that a "Christian edition" includes people of all Christian denominations, and since most Protestant denominations do not view the deutercanonical books as being inspired, a Bible software company may leave these books out. So Orthodox Christians, Catholic Christians, and some other earlier Protestant Christians may want to find a Bible software that includes these books or purchase them as add-ons.
The difference between a specifically "Catholic edition" or an "Orthodox edition" could be compared to say a specially "Lutheran edition" or a "Baptist edition." The Lutheran edition might include more commentaries by Martin Luther, while the Baptist edition might include more commentaries by individuals from its faith tradition. Does this make sense?
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Nice! thanks for sharing – it does make sense!
So what sort of ministry are you involved in?-
I help out with our Youth Group and I have a blog about Faith and Techy Stuff. Other than that, I'm busy being a Dad and Husband. My wife and I used to podcast, but have pod-faded since the birth of our little girl.
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Hey man. I have been using the new ESV Study Bible for the last couple of months and find the online version that comes with it has been great. Really enjoying it!
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What sort of resources do they give you online? Are you using that for your ONLY resource?
I help out with our Youth Group and I have a blog about Faith and Techy Stuff. Other than that, I'm busy being a Dad and Husband. My wife and I used to podcast, but have pod-faded since the birth of our little girl.
I use Accordance Bible for study of the Scripture (more focused imo). I use Logos for my digital library though.
Thanks for the feedback…why do you split them like that? Why not use Logos for study of the Scripture? If you use Logos for your digital library, what do you use the digital library for if not for study of the Scripture? Just curious why you use two different ones….
I prefer Accordance for many reasons. I only have Logos because some publications are not available in Accordance. I actually don't even run Logos much.
thanks for the reply. When you say "many reasons" would you mind sharing? Thanks!
trying to keep it short as possible, let me just sum it up in one word: SPEED
other than that, it is built for the Mac and always has been, it is built so the Scripture is basically "central", the searching ability can be extremely simple yet extremely powerful for those that need it (the powerful part can get complex for some)
there is one con to accordance: price (compared to all the other apps)
Have you tried out the new version of Logos for the mac? It is very fast indeed.
Also I think the Logos upper end set may be a bit more then accordance if I'm not mistaken.
I'm sure they are both very good applications, but it sees as if Logos has more resources available for it. And the GUI looks much tastier on the eyes…
Thanks for sharing this thought. What resources do you use most often on Accordance?
they wanted $60 for me to crossgrade, which I am not willing to pay, so I haven't tried the mac version
since I mainly do original language studies, I just use english versions, original language versions and a few resources like bdag, na27 apparatus, cntts apparatus (I don't believe logos has either apparatus), and occasionally IVP library
for casual reading logos is great because of the huge library, but I personally don't like to stray too far from the original text during study (it I can keep from doing it)…keeping with the whole interpret Scripture by Scripture concept
They had a special that you could crossgrade for free if you bought a certain amount of books. did you see that? that's what I did.
I've been wanting to use Logos as it was a standard in seminary, but have waited for the Mac version… and then 1.x to get the early kinks worked out. Look forward to learning more…
It used the beta, which was out of a long time before the retail version came out. I personally like it better then Accordance. It just "feels" better to me. (not to mention I think the GUI looks better.)
What seminary do you go to?
I'm a Western Seminary (Portland, OR) MDiv dropout
. Had just left Microsoft and started a company and decided the greatest cost of going to grad school was going to be the wife/kids. Still preach part time with AMF, but currently called to ministry in the marketplace…
The marketplace = HUGE mission field. Glad there are folks that see the need AND answer the call for that sort of work.
So are you in the marketplace for a Bible Software?
What do you do know by the way? Still own your own company?
I've given Accordance a try and didn't find it very intuitive. Search functionality was just not that great. I love just typing a verse into Logos and having it bring up all the references in my library. Just can't beat it.
Same here – Accordance seems sort of "clunky" to me…
Still self employed… 1080group.com, helping ppl discover and optimize web presentations/webinars. And you're right, the marketplace is a huge mission unto itself. Wherever we can bring salt and light, right?
Your right!
i've got logos and bible works. dude. it's awesome.
I agree! Have you ever used accoradnce? What resources do you use the most in Logos?
i use the bible. puahaha. i know that doesn't answer your questions.
Your so "Biblical" man – that's what I like about you!
scriptural.
I use e-Sword on my Windoze laptop. I also have Bible Desktop on my iMac, but don't like it nearly as much as e-Sword.
PC Study Bible V5 the best for my needs. It provides several versions of the bible, cross references in greek/hebrew, several commentaries and tons more. It feeds my need to be a geek and study God's word all at the same time.
Thanks for the feedback – have you used any of the more "advanced" versions? Like Logos or Accordance?
Have you tried any of the more advanced softwares, like Logos, or accordance?
To get the most out of Logos, check out the blog: http://blog.logos.com – Phil Gons is the main contributor and he is always bringing out great tips! For me, I added Calvin's commentaries and am SERIOUSLY looking forward to the Spurgeon Collection.
Nice! Is Calvin's Commentaries your most used? The Tozar collection looks nice also!
For commentaries I like him and Kistemaker. I also have Piper set up as a collection, so I can search all his books in one sweep.