Here at Core Christianity, we’re often asked for recommendations on top Bible study resources and tools. Our team loves to share resources we’ve used ourselves and found helpful in our own study of God’s Word. Of all the investments students of God’s Word can make today, Logos Bible software continues to be one of my personal favorites. I used it heavily during my college and seminary days and it saved me hours of time I would have spent searching for books and making copies in the library. Since seminary, Logos has continued to be a trusted study tool, especially when preparing to teach or lead a Bible study.
The team at Logos recently released Logos 8, making some significant improvements I’m already using in my own study. Here are a few of my favorite features in Logos 8.
1. Bible study workflows
One of the biggest challenges with Bible study can be figuring out how to get started and what to focus on. Logos 8 make this easy with their Bible study workflows. Now users can work through the core components of good Bible study (people, places, events, genre, historical background, and more) with quick links to the books and tools that answer these questions about the particular verse or passage being studied. Workflows help ensure users don’t miss an important insight in a particular study text.
2. Working with the text
One of my favorite new features in Logos 8 is the new intuitive way users can work with a study text. It’s now easy to circle, highlight, underline, and mark up study texts. This can help users make connections and draw insights. If you already have a color-coded system for marking up biblical texts, you’ll love this new feature in Logos 8. It’s also easy to share your marked up texts too.
3. Notes
Keeping observations and notes organized is an essential part of any good Bible study. Three years ago, I taught through the book of Philippians and took a lot of notes as I prepared. Logos 8 includes the ability to make notes right next to specific texts and search through notes quickly. This is a great new feature. Logos 8 can easily catalog a lifetime of study notes, helping preserve a lifetime of insight. I imagine myself at the end of my life preparing to teach on Philippians 4:4-6 and reading over every note I’ve taken.
4. Library Organization
As my Logos library has grown, it’s gotten harder to find certain resources quickly. Logos 8 introduces new filters to make finding resources much easier. Users can now filter books in a variety of ways to quickly pinpoint exactly what they are looking for. This makes the expansive libraries, which make Logos so powerful, much less intimidating.
5. Commentaries
Last but not least, the excellent commentaries included in Logos remain a highlight. Every student of the Bible will discover certain commentaries they come back to again and again. All of my favorite commentaries and commentary series are available in Logos 8. I don’t recommend starting with commentaries, but when used after studying a text they can add excellent insight and help. When I open Logos, my favorite commentaries are right there ready to confirm or guide what I’m already learning in God’s Word.
What are your favorite features with Logos 8?
Here is a video highlighting some of the new features in Logos 8.
