Logos 10: A pastoral review
Thanksgiving Day in Canada dawned with the news that Logos 10 was released! I rushed to my computer and got the download started. Alas, I was one of a few afflicted by some kind of bug and had issues. Logos technical support quickly identified the problem, issued a fix, and in a few hours, I was up and running.
Doubtless others can give you a more technical review, but I want to survey some of the features I find helpful from a pastoral perspective. I would also like to address affordability issues! Many pastors find it hard to justify the purchase price. I’d like to give some options that you might consider. (Please note, I am offering this review based on my own experience, I have received no consideration from Logos for writing this review.)
Let me add, although I am focusing on tools useful to pastors, Logos is useful for the average Christian who would like to do a bit more in Bible study. There are many tools that will help a user without the original languages to access resources in these areas (and others) that will enhance his understanding of the Scriptures. The features I describe below are as useful to the average student as to the seminarian.
The most useful tools to me
Saved Layouts
One feature of Logos I use all the time are the Quick Start Layouts which lead to Saved Layouts. The Quick Start Layouts are study templates that can get you up and running on whatever line of study you are pursuing. The options are “Bible and Commentary,” “Bible Journaling,” “Devotional,” “Greek Word Study,” “Hebrew Word Study,” “Lectionary Reading,” “Passage Study,” “Proverbs Explorer,” “Psalms Explorer,” “Study Bible,” and “Topic Study.”
I enclose a screen grab below so you can see what I mean. “But wait, there’s more…” as the old commercials said.
(Click on image to enlarge.)
You will notice a few of my Saved Layouts show in this screen shot. When you are working on a Bible book or a topic, you will want to come back to your place. On the right of the Layout options, you will see various “snapshots” of previous setups. When I first start a Bible book or a Topic, I will get my resources ready for study, then “Save as named layout.” I usually have around four series going at once (at least). When I get Logos set up for any series, I then save the setup with “Save as named layout.” After my work on my Sunday morning topic, I may switch to the Adult Bible study or my Wednesday topic. My named layouts get me back to where I left off study in my previous session.
You might notice that I have a Saved Layout called “Dons Main.” This is my default Bible study setup. I have a way I like to work, some basic commentaries and word study tools I like to use, so these are all open in “Dons Main.” When I start a new Bible book study, I usually start here, then start adding commentaries, and save it as a new named layout. I also have a layout called “Theology,” where I have my favorite Systematic Theology volumes open. This helps me get right to studying when I come back to the books. It is like having four or five book sets open on my desk, all at the spot where I want to pick up next. (You do have to remember to “Update active” before you move on to be sure you have your place set. I am in the habit of always clicking “Update active” before I open another Saved Layout — most of the time!)
Exegetical Guide
Not too long ago, I read a tip about Exegetical Guides. Below is a screen shot of the Exegetical Guide open to 2 Peter 1.5-7:
(Click on image to enlarge.)
The Exegetical Guide lays out the Greek and English for each text. There are various options, you can set it up to display your preferred version and to give you word study information about each word of the text. I have mine set to just show the verbs or “verbal components” like participles and infinitives. You can manually add nouns (or other forms) to your study by clicking on either the Greek or English word you are interested in. Logos will then display some of the word study information, just as you see here for the two verb forms in 2 Peter 1.5.
I find this very helpful as I am puzzling over my rusty Greek. (Don’t ask about my Hebrew!!) An English-only user can use this feature very profitably as well.
Other Guides
There are other quick starts you can use at any time, adding various “guides” to your present layout. The next screen shot shows the possibilities:
(Click on image to enlarge.)
Each of these tools are useful to plug in topics, words, passages, etc. as you go along in your study. There are many innovative ways of accessing your library already set for you. The text is hyperlinked throughout, so you can quickly access other references as you work though one of these guides.
A Word about searching
I have complained about Logos searching in the past. Logos 10 brings a much faster approach to searching, along with both helpful hints on how to set up your search and now it has templates to build fairly complicated searches quickly. I find these helps very useful — who can remember the proper syntax for finding references to a particular Bible text? Not me! I seem to have to look it up every time. It is very helpful to have the options spelled out for me so I can type it in right the first time.
Game Changer! Print Book Indexing
One big change for Logos 10 is Print Book Indexing. I watched a couple of the promo videos about the new version. One of the guys presenting the updates mentioned this feature. I have a little used print library these days, but I keep buying more books. After reading them, unless a passage made a big impression on me, I won’t remember what was said, much less where to find it. Of course, some of my print books are reference books and I haven’t read them. Occasionally I’ll refer to them, taking a look at the index, searching the Scripture index (if the book has one), but this is slow, and I have to really think the book has something to offer to go to the effort.
With Logos 10, you can scan your print library books as a Library entry in Logos. This puts your title into the database. If the book is indexed by Logos, your searches can pick up references in your print books. My next screen shot will show the results of a search I did to test the feature out. I’ve only added about five books so far, so I checked in one for a Bible reference that I knew was in one of them, Unchanging Witness, by Fortson and Grams — an outstanding book, by the way, see my review here. In this case I searched for “Romans 6.14-17.” I got many results in my digital library, but I picked up seven from the print books I’d added to the database, Unchanging Witness accounting for six out of seven of those hits. The extra one was from one of my other books, Studying the Synoptic Gospels (a new purchase, I haven’t had time to get at this one). Here is what Logos displays for those hits:
(Click on image to enlarge.)
Notice that it gives you a bit of the context, and, very importantly, the page number!
Now, you can’t copy any of the search window display to your notes, but you can look it up and mark it in your print books, either typing out a quote or making notes for your future use.
I can see many possibilities with this new feature! I expect some of my older books won’t be in the Logos library, so search will not find them, but many of my books will be there. I am planning for the coming winter rains to hole up in my study and scan many more titles into Logos. This will make my library so much more useful to me (and justify lugging those tons of books from house to house over the years!). I called it a Game Changer in the heading, and I think this is one of the coolest things I’ve seen for a long time.
Making hash of my budget
Yeah, OK, Logos is great. It is also expensive. The initial price tag may turn off those who aren’t already in the system. Some of my friends have mentioned hesitancy in upgrading, as even upgrade pricing can seem more than one can take.
In this section, I will offer a few tips on how to reduce the cost. I should say that this review is unsolicited. Logos is not giving me any compensation for writing it. The fact is, I’ve been critical of Logos in the past, though I’ve used it for years. The developments in the last couple of years, especially Logos 10, have changed my opinion. The amount of man years in development for this product are really starting to pay off for the end user now.
Tip 1: Go Basic
You can get Logos 9 Basic to use for free.1 You won’t have the latest features, you will only have a limited set of resources to work with, but it can get you started. You can pick up books from time to time that will enhance your studies.
You can also simply purchase the Logos Starter package (find it on this page, scroll through the packages all the way to the left). This will get the latest Bible study features and a limited set of books.
What to do then? You will have a limited library but remember the “Add Print Books” feature. If you take a few books a week and add them to your library, you will suddenly have a much more fruitful time searching through your books for material.
In addition to this, you should be on the lookout for Logos packages from other vendors. I think these days Logos handles almost all the sales of Logos formatted books through their website, but you might still be able to find CDs with the old Libronix (Logos) titles on them.2 I’d suggest searching for Libronix on eBay as one source.
In additiokn, some years ago I picked up a CD put together by Maranatha Baptist University called the Roger Williams Library. This is a collection of older Baptist works in the Logos format. It is still available, check the link. From a historical and theological perspective, the works contained in it are useful. There are
I suppose over the years I’ve invested a lot of money into Logos books, mostly piecemeal and sometimes simply by picking up out of the way sets that didn’t cost that much money. Some of the books you find this way are not that helpful, but among the rubble I’ve unearthed some gems I still use all the time.
Tip 2: Subscription model
A few years ago, Logos introduced the Subscription model. It’s changed its name a few times through these years and is now called Faithlife Connect. There are three levels of subscriptions, Starter, Essentials, and Premiere. You get the Full Logos Bible Study toolset with Essentials and Premiere.
I use the Essentials subscription. The last time my subscription was renewed, the cost was $99.99 USD. The pricing hasn’t changed much since I started using Logos this way. One feature of the subscription model is that you get all the updates through the year, with all the Bible study tools as they are enhanced or updated through the year.
In addition to the included books in the subscription model, I purchased separately one of the sets of books Logos offers with a Baptist emphasis. I had previously acquired quite a few other books from other sources, so I have more Bible study resources than I can read now as it is. I occasionally pick up another commentary or other book when I am starting a new sermon series. In any case, the subscription model works for me, keeps my cost down, and gives me access to great Bible study tools.
A couple of people asked me what would happen if I decided to give up the subscription. Here is what would happen. The software would continue to work, but any books or features that come with the subscription would be locked. Books and resources you own outside the subscription would continue to work as you own the licenses for those books. Some services, like the new Print Library feature, would no longer be available as well.
In my opinion, the subscription is so valuable, I have no plans to give it up until I am too decrepit to use it. My children will have to pry it from my hands. It is a very cost effective way to use Logos and to always have the most current features.
Concluding Thoughts On Price
Though this review sounds like a commercial, I am writing as a daily user of Logos, one who is enthusiastic about the most recent upgrade. I think preachers especially, but all Bible students in general, will find Logos useful for preparing sermons, Bible studys, teaching sessions. If you teach the Bible, you should get and use good tools. Logos is one of the best.
Learning curve
One last thing… the learning curve. No sophisticated software package is completely intuitive right out of the box. Logos provides various training videos and tips that will help you improve your use of the product. I subscribe to regular newsletters from Logos and pick up tips on features that I didn’t know about before. I’m always working at learning more.
The time invested will pay off in more efficient use over time. And in the case of learning Logos, you are working with material about the dearest of all subjects, our Lord Jesus Christ and his Kingdom. Just keep learning, and keep preaching.
Don Johnson is the pastor of Grace Baptist Church of Victoria, Victoria, BC, Canada.
The performance improvement was also very noticeable in Logos 10. As an IT engineer, I know how hard it is to deliver on promises to improve performance and Logos definitely seems to have delivered on this one with the performance improvement. This improvement has relevance for pastors who may not have top of the line equipment. I’m sure there are limits to how low you can go and still gain good performance, but this is also a major part of the Logos 10 story.
Yes, that’s a good point. I have a high-end computer, but many do not. I hope some with more “medium range” machines might chime in with their experiences. My previous computers convinced me that if I wanted the best results, I needed a workhorse. BTW, fortunately, our church folks agreed and bought it for me!
Maranatha!
Don Johnson
Jer 33.3
I use Logos, but I miss Bibleworks (even though I still use my Bibleworks 9 all the time).
I, too, use BW every day. It still has some advantages in certain areas, but Logos is making great strides and becoming more useful with each new update.
Maranatha!
Don Johnson
Jer 33.3