Looking outside the Mac world for a minute, the two most powerful programs, IMO, are BibleWorks 8 and Logos 4. That is why you see so much on these two programs.

Now, we are NOT talking about programs that most laymen are going to want to purchase. To be sure, some leaders and exceptional students of the word will buy these programs; however, most are Bible College students, Seminarians, pastors, teachers, etc. If you have a program that helps you to study your English Bible, and you like it, don’t feel like these programs are something you MUST have.

Bibleworks is $350 for its base package. A great deal by any standard, especially if you are a Bible Student with some Greek and Hebrew knowledge. And if you get ten (10) people together, you can do a group buy at $250 (I believe that is still true… but don’t quote me!). While BibleWorks has other resouces and books, its focus is on study of the English and Original Languages of the Bible. It is wonderful.

Logos Bible Software is an incredible program. It mixes study of the Greek and Hebrew and English Bibles with thousands of commentaries, dictionaries, encyclopedias, language helps, lexicons, theological texts, historical texts, and biblical study tools. That is just a start, to be sure.

Cost: The squeamish should turn their heads now.

Cost of such a Logos “library” can be steep. When lay people ask about the cost, and then shudder, understand that these same people have no need to go out and invest $10-$20 Grand for a theological library. The same is true for Logos. That being said, you can have an entry level package for about $250 and you can be near the top level at around $1,000 to $3,000. (discounts available). Understand, you may want to add libraries of commentaries for several thousand dollars more. But that is a choice.

I hope that helps.
JJ

I often find random things I can do with BW 8 that I didn’t even know were possible, such as highlighting all the non-qal verbs in an OT passage, for instance. Its such a great tool!

Perhaps if you emailed bibleworks and explained your situation they might give you a refund of your upgrade price. Just something to think about.

This wouldn’t be so bad but their customer service is horrible!

I still have no access to the forums and repeated emails have not solved the problem. (I shouldn’t have to go to the forums and do my own troubleshooting anyway!)

Twice I have emailed them about a problem and each time received a page-and-a-half email in response with a long list of instructions for reporting my problem, half of which made no sense and it still doesn’t work.

I wish I had stayed with Bibleworks 7. It didn’t have as many bells and whistles but at least it worked!