What are some of Logos' best resources on biblical history, culture and customs?
I suggest you start by making a collection that idenfities resources that give you the background information on the biblical story.
If you are not familiar with how to make a collection, see http://wiki.logos.com/Collections
Not only with that identify the books for you, but you can then search that collection of resources.
Once you create a new collection, you could try pasting something like this into the 'Start with resources matching' box in the Collections screen:
(title:(introduction,survey,history,background,archaeolog,antiquit) OR subject:(survey,history,background,archaeolog,antiquit) OR (subject:Bible AND subject:introduction)) ANDNOT (title:(church,theologian,semeia,"Christian History Magazine") OR type:(harmony,commentary) OR subject:philosophy)
That's all one line, and you can add or remove items to get the result you want.
Thanks Allen. Yes I'm familiar with collections. I am more looking for dedicated resources to biblical history, culture and customs.
The IVP black dictionary sets are excellent. The Essential IVP Reference Collection Version 3 (IMO, the best bang for your buck of the entire Logos catalogue, not counting the big sales) includes the four NT volumes: Dictionary of Jesus and the Gospels, Dictionary of Paul and His Letters, Dictionary of the Later New Testament and Its Developments, and Dictionary of New Testament Background. IVP Dictionary of the Old Testament Bundle (2 vols.) has two of the OT ones: Dictionary of the Old Testament: Pentateuch and Dictionary of the Old Testament: Historical Books. The third (Dictionary of the Old Testament: Wisdom, Poetry & Writings) isn't published in Logos format yet.
I also like both of these:
Baker Encyclopedia of the Bible (4 vols.)
Zondervan Encyclopedia of the Bible (5 vols.)
Some individual titles:
John Bright, A History of Israel, 3rd. ed.
David A. deSilva, Honor, Patronage, Kinship and Purity: Unlocking New Testament Culture
Emil Schürer, A History of the Jewish People in the Time of Jesus Christ (5 vols.)
Carsten Peter Thiede, The Cosmopolitan World of Jesus: New Findings from Archaeology
You probably have these next three already as they are included in most base packages, but if not, they are all part of the Alfred Edersheim Collection
Alfred Edersheim, Sketches of Jewish Social Life in the Days of Christ
Alfred Edersheim, The Life and Times of Jesus the Messiah
Alfred Edersheim, The Temple: Its Ministry and Services as They Were at the Time of Jesus Christ
Here are a few more titles Rosie didn't list:
http://www.logos.com/product/873/the-new-testament-milieu
http://www.logos.com/product/5339/jesus-in-context-background-readings-for-gospel-study
http://www.logos.com/product/2266/nelsons-new-illustrated-bible-manners-and-customs
http://www.logos.com/product/2411/exploring-the-new-testament-world
Thanks everyone... Very helpful..