Get 30% off the Fathers of the Church Series

| Mon, August 12, 2013 | Products

fathers-of-the-church-seriesThe Fathers of The Church Series is a truly exciting new collection in Logos. The biggest collection of patristic documents ever gathered in English translation—and still growing!—this series represents the absolute best in early church history.

It’s difficult to put into words just how valuable this series really is. Maybe it’s the history buff in me, but it’s hard to deny that nearly 50,000 pages of patristic primary-source material ranging from the first to the fifth centuries isn’t something exciting. It’s even harder to deny that, in Logos, this collection is arguably the most powerful patristic study tool available to students and scholars anywhere.

Brilliant scholarship at an incredible price

What makes this collection so valuable isn’t just the sheer immensity of text (at less $.04 per page, the absolute best value anywhere): it’s the brilliant scholarship and translation that this series is renowned for in the English-speaking world. The English translations of both Greek and Latin texts are clear and easy to read, and the scholarship behind them is unparalleled both in scope and in scale.

While there’s some overlap with the Early Church Fathers collection, most of these works are brand-new to Logos, and all of them offer new and improved translations. Plus, this edition includes many of the commentaries the early Church Fathers wrote on books of the Bible, most of which are omitted in the Schaff edition. [Read more…]

Logos 5: Shortcut for Update Active Layout

| Mon, August 12, 2013 | Training

Today’s post is from Morris Proctor, certified and authorized trainer for Logos Bible Software. Morris, who has trained thousands of Logos users at his two-day Camp Logos seminars, provides many training materials.

In most of my Monday posts, I try to encourage new Logos users with features that more seasoned users may have already discovered. Today, however, I want to pass along a time-saving shortcut that’s applicable if you’ve already discovered the benefit of layouts. So if you’re already on your way to being a power user, this is for you.

If you employ layouts, you know that when changes are made to the active layout, you must update the layout in order for those changes to be saved. This normally requires going to the Layouts menu and selecting an update link. Instead, try this update shortcut:

  • Type this text in the Command box: update active layout (A).

[Read more…]

Timeline: Study the Bible in Context

| Sat, August 10, 2013 | Misc.

Can you imagine being a follower of Jesus during the time of the early Christian church? Think about it: political powers were in collision, Rome was collapsing, the lives of the wealthy and influential were colliding with the poor, heaven was colliding with earth. Though it’s incredibly rewarding, digging into the context of that time (let alone the last 2,000 years of church history) can be messy.

Clean up your Bible study with Logos 5’s Timeline feature! You’ll see the whole picture—how lives and events overlap, what was happening between the testaments, where your denomination came from, etc., all with a simple, easy-to-use layout. This feature has tons of other capabilities. See for yourself:

Right now you can save big on a Logos 5 upgrade. Check out your custom upgrade discount, and upgrade to Logos 5 today.

Featured in Platinum: Lenski’s Commentary on the New Testament

| Fri, August 9, 2013 | Products

platinum“My favorite new Testament commentary is that of R. C. H. Lenski . . . I profit greatly from his sane and spiritually sensitive exposition.” —Warren W. Wiersbe

Any collection so highly praised by one of the most prolific Christian writers of the last 100 years demands attention, but Lenski’s Commentary on the New Testatment draws special notice because Dr. Wiersbe crosses denominational lines to praise Lenski’s scholarship, adding that “you do not have to be a Greek scholar to benefit from Lenski.”

This is a massive commentary. Lenski introduces each passage with his own original translation, and then adds a discussion of historical, exegetical, and thematic points, leaving no stone unturned. Lenski’s scholarship and smooth narrative style make this collection a perennial favorite. Morris Proctor, the authorized trainer for Logos, even lists it among his prioritized books in Platinum.

Other valuable resources

Lenski’s Commentary on the New Testament is included in Platinum, along with many other respected titles, like:

Logos Mobile Education: Value and Pricing

| Fri, August 9, 2013 | Products

logos-mobile-education-bible-and-doctrine-foundations-bundleSince the announcement of Logos Mobile Education and my own subsequent posts on our plans for the Mobile Ed curriculum and how the Logos digital library ecosystem distinguishes Mobile Ed from all other distance education models, response has been steady. We appreciate the interest and enthusiasm! We’re moving ahead at full speed, and the feedback is valuable.

One recurring question has been the matter of pricing. Logos Mobile Ed launched with the Bible and Doctrine Foundations bundle at a Pre-Pub price of $995.95. At nearly $1,000, that price sounds high. In reality, it’s a tremendous value.

In my earlier post about the Logos digital library’s role in Mobile Ed courseware, I pointed out that video is only the starting point in a Mobile Ed course. There’s a lot more to Mobile Ed than video. But since people are familiar with video content in today’s world, the flawed assumption that we’re reinventing that wheel is understandable. Mobile Ed courses give you a lot more value than video. They’re worth the expense, especially as a Pre-Pub bundle.

The cost of seminary is rising

The brutal, unfortunate reality is that seminary education is very expensive. Daniel Aleshire, the executive director of The Association of Theological Schools (ATS), a national accrediting body for seminaries, recently observed that the average cost for a three-year Master of Divinity degree has risen to $100,000 in North America. [Read more…]

Now Hiring: Mobile Ed Video Instructors

| Thu, August 8, 2013 | Misc.

LME-LogoWe recently released Logos Mobile Education, a revolutionary education program that provides formal biblical instruction akin to that offered by Bible colleges and seminaries.

Now we’re looking for talented individuals to create training videos for Mobile Ed students.

As a Mobile Ed video instructor, you’ll work from home on a contract basis to create instructional screencast videos. We need to cover a wide range of topics, so you’ll have a lot of options when it comes to deciding what types of videos to create. These tutorials will help Mobile Ed students get the most out of their learning experience.

If you’re interested in applying, check out the criteria and job details:

The ideal candidate will have:

  • A strong working knowledge of Logos 5
  • Exceptional verbal communication skills
  • An unstoppable work ethic

The really ideal candidate will also have:

  • Experience making screencast videos
  • Seminary training

FAQs:

What if I don’t know how to create screencast videos?

Don’t worry if you don’t have previous screencasting experience—as long as you’re highly skilled with Logos 5, we’ll help you with the rest.

What if I’m not familiar with how Mobile Ed works?

We’ll bring you up to speed on which specific features need to be highlighted, how Mobile Ed integrates with Logos, what the final product should look like, etc.

Do I need to be knowledgeable in the topics covered in Mobile Ed courses?

Not necessarily—this is purely software training. You’ll be teaching others how to use Logos 5 in conjunction with Mobile Ed, and experience in the covered topics is not required.

How many hours per week of work will it require?

Since you’ll be working on a contract basis—getting paid based on how many videos you create—you can take on as much or as little work as you’d like.

* * *

If you’re a Logos 5 whiz and you’d like to help others know the Bible, apply to be a Mobile Ed video instructor today!

5 Reasons to Download the Free FSB Now

| Thu, August 8, 2013 | Misc., Products

ESV Giveaway Free

In partnership with Crossway and CreationFest, we’re giving away the trusted ESV translation to all Faithlife users through August 10. You only have a couple more days to grab your copy, so get it today!

Here are a few more reasons to download the Faithlife Study Bible:

1. Multimedia & infographics—We live in a highly visual society, surrounded by glowing screens. We’ve become accustomed to ideas in picture form. The Faithlife Study Bible is chock-full of art, photography, timelines, and video to help you visualize Scripture. We sent a crew to Israel, and they returned with hundreds of pictures and hours of video. We even commissioned artists to illustrate biblical concepts—and you can get it all for free in the Faithlife Study Bible.

2. Respected contributors—Writing a study Bible is a huge undertaking. We didn’t want to take it on alone, so we reached out to some of the most trusted leaders in Christianity. N. T. Wright, Timothy Keller, Charles Stanley, Ed Stetzer, Lee Strobel, Randy Alcorn, and many others contributed their wisdom and expertise to the Faithlife Study Bible. See the whole list at FaithlifeBible.com/Contributors. [Read more…]

The $40,000 Mistake

| Wed, August 7, 2013 | Misc.

The 40,000 MistakeThe best thing about making a big mistake at Logos is that it lets us showcase our values.

This weekend someone made a technical mistake that set web prices for dozens of products to zero.

The mistake was identified quickly, and our team worked late Friday night to fix the error. In the meantime, dozens of customers placed orders for free product worth $40,000.

Since then we’ve heard from some customers asking if they needed to return the free products, and a few employees have wondered if we should re-lock these unintended product giveaways.

The answer—to both questions—is “No!”

We made a mistake. We own it, we learn from it, and we welcome the chance to show our employees and our customers that we mean what we say about our values and “The Logos Way.”

From our Employee Handbook and Corporate Culture guide:

  • Logos accepts mistakes as part of learning.
  • Openness: We’re talking about our mistake.

[Read more…]

3 Ways Linguistic Criticism Can Aid Bible Study

| Wed, August 7, 2013 | Products

lexham-methods-series (1)We learn our first language with relative ease. It’s only when we study a second or third language that we can begin to appreciate language’s complexity. Even if we master the vocabulary, grammar, and syntax of another language, we will still stumble on idioms, metaphors, and other cultural references. The best way to navigate a different language is to have a native speaker as your guide.

But who’s here to help us with biblical Hebrew and New Testament Greek? With no living first-language experts to guide us, these are “dead languages.” Countless interpreters have wished they could ask Moses, Isaiah, or Paul exactly what they meant by certain uses of Hebrew or Greek.

To effectively study a book written in “dead languages,” we must look to other language systems for help. This field of study is called linguistic criticism, and a new book by Logos Bible Software introduces you to the concepts, terminology, and methodology of the discipline. The third volume in the Lexham Methods Series, Linguistic Criticism, will improve your Bible study in three ways:

  1. Appreciate the complexity of language study. We can read the Bible in English today only because scholars labored through the difficulties of language-learning. As they continue to study living languages, they’re able to translate and interpret the Bible’s dead languages more accurately. [Read more…]

3 Reasons to Add a Master Bundle to Your Library Today

| Tue, August 6, 2013 | Misc., Products

master-bundle-xlWith a base package purchase or upgrade, you can get 50% off bundles. Now’s your chance to personalize your library with the topics that interest you most—but these discounts are only available when you have a base package in your cart (or if you own the Portfolio base package).

Choose from a variety of topical bundles, or get everything included in the smaller bundles at an even better price. If you haven’t already added a Master Bundle to your library, here are three reasons why now is the time:

1. Huge discounts

With the Master Bundle, you can choose from four sizes at incredible discounts, all the way up to the X-Large bundle, which includes 1,196 volumes at 69% off the regular prices if you were to buy the books separately on Logos.com. On top of that, you’ll also get 50% off when you upgrade to Logos 5, and an additional discount for any books you already own! This is the perfect scenario to add a Master Bundle to your library—the average price per book is only $2.93 (or less, depending on what you already own) if you purchase the X-Large Master Bundle with your Logos 5 upgrade. [Read more…]