New Edition of the Works of Cornelius Van Til

If you run Libronix Update, you’ve probably noticed that there are often updated resource files available for you to download. These resources include typo fixes and other enhancements like additional hyperlinks to other resources available in Libronix. Sometimes these new resources are updated versions of the book like with the ESV recently, which has been updated to the 2007 text edition. The best part is that we almost always provide these improvements to you free of charge. If you don’t run Libronix Update, you should get in the habit of running it at least once a month (in Libronix, click Tools > Libronix Update). You’re probably missing out on some cool stuff!

When we released the first version of the Libronix Digital Library System in 2001, we included backwards compatibility for the older Logos Library System (LLS) resources. Today you can still run LLS resources in Libronix. But since the Libronix Digital Library System allows us to include many more advanced features in our digital books, we try to update old LLS books when we are able so they can take advantage of the improved LDLS functionality. Even though this often involves hundreds of hours of labor, we typically provide these new Libronix resources to those who already own the older LLS versions without any additional cost.

We are pleased to announce that the Works of Cornelius Van Til (40 Volumes) is now available as a new enhanced edition for the Libronix Digital Library System. Since the release of the LLS version more than a decade ago, this definitive collection of works from the renowned Cornelius Van Til has become an essential tool for apologists and students of Van Til’s thought. Now it’s even better!

What’s New?

• All of the material from the original edition has been updated to take advantage of the advanced features of the Libronix Digital Library System.
• The contents have been split into 40 resources making it easier to locate specific titles in My Library and navigate this massive collection.
• The new edition also includes enhancements like additional hyperlinks to other Libronix resources. More than 6,000 links have been added to Barth’s Church Dogmatics alone.

It is now possible to do advanced searching and find all the places where Van Til discusses a certain section of Calvin’s Institutes of the Christian Religion or Barth’s Church Dogmatics. By using the Reference Browser, you can locate in an instant all the places where Van Til cites, for example, Calvin’s discussion of the Trinity (I, xiii).

Since Calvin’s Institutes is a data type and all of these references are tagged, finding them is no problem even though Van Til cites Calvin in a variety of ways (i.e., once as Institutes, Bk. 1, chap. 13, Sec. 2, another time as Ibid., 1:13:1, and another as Ibid., 1:13:21). I performed this search and had the results in seconds. Running down this data any other way would have taken hours or even days.

You can do this same type of analysis for the places where Van Til cites Barth’s Church Dogmatics. As you may know, Van Til was a strong critic of Barth. Whether you agree with Van Til or not, you now have the ability to analyze his critique of Barth in ways never before possible. Instantly find all the places where Van Til cites Barth’s certain portions of CD. By the way, Barth’s Church Dogmatics will be shipping very soon. You still have a chance to get in at the Pre-Pub price.

How Do I Get It?

For those who owned the old LLS version of the Works of Cornelius Van Til as of April 10, 2008, we are providing this new version to you free of charge. In fact, we’ve already gone to the effort to unlock the new collection in your license file. All you need to do is synchronize your licenses (in Libronix, click Tools > Library Management > Synchronize Licenses) and get the files. Due to the size, we suggest ordering the $5 media only CD.

Note: You may not give away or sell your old LLS version. You must continue to own it in order to legally use the new LDLS version.

If you don’t already own the Works of Cornelius Van Til, we are offering a special introductory price for a limited time. Visit the new Van Til product page to find out all the details and place your order for the collection, which is available on CD-ROM or as a download.

Update: Some previous owners of the LLS Van Til product might not have had the new edition unlocked yet. We are in the process of unlocking it for this group that got missed. This should be done in the next day or two. Thanks for your patience!

Update 2: We have completed the unlocking process for everyone who had the LLS version of the Works of Cornelius Van Til activated in their Libronix account. If you own the LLS version (and purchased it prior to April 10, 2008), but never moved from the old Logos Library System to the new Libronix Digital Library System, you will have to contact customer service (800-875-6467) if you’d like to move to the Libronix Digital Library System and have the new Libronix version unlocked for you.