If you have spent any amount of time doing serious Bible study or research you have inevitably run into references to articles contained in theological journals. These journals are on the cutting edge of biblical scholarship, containing fresh research, insight into key theological topics, and exegesis of the Biblical text.

But too often when you want to take your studies further, you find that these journals are housed in some far-off Bible college or university. And if you wanted to order a subscription to a specific journal you’ll soon find that you may have to put off eating for a month–some of these journals can cost well over a hundred dollars for just four issues! But do not despair! With the Theological Journal Library, vol. 14 now on Pre-Pub, Logos has brought those distant libraries filled with theological journals right into the comfort of your own home.

The Need for Theological Journals

Where a Bible commentary may take up to 10 years or more to be published, journal articles tend to be published more quickly. Also, with commentaries there is often a set page limit that constrains the author to stick to the big picture while theological journals step in and go deeper into textual issues.

This freedom keeps theological journals on the cutting edge of scholarship. Often this scholarship is more specialized, focusing on issues of grammar, cultural background, or theology of a particular passage or passages of Scripture. Having access to theological journals in your Logos library is like bringing a research library into your personal place of study and allowing you to study the Bible in a more enriching manner.

Theological Journals in Logos 4

If you are a Logos user, then you know how incredible it is to have a software program that searches your entire library in a matter of seconds. In the same way you search the Bible for a particular word, phrase, or verse, you can also just as quickly search through your theological journals for any reference or verse. And when you click on a Scripture reference in your journal, Logos quickly navigates to that Bible verse. This speeds up your study and gives you more time to research—and who doesn’t want that?

Considering the amount of scholarship contained in theological journals and the speed and power of Logos 4, Theological Journal Library, vol. 14 is an invaluable addition to your library. And with the incredible Pre-Pub price of $49.95, now is the time to add it to your library and take your Bible study to an even deeper level.  And while you’re at it, check out some of these other journals that Logos has to offer!

• Theological Journal Library, vols. 1-10
• Theological Journal Library, vol. 11
• Theological Journal Library, vol. 12
• Theological Journal Library, vol. 13

One reason I wanted to make the Apostolic Fathers Interlinear was because the writers of these documents used the Old Testament, New Testament, and even some portions of apocryphal/deuterocanonical books. These guys knew Scripture, and they used Scripture (and some related writings) in their writings.

Clement of Rome (First Clement is attributed to him, Second Clement is traditionally attributed to him though most today do not view Clement as its author) is exceptional in his use of the OT and NT. He uses large portions of Scripture to the point where they can even be useful for text-critical purposes. Did you know that 1Clem 18 is a quotation of Psalm 51, and that it largely reflects the text of the Septuagint as we have it today? And that there is a large chunk of Isaiah 53 in 1Clem 16? And that Clement also quotes from Proverbs and even Job? And that some portions sound like they’re coming straight from Hebrews (e.g. 1Clem 36) and that he probably has familiarity with some of Paul’s epistles—especially First Corinthians?

Further, there is a simply incredible prayer in 1Clem 59–61. You have to read it. Really. And trust me, it reads even better if you read it aloud!

And let’s not forget Second Clement (also known as “An Early Christian Homily”) which is essentially a sermon that uses portions of Isaiah 54 as its primary text. This is the earliest Christian sermon available outside of the New Testament, and  you can read it. Really! And it is awesome from its very start.

This is all well and good, but why an interlinear and not a translation if I’m interested in folks really using this stuff? Well, I wanted to make something that folks who had some Greek and who find themselves using lexicons like BDAG could use to help them into the Greek text of this secondary material. Something people could search for Greek words and phrases, and see how they were used outside of the New Testament. Working on the Apostolic Fathers Interlinear was a lot of work, but it was also incredibly rewarding. I hope you’ll find it similarly helpful in your studies.

Here’s an extra bonus tip: If you’re interested in the Apostolic Fathers’ use of the New Testament, Logos has a neat book published in the early 1900′s called The New Testament in the Apostolic Fathers.  This book lists possible quotations and allusions to the New Testament in most of the works of the Apostolic Fathers (Barnabas, Didache, I Clement, Ignatius, Polycarp, Hermas, and II Clement). It is very helpful for looking into possible use of the NT in the Apostolic Fathers.

“Blessed is the one who finds wisdom, and the one who gets understanding, for the gain from her is better than gain from silver and her profit better than gold.”—Proverbs 3:13-14

What does wisdom say about reading the Bible?

In Reading the Bible Wisely, Richard Briggs answers this question by providing an approach to biblical interpretation that takes both wisdom and the Scriptures seriously. You will explore the reasons why we read the Bible in the first place, methods of interpretation that consider its historical, literary, and theological dimensions, and what role the Bible should have in our lives as the people of God.

Reading the Bible Wisely also explores how Scripture and the transformed mind of the believer interact to illuminate the process of interpretation. With the Logos Bible Software edition, every scripture reference is linked to your preferred Bible translation, allowing you to put the interpretive principles into practice right away—without losing your place in either book!

Learn how to wisely study the Word by picking up Reading the Bible Wisely on Pre-Pub now for only $13.95!

What do you think are some of the most important things to remember when reading the Bible? Leave us a comment below!

In less than a week, Classic Commentaries and Studies on Genesis (22 vols.) is set to ship. It’s the first in our Classic Commentaries and Studies series to ship, and you don’t want to miss out on the others coming down the Community Pricing pipeline:

• Classic Commentaries and Studies on Ephesians (23 vols.)
• Classic Commentaries and Studies on Luke (24 vols.)
• Classic Commentaries and Studies on Jeremiah (22 vols.)
• Classic Commentaries and Studies on Daniel (21 vols.)
• Classic Commentaries and Studies on Revelation (27 vols.)
• Classic Commentaries and Studies on Galatians (24 vols.)
• Classic Commentaries and Studies on Romans (32 vols.)
• Classic Commentaries and Studies on Exodus (21 vols.)
• Classic Commentaries and Studies on Job (18 vols.)
• Classic Commentaries and Studies on Psalms (35 vols.)
• Classic Commentaries and Studies on Corinthians (29 vols.)

These collections contain some the best authors of classic scholarship, including John Skinner, Moses Stuart, S. R. Driver, S. P. Tregelles, Philip Schaff, William Kelly, Morris Jastrow, and more! These collections offer a great way to bulk up your library with solid content without breaking the bank.

And remember, you can change your bid at any time. Raise it, lower it, or cancel it—you’re in control. So why not place a bid right now? Make sure you’re in on these incredible savings before they leave Community Pricing.

November 10, 2011 marks 528 years since the birth of Martin Luther, an iconic figure in the Protestant Reformation. You can add the entire 55-volume collection of Luther’s works to your library at a special introductory price. But act soon—this introductory price ends on November 14.

Regarding Luther

Many people know that Luther was a catalyst for the Protestant Reformation and how he nailed his 95 Theses to the door of the Castle Church of Wittenberg. Here are some facts you might not know:

• The Legend of Luther’s Conversion

  There are many legends surrounding how Luther went from being a promising law student to a monk in 1502. The most popular story involves being caught in a terrible thunderstorm and how, after many close calls with lightning strikes, Luther vowed to become a monk in exchange for his life.

  Another story has Luther falling on a dagger, severing an artery, and making his vow of conversion under the fear of death. There is even a story about how Luther was sent to a monastery after killing a fellow student in a duel.

  We may never know the truth, but we do know that his decision to leave the practice of law and embrace religion was a drastic and swift change in direction.

• The Pivotal Point in Luther’s Life

  Luther did not consider the nailing of his theses to the Castle Church door the most critical event in his life. In his Table Talks, Luther points to the illumination he felt when understanding Romans 1:17: “For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith for faith, as it is written, “The righteous shall live by faith.”

  Luther often speaks of this—his “Tower Experience”—as his true moment of conversion.

• Luther’s Actual Words at the Imperial Diet of Worms

  Luther was invited to an Imperial Diet (general assembly of the Imperial Estates) in Worms, Germany. The intention was to encourage Luther to repent and recant of his heresies. Luther, refusing to recant, is often credited as saying, “Here I stand. I cannot do otherwise.”

  Luther’s actual statement to the assembly was much more articulate:

  “Unless I am convinced by Scripture and plain reason—I do not accept the authority of the popes and councils, for they have contradicted each other—my conscience is captive to the Word of God. I cannot and I will not recant anything for to go against conscience is neither right nor safe. God help me. Amen.”

Purchase Luther’s Works today!

Luther is one of the most significant figures in Western history, and now you can add this massive 55-volume collection to your Logos resources. That’s more than 22,000 pages of exposition and commentary on Scripture, theological writings, and other materials readily accessible with your other resources—perfect for personal or academic study.

But don’t wait, this special introductory price ends on November 14, 2011. Order yours today!

The thirteen-volume Great Texts of the Bible will be shipping soon. It isn’t too late to get these commentaries, essays, and sermons while they are still 40% off of the retail price!

James Hastings, compiler of the Great Texts of the Bible, was a Presbyterian minister, theologian, and editor of many large volumes of Biblical works, including the Encyclopaedia of Religion and Ethics (13 vols.). Hastings’ conducted most of his exhaustive editing work while he pastored. He retired in 1911.

Take a peek under the hood of the The Great Texts of the Bible (20 vols.), to see the incredible content in this collection!

“Is there any reason why we should be afraid of saying that the universal love of Jesus Christ, which gathers into His bosom all mankind, does fall with special tenderness and sweetness upon those who have made Him theirs and have surrendered themselves to be His? Surely it must be that He has special nearness to those that love Him; surely it is reasonable that He should have special delight in those who try to resemble Him; surely it is only what one might expect of Him that He should in a special manner honor the drafts, so to speak, of those who have confidence in Him, and are building their whole lives upon Him.”—St. John 13–21, The Love of Jesus for His Own

“Now we here have the great truth of a suffering Messiah, a suffering Redeemer, brought out in all its fullness as we have it nowhere else in the Old Testament. The details are so striking that we cannot wonder that again and again this passage is quoted in the New Testament, as having its fulfillment in Christ.”—Isaiah, Vicarious Healing

“For what is enthusiasm? It is a Greek word which means the fullness of Divine inspiration. It implies absorbing and passionate devotion for some good cause. It means the state of those whom St. Paul has described as “fervent (literally ‘boiling’) in spirit.” It describes the soul of a man no longer mean and earthly, but transfigured, uplifted, dilated by the Spirit of God.”—Romans 9–16, Outward, Inward, Christward

The Great Texts of the Bible is full of soul-stirring reflections and teaching which stretch across the entire canon of Scripture. You will find lifetime of encouragement within The Great Texts’ 9,700 pages.

Order your copy today, and take advantage of the low Pre-Pub pricing!

Then head over and bid on Hastings’ Encyclopaedia of Religion and Ethics (13 vols.). It is currently trending at about $30, but with enough orders this thirteen-volume collection can go even lower!

Logos just finished shipping the last of the free Perseus Collections. This was no small feat! Our initial offering of the Perseus Collections was wildly successful. Now that we have shipped the last of those orders, we have made the Perseus Collections available again!

What People Are Saying about Perseus

Perseus has created quite a bit of excitement on the Logos Forums, but that’s not the only place you can experience the buzz. Many bloggers have been discussing the value of having these collections available from Logos.

Here are just a few of those reviews:

“Logos has done us all a great big favor by making this available and then they went above and beyond by making sure it was free and integrated. I’m sure you’ll enjoy having these resources.”—Brian LePort

“Good research requires, doesn’t it, source materials.  Too much scholarship is based on references to works that are references to works that are references to works.  Length of bibliography doesn’t guarantee accuracy, however, as sometimes mistakes are simply canonized by constant repetition.  With these tools at hand, authentic research can be done.”—Dr. Jim West

“Now there is a convenient way to do Greek New Testament (and LXX) word studies that not only give you material from other parts of Scripture (or Josephus or Philo or the Greek Pseudepigrapha), but a huge collection of classical literature! This is awesome!”—Nijay Gupta

“I think the material is a wonderful addition to the program and as easy to access and search as all the other resources available in the Logos Bible program, which is the program I use for all my Bible study, Bible reading, and Bible teaching. I’ve also made use of Logos Bible Software in writing my books. In fact, I wouldn’t want to be without the program. It’s made things much easier for me and saved me enormous amounts of time.”—R. P. Nettlehorst

“So by now it should be obvious just how useful having these resources in Logos 4 really is. Once you start adding search features into the equation then the usefulness is increased exponentially.”—Nick Norelli

If you are looking for even more positive reviews, you can check out these blogs as well:

• AndyNaselli.com
• Reading Acts
• Bible Studies and Technical Tools
• Miscellanies
• ΕΝ ΕΦΕΣΩ
• BrianWDavidson.com
• JimHamilton.info

Perhaps you missed out on Perseus the first time around because you weren’t sure how you would use them. While these collections certainly aren’t for everyone, the responses have been overwhelmingly positive. If you have decided you would like the Perseus Collections for yourself, they are available now—and they’re still free!

Don’t Forget about the Liddell and Scott’s Greek-English Lexicon!

For those who have received their downloads of the Perseus Classics Collection, don’t forget to check out the Liddell Scott Greek-English Lexicon. As we shared on Logos Talk back in September, LSJ has been updated with nearly 200,000 references to the Greek classics in the Perseus Classics Collection. It is the perfect addition to the Perseus Classics Collection. Pick yours up today!

Leave us a comment and tell us about your favorite part of the Perseus Collections.