| Author | Message | ||
| Insearchof Registered user Username: Insearchof Post Number: 14 Registered: 8-2005 |
I am considering purchasing some Bible study software and am curious what those of you that frequent this forum use. I have a PC (sorry to all you Mac folks!), so I am looking for Windows-based software. I looked at QuickVerse at Lifeway. It looks pretty good. I have a friend that recommends BibleWorks. I understand that to get the most out of BibleWorks it is helpful to take a 1 day seminar held local seminary. Any thoughts, positive or negative, would be appreciated. I am a firm believer in the old axiom 'Ask the man (or woman) who owns one'! Thanks! InSearchOf | ||
| Lynne Registered user Username: Lynne Post Number: 89 Registered: 10-2005 |
I haven't used that software, but, before I purchase any software, I always go to CNET and Amazon and look at the reviews on the bestselling software for personal preferences. You might find reviews online in other places (like checking google) as well for the particular software you are looking for. | ||
| Chris Registered user Username: Chris Post Number: 1053 Registered: 7-2003  |
Insearchof, I use WordSearch 7. I've been using some form of this software (including the Bible Explorer version) for many years now. I think it's very user friendly with very accessible original language tools geared for the layperson. Logos X is also supposed to be very good. BibleWorks is probably most helpful if you already know quite a bit of Greek and Hebrew and want the best tools available for working with the original languages. Otherwise if you want software that assumes your not a Biblical languages scholar I would stick with one of the first two that I mentioned. You can check out WordSearch here: http://www.wordsearchbible.com/ Chris | ||
| Jwd Registered user Username: Jwd Post Number: 143 Registered: 4-2005 |
InSearchof, I am NOT trying to rain on your parade. I think it's probably an awesome blessing, part of this techno age. However, may I just share something? There is nothing quite so awesome in having hours pass by without aware of the time, when one takes Strongs Concordance and takes one word - say Prayer - or Praying - and you begin looking up the texts, praying for the Spirit of Truth to speak to you, teach you; and before you know it, you are lost in a delightful forest of glory; and a field in which you keep kicking up sparkeling gems you never knew were here; and you find yourself frequently bowing your head in prayer, pleading with God over the message you just found in that last text, the conviction it brought to your heart, the challenge to your faith, the humbling from it's Light. A.W. Tozer said, "It is a dangerous and costly practice to consult men every time we reach a dark spot in the Scriptures. We do not overlook the importance of the gift of teaching to the Church, but we do warn against the habit of taking by blind faith the opinions of men - even good men. A few minutes of earnest prayer will often give more light than hours of reading the commentaries. The best rule is: Go to God first about the meaning of any text. Then consult the teachers. They may have found a grain of wheat you had overlooked." I admit, I'm not quite THERE myself.....yet. I thank God almost daily for the great men of God whose minds and training enable them to cut up the big pieces of truth for me in bite-size bits, my humble brain can comprehend. But I also admit that I do not recall any time I have earnestly sat with my Bible, and a concordance, and few reference works on the meaning of the words in Heb. and Greek, that I have not been deeply and richly blessed. Ps. 46:10 "Be still and KNOW that I AM God." "Speak Lord, for thy servant heareth." Sola Scriptura, Jess | ||
| Colleentinker Registered user Username: Colleentinker Post Number: 2935 Registered: 12-2003  |
Jess, your post is powerful and true. Thank you. Colleen | ||
| Chris Registered user Username: Chris Post Number: 1055 Registered: 7-2003 |
Well Jess, this may be old school vs. new school, but exactly what you describe is what I do with my software. To be honest I actually have duplicates of almost all my reference works in hard copy and electronic version. Sometimes I enjoy using hardcopy books, but other times I like to sit down with my favorite study Bible open on my desk and the same passage open on my screen. As I go through and mark my Bible I can quickly click on key words in the passage and find the Greek or Hebrew words behind them, consult Greek and Hebrew dictionaries, find everytime that Greek or Hebrew word occurs in the Bible and instantly snap to cross references. As I've said, I sometimes do this with a hard copy exhaustive concordance and hard copies of Greek and Hebrew dictionaries.....it just takes a LOT longer. Not necessarily a bad thing, but either way the result is the same. I am brought into worship and I learn as the Holy Spirit guides me. Chris | ||
| Lynne Registered user Username: Lynne Post Number: 92 Registered: 10-2005 |
Jess, This is very true. Many of my adventist teachings have been taught by what I would consider to be good men. There are definately good people out there teaching the bible in the only way that they know, truth sprinkled with error. There are many books and teaching materials sprinkled with the same errors. I believe now that the most important thing to come out of every story and prophesy in the Old and New Testament is how everything written in the bible leads to Jesus. If any teachings distract from THE GLORY AND PRAISE OF GOD in any way, it is false (i.e. health messages, laws, predicting the future, anything!). It is just too simple the hardcore adventist might say. But I would say that they missed the Warning in the last chapter of Revelation 22:18 -"For I testify to everyone who hears the words of the prophecy of this book: If anyone adds to these things, God will add to him the plagues that are written in this book;" I am prayerfully reading the bible now. I am gratefully accepting the simple truth about the love and grace that comes from Jesus alone. I am listening to a lot of christian music. I purchased scripture music also to listen to while I work, such as God's Grace: Integrity Music's Scripture Memory Songs. | ||
| Jwd Registered user Username: Jwd Post Number: 146 Registered: 4-2005 |
Lynne, I heartily agree. And Chris, I admit to identifying some envy at your "quick" - time saving - method of "digging." :c) I'm sure God doesn't care how we arrive at the PICNIC; 4X4 V-8 SUV, truck, moped, or back packing; just so we arrive where He has all the "goodies" waiting for us. Lynne, tell me more about this music Scripture memory songs. Jess | ||
| Lynne Registered user Username: Lynne Post Number: 93 Registered: 10-2005 |
Jess - If you go to Amazon, you can type in "Scripture Memory Songs" in the Music section. I like the ones done by Integrity Music. Most are out of print but available used. They have them on ebay also. They were done in the mid 90's - Contemporary music from the 90's. They aren't the latest songs, but each cd has some songs that are timeless. Unchanging in beauty like the Word of God. Some songs might grow on you as well. The words are really enough. They include the writing/scripture on all songs on paper in written form to follow. I like the Grace and Praise CDs. Other good titles are Healing, Overcoming Anxiety and Comfort. Lynne | ||
| Melissa Registered user Username: Melissa Post Number: 1192 Registered: 7-2003  |
For the pc, I like e-sword.net. It has free versions, and then you can buy other versions if you want. But if you only use the free version until you get used to what an electronic Bible feels like, it will help you evaluate the softwares you seel out there. Like Chris, I find it helpful to do searches on the electronic Bible, but I always seem to have a strongs and at least one parallel open. I'm trying to find a desk to accommodate the way I enjoy "studying"...with all my various books and electronic devices. Currently, they get spread out on the floor around my chair. (not the safest for books with a 2-year old running through....)  As someone once posted elsewhere, any Bible read is better than the one that isn't ... electronic or "old fashioned"... | ||
| Seekr777 Registered user Username: Seekr777 Post Number: 365 Registered: 1-2003  |
Lynne, I have several of those "scripture CDs" and I put them on my Ipod to listen to. I thougth they were out of "print" when you mentioned them. Sometimes I turn my iTunes on at night and play praise music all night long. I'm not sure how much music is on my computer but it is measured in DAYS not hours. Richard rtruitt@mac.com | ||
| 4drian Registered user Username: 4drian Post Number: 61 Registered: 11-2004 |
I have to give two thumbs way up to e-sword.net This software is amazing. I currently have it open and took a couple screenshots for anyone that might be interested: http://img190.imageshack.us/img190/3519/eswordnet11zp.jpg http://img190.imageshack.us/img190/5074/eswordnet20xn.jpg I have also recently learned that it is possible to import other bibles into e-sword (such as the NIV). If anyone is interested I will post a how-to once I've figured it out. BTW for mac users, you can try www.macsword.com. It is not the same program as e-sword, and it is a lot more limited, but it's the only thing I can find for the mac. |
