I’m neither a Bible scholar nor a computer geek,
but I know enough about Scripture and computers to say anyone who is
looking for an easy, powerful computer Bible study tool cannot go wrong
with Logos for Mac.
Like an increasing number of computer users, I
recently made the transition from a PC to a Macintosh. A few months ago
for various reasons—including my increasingly out-of-date, overloaded
PC and a reluctance to make the jump to the widely panned Windows
Vista—it was time to make the switch to Mac, which our
graphics/editorial team has been well ensconced in for many years.
(Yes, the Mac commercials with the hip, young Mac guy regularly gigging
the old, nerdy PC guy played a role in thinking about making my
computer conversion.)
One concern about making the move to Mac, however,
was the ability to use my Logos Bible Software. I had heard rumblings
that there was a Mac version of Logos on the way—and was even preparing
for the possibility of using Logos on my Mac in the Windows platform
using Boot Camp or Parallels—when I was delighted to learn that Logos
was ready to release its brand-new, built from the ground up version of
Logos for Macintosh.
Released in December, Logos for Mac (www.MacBibleSoftware.com)
is everything Logos users have enjoyed in the Windows environment but
tailored for the elegance and functionality of the Mac. Simply put, I
love it!
With nearly 10,000 electronic titles—including
Bibles, commentaries, reference works, and sundry other biblical,
theological and language books—and another 2,000 more slated for
release this year, Logos is the industry leader in computer Bible study
programs.
I know there are other programs available (for PC and Mac), including some less expensive or even free
Internet-based resources, but I have used one
version or another Logos since my days in seminary and have never been
disappointed.
Windows users can seamlessly transfer their Logos
program—and especially the electronic library they have acquired—by
“crossgrading” with the Mac engine (currently available for $59.95),
loading the books and being ready to do powerful Bible studies. Logos
for Mac can also be used with other Bible study programs available for
Mac.
For Mac users entirely new to Logos, the Mac engine
comes with the purchase of one of five “base” packages bundling Bibles,
commentaries and other study resources that are designed to serve the
entire spectrum of Bible students, all the way from the novice to the
scholar:
•Bible Study Library, $259.95 for 170 titles (print edition value, $2,800), ideal for Sunday School teachers and for personal devotional study.
•Leader’s Library, $309.95 for 230 titles (print edition value, $3,600), ideal for pastors.
•Scholar’s Library, $629.95 for 330 titles
(print edition value, $6,100), ideal for serious students who can work
with biblical languages. Two upgrades to the Scholar’s Library are the
Silver (520 titles, $995.95; print value, $8,400) and Gold (700 titles,
$1,379.95; print value, $11,700) versions with vast resources that will
well serve the most expert Bible student.
All of Logos’ resources, including language tools,
are accessible by those who have little or no training in biblical
languages, helping English-only students understand the Bible in its
original languages.
Other electronic books—as single titles and other
bundles of resources—can be added to build the library to fit your
needs. Purchasing new releases in “pre-publication” is generally at
significant savings.
The incredible searching and reporting capacity of
Logos for Mac speeds up Bible study, harnessing the data in your
electronic library in mere seconds. From the “home” screen, simply
enter a Bible passage, click “go” and Logos compiles all relevant
sections from Bibles, commentaries and other reference works in your
electronic library—opened to the very page. No more time-consuming
effort of pulling books from your shelves, finding the relevant pages
and sifting through the piles of books and papers!
For deeper research still, the “Exegetical Guide”
produces a report on selected verses, analyzing them word-by-word in
the original languages and providing extensive information that will
provide deeper understanding of God’s Word.
I love books I can pick up and hold—and I own
thousands of them sitting on scores of bookshelves (and desks and
floors!). But there is simply nothing like doing Bible study with
Logos. And, now that Logos for Mac is out, any computer user of any
level of Bible knowledge can use this wonderful tool in his preferred
platform.
© 2009. Used by permission.