Logos Bible Software

for Mac

(This was written in 2008 and some of the material below will be dated.)

Logos has just released its Mac engine, from Libronix, so that Mac users can now have all the advantages of the Logos study resources that PC users have had for a while, which are so numerous it is almost overwhelming. For those who have little time or interest in a review of this sort, let me cut to the chase: buy this product, in whatever offering you can afford, before you buy anything else (except your required textbooks, of course). Not only will you not regret it, you will begin to use it immediately, and will use it for years to come, especially as more new resources are added. One other point to make, the PC version of Logos software is advanced beyond the Mac version. Since I am reviewing the Mac version here, realize that there are mountains of tools and queries that are already available to PC users, which are on their way to the Mac in the near future (Mac users who also use virtual machine software to run Windows on their Macs should utilize both (Mac and Windows version) until the Mac version catches up; the same resources can be used in both operating systems). For a list of very helpful videos that show a number of different ways Logos will help you - whether beginner, intermediate or advanced - go to http://www.logos.com/videos.

One other note, perhaps obvious, is that Logos and its resources are research tools. The resources available (e.g., the complete works of Van Til) are not, in my opinion, very useful for simple reading; books are irreplaceable in that regard. But for research and writing, I have found nothing that excels what Logos is able to do.

When the Home Page is opened, the user can immediately begin to (1) study a passage, by text or topic, including options of a "Passage guide," an "Exegetical guide," a "Bible and Commentary guide," or a "Bible only guide." Just type in a passage (e.g., John 1:3) or a passage topic (i.e., Prologue) and click "Go," and a page will pop up with your chosen Bible resource (e.g., Nestle-Aland Greek NT, 27th ed.) displaying your passage. After the text, which highlights the key words, will be a list of grammars that refer to the chosen text — mine displays the Elements of New Testament Greek, a resource to help students keep up with Greek after seminary. Below that, will be a word for word analysis of the key words in the passage, listing all available resources for that passage. For example, below the word ἐγένετο, in the word for word analysis, I can click on any of the following resources (included in my Scholar's: Gold package) — Analytical Lexicon of the Greek New Testament, The Complete Word Study Dictionary, New Testament, Dictionary of Biblical Languages with Semantic Domains, Greek, The Exegetical Dictionary of the New Testament, Greek-English Dict. of N.T., Louw-Nida, A Greek-English Lexicon of the Septuagint, An Intermediate Greek-English Lexicon, The Theological Dictionary of the New Testament, Enhanced Strong's Lexicon, NASB Dictionaries, Word Studies in the New Testament, Wuest’s Word Studies in the Greek New Testament, Building Your New Testament Greek Vocabulary 3rd Edition, The New International Greek Testament Commentaries. All of this pops up within seconds of typing "John 1:3" in "Exegetical guide" and clicking "Go." "Passage guide," "Bible and Commentaries guide," and "Bible only" guide are also an option.

If I select "Passage Guide" for John 1:3 and click "Go," I get the following resources which reference that passage, all of which can be accessed with a click of the mouse:

Commentaries - The Bible Exposition Commentary, The Bible Knowledge Commentary

The Bible Reader's Companion, A Commentary, Critical and Explanatory, on the Old and New Testaments, A Handbook on The Gospel of John, Matthew Henry's Commentary on the Whole Bible : Complete and Unabridged in One Volume, The New American Commentary: John 1-11

The New Bible Commentary, The Outline Bible, The Pulpit Commentary: St. John (Vol. I), The Pulpit Commentary: St. John (Vol. II), The Teacher's Commentary, A Textual Commentary on the Greek New Testament, Second Edition, Tyndale Concise Bible Commentary, Wiersbe's Expository Outlines on the New Testament, Willmington's Bible Handbook, Word Pictures in the New Testament, Word Studies in the New Testament

Cross References - The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

Parallel Passages - Old Testament Quotations and Allusions in the New Testament (Jones)

Wisdom of Solomon, Wisdom of Solomon 9:1, Eusebian Canons, Matthew §1 / Luke §14 / John §1, Matthew 1:1-16 Luke 3:23-38 John 1:1-5, A Harmony of the Gospels (Robertson), § 2. In His Introduction John Pictures Christ as the Word (Logos), John 1:1-18, Records of the Life of Jesus (Sharman), § 152 Prologue to the Record of John, John 1:1-5, Synopsis of the Four Gospels (Aland), 1. Prologue

Compare Versions

Clustering by Word Choice in 6 English Bibles

Click on a Bible abbreviation to generate a word-for-word comparison report.

Music There is Power in the Blood | Logos Hymnal; 5. Fairest Lord Jesus! | Amazing Grace—366 Inspiring Hymn Stories for Daily Devotions; 17. For the Beauty of the Earth | Amazing Grace—366 Inspiring Hymn Stories for Daily

Van Til Conscience | Common Grace and the Gospel; 1. The Necessity of Scripture | The God of Hope—Sermons and Addresses; 2. Calvin | The Protestant Doctrine of Scripture; A. Our Faith—In the Victorious Lord | The Sermons and Addresses of Cornelius Van Til

Topics 27 Descriptions Of Christ in the 27 New Testament Books; Christ is God; Creation; Earth; Excellency and Glory of Christ; Jesus; Man; Power; Trinity

There is much, much more that could be said in terms of the helpful layout of these resources, the speed with which they can be found and accessed. One further note to make, however, is that if any of these resources are copied and used for a research paper, for example, Logos can copy them complete with footnote references. As per most software these days, it works best and most seamlessly with MS Word.

Most convenient for those who are not adept at the biblical languages, if I type in the word, "justification" in the "Study word" section of the Home page, a page appears with the following information and resources:

Definition | MW Collegiate Dict. (11th Ed.)

———————; jus•ti•fi•ca•tion \ˌjəs-tə-fə-ˈkā-shən\ n; 14c; 1 : the act, process, or state of being justified by God; 2 a : the act or an instance of justifying : vindication; b : something that justifies; 3 : the process or result of justifying lines of text

KeyLinks

Merriam-Webster's Collegiate Dictionary (Eleventh Edition): justification;The Exegetical Dictionary of the New Testament: δικαίωσις, εως, ἡ;Baker Encyclopedia of the Bible: Justification.;Easton's Bible Dictionary: Justification;The Encyclopedia of Christianity, Volumes 1-3: Justification;The New Bible Dictionary, Third Edition: Justification;New Nave’s Topical Bible: Justification;Synonyms of the Old Testament: Chapter XIV. Justification.;Word Studies in the New Testament: Chapter IV;Wuest’s Word Studies in the Greek New Testament: Chapter One;Enhanced Strong's Lexicon: 1345 δικαίωμα;The Theological Dictionary of the New Testament, Abridged in One Volume: δίκη;Ante-Nicene Fathers: Volume I: Chapter X;Ante-Nicene Fathers: Volume II: Chapter I;Ante-Nicene Fathers: Volume III: Chapter XXIV;Ante-Nicene Fathers: Volume IV: Book II;Ante-Nicene Fathers: Volume V: Chapter XLII;Ante-Nicene Fathers: Volume VI: Discourse Second;Ante-Nicene Fathers: Volume X: 39. Christ as Wisdom and Sanctification and Redemption;The Bible Reader's Companion: Galatians 2;A Biblical Theology of the New Testament: Justification;The Doctrine of God: Eternal Election;God, Revelation and Authority: 7. The Jesus Movement and Its Future;The Great Doctrines of the Bible: D. Justification;The Handbook to Bible Study: Justification;The Moody Handbook of Theology: Justification;The New American Commentary: 1, 2 Timothy, Titus: (5) Church Government;The New American Commentary: Acts: (2) Theological Aspects of Acts;The New American Commentary: Galatians: (2) The Incident at Antioch (2:11–21);The New American Commentary: James: (2) Faith and Deeds;The New American Commentary: Leviticus: (3) Atonement;The New American Commentary: Luke: (4) The Parable of the Pharisee and the Tax Collector (18:9–14);The New American Commentary: Philippians, Colossians, Philemon: (1) Paul’s Experience Explained (3:1–16);New American Standard Updated Edition Exhaustive Concordance of the Bible: Justification;The New International Greek Testament Commentary: The Epistles to the Colossians and to Philemon: Prayer for the Colossian Recipients (1:9–14);The New International Greek Testament Commentary: The Gospel of Luke: v. The Rejection of John and Jesus 7:29-35;The Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers Second Series Vol. III: A Commentary on the Apostlesʼ Creed;The Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers Second Series Vol. IV: Statement of Faith;The Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers Second Series Vol. IX: Chapter II.—The Theology of St. Hilary of Pottiers;The Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers Second Series Vol. V: §14;The Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers Second Series Vol. VI: Book I;The Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers Second Series Vol. VII: Procatechesis;The Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers Second Series Vol. VIII: III.—Life at Caesarea; Baptism; And Adoption of Monastic Life;The Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers Second Series Vol. XI: Chapter XVII;The Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers Second Series Vol. XII: II. Manʼs Salvation Required the Union of the Two Natures in Christ;The Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers Second Series Vol. XIII: Epistle XXIX;Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, First Series: Volume I: Letter LXXV;Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, First Series: Volume II: Chapter 32;Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, First Series: Volume III: Chapter 103;Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, First Series: Volume IV: Book III;Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, First Series: Volume V: Chapter 15;Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, First Series: Volume VI: Sermon I. [LI. Benedictine Edition.];Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, First Series: Volume VII: Tractate V;Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, First Series: Volume VIII: Psalm III;Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, First Series: Volume IX: Chapter III.—His Conversion and Ascetic Life;Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, First Series: Volume X: Homily LV;Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, First Series: Volume XI: Homily VIII;Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, First Series: Volume XII: Homily VII;Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, First Series: Volume XIII: Homily IV;Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, First Series: Volume XIV: Homily XXIII;The Pulpit Commentary: Index: Justification;Salvation Belongs to the Lord: An Introduction to Systematic Theology: Justification;Systematic Theology: J;The Teacher's Commentary: 6: Gen. 13–24—By Faith;Tyndale Concise Bible Commentary: Romans;Willmington's Bible Handbook: Visions and Questions (1–8);

Concordance | ESV OT Rev. Int. | ESV NT Rev. Int.

The ESV English-Greek Reverse Interlinear New Testament

δικαίωμα (1); Noun,accusative justification; Rom 5:16 And the free gift is not like the result of that one man’s sin. For • the judgment following one trespass brought condemnation, but the free gift following many trespasses brought justification.

δικαίωσις (2); Noun,accusative justification (2); Rom 4:25 who was delivered up for our trespasses and raised for our justification.; Rom 5:18 Therefore, as one trespass led to condemnation for all men, so • one act of righteousness leads to justification and life for all men.

ὁ (1); Definite Article,accusative justification; Rom 4:25 who was delivered up for our trespasses and raised for our justification.

The number of resources, and speed with which they can be accessed, would be a tremendous help to anyone doing a biblical word study. Again, any of these resources can be accessed with a click. But enough about resources.

As noted above, Logos has provided a number of video tutorials online. Though these videos assume the PC version, they are excellent helps once the package is purchased, or they can give anyone considering buying Logos a feel for what this software is able to do. Logos will be coming out with upgrades to the Mac engine periodically and their goal is to make it as identical to the Windows version as possible. (Again, anyone who has Parallels or VMFusion on their Mac, as I do, can run the resources in both Mac and Windows if desired. The same resources work on either platform.)

One more example of what you can do with Logos. Suppose I want to know what Charles Hodge (in his Systematic Theology), Van Til and John Frame (Vol. 1 of his works) say about scholasticism. Having already defined a "Reformed Theology" collection in my resources, I click on a "Basic Search," type "scholasticism" in the search box, choose the Theology collection, and within seconds I have a list of 435 occurrences of that word in the resources defined. Charles Hodge, as it turns out, only uses the word once in his Systematic Theology, in volume two, page 415, in a discussion about Lutheranism and Christology. Finding that information in seconds is a tremendous time-saver when doing research.

As a former Bibleworks user (back in my PC days) and current Accordance owner, Logos is far and away a better and more useful resource. The Mac engine (from Libronix) can be pre-ordered now and is due to release in a few weeks. There are various packages that can be purchased. My recommendation for pastors and seminary students would be to order the Scholar's: Silver package, and, if money is left, begin to collect some of the numerous resources available (such as the Complete Works of Van Til, available for purchase and download on their website). For example, the four volume Post-Reformation Reformed Dogmatics by Richard Muller is in pre-publication and will be available soon; the entire Word Biblical Commentary series is also available.

Students can order this software at a 30% discount; 50% if it is required for a course. You will not find a better resource for your study of Scripture. For research, sermon or lecture preparation, Logos is an indispensable time-saver and a most useful guide. I can't imagine a better resource.