I’ve used Logos Bible Software program for properly over a decade now. Each new version has introduced a number of wonderful options that enhanced my expertise. In each position I’ve held through the years—as a small group chief, a instructor, an writer, and a pupil—Logos has been invaluable to me. And now, Logos is shifting the way in which that each one software program is in our day: towards a subscription mannequin.
Yeah, I do know. Whether or not it’s leisure, artistic instruments, or easy-prep meals, so many people are exhausted by subscriptions—particularly those who value us considerably greater than a standalone product. (I’m you, Adobe.)
Relating to Logos, although, issues are just a little totally different. Buying Logos has all the time been a steadiness between new options and an expanded useful resource library with choices permitting you to spend a couple of hundred or a couple of thousand {dollars}, relying in your wants. That mindset continues into the brand new Logos subscription mannequin. However not like different subscriptions, this one really prices much less than you’d anticipate.
However earlier than we get there, let’s speak about among the new options.
New Options for Extra Efficient Examine
The brand new version of Logos contains a number of all-new options and provides quite a few current ones a refresh. These new options embrace:
- The Memorization Instrument
- English Phrase Examine workflow
- Bible Examine Builder
- Dynamic Themes
- New AI Instruments
We’ll come again to the AI instruments later. The Memorization Instrument is a guided course of for working by means of memorizing a Bible verse primarily based on a passage checklist. Those that are into reminiscence work will actually get pleasure from it. The English Phrase Examine workflow is an interactive question-and-answer device that encourages you to assume by means of the why behind your want to discover a particular English phrase present in Scripture. (This, truthfully, is just not a device I see myself utilizing, however I’m glad it’s there.)
Relating to refreshed options, the Factbook is the large winner this time round. It’s been refreshed to assist you to extra successfully discover biblical themes, subjects, and even passages of Scripture. This device now means that you can discover your matter comprehensively— every little thing from sources in your library to media to outlines and extra—or to focus your research with an emphasis on biblical phrases and themes, sources in your library, or in-depth theological research.
In current weeks, my main use for Logos has been as a seminary pupil. Which means that I’ve turn out to be shut buddies with the Factbook, together with passage lists, phrase research, notebooks, and customized layouts. From that perspective, the enhancements to the Factbook are a delight. It’s so a lot simpler for me to seek out what I’m in search of (and it wasn’t all that troublesome earlier than).
Now, about these AI instruments…
AI is Right here (Whether or not I Like It or Not)
Individuals who know me know that I’m not an enormous fan of AI instruments, particularly in writing. This largely has to do with my typically low opinion of human beings and our love of taking shortcuts. Plagiarism was an issue earlier than these instruments got here onto the scene, and the chance for lazy plagiarism they provide solely exacerbates the difficulty.
So once I noticed that Logos was including AI options, I needed to take a deep breath. Their inclusion was inevitable, whether or not I prefer it or not. Amongst these instruments are:
- Good Search, which searches for each piece of knowledge on a particular theme or matter out of your digital and print library
- Search Outcomes Synopsis, supplying you with a synopsis of your search with all the suitable bibliographical data
- Summarize, which generates a synopsis of an article or chapter of a e book in your library.
- Sermon Assistant, which may generate outlines, questions, illustrations, and quotes.
Right here’s what stunned me: a few of them are very useful. I just like the Good Search and Search Outcomes Synopsis instruments, particularly their potential to summarize their outcomes. The Summarize device can also be helpful, though I might see an unscrupulous pupil making an attempt to make use of this as a shortcut.
However what about Sermon Assistant? That one is a little more regarding to me.
The Blended Bag of the Sermon Assistant
To try it out, I used a sermon I preached on 1 Thessalonians 4. I needed to see what sort of quotes, questions, and illustrations it will devise. (I didn’t hassle with the define choice as a result of that falls squarely within the “don’t use” field for me.)
First, I highlighted a paragraph of my manuscript and selected the “discover standard quotes” choice. Inside seconds, I had a number of helpful and inspiring quotes to attract upon, together with their sources. Even higher, most of them had been already in my library, so I might test them in context.
Subsequent, I selected the query function, which relies on your complete sermon manuscript. After selecting to deal with life software for adults, I in a short time had a sequence of questions that had been superb. There weren’t any that stood out as being distinctive, however they had been serviceable. If a church opts for sermon-based dialogue teams, this device would serve them properly. (These church buildings would nonetheless profit from giving the questions a once-over for refinement.)
After that, I opted to create a sequence of illustrations primarily based on some commentary round idleness. This a part of the sermon assistant means that you can select private, historic, hypothetical, or biblical illustrations in a number of tones and directed to totally different audiences.
The standard of the illustrations was, once more, superb; they had been higher written than something you’d get out of Jasper or ChatGPT. However every little thing about it screamed problematic to me—particularly due to the power to generate private illustrations. We have already got an issue with individuals utilizing illustrations that didn’t occur to them; we shouldn’t make it simpler for them to do it. It is a element of the function that I do want Faithlife had not added in any respect, and I hope they may take away it.
The Subscription Mannequin—Is It Value It?
So, as a result of I can’t keep away from it any longer, we’ve acquired to speak concerning the subscription mannequin. Logos Bible Software program is now accessible in three tiers, Professional, Premium, and Max, every with function units and useful resource libraries designed for his or her meant use:
- Professional is right for in-depth private research, in addition to for small group and Bible research chief prep
- Premium is geared extra towards pastors and sermon prep
- Max is the deep dive device constructed with the tutorial and researcher in thoughts
Subscriptions begin at $9.99 per thirty days, with a 16% low cost if you happen to select an annual subscription. (And if you happen to already personal a Logos bundle, it’s possible you’ll be eligible for even better financial savings.) It is a substantial financial savings over the earlier mannequin, bringing it into the realm of affordability for the typical individual.
It’s necessary to notice that you’re subscribing for the function units that outline your expertise, together with all future updates which might be rolled out a number of instances per 12 months, versus as soon as each 2 years or so. That may be a huge change, and one that’s welcome. Logos continues to supply curated libraries which might be tailor-made to every tier. Once you buy a library, it’s yours eternally.
However what occurs if you happen to cancel your subscription? Once you cancel, you’re not eligible for future updates, however you’ll all the time have entry to safety and bug fixes. When you cancel after 24 months, you obtain a fallback legacy license, which lets you keep entry to all of the offline instruments (ie non-AI instruments) which were a part of your function set as much as that time.
All this to say: regardless of subscription fatigue and my distaste for AI instruments, I’m enthusiastic about this new version of Logos. I’ve beloved the expertise of working in it for the final a number of weeks, and I’m wanting to proceed to take action within the months forward. Whether or not you’re it for the primary time or a longtime consumer, Logos Bible Software program is a robust useful resource that belongs in each critical pupil of Scripture’s toolkit.
Discover of disclosure: Faithlife, the makers of Logos Bible Software program, supplied a free trial subscription for overview functions in alternate for my trustworthy suggestions. I additionally obtain a small fee from purchases made by way of the affiliate hyperlinks on this article.
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