best-bible-study-software

Best Bible Software: A Review

By Joe Felim

In Ecclesiastes 12:12 (ESV) Qoheleth reminds his reader, “Of making many books there is no end.” In this verse Qoheleth reminds his reader that making many books has no end; all of us can probably attest to this as we see countless new books released every single day. That being said, I would contend that there is a parallel situation when it comes to Bible softwares. That is, today one could say, “Of making many Bible softwares there is no end.” Now this is not a problem in and of itself. However, it can be become a problem when one wants to purchase a Bible software but is uncertain as to which one is the best deal. You yourself might be in this situation. You want to buy a good Bible software, but you are uncertain which would be best. What do you do? In the review that follows I want to recommend BibleWorks8 (hereafter as BW8) as the best Bible software available today and thus worthy of your purchase. The goal of this review is not to provide an exhaustive list of the programs contents. Rather, the goal is to present four reasons which I believe commend BW8 to all who wish to purchase a good Bible software.

First, BW8 is user-friendly. Every single function within the program either has a video recording within BW8 or has an explanation within the help section. If for whatever reason you are unable to find the answer for which you’re looking, then you can email Bibleworks and receive an answer that way, or check the online forums. However, as a BW8 user, I have been able to navigate it easily.

Second, BW8 offers several resources that no other Bible software has. BW8 has a sentence diagramming module. To some, diagramming sentences seems like a mundane and archaic task. However, for those who do it well, they know the exegetical payoff is worth it because it can yield a more precise understanding of the text and thus clearer teaching. BW8 comes with a couple important and crucial intermediate Greek and Hebrew grammars. One example is Daniel B. Wallace’s Greek Grammar Beyond the Basics. This grammar is widely sold and cited by NT scholars. It is a tremendous resource for understanding Greek syntax and for doing exegesis which comes within BW8 in an easy to use format.

Third, BW8 is the program that professional exegetes and preachers use. John Piper is one such example. Piper explains, “I love [BibleWorks's] speed; its compatibility with Word; its comprehensiveness in Greek and Hebrew; its immediate, simultaneous Greek and Hebrew dictionary feature; its inclusion of all the English versions plus many foreign language ones….It is very powerful and worth every penny.”

Fourth, BW8 has upgradable modules that make exegetical life here on earth a foretaste of the eschaton to come. One example is BDAG (Walter Bauer, A Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament and Other Early Christian Literature, ed. Frederick W. Danker, 3rd ed. [Chicago: University of Chicago Press, 2000]). This lexicon can be purchased as a module and makes translating and exegesis so much quicker. Instead of thumbing through the hardcover copy of this lexicon, one can now pull up any entry in seconds. Also, one can copy and paste from it as well. And, any Scripture reference within the entry can also be referenced immediately by scrolling over it. It is simply amazing!

In this review I have presented four reasons why I believe BW8 is worthy of your purchase before any other program. Of the making of many Bible softwares there seems to be no end. However, if you want to buy one that is the best, then, in my opinion, BW8 is the one.