What is the best way to create layout for studying each book of the Bible

Hi Everyone,

Good day!

Since there are different commentaries i use for different book of the Bible, I have to build a new layout every time when i want to start a study of a particular book in the Bible. I create a layout with the various Bible translation on the top frame, and the on the bottom frame i have all the study bible notes, commentary, dictionary, encyclopeida, maps etc.

To save time, i build a 'template' of this layout and so for every book, i will simply add the commentaries for that book in the bottom frame, and save it as a new layout called ' Bible Study - Romans' , 'Bible Study - John', 'Bible Study - Acts' etc.

Just want to see if there are better ways to do this., as i found out over time i have so many layouts (one layout for each book, and then i have layout for topical study, and then layout for general book reading etc.), it can up to 80+ layouts created in my layout.

Just want to see how others do it.

Thanks a lot!

Benny

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Michael Kinch

Hello Benny. Everyone uses Logos a bit differently and everyone studies differently. For me when I begin a study of a book of the Bible I know that I am going to be there for a while. You can created your layout for your current Bible book from your template and then delete the layout when you are finished studying in it. Something that I have begun is to create a layout for different sections of the Bible. So I would have a layout for the Gospels, the epistles, prophecy, history, wisdom literature etc. I then adjust the layout for the book of the Bible that I am studying. I use favorites for books that I am reading so I don't have a particular layout for books I am reading. I tag the books I am reading so I can open my library and search mytag:reading and select the book that I want to read. I have had a tendency to put too much into a layout and then it looks crowded and difficult to work with. I have learned to select only the books that I am actively working with and to tag the others so that I can find them if I need to.

DMB

One thing I would add, is for commentaries, make sure you use 'Multiple Book Display' (MDB). That way, moving around in your commentary(s) doesn't move your Bible around.

As you describe your layout, your lower panel for commentaries would start with a linked Bible (maybe a different one from your top panel Bible), and then add your commentaries using the MBD button on the panel. Since I have favorite commentaries, the lower panel is simply my favorites in a row ... no need for multiple layouts.

Wolfgang Schneider

To save time, i build a 'template' of this layout and so for every book, i will simply add the commentaries for that book in the bottom frame, and save it as a new layout called ' Bible Study - Romans' , 'Bible Study - John', 'Bible Study - Acts' etc.
Just want to see if there are better ways to do this., as i found out over time i have so many layouts (one layout for each book, and then i have layout for topical study, and then layout for general book reading etc.), it can up to 80+ layouts created in my layout.

Welcome to the forums, Benny. Could you provide a screenshot of one or two of those layouts? It is unclear for me from your description which elements and how they are incorporated in your layout, if they are linked, use Multiple Book Display, etc. Understanding better what you already have set up, perhaps some suggestions to further improve the situation can be made.

Benny

Thanks a lot everyone for taking the time to provide your input. Very much appreciated!

Wolfgang, this is a screenshot of my Logos Layout i used for daily reading and study. I use this as a template when i want to focus on a particular book of the Bible by adding the various commentaries i prefer for that particular book in the bottom pane. Basically on the top pane are the various Bible translation, and then on the bottom pane are the study bible notes, commentaries, dictionary, encyclopedia. On the left is the highlighting pane that i use to tag Bible verse, phrase or paragraph on different observation, application, doctrines so i can filter them later for in-depth study. Here is the layout screenshot:

So I have to save a new layout every time so i can add the commentaries i use for that particular book of the Bible, and i also do topical study and also doctrinal study,and each has its own set of layout i setup (with books for readings on the left pane, Bible on the top right and tools (dictionary etc.) on the bottom right. So i will at the end having 80+ layouts. It is mostly a one time thing and i don't really mind, but want to find out if there is better way to do this, as i have about 10 layouts now and want to seek other's input before i continue to build the remaining 70+ layouts.

Thanks very much!

Benny Chong

Wolfgang Schneider

Basically on the top pane are the various Bible translation, and then on the bottom pane are the study bible notes, commentaries, dictionary, encyclopedia. ...
So I have to save a new layout every time so i can add the commentaries I use for that particular book of the Bible ...

If you want a certain exact situation, such as Bible opened to a certain place, specific other resources opened, etc. to be opened, saving a separate layout with that exact situation would achieve it ...

A different approach would be to have just one more "general approach" layout (sort of like a temple) with panels for the type of resources needed (a panel for Bible, one for lexicon, one for commentary, for notes tool, search, etc.) with your respective top or preferred resource. Having resources prioritized, one can quickly scroll through (e.g. with keyboard shortcuts "<" and ">") to a different Bible translation, different commentary, etc. Linking Bibles, commentaries will keep them in sync. Using multiple book display allows to have multiple translations displayed etc.
Then, upon loading the layout, one has a few extra steps (such as going to a certain book of the Bible or scripture reference, scrolling commentary panel to display the desired commentary, ect) to be ready to start with study.

A little extra work upon loading the layout, but in exchange no work to navigate through a list of 70+ layouts to get to the one to be opened. If you want to return next time you study to the exact place where you currently are, you can use "update current layout".

As was mentioned before, each one of us has their particular method and way of studying scriptures ... Logos software does provide numerous possibilities to accommodate users.

David Thomas

Just want to see if there are better ways to do this., as i found out over time i have so many layouts (one layout for each book, and then i have layout for topical study, and then layout for general book reading etc.), it can up to 80+ layouts created in my layout.

Just want to see how others do it.

Rather than a layout for each book, I create a layout for each PURPOSE and use collections like "Commentaries - Best" to populate a layout depending upon the text being studied.

Sometimes I read for personal correction and encouragement - Journal and Prayer layout

Sometimes I need Hebrew language tools - OT Sermon Prep

Sometimes I need Greek language tools - NT Sermon Prep

Sometimes I need quick lookup access during preparation or participation in a group Bible Study - Learning Communities

Sometimes I read (from my Microsoft Surface) in Tablet mode with less screen area than my external monitor - so less windows open.

Doc B

If the only thing that changes from Bible-book-to-book is the commentaries, you could make a custom series with your commentaries of choice. That way, you could save one layout and when you opened it to (say) Romans, the Romans commentary/ies would open automatically.

Wolfgang Schneider

If the only thing that changes from Bible-book-to-book is the commentaries, you could make a custom series with your commentaries of choice. That way, you could save one layout and when you opened it to (say) Romans, the Romans commentary/ies would open automatically.

I thought of that initially, but wondered if Benny is actually using a Bible Book specific commentary for each book, in which case this would work by linking Bible and commentary series panel. But how to do this, if I use a one volume commentary for some book(s) of the Bible, a different one volume commentary for some other book(s) of the Bible, yet another different commentary for other book(s)?

Benny

Thanks everyone taking your time to help! Very much appreciated!

Yes, i use different commentaries from different commentary series or from individual commentary for different book. If i can simply setup all of those commentaries i use for each book from different series into a single series and all in one layout, that would be a time saver!

Benny

Thanks a lot David, your layout catagories give me some ideas that i never think of! By a specfic use or purpose nstead of by specific book or topic!!!

Thanks very much!

Benny

GregW

One thing I’d suggest you do is to investigate using the Passage Guide. If you prioritise your commentaries for each book as you corpse to it, you won’t need to do it again. It would mean you don’t have all the commentaries open at the same time, but each one is only one click away.