4304 SBJT V9N1.6.Indd

Book Reviews Logos Bible Software Series X - Scholar’s biblical reference books to their tra- one should note that some publish- Library (Bellingham, WA: Logos), ditional print format, there is only ers, such as Zondervan, have their $599.95; and BibleWorks 6.0 (Norfolk, one program for you—the Libronix own proprietary format for electronic VA: BibleWorks, LLC), $295.00. Digital Library System (formerly the publishing. Similarly, Ages software Logos Library System). The Libronix offers numerous titles in PDF format. This is a comparative review of the system can be purchased at several While Libronix is an obvious leader in two most widely used Bible software levels. As one goes up the tiers, the digital publishing, it does not have a programs in use today. Because of my price increases, but so does the level monopoly. interest in biblical language software, of access to resources and tools. In One thing that Scholar’s Library I regularly have both professors and this review, I will focus on the top-of- and similar programs cannot provide students ask my advice about which the-line product, Logos Bible Software the user, however, is the wisdom to program to purchase. Persons take Series X - Scholar’s Library. know which reference works are such care in their decisions because The base program comes with worth accessing. Thus, while a user of of the expensive price tag on such more than 230 Bibles and Bible ref- Scholar’s Library may simply type in a programs (anywhere from $100 to erence titles, which, if purchased Scripture reference or topic and have more than $600). For a person with in equivalent print editions would at his immediate disposal dozens of a PC who intends to work in the cost more than $5,000. In addition digital books turned to just the right original Greek and Hebrew texts, to many Christian classics, popu- page (similar to a Google Internet I think there are only two options: lar works, and standard reference search), the more difficult task is Logos (www.logos.com) or BibleWorks titles (e.g., Calvin’s Institutes, War- having the experience and wisdom to (www.bibleworks.com). ren Wiersbe’s “Be” Series, Harper’s evaluate critically these voices. For a Before discussing Logos and Bible- Bible Dictionary), the Scholar’s Library pastor who does not know the titles Works, one other program must be comes with a solid collection of origi- or authors of many of these books, mentioned. The non-profi t organi- nal language texts (Nestle-Aland’s his uncritical use of everything the zation Gramcord produces a power- 27th edition Greek New Testament, library search engine pulls up will ful and inexpensive program (see the Hebrew Old Testament [BHS], result in a sermon of unpredictable www.gramcord.org). Yet, I do not Rahlf’s edition of the Septuagint, the accuracy. With digital books, like think Gramcord’s user-interface is as Biblia Sacra Vulgata, and others). print books, comes the responsibility intuitively-based as Logos or Bible- Depending on the size of one’s of critical thought. Unfortunately, the Works. A perusal of Gramcord’s print hard drive and how much money one ease of accessing digital works can and Internet advertising literature is willing to spend, the Libronix Digi- sometimes produce an intoxicating will demonstrate a similar plethora tal Library can be expanded almost and unrefl ective imbibing of data. of information without adequate endlessly. Many theological books Even with this caveat, for a theolo- organization. Ultimately, a software and journals that are currently being gian or minister, there is no other program is only valuable if one actu- published are available for purchase digital library system worth purchas- ally uses it. I prefer programs that in digital format for access through ing, in my opinion. Libronix is the “raise the valleys up and bring the Libronix. For a missionary, a person standard by which all other digital mountains and hills low”—thus my with limited shelf space, or a person library programs will be judged. focus on Logos and BibleWorks in this of limited mobility, there is little For persons who intend to use review. doubt that this program would prove the program primarily for access to If you prefer digital versions of especially useful. At the same time, original language texts and language 98 reference works, my endorsement are unfounded. It is true that searches ous versions of the biblical text can is more guarded. Admittedly, the in the original language texts are be placed alongside each other for program is good and powerful. As only as reliable as the morphologi- comparison and original language in other excellent biblical software cal taggings in the databases that helps appear in a small box at the programs, one can search quickly on underlie them. In other words, if the bottom of the screen as the cursor is words, display lexicon entries, and computer programmers that created placed over the Greek and Hebrew view parsing information as the cur- the database missed tagging a few texts. Statistics and word lists are sor moves over words in the text. As of the infi nitive forms of the Greek displayed on the upper right and a a Greek teacher, I was pleasantly sur- verb luō, then your search for all of digital notepad is found on the bot- prised to discover that the Scholar’s these forms of the verb will turn up tom right. Screen formatting, along Library employs Gramcord’s morpho- inaccurate results. While Scholar’s with most other options, can be logical tagging system and that the Library and BibleWorks both rely on changed. One thing I especially like unabridged Theological Dictionary of very reputable databases, some per- about BibleWorks is the detailed print the New Testament (TDNT or Kittel) sons have claimed that the Gramcord instruction manual and free demon- comes as standard. The educated database is the most reliable (and stration videos that come with the pastor or ministerial student who the Libronix system now comes with program. Whatever others say, in my uses the Scholars’ Library for work the Gramcord database). BibleWorks, opinion, “help functions” simply do in the original Greek and Hebrew however, contests this claim —offer- not compare to a hard copy manual. texts will not be disappointed. Yet, ing both the Friberg database and And, I personally do not want to take after spending some time with this their own BibleWorks NT morphology. several hours to print out a manual program and a few others, it seems According to the owner of BibleWorks, on my ink jet printer. to me that BibleWorks still has the Mike Bushnell, he cannot remember A salesman at Logos Research Sys- advantage. BibleWorks has a more the last time an error was reported in tems admitted to me that BibleWorks is intuitively-based interface. In other the BibleWorks NT morphology. And, better than the base Scholar’s Library words, when one wants to do some- there is also a companion BibleWorks at detailed and complex searches in thing in the program and does not LXX morphology, which makes the original language, which is why, know how, one can fi gure it out more searching the LXX and NT together he said, Logos just came out with the quickly and naturally without refer- easier. Biblical Languages Supplement (BLS – ence to “help” functions or manuals. The new Version 6.0 of BibleWorks www.logos.com/bls). However, after Also, BibleWorks is amazingly faster comes with some nice additional buying the Scholar’s Library for $599, in searches. (This speed comparison features. I will list the ones I fi nd few people want to pay an additional is well-documented in a September, most useful, both personally and as $159.95 to upgrade the original lan- 2003 article of the Journal of the Evan- a professor: a diagramming program, guage functions. Admittedly, the BLS gelical Theological Society.) an interactive Hebrew tutorial, Greek comes with some helpful tools—for From my interaction with Bible- texts of the Apostolic Fathers, a mor- example, a fantastic diagramming Works employees, I have to admit phologically-tagged Greek version of program, but the extra cost is hard that I have a bias for their “small Josephus, the Peshitta, the Targums, to justify when the BibleWorks pack- company” feel. In addition, I know morphologically-tagged Qumran age is only $299. Of course, with the they are active in providing their sectarian documents (with unlock Scholar’s Library, one has access to software at low or no costs to pastors code), customized Hebrew and Greek many books and reference works in impoverished countries. vocabulary fl ashcards, and expanded with are not available with other pro- I have heard criticisms of Bible- “mouse right click” options to lexical grams (e.g., TDNT or—for additional Works’ morphological databases, but and grammatical resources. As with purchase—the entire Word Biblical it seems to me that those criticisms older versions of BibleWorks, numer- Commentary series). 99 The breadth of resources avail- scholars); you can add the Biblical distinctive Christian understanding able in digital format can begin to Languages Supplement if you fi nd the of Jesus emerged as a result of intra- cloud one’s vision—similar to “new additional need for complex original Jewish polemics and over against car fever”—if one is not careful. You language searches. Greco-Roman paganism. must honestly ask yourself some In the heart of the book Hurtado questions: Do I use digital versions Robert L. Plummer surveys the historical evidence to of books now? If not, would you verify his thesis, and he considers fi nd it enjoyable or even preferable Lord Jesus Christ: Devotion to Jesus in order: early Pauline Christianity, to begin reading your books from the in Earliest Christianity.

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