Is this particular use of AI in Logos of interest to you?

MJ. Smith · November 2023

Logos supplies us with a firehouse of data. Often, we don't really know how to use it for the simple reason that it wasn't easily available prior to computer-aided Bible study. What do you think of using AI to build something like this for every piece of data Logos supplies?

To integrate personal names and phrases referring to a person into your biblical interpretation, you can follow these steps:

Identify the personal names and phrases referring to a person in the passage. This may seem obvious, but it's important to take the time to identify all of the names and phrases that refer to the person you're studying. This includes both direct references (e.g., "Jesus," "Peter," "Mary") and indirect references (e.g., "the Son of Man," "the Messiah," "the Beloved").

Look up the meaning of the names and phrases. This can help you to better understand the person's character, role, and significance in the Bible. For example, the name "Jesus" means "salvation." This tells us that Jesus is the Savior of the world.

Consider how the names and phrases are used in the passage. Are they used to describe the person's relationship with God? Their relationship with others? Their role in God's plan? For example, the phrase "Son of Man" is used to emphasize Jesus' humanity.

Pay attention to the context in which the names and phrases are used. This can help you to better understand the meaning of the passage as a whole. For example, the phrase "Beloved Son" is used in Matthew 3:17 to describe Jesus at his baptism. This tells us that God is pleased with Jesus and that He loves him unconditionally.

How the names and phrases affect the meaning of the passage:

Personal names can be used to identify the speaker, the listener, or a third person. For example, in John 3:16, the personal name "Jesus" identifies the speaker of the verse. This is important because it shows that Jesus is the one who is claiming to love the world and to give eternal life to those who believe in him.

Personal names can also be used to describe a person's character, role, or significance. For example, the personal name "Son of Man" is used in John 3:14 to describe Jesus. This title emphasizes Jesus' humanity and his connection to the people of Israel.

Personal phrases can be used to describe a person's relationship with God or with others. For example, the personal phrase "Beloved Son" is used in Matthew 3:17 to describe Jesus' relationship with God. This phrase shows that God loves Jesus unconditionally and that he is pleased with him.

How to integrate personal names and phrases into your biblical interpretation:

Once you have identified the personal names and phrases in a passage, you can start to integrate them into your biblical interpretation by considering the following questions:

What does the name or phrase tell me about the person's character, role, or significance?

How is the name or phrase used in the passage to describe the person's relationship with God or with others?

How does the name or phrase affect the meaning of the passage as a whole?

What can I learn from the person's character, role, and relationship with God? How can I apply these lessons to my own life?

By answering these questions, you can gain a deeper understanding of the people who are mentioned in the Bible and of the character of God. You can also learn more about how to apply the Bible to your own life.

To integrate word relationships (antonym, synonym, heteronym, meronym, hyponym, hypernym, pertains to, causative, passive, etc.) into your Biblical interpretation, you can follow these steps:

Identify the key words in the passage. These are the words that are most important to the meaning of the passage, and that you want to understand more deeply.

Use a Bible study tool or resource to look up the word relationships of the key words. There are a number of resources available, such as Bible software, online commentaries, and Greek and Hebrew lexicons.

Consider how the word relationships affect the meaning of the passage. Think about how the words are related to each other, and what role they play in the overall message of the passage.

Write down your observations and insights. This will help you to remember what you have learned, and to reflect on the meaning of the passage more deeply.

Here is an example of how to integrate word relationships into your Biblical interpretation:

Passage: John 3:16

Key word: love (ἀγάπη)

Word relationships:

Antonym: hate (μῖσος)

Synonym: compassion (σπλαγχνίζομαι)

Meronym: grace (χάρις)

Hyponym: kindness (χρηστότης)

Hypernym: virtue (ἀρετή)

Pertains to: God (Θεός)

Causative: to give (δίδωμι)

Passive: to be loved (ἀγαπάω)

Meaning:

The word "love" in this passage is not just a feeling or emotion. It is an action that God performs towards us, despite our sinfulness and unworthiness. God's love is characterized by grace, compassion, kindness, and other virtues. It is a love that is so great that God was willing to send His Son to die for us.

Observation:

The word relationships of the word "love" in this passage help us to understand the depth and breadth of God's love for us. God's love is the opposite of hate. It is synonymous with compassion and kindness. It is a love that is greater than all other loves. And it is a love that comes to us from God Himself.

Insight:

The fact that God loves us so much should motivate us to love Him and others in return. We should also be grateful for God's love and grace, and we should strive to live our lives in a way that is pleasing to Him.

By integrating word relationships into your Biblical interpretation, you can gain a deeper understanding of the meaning of Scripture. You can also learn more about the character of God and His relationship with humanity.

Here are some additional tips for integrating word relationships into your Biblical interpretation:

Pay attention to the context in which the words are used. This can help you to determine the meaning of the words and how they are related to each other.

Compare different translations of the passage. This can help you to see how different translators have interpreted the word relationships.

Discuss the passage with a Bible study group or pastor. This can help you to gain new insights from others.

By following these tips, you can learn to integrate word relationships into your Biblical interpretation and gain a deeper understanding of the meaning of Scripture.

To integrate the syntactic force of a word into your biblical interpretation, you can follow these steps:

Identify the word or words you want to study.
Determine the syntactic role of the word or words in the sentence. This can be done by looking at the word's part of speech and its relationship to other words in the sentence.
Consider how the syntactic role of the word affects its meaning and the meaning of the sentence as a whole.
Reflect on how the meaning of the word and the sentence relates to the overall message of the passage and the Bible as a whole.

Here is an example of how to integrate the syntactic force of a word into biblical interpretation:

Passage: John 3:16

Key word: world (κόσμος)

Syntactic role: object of the verb "loved" (ἠγάπησεν)

Meaning:

The syntactic role of the word "world" in this passage is important because it shows that God's love is not limited to a select few people or group of people. God loves the world, meaning all of humanity. This is a radical statement, especially in light of the fact that the world is often seen as a place of sin and evil. But God's love is so great that it encompasses even the most sinful and rebellious people.

Observation:

The fact that the word "world" is the object of the verb "loved" emphasizes the extent of God's love. God loves the world not just in a general sense, but with a specific and personal love. He loves each and every person in the world, regardless of their race, religion, or nationality.

Insight:

God's love for the world should motivate us to love God and others in return. We should also be grateful for God's love and grace, and we should strive to live our lives in a way that is pleasing to Him.

By integrating the syntactic force of words into your biblical interpretation, you can gain a deeper understanding of the meaning of Scripture. You can also learn more about the character of God and His relationship with humanity.

Here are some additional tips for integrating the syntactic force of words into your biblical interpretation:

Pay attention to the word order in the sentence. This can give you clues about the syntactic role of words and the meaning of the sentence as a whole.
Use a Bible study tool or resource that includes a morphological analysis of the words. This will show you the part of speech of each word, as well as its grammatical role in the sentence.
Compare different translations of the passage. This can help you to see how different translators have interpreted the syntactic role of the words and the meaning of the sentence as a whole.
Discuss the passage with a Bible study group or pastor. This can help you to gain new insights from others.

By following these tips, you can learn to integrate the syntactic force of words into your biblical interpretation and gain a deeper understanding of the meaning of Scripture.

Modifying the prompt to show that I am using a tool that provides the syntactic force provides:

Once you have identified the syntactic force of a word using a Bible tool, you can integrate it into your biblical interpretation by considering the following:

How does the syntactic force of the word affect its meaning? For example, if the word is a verb, it is usually describing an action or state of being. If the word is a noun, it is usually naming a person, place, thing, or idea. If the word is an adjective, it is usually describing a noun. If the word is an adverb, it is usually describing a verb, adjective, or other adverb.
How does the syntactic force of the word affect its relationship to other words in the sentence? For example, if the word is a subject, it is performing the action of the verb. If the word is an object, it is receiving the action of the verb. If the word is a modifier, it is providing additional information about another word in the sentence.
How does the syntactic force of the word affect the meaning of the sentence as a whole? For example, if the word is a coordinating conjunction, it is joining two independent clauses together. If the word is a subordinating conjunction, it is introducing a subordinate clause that modifies the main clause of the sentence.

Here is an example of how to integrate the syntactic force of a word into biblical interpretation:

Passage: John 3:16

Key word: love (ἀγάπη)

Syntactic force: object of the verb "loved" (ἠγάπησεν)

Meaning:

The syntactic force of the word "love" in this passage is important because it shows that God's love is not just a feeling or emotion. It is an action that God performs towards us. God's love is not something that we can earn or deserve. It is a gift that He gives us freely.

Observation:

The fact that "love" is the object of the verb "loved" emphasizes the fact that God's love is directed towards us. God loves us. He does not just have a feeling of love for us. He takes action to show us His love.

Insight:

God's love for us should motivate us to love Him and others in return. We should also be grateful for God's love and grace, and we should strive to live our lives in a way that is pleasing to Him.

By integrating the syntactic force of words into your biblical interpretation, you can gain a deeper understanding of the meaning of Scripture. You can also learn more about the character of God and His relationship with humanity.

Here are some additional tips for integrating the syntactic force of words into your biblical interpretation:

Pay attention to the context in which the words are used. This can help you to determine the meaning of the words and how they are related to each other.
Consider the different ways in which the words could be translated. This can help you to see the different shades of meaning that the words can have.
Discuss the passage with a Bible study group or pastor. This can help you to gain new insights from others.

By following these tips, you can learn to integrate the syntactic force of words into your biblical interpretation and gain a deeper understanding of the meaning of Scripture.

Yes, I know the query needs a bit of tweeking but you get the idea.

Dave Hooton · November 2023

Logos supplies us with a firehouse of data. Often, we don't really know how to use it

My objectives would be

knowing what data we have

the list in Help > About Logos (App toolbar) does not qualify
the Dataset Documentation does not qualify
We need a Database that can be easily expanded as we acquire datasets and easily referenced e.g. an Interactive

understanding the data

an explanation should be provided in the Database together with examples

being able to control the data

e.g. I need to eliminate Syllable data from the Context Menu, Information tool and Bible Browser (where applicable)
FL need to be explicit about the data that is related thru their Default Reference Matching and/or
allow the user to specify what data should be related (from a list)

knowing how to extract the data

this is about Search, the Context Menu, the Information tool and Bible Browser (where applicable)
the Dataset Documentation is too diffuse and inconsistent

knowing how to use/apply the data

this could be part of querying the Database.
this is where your AI could be relevant.

Harry Hahne · November 2023

What do you think of using AI to build something like this for every piece of data Logos supplies?

Thanks for posting this, MJ.

You got some interesting replies from Bard.

I would be interested in knowing the prompts you submitted that produced these results and if you had to include follow-up prompts to get high quality answers from the AI. Your whole conversation would be worth seeing. (Perhaps you could include a link to a Google doc with this AI dialog, so it doesn't create an overly long forum post.).

My experience with using generative AI tools is that the quality of the answers is partially based on the training text and even more based on the right kinds of prompts. I usually require several follow-up prompts to get what I am looking for. Also, when I push the AI too hard for specifics, it starts making things up.

It would be interested for Logos to integrate an optional free text query that would search the user's resources. I would like this better than having a built-in generative AI to return search results, since the product of a generative AI is not reproduceable and is often wrong due to AI hallucinations.

MJ. Smith · November 2023

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/1277505#Comment_1277505

My objectives would be

I agree with you although I am less interested in the control and extraction as they change over time as the system evolves. At the moment I am interested in exploring what AI make possible for Logos to achieve which they wouldn't be able to if working by hand. I suspect Logos lacks the basic data design documentation even for their own use ... I hope I'm just being pessimistic.

MJ. Smith · November 2023

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/1277532#Comment_1277532

It would be interested for Logos to integrate an optional free text query that would search the user's resources. I would like this better than having a built-in generative AI to return search results, since the product of a generative AI is not reproduceable and is often wrong due to AI hallucinations.

I have been pushing both ChatGPT and Bard on methodology questions on methodology for nearly a week now. Both of them now provide useful answers. Here is a typical exchange where I am pushing the limits:

[quote]

Please provide a definition of Tolstoyan Movement tradition of Bible interpretation, its major proponents, and primary 15 questions specific to it that it applies a scripture passage.

ChatGPT

The Tolstoyan Movement, inspired by the writings and philosophy of Leo Tolstoy, is a Christian anarchist and pacifist movement that interprets the Bible in a way that promotes nonviolence, simplicity, and social justice. While it doesn't have a distinct tradition of Bible interpretation, its approach is heavily influenced by the teachings and values of Leo Tolstoy.

Definition: The Tolstoyan Movement is a Christian anarchist and pacifist movement that interprets the Bible in a way that aligns with the principles of nonviolence, simplicity, and social justice as advocated by Leo Tolstoy. Its followers seek to live out their faith in a manner consistent with these values and promote peace and social equality.

Major Proponents: The major proponents of the Tolstoyan Movement include Leo Tolstoy himself, as well as individuals who were inspired by his writings and teachings.

Primary 15 Questions:

How does this scripture passage align with the principle of nonviolence, as emphasized in Tolstoyan philosophy?
In what ways can the teachings of this passage guide us in promoting peace and reconciliation in our interactions with others?
How does this scripture inspire us to live a life of simplicity, in keeping with the values of the Tolstoyan Movement?
What examples from the life of Jesus and early Christian communities demonstrate the importance of nonviolence and social justice?
How can this text encourage us to be advocates for social equality and economic justice?
In what ways does this scripture challenge societal norms and practices, calling for a more just and equitable society?
How can the teachings of this passage inspire us to live a life of voluntary poverty and simplicity, as exemplified by Tolstoyan principles?
What elements of this passage emphasize the importance of compassion, empathy, and helping those in need?
How can the teachings of this scripture guide us in our efforts to resist oppression and promote human rights?
What principles of forgiveness, reconciliation, and nonresistance are emphasized in this passage, and how can they be lived out in our daily lives?
How can this scripture inspire us to be advocates for the rights and well-being of all individuals, regardless of their social or economic status?
In what ways does this passage invite us to be active participants in the pursuit of social justice and the abolition of violence?
How can the teachings of this scripture guide our understanding of what it means to live a life of love, empathy, and peacemaking?
What examples from the Bible illustrate the importance of ethical and responsible living, as reflected in Tolstoyan values?
How can this scripture inspire us to be committed to the principles of nonviolence, simplicity, and social justice as we engage with the world and advocate for positive change?

The Tolstoyan Movement interprets the Bible in a manner that aligns with the teachings and values of Leo Tolstoy, emphasizing nonviolence, simplicity, and social justice. It seeks to promote peace, social equality, and a more just society in line with these principles.

However, it won't even try to provide prompts for Bible interpretation informed by the Chinese Jesus sutras. So that is the context in which I starting entering prompts such as "Assuming I am using a Bible tool that identifies the syntactic force of each word. how do I integrate the syntactic force of a word into my Biblical interpretation?" - Bible study gave too simplistic answers, not stating I already had the information led to a emphasis on identifying not using. When the answer is too far off, I preface my query with a definition of the piece(s) of data or examples.

Do these:

interest you as a way to expand the questions one asks of scripture/pulling in the individual student's knowledge into Bible study/teaching the basics of the many types of Bible criticism?

xnman · November 2023

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/1277534#Comment_1277534

not trying to change subject...but providing the following for suggestion. The Following is from Claude AI which is one I use sometimes.

Request to Claude------

Please provide a definition of Tolstoyan Movement tradition of Bible interpretation, its major proponents, and primary 15 questions specific to it that it applies a scripture passage.

Answer from Claude -----

The Tolstoyan Movement refers to the Christian anarchist and pacifist beliefs espoused by Russian author Leo Tolstoy. Here are key details about this tradition of Bible interpretation:

Definition:

Emphasizes literal interpretation of Jesus' teachings, especially Sermon on the Mount
Sees the Bible as advocating nonviolence, pacifism, and anarchism
Rejects religious ritual and institutions in favor of living Christ's teachings

Major Proponents:

Leo Tolstoy
William Lloyd Garrison
Adin Ballou
Dorothy Day
Ammon Hennacy

15 Questions from Tolstoyan Interpretation:

What did Jesus literally say in this passage?
How does it fit with his teachings like the Sermon on the Mount?
What are the practical implications for living nonviolently?
What institutions or rituals does it challenge or condemn?
What does loving your enemy look like in this context?
How should wealth and property be viewed through its lens?
Does it advocate complete pacifism and rejection of force?
What limits does it place on involvement in government?
How does it call us to serve the poor and oppressed?
Does it portend the coming kingdom of God?
How should we apply Christ's commands literally today?
What earthly authority does it give institutional religion?
Does it instruct us to live simply, foregoing materialism?
What accompanying action does it demand of followers?
What idols or distractions does it warn against?

This gives a summary of the Tolstoyan approach to analyzing and applying biblical passages according to its anarchist Christian perspective. Let me know if you need any clarification or have additional questions!

DMB · November 2023

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/1277532#Comment_1277532

It would be interested for Logos to integrate an optional free text query that would search the user's resources. I would like this better than having a built-in generative AI to return search results, since the product of a generative AI is not reproduceable and is often wrong due to AI hallucinations.

Agree. Along with Dave's step-by-step documentation description. I don't see chat'ers any different from good search engines. Packaging and it seems to excite some people, talking to a computer.

But I suspect (1) Logos has to get serious about the college market (not the academic market). And (2) chat'ers will be a key marketing tool. The problem will be how to monetize in Logos > more book sales.

GaoLu · November 2023

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/1277547#Comment_1277547

Relevant, quick, organized data extraction from resources adds value. More value = more resources sold.

scooter · November 2023

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/1277505#Comment_1277505

My objectives would be

knowing what data we have

the list in Help > About Logos (App toolbar) does not qualify

the Dataset Documentation does not qualify

We need a Database that can be easily expanded as we acquire datasets and easily referenced e.g. an Interactive

understanding the data

an explanation should be provided in the Database together with examples

being able to control the data

e.g. I need to eliminate Syllable data from the Context Menu, Information tool and Bible Browser (where applicable)

FL need to be explicit about the data that is related thru their Default Reference Matching and/or

allow the user to specify what data should be related (from a list)

knowing how to extract the data

this is about Search, the Context Menu, the Information tool and Bible Browser (where applicable)

the Dataset Documentation is too diffuse and inconsistent

knowing how to use/apply the data

this could be part of querying the Database.

this is where your AI could be relevant.

Said far better than I will ever be able to. Thanks for taking the time to think/write this, Dave.

MJ. Smith · November 2023

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/1277538#Comment_1277538

providing the following for suggestion. The Following is from Claude AI which is one I use sometimes.

Interesting contrast. I wonder if it is inherent in the engine or the results of training. I'll need to do a bit more playing around . . .

xnman · November 2023

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/1277568#Comment_1277568

providing the following for suggestion. The Following is from Claude AI which is one I use sometimes.
Interesting contrast. I wonder if it is inherent in the engine or the results of training. I'll need to do a bit more playing around . . .

This causes me to wonder if all AI engines use the same basic databases and thus come up with "similar" if not "alike" responses, which if it is so, then that would be a basic "bias" in the whole system of AI. Just my 2 cents....

Edit: I would hope AI would be more "literal" when it comes to bibleology (the study of the bible). As was talked about with 2 Tim 3:16 and I would add vs 17. Some, such as me, looks at the bible as being literal in many ways.... I know MJ mentioned the word "only" as some wanted to use the word in the passage which, if I remember right, was implied in an "interpretive view"... but in my view, I don't see how it would fit, probably because I don't understand truth (the bible) as being a book that is allowed to be interpreted as one might want. I see it as a book to be understood, not from man's view, but from God's view.

Having said that.... I know I misunderstand most of the time.... so take what I said with a grain of salt.

MJ. Smith · November 2023

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/1277569#Comment_1277569

This causes me to wonder if all AI engines use the same basic databases and thus come up with "similar" if not "alike" responses, which if it is so, then that would be a basic "bias" in the whole system of AI.

I suspect that there is a huge amount of overlap in the materials they are trained on which should result in very similar neural-networks from which they extract their output. What the press has not made clear is that the "break-through" of the chat-bot has been in the human to machine interface and the weighing of the extracted output. If I understand correctly, the training process has only the expected incremental changes and advances in vector database technology.

Is this particular use of AI in Logos of interest to you?

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