Language in Bible Study - Logos Lends a Helping Hand
As a first year biblical language student at Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary, I have learned many things—one of which is the importance of the biblical languages for Bible study of any kind or of any level. Though, for the deepest Bible study possible, one needs the original languages, even if only rudimentary. Currently, I am taking three different language courses here at Gordon: Greek 1, Latin 1, and Aramaic. And all I can say is that the Original Languages Logos Bible software helps make possible what appears to be (and often feels like) an insurmountable task! Logos helps me in class due to its highly customizable, efficient, and easy-to-use format with diverse academic resources.
I have heard growing up in various settings that the increase of English translations makes the need for linguistic training unnecessary for Bible study, but nothing could be further from the truth! As my Aramaic teacher Dr. Douglas Stuart told our class some time ago, it is actually the opposite which is true: the proliferation of English translations necessitates strict linguistic training for those who seek to serve the church. English is a continually living and changing language (as any casual inter-generational conversation makes evident) which makes basing biblical study, preaching, or doctrine off of only English translations more difficult and even dangerous. Hence English, vernacular Bible study, for a pastor or any teacher of a congregation, demands original language training.
And it is Logos Bible software which helps me in attaining my goals to nourish the church in the biblical faith. Logos’ setup is easy and fully customizable. Flipping through the lexicons is a thing of the past, praise God! Aside from comparing various English translations, comparative lexical study is easily performed as in my own translations of the Aramaic in Daniel I have consulted HALOT, Enhanced BDB, and the new CAL lexicons. Such a feat used to require massive desk space (not to mention hogging all the lexicons in the library). Moreover for you students/pastors who travel shelf space is no longer a problem. (I myself have attended school and learned languages in Oklahoma, Massachusetts, and Oxford UK – carrying around those heavy lexicons are quite the burden and expense.) Furthermore, with aid from the IVP or other collections of dictionaries and commentaries light can be shed upon the common questions and problems of biblical texts that often bog down or confuse those who truly seek biblical study at an ever-increasing level (e.g. Why wasn’t Daniel present at the Fiery Furnace? Who exactly was Darius the Mede?).
For those students or teachers who eyes are getting worse, magnifying the small Hebrew letters to 200% or more is a godsend! (This is of course not an uncommon problem as even the earliest Bible translators – Jerome – complained of the Hebrew scripts’ effect on the eyes). With the interlinear Ketiv/Qere formatting Logos’ BHS becomes ever more useful as the print editions regulate these notes to smaller, often abbreviated text footnotes. More importantly, Logos has proved to me it is prepared to go all the way with intense study of the original languages as its future syntax and reference grammar releases are pending publication. Electronic Bible study has never been so deep, and I for one am eagerly awaiting these exciting new resources!
Therefore, I highly recommend the Original Languages library (with the HALOT/BDAG of course) for all who desire to ease their language study in preparation for and continuance of ministry. Kudos to Logos for creating a highly customizable, efficient, and easy-to-use library which all who have a passion for Bible study can appreciate!