ESV Greek Tools

There is a cool Greek resource from Crossway called ESV Greek Tools. Go and watch the video here. It sounded really cool right up until the guy said "Macarthur study Bible" (though ESV study Bible does make up for it). I suppose Greek tools are Greek tools and this one is fairly cheap! It's not Bible Works, Logos, or Accordance - the Trinity of Bible software - but it's better than eSword (which I wish my students would stop using).

CT on CEB

Over at CT there is an article on the Common English Bible and the politics and power-plays of Bible translation in the USA.

Software Review: Logos 4

I'm a big lover of Bible Software, indeed I am dependent upon it. I've already done a length review of BibleWorks and Joel has done a thorough review of Accordance. But now it's time to complete the trifecta and do a review Logos 4 Platinum Edition. I trialed using Logos 4 for some lecture prep on "Doctrine of God", sermon prep on 1 Corinthians, and some research on 1 Esdras.

The first big thing I should say about Logos 4 (platinum) is what you get in the library. There are some gems here:

• Transcriptions of MSS: Phil Comfort & David Barrett, The Text of the Earliest Greek Manuscripts - including P46, 66, 52.
• Editions of the Gk NT including: NA26, UBS4, Tischendorf and Westcott & Hort.
• Translation of the DSS (Martini) and transcriptions of the Cairo Geniza Targumic Fragments.
• Aramaic Papyri: A. Cowley
• B. Metzger, Textual Commentary on the Greek New Testament
• K. Aland, Synopsis of the Four Gospels
• Lexical Resources: BDAG, EDNT, TDNT, and Louw-Nida.
• Church History: Ante-Nicene, Nicene, and Post-Nicene Fathers.
• Apostolic Fathers: editions by Michael Holmes and K. Lake.
• Apocrypha and Pseudepigrapha: editions by R.H. Charles
• Texts: editions of LXX, Peshitta, Vulgate
• E. Tov's interlinear Hebrew and Greek of the LXX
• Reference works: Eerdmans Bible Dictionary, Harper Bible Dictionary, Eerdmans Dictionary of the Bible, Oxford Dictionary of the Christian Church, The Encyclopedia of Christianity (4 vols.), The Context of Scripture (3 vols.).
• A selection of Paternoster Biblical Monographs.
• Full commentary series:BECNT, NIGTC, NAC, Pillar NTC.
• Philo and Jospehus - in English but only Philo is available in Greek.
• I should also add that there is an array of resources available on their pre-pub site that has some classics, out of print resources, new books, commentaries, and monographs.

Even better the entire library is searchable.

Second, I like the Logos interface (though it took some getting used to). I really liked the idea of typing in a biblical reference like "Revelation 22" and then being only one click away from the commentaries by Beale (NIGTC) and Osborne (BECNT) that cover those verses. Also instantaneously available are pre-written handouts, list of OT quotations in the NT, media resources, and link to sermon audios!

Third, the exegetical guide (that's a tab in Logos) includes instantaneous links to the apparatuses of critical editions, grammars, lexical info, interlinears, and more. Quite a sweet suite!

Fourth, the right-click on Greek words opens a whole host of available info including various forms, semantic domains, occurrences of the word in the NT, etc.

I found that Logos is well suited to those engaging in academic study, esp. given the sheer mass of resources in its library. But it is perhaps best suited to those doing serious Bible study, sermon prep, or preparing lessons for ministry, more so if they already have a divinity degree and need some resources and tips to help them get back into the grove of serious Bible study without a a prof to prod them along. If I had to make additions to Logos 4 it would be English and Greek editions of the NT Apocrypha, Lampe's Patristic Lexicon, and texts from Migne (though some are available for individual purchase at the pre-pub site).

Bible Works 8 - Part 3

Readers of Euangelion may have noted the Bible Software divisons between Joel and myself. With both of us changing slogans "I am of Bible Works", "I amof Accordance", and probably others somewhere in the blogosophere chanting "I am of Logos".

In my final Bible Works 8 post I'll mention some of the benefits of the programme. (1) Value. BW8 (depending on exchange rate) costs around £180 (= $350 USD) and with all the goodies you get it is more than worth it. (2) Easy to Use and Flexible. Even a non-technical boffin like me can find my way around it, adjust settings, and find stuff that I need to find very quickly and simply. (3) Comprehensive. It contains all the stuff that I need when I do exegesis, sermon prep, and biblical research. Having the Greek NT, Hebrew Bible, Pseudepigrapha, Apocrypha, several Lexicons, Bible dictionaries, Vulgate, Targums, Church Fathers, Josephus, Philo, dozens of Bible versions just makes things so much darn easier. (4) Time Saver. This is close to the best reason for getting BW8. It saves me looking up stuff in the libary or searching the web. (5) Searchable. You can't search William Whiston's translation of Josephus or the LCL diglot in paper back, but you can search them with electronic access in BW8. You want to know what Philo thinks of pistis then you are two clicks from finding out. Searching Justin Martyr on "Scripture" is the same. (6) Help. I've emailed the guys at BW a number of times and they've always gotten back to me within 48 hrs with help/advice that was understandable (i.e., non-technical) and friendly. A great product, worth considering for anyone who is seriously into biblical studies.

Bible Works 8 - Part 1

Before I start my review of Bible Works 8, I need to recollect my first encounter with the program. I vividly remember when I first met my one-day-to-be-wife and thinking to myself, "She's kinda cute". And then I learned that she was only seventeen so I backed off for obvious legal reasons - well, until she turned eighteen. However, I did have a similar (but less intense) experience when I first met Bible Works! I'd started doctoral studies and I was still, can you believe, using the Englishman's Greek Concordance for word searches. Then I got given a copy of BW 5 and it was like I had met the enchanted princess of the Shangrila of biblical software. "Where have you been all of my life baby?" I had instant access to Greek and Hebrew texts and various English translations at my finger tips. Since then I've been a fan of Bible Works as it has saved me so much time and the features that it adds keep getting better. In later Bible Works versions, having English and Greek texts of Philo and Josephus were smashing as I use them frequently. Also, being able to have BDAG and HALOT data appear as you put the cursor on certain words makes preparing exegetical notes a dream. Likewise, the complete text of Metzger's textual commentary on the Greek NT was also very handy. You can also get additional resources from the Bible Works Blog. Well that's how it all began. In my next post on BW I'll talk a little about the new features of BW8.