Jan
13
Written by:
host
1/13/2009 7:00 AM
There are a host of research tools a Christian educator should have at hand, and one I think is worth the investment is a great computer Bible. Bible software is available from a wide variety of sources, and most any will suffice if all you want to do is quickly look up a passage or two in a few translations.
The trouble is, many Bible programs are filled with a lot of junk you really don't need, especially if you want commentaries based on the latest contemporary scholarship. This is because they frequently include lots of books and translations that are now in the public domain. (Typically, the only way to know when the books were actually released is to look at the copyright date within each program. They don't make it easy information to locate!) Further, many of the topical and study books that are included in the variously-labeled "Platinum/Scholars/Gold/Venti" editions are books few progressive theologians or scholars would recommend.
There are a host of research tools a Christian educator should have at hand, and one I think is worth the investment is a great computer Bible. Bible software is available from a wide variety of sources, and most any will suffice if all you want to do is quickly look up a passage or two in a few translations.
The trouble is, many Bible programs are filled with a lot of junk you really don't need, especially if you want commentaries based on the latest contemporary scholarship. This is because they frequently include lots of books and translations that are now in the public domain. (Typically, the only way to know when the books were actually released is to look at the copyright date within each program. They don't make it easy information to locate!) Further, many of the topical and study books that are included in the variously-labeled "Platinum/Scholars/Gold/Venti" editions are books few progressive theologians or scholars would recommend.
I recommend purchasing a base-level program and then adding on the "modules" that you really want and will use frequently. For example, many computer Bibles do not come with the NRSV translation in their standard editions, and others neglect to include translations with the Apocrypha. You may spend a bit more initially, but you'll end up with a lot less "bloatware" in your software.
Here are my favorites and recommendation, in order of my preference...
- Accordance (Mac) - Sorry, PC-users. The best program out there runs only on Macs. One sign it's a well-loved program: it almost never comes up for auction on eBay!
- BibleWorks (PC) - Incredibly fast, incredibly powerful, and the one serious scholars often use.
- Logos (PC, and recently released for Mac) - Very easy to use, but also well-designed if your needs go beyond the basics. Has an enormous number of available add-on books, both liberal and conservative.
- WordSearch (PC and Mac) - It has fewer resources for progressive Christians, but it's still an option worth considering.
If you're shopping for a computer Bible but don't have a lot of cash to spend, here are three tips...
- Check auction sites like eBay or the used software at a local Half Price Books for older versions.
- Get on the email lists for the software programs above. They all run several sales each year, especially in December.
- Use a price comparison site to find a lower price.
~ Tim Gossett