Bible Software

Accordance Bible Software is my primary tool for research in the Bible. Accordance Bible Software truly is a paragon for efficiency, elegant simplicity, and power. Users of all computer skill levels will find Accordance easy-to-use and (yet) very productive too; scholars will appreciate access to an impressive collection of tagged texts. For scholars, I highly recommend:

Brill Academic Publishers publish some of the most important, but also most expensive and difficult-to-find CD-ROMs. If they are unavailable at Amazon.com, you may want to order them directly from Brill or from Dove Booksellers. Regarding the Dead Sea Scrolls titles, the Microfiche was essentially replaced by DSSEL, Volume 1, which is now "out-of-print." The Microfiche and DSSEL, Volume 1, are a comprehensive collection of high quality photographs of all biblical and non-biblical texts through the date of publication. DSSEL, Volume 2, provides a searchable database of all the non-biblical texts and was replaced with a revised edition, which is listed as Volume 3.

InterVarsity Press is an evangelical Christian publishing house that makes its books available through Accordance and Logos Bible Software. The IVP Reference Collection, in particular, is a must, though I also recommend their other offerings for relevant audiences. As with Zondervan Interactive titles, the IVP offerings are an excellent entry-level choice in place of the Accordance Library and Logos Base Packages.

Logos Bible Software is a great resource for anyone who wants to learn more about the Bible and the Christian Faith. Through Logos Bible Software you gain access to the expandable Libronix Digital Library System and essential reference books, commentaries, devotional books, and more. I own Logos Bible Software. It is helpful for searching texts and researching essays, especially with secondary sources. Browse Logos titles at Christianbook.com.

Rosetta Stone is not Bible Software, of course. However, it is a great way to learn modern Hebrew and Greek, and Latin and then make the transition into the biblical languages. I highly recommend the Rosetta Stone. The methodology is excellent and effective. I have great difficulties with learning foreign languages but Rosetta Stone really makes it easy. For more information and resources for learning biblical languages, check out your Bible Guide for Biblical Languages.

Thomas Nelson uses the Libronix Digital Library System to deliver books that will integrate with Logos Bible Software. While I don't recommend the eBible Base Packages because they duplicate resources in and offer less value than the libraries offered by Logos, there are some collections for lay, pastoral, and scholarly users, as well as the eBible for PDA and Palm OS, that are unique and useful products. Thomas Nelson also publishes the outstanding Word Biblical Commentary Series for Accordance and Logos.

Zondervan has discontinued their in-house Pradis Software. They now publish the Glo Interactive Bible and deliver their books through Accordance and Logos. Zondervan makes some great packages and resources available that are, along with the packages offered by Intervarsity Press, great entry-level options, qualitatively superior to the Accordance Library and Logos Base Packages. The Essential, Personal Growth, and Scholarly Bible Study Suites also include unlockable modules for the Expositor's Bible Commentary, the New International Dictionary of Old Testament Theology and Exegesis, and the New International Dictionary of New Testament Theology.

Here are some other great software packages from miscellaneous publishers for students and scholars of biblical and cognate texts and the ancient and classical worlds: