22 September 2009

Bible Study Software

Biblical software

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Biblical software is a group of computer applications designed to view and study biblical texts and concepts. Biblical software programs are similar to e-book readers in that they include digitally-formatted books, may be used to display a wide variety of inspirational books and bibles, and can be used on portable computers. However, biblical software is geared more toward word and phrase searches, accessing study bible notes and commentaries, referencing various modern translations, cross-referencing similar passages and topics, biblical dictionaries, original language texts and language tools, maps, charts, and other e-books deemed relevant to understanding texts from a philological approach.

Bible software varies in complexity and depth, depending on the needs of users, just as the purposes of the users vary from devotional reading and personal study to lesson and sermon preparation, inspirational publishing and even further research tools and translations. Basic bible software is typically aimed at mobile phones, and is designed simply display the text of a single Bible translation, with word and phrase searches as the only available tool. More advanced packages run on personal computers and boast far more features, display a wider variety of theological resources (see above), and may offer features such as synopses and harmonies of the Gospel narratives, morphological and syntactical searches of original texts, sentence diagramming, user notes, manual and dynamic highlighting, lectionary viewers, etc.

Contents

[edit] 1 History

Interest in using computers to quickly search the Bible and copy sections of the text quickly into lessons and sermons emerged in the early 1980s. Bible software was much faster than traditional study tools in a book forms. Early bible software was aimed simply at word and phrase searches in different modern translations. Later, as computers improved in handling foreign language fonts, the original Hebrew Old Testament and Koine Greek New Testament texts of the Bible were added. When working with the original biblical languages, one of the first capabilities was morphology or parsing, providing information on the parts of speech of various words to assist in understanding the intent of the text. At this point many bible software programs emerged which are still in publication today.[1]

[edit] 2 Library Building

Most bible software publishers offer a variety of initial packages from basic, to intermediate, to advanced levels, ranging in price from a free, to well over the price of the computer it runs on[1]. Bible software producers commonly offer customers expandibility--that users can build on their initial monetary investment with the purchase of additional resources such as dictionaries, commentaries, translations, and other inspirational books. Initial packages normally include many bundled works, while add-on titles represent a more significant investment. Normally, the advanced packages include all the features of the more basic packages, though a customer may stand to benefit from two or more bundles by purchasing packages from different publishers--especially those which work seamlessly in the same format. For instance a user purchasing a package from LOGOS Bible Software, which runs on a Libronix DLS format, could also buy a Thomas Nelson package, which runs in the same format, and all works would be integrated. Similarly, STEP compatible resources from different publishers also could be combined.

[edit] 3 Desktop Bible Software

[edit] 3.1 Windows

[edit] 3.1.1 Commercially-Available

    • Bible Explorer - Partly free, light version of WORDsearch.
    • BibleWorks - For a long time the most recommended software for Greek and Hebrew studies
    • iLumina - Animated bible
    • LOGOS Bible Software - Producer of the Libronix Digital Library System, or Libronix DLS, which they also license to other publishers, LOGOS has become the most popular high-end software on the market, with over 8,000 available titles through LOGOS and licensed publishers. Through the emergence of the predecessor format, the LOGOS Library system, and the growth in the market share which followed, LOGOS is known for advanced tools for Greek and Hebrew studies and allows users to build a virtual library from a variety of publishers which work together seamlessly. Dynamic linking ties works together to the same biblical text, even as a user moves through the works. The system also provides topical linking; a user accessing a different dictionary will find it already opened to the same topic they chose in another work. LOGOS packages include helps with harmonies, parallel passages, and even offers such things as automatic citation of references, such as APA, MLA, etc., depending on the preference.
    • eBible library - A set of Thomas Nelson titles operating within the Libronix DLS, and/or supplementing users' other titles in the LOGOS/Libronix Digital Library System. While Thomas Nelson once launched the New King James Version translation without collaboration, they have demonstrated the ability to market their biblical software titles in the popular Libronix DLS format, while avoiding the perception of a format war.
    • Pradis - Zondervan's native format for Biblical software is trademarked Pradis, and Zondervan currently opts to only release their titles in this format (instead of, for instance, more widespread formats such as Libronix DLS). The Pradis engine features customizable panes to efficiently divide the workspace into major areas, with a system of tabs within the panes to access many open books simultaneously without ever losing open books behind other windows, as is possible with other systems. Pradis offers ability to link works together by biblical references, but does not provide topical linking between works. Advanced tools for original languages are available, as are additional commentaries and dictionaries, thought the list of available offerings has recently shrunk significantly. Nevertheless, because Zondervan publishes their titles exclusively in the Pradis format, users wanting their titles must overcome format war hurdles and run a completely different program for those titles instead of being able to pull them up in a more popular environment integrated with a users other invested works. Zondervan offers Pradis for license to other publishers, but the response to date has been lackluster.
    • PC Study Bible - Complimented by reviewers for ease to use. Handles Greek and Hebrew studies well.
    • QuickVerse - Not too expensive but rather limited resource library. Not suitable for original languages study.
    • SESB - (Stuttgart Elektronische Studie Bibel) A resource library from Deutsche bibelgesellschaft for the Libronix DLS (Logos, see above). This is the only library that offers the critical apparatuses of BHS and NA27 / UBS4.
    • SwordSearcher - An inexpensive but simple bible study programs. Includes mostly public domain modules. Not suitable for original languages study.
    • WORDsearch - Offers a large library of English resources. Not the first choice for original languages study.

[edit] 3.1.2 Free Software

    • The SWORD Project A comprehensive open source multi-lingual Bible project. The project itself is actually not a program, but a programming environment as well as a resource database. Several front end programs are available for Windows, Linux, Mac and PDA's. One windows version is available with the same name.
      • Alkitab Bible Study - Open source. Uses the SWORD project environment.
      • Bible Desktop - Open source cross platform Java program. Uses the SWORD project environment.
      • BPBible - Open source. Uses the SWORD project environment.
    • Bible Analyzer - A freeware Bible study and analysis application. CD with additional modules can be purchased for nominal fee.
    • BibleDatabase
    • Bible Explorer - Partly free, light version of WORDsearch.
    • BiblePRO - Uses an interface that reminds of a programming IDE. Light version can be downloaded for free. CD with several modules can be purchased for nominal fee.
    • E-Sword - The most popular free Bible software.[2][3] Some commercial modules available.
    • Interlinear Scripture Analyzer - (V2.0 basic) Greek/Hebrew Interlinear bible. Based on NA26/27 with Robinson morphology and WLC Hebrew text. Both with a literal English translation and Strong and much more.
    • Online Bible - Bible Software Package around since 1987. Huge library of material of both English and other languages.
    • SwordBible - Simple bible reading software for windows.
    • Theophilos
    • In the beginning was The Word - also called "The Word" is a free bible reading software for Windows

[edit] 3.2 Mac OSX

[edit] 3.3 Linux/Unix

  • Bible Analyzer - A freeware Bible study and analysis application. CD with additional modules can be purchased.
  • BibleTime - Free, open source software for the KDE framework. Uses the Sword Project.
  • BPBible - Open source and freely available.
  • Xiphos (Ancient Greek for 'sword', formerly called "Gnomesword") - Free, open source software the GNOME framework. Uses the Sword Project.

[edit] 4 Mobile Platform

[edit] 4.1 PalmOS

[edit] 4.2 Windows CE

[edit] 4.3 Android

[edit] 4.4 iPhone and iPod

[edit] 4.5 Java

  • Alkitab Bible Study - free, open source, public domain. Uses the SWORD project environment.
  • BibleDesktop (JSword) - free, open source, LGPL cross platform program. Uses the SWORD project environment.
  • Go Bible - for JavaME mobile phones.

[edit] 5 Online tools

[edit] 6 References

  1. ^ "Bible Software History 101". Hall Harris. 2008-02-06. http://blog.bible.org/netbible/content/bible-software-history-101. Retrieved 2008-03-09.
  2. ^ e-Sword - Publisher: Rick Meyers. Version reviewed: 7.9.8 Reviewed: April 26, 2008 - and one of the most popular of all Bible software packages even when the "big dogs" are in the mix - Bible Software Review
  3. ^ Bible Software Survey 2005 - Bible Software Review

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This page was last modified on 2009-09-20 at 06:55:23. Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License; additional terms may apply. See Terms of Use for details.
Wikipedia® is a registered trademark of the Wikimedia Foundation, Inc., a non-profit organization.
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2 comments:

rp said...

Just a general remark: why not link to a revision of the page in Wikipedia, instead of copying the contents?

28 September, 2009 15:27
J said...

All articles in this blog either were PRODed, or went to AfD. The expectation is that they will be deleted.

14 June, 2011 15:48

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