XL'ent News
August 2003
By Jeff Niles
The year was 1454 in Mainz, Germany and the replication of the Bible was undergoing a major transformation changing forever how we read, study, and reproduce the Scriptures. It was there that Johannes Gutenberg printed the first book with moveable type and revolutionized the literary world. The first book off his press was the Bible.
Five-hundred and fifty-years later, we find ourselves in the middle of the digital age altering the way we work, read, write, and even think. And thus another revolution has begun that is forever changing how we read, study, and reproduce the Bible. Over half a millennium after Gutenberg printed his first copy of the Scripture, we carry around on our laptops and palm PCs the phenomenon called Bible software, programs containing dozens of translations, photographs, maps, commentaries, and literally gigabytes of Bible study tools. What we can access within a minute, Johannes himself would have had to travel over months across nations and continents to unearth. The possibilities are almost endless to what we can find.
And so the question: What is the best Bible software for me and how do I afford it? With so many options, it can become an overwhelming process to select the right program that will work for your needs. With today’s technology, there are a few essentials that you want to consider before spending much money on Bible software:
Expandability – You do not want to spend hundreds of dollars on software that you can not add on to. Many software companies will actually send you a multivolume CD set with hundreds of books that you have not yet purchased nor can you use. The advantage to this is no more shipping, no handling, no wait; just a fee for the license and a simple code and the book is added to your library. Don’t get stuck with a program that only has a hundred or so books available for you to buy. Some programs will even allow you to buy books from a multitude of companies and ministries. For affordability, buy as many quality books as you can in packages and bundles.
Flexibility – Find a program that does not lock you into their mold. Everyone has a different method of studying. One person stacks all their literature neatly on the desk and looks at one book at a time; another scatters every book around the room. Bible programs should allow you to customize how you study your Bible and make it easy for you to choose the options you want.
Searchability – Twenty years ago, the concordance was such an incredible tool (and still is) because one could search for every time a word was mentioned in the Bible. Now, most Bible programs will allow you to search for phrases in the Bible (in Greek, Hebrew, English, or Swahili) or even throughout your entire library (yes, the name of Jesus is mentioned 172,830 times in my program; that should give me something to do for the next 550 years). It does also help if you can define your searches with certain limits so you can finish your research before you have to teach it.
Speedy – One of the most annoying features of some Bible programs is having to type in the address for every cross-reference you want to look at (yes, we are spoiled; ten years ago, we even had to turn pages). But thanks to the internet, we now have hyper-links and pop-ups. A good Bible program should allow you hit the link to your reference and take you there instantly. Better programs will even let you rest your mouse over links and abbreviations and the passage or message will appear in a pop-up window that will disappear when you are done reading; this way, you will not lose your place.
Transferability - You want an easy way to copy and paste your research into your word processor or PowerPoint presentation. Some programs have some great resources, but if you can’t move the information around, you’re stuck! Or if every cool map and diagram is protected by copyrights that never allow them to leave the software, then that great picture of the empty tomb will stay right there on my hard drive and remain unseen by the audience.
Anymore, there are so many options to choose from, so make sure you have the tools you need when you purchase your software. Still, shopping can be confusing, so let’s look at some of the more popular programs out there and summarize. I hear good things about lots of programs, but only use two myself, so I have done some research and this is some of the information I have found.
Hermeneutika's BibleWorks 5.0 ($125-300) & Gramcord ($95-235) – Two of the best Bible programs for working with the original languages and textual exegesis. BibleWorks in particular has some incredible abilities when it comes to complex searches and morphological diagramming. While the resources for studying the text are quite impressive and essential for the library of your average scholar, these programs only have a small list of resources for the average layman or pastor unfamiliar with the original languages.
e-Sword (Free), The Sword Project (Free), The Online Bible (Free & also available for Mac), Theophilos (Free), Holy Bible (Free) – You can’t beat free. While these programs are limited in what they can provide, they are spreading the Word of God around the world through the internet. I’m actually quite impressed with the books that they now have available for some of these programs and if you can not afford the $25 – 150 for a basic Bible program, these free programs are a great tool for the basics and are available at www.kingdomnet.com. There are also many resources that you can explore online such as www.bible.org, www.blueletterbible.org, and www.execulink.com/~wblank/index.htm (Daily Bible Study).
Epiphany Software’s Bible Explorer ($15-250), BibleSoft’s PC Study Bible ($50-400), Parsons’ QuickVerse ($135-200), Ages Software ($30-250), and Zondervan Bible Study Library ($50-350) – Each of these programs has its own strengths and weaknesses, but they all seem to be good Bible study programs with great resources. While BibleSoft has a good selection in each of its libraries and is very well laid out for Bible Study it doesn’t have as much expandability. QuickVerse and Ages Software are not as flexible in their layout, but have a larger list of available books. QuickVerse has a neat tool that even allows you to measure the distance from one point to another on its maps. I personally use Zondervan for a couple resources that they own exclusive rights to, but other than that I find it quite limited.
Accordance Bible Software ($59-439) – This is apparently one of the best software packages for Mac users. Oak Tree Software seems to have created a very good program that is expandable, flexible, and easy to use.
Logos Bible Software ($50-450) – I have been thoroughly impressed with Logos ever since I first saw it advertised over ten years ago. Now with the Libronix Digital Library System, a good thing has become even better. With over 3,000 volumes currently available from over 100 publishers such as Thomas Nelson, the Lockman Foundation, John MacArthur, and many others, the Logos/Libronix system is probably the most expandable Bible software I have ever seen. One of the greatest improvements that has come with the Libronix technology is the use of its Bible Study Starter. Literally, you type a passage and click Go! and in a few moments Logos has created a list of resources, topics, word studies, and exegetical guides for you to use all drawn from your passage of study. Factor in hyperlinks, pop-ups, incredible search capabilities, and a very fast program and you have an incredible tool for studying the Bible like never before. For our biblical scholars out there, keep a look out for the new Biblical Languages supplement. Finally, for those who are already Libronix users, I am including a list of resources where you can find great add-ins and additional resources for your existing software:
www.freebiblesoftware.com – The E4 Group has made available an incredible library for the cost of shipping and handling. If you don’t have a Bible program, this would be a great starter pack.
www.logos.com – Don’t forget to check for free resources on the main website. Also remember to go to your tools menu in the program itself and click update sometime, but do it before you go to bed as the update may likely take all night.
www.galaxie.com – With 250 years of theological journals, this is a resource you should at least look at.
www.rejoicesoftware.com – An incredible list of discounted software for Libronix and many other programs. Check this site before buying any of the above resources.
www.foundationpublications.com/software/nasebl.htm - The Lockman foundation has a great package that will start you off with the basics (but look at www.rejoicesoftware.com first).
The world of Bible software is constantly expanding, now moving into the realm of Pocket PCs and your Palm OS. We indeed live in a new world of digital technology. Bible study is still hard work, but with the aid of a good software program, you can now cover more ground and turn fewer pages. Less time looking for your research means more time actually studying and meditating on the text. May God bless you as you mine deeper into His Word each day.