New feature (v36): Smart Search Synopsis

We may have some other options in the future.

Mark, you could have pay as you go AI tokens called Logos Buffet, I will test it for you.

this feature is long overdue for us that study daily, very soon I will not have to use ChatGpt to obtain quick answers about a passage.

Please continue to upgrade the Logos software. Loving this feature, also I agree with the other Pastors and Leaders that this option should start a cross reference to our purchased library and secondly to other books.

Blessings

Pastor Oscar Salinas 

This is truly an amazing feature. I did two smart searches and was amazed at the results:

1. What is the clausal structure of Habakkuk 3:17-19? and

2. What literary features are there in Habakkuk 3?

The results were stunning!

This feature is definitely a game-changer.

Thanks and blessings.

It would be really helpful to be able to restrict the AI questions to certain collections.  Is there are a way to do this?

It would be really helpful to be able to restrict the AI questions to certain collections.  Is there are a way to do this?

A Books search will run on only your books and from there you can filter however you want (by collections, authors, tags etc).

Yes, that worked.

So far, I love this feature. Great way to summarize and synthesize research. 

This is an awesome feature! I love it.

The tool is very good! I am pretty sure others have mentioned this, but I am somewhat unsettled that the resources it uses for references are not my preferred ones. Yet it would not appear it's as simple as using a particular priority type, I don't think? Or maybe the evolution of the tool cold take the user to the next step - "OK, how do I find other resources discussing this same answer?"

Here's one I did this morning, mostly because I knew it could find it quickly:

I am pretty sure others have mentioned this, but I am somewhat unsettled that the resources it uses for references are not my preferred ones. Yet it would not appear it's as simple as using a particular priority type, I don't think?

It was mentioned earlier in this thread that you use the Books Smart Search, where you can specify your own resources.

Excellent point. Thank you. 

Can the colours of hyperlinked bible verses and footnote indicators be adjusted for dark mode? Not sure if you can see my screenshot, but I almost cannot read "1 Kings 7:46" in dark blue against a dark grey background in my synopsis.

Can the colours of hyperlinked bible verses and footnote indicators be adjusted for dark mode?

This should already be fixed in the current beta version.

@Locksmythe thanks for the suggestion of AI search on Mehra.  It’s something I’ve looked at before, so not new but great to see how easily the information came up, even in the web app on my iPad.

AS I usually do, I compared the synopsis from All search with he one from Book search - minor editorial differences because I own the references that All search found.

If you open the links citations that the synopsis comes up with then I was pleased to see that the relevant selection was highlighted and clicking on Add Anchor in the note inserted it as a text anchor. It was also easy to copy and paste the highlighted text into the note.

I’ve just finished my degree, I’m not sure if I’m envious of the students to come or disappointed that they will mis shout on some of the chasing of information!

la sinopsis es demasiado superficial y cita libros que no tienen que ver con el tema tratado.

ES muy buena. Amplia el conocimiento y es rápida; una bendición

Can you have smart search synopsis pull in material from your notes?

Not at the moment - but I believe I've seen something from Logos (can't find it now) where they say this is something they would like to do.

Finally, Logos has a search that will respond to a general question.  I've had to go to AI sites to get answers to general questions like "what is the distance between Antioch and Jerusalem."  I found that Logos was inadequate to answer these type of questions.  The Smart Search is an improvement. It is also helpful that it lists the sources of the information it provides.  This allows the user to accomplish an in-depth study using the sources of information.  I think this is a vast improvement over the Logos searches available in the past. 

Smart Search is an excellent tool. It would be great if the results were stored so they were available when you reopen a layout. That way one can continue to work with the list of resources included in the results. Great product! Thanks

AI Search is a great feature. I love it and use it daily. It saves a lot of searching in commentaries. For example, " Can Psalm 40:17 be an expression of humility?"

However, language settings may need some improvement. When I ask my questions in English (though I also possess Dutch resources), only English resources are used. More annoying, when I ask my question in Dutch, only Dutch resources are used, only a fragment of my library. That's not good. I'd like to ask a question in Dutch while using all resources to get an answer.

Related to this: It would be very helpful if AI answers could be translated by choice. Sometimes I prefer an English answer, sometimes I'd like to translate it into Dutch.

I hope these remarks are helpful to further improve this already great feature!

Smart Search Strike out big time:

Reading Isaiah, during Advent, I run into Isa 1:15: And when you stretch forth your hands, I will turn away my eyes from you: and when you multiply prayer, I will not hear: for your hands are full of blood.

So I query Smart Search Synopsis
Q: List the bible verses where God says that He will not hear someone's prayer

A.I. answer:
According to the provided articles, there are no specific Bible verses mentioned where God explicitly states that He will not hear someone's prayer. In fact, one of the articles emphasizes that God hears prayers, citing 1 John 5:14-15 which states that if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us[1]. Another article mentions Psalm 4:3, asserting that "God hears every prayer"[2]. The articles generally focus on the importance of prayer, God's willingness to listen, and the need for perseverance in prayer[3]. It's worth noting that the provided information does not directly address the user's query about instances where God says He will not hear prayers.
[1] Dabbs, M., “He Hears”, Moment with God: A Devotional on Every Biblical Book (ed. J. D. Barry – R. Van Noord) (Bellingham, WA 2014).
[2] Veerman, D., Bible Study Youth (Bellingham, WA 2024).
[3] Boulding, M. with Saint Augustine, Expositions of the Psalms 51–72 (ed. J. E. Rotelle) (The Works of Saint Augustine: A Translation for the 21st Century; Hyde Park, NY 2001) XVII, 306.

WRONG ANSWER, NO GO at this Station.

from the NTSK: at Isa 1:15 Is *59:2. Ps +66:18. Pr 1:28. Mi 3:4. Jn +*9:31
(Also elsewhere in NTSK Pro 1:28; Psalm 18:41; Job 27:9, 35:12; Proverbs 28:9; Zechariah 7:13)

That’s twelve (12) verses relating to God NOT hearing prayer.
When Smart Search gets it wrong, it is not only a wasted of credit(s), but its a waste of time and potentially deleterious disinformation.

Pax Christi in regno Christi

Smart Search Strike out big time:
Reading Isaiah, during Advent, I run into Isa 1:15: And when you stretch forth your hands, I will turn away my eyes from you: and when you multiply prayer, I will not hear: for your hands are full of blood.

So I query Smart Search Synopsis

Query: List the bible verses where God says that He will not hear someone's prayer

A.I. answer: According to the provided articles, there are no specific Bible verses mentioned where God explicitly states that He will not hear someone's prayer. In fact, one of the articles emphasizes that God hears prayers, citing 1 John 5:14-15 which states that if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us[1]. Another article mentions Psalm 4:3, asserting that "God hears every prayer"[2]. The articles generally focus on the importance of prayer, God's willingness to listen, and the need for perseverance in prayer[3]. It's worth noting that the provided information does not directly address the user's query about instances where God says He will not hear prayers. [1] Dabbs, M., “He Hears”, Moment with God: A Devotional on Every Biblical Book (ed. J. D. Barry – R. Van Noord) (Bellingham, WA 2014). [2] Veerman, D., Bible Study Youth (Bellingham, WA 2024). [3] Boulding, M. with Saint Augustine, Expositions of the Psalms 51–72 (ed. J. E. Rotelle) (The Works of Saint Augustine: A Translation for the 21st Century; Hyde Park, NY 2001) XVII, 306.

WRONG ANSWER, NO GO at this Station.

From the New Treasury of Scriptural Knowledge, NTSK: at Isa 1:15 Is *59:2. Ps +66:18. Pr 1:28. Mi 3:4. Jn +*9:31 (Also elsewhere in NTSK Psalm 18:41; Job 27:9, 35:12; Proverbs 28:9; Zechariah 7:13)

That’s eleven (11) verses relating to God NOT hearing prayer.
When Smart Search gets it wrong, it is not only a wasted of credit(s), but its a waste of time and potentially deleterious disinformation.

Pax Christi in regno Christi

Smart Search Strike out big time:

Reading Isaiah, during Advent, I run into Isa 1:15: And when you stretch forth your hands, I will turn away my eyes from you: and when you multiply prayer, I will not hear: for your hands are full of blood.

So I query Smart Search Synopsis

Q: List the bible verses where God says that He will not hear someone's prayer

A.I. answer: According to the provided articles, there are no specific Bible verses mentioned where God explicitly states that He will not hear someone's prayer. In fact, one of the articles emphasizes that God hears prayers, citing 1 John 5:14-15 which states that if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us[1]. Another article mentions Psalm 4:3, asserting that "God hears every prayer"[2]. The articles generally focus on the importance of prayer, God's willingness to listen, and the need for perseverance in prayer[3]. It's worth noting that the provided information does not directly address the user's query about instances where God says He will not hear prayers. [1] Dabbs, M., “He Hears”, Moment with God: A Devotional on Every Biblical Book (ed. J. D. Barry – R. Van Noord) (Bellingham, WA 2014). [2] Veerman, D., Bible Study Youth (Bellingham, WA 2024). [3] Boulding, M. with Saint Augustine, Expositions of the Psalms 51–72 (ed. J. E. Rotelle) (The Works of Saint Augustine: A Translation for the 21st Century; Hyde Park, NY 2001) XVII, 306.

WRONG ANSWER, NO GO at this Station.

From the NTSK: at Isa 1:15 Is *59:2. Ps +66:18. Pr 1:28. Mi 3:4. Jn +*9:31 (Also elsewhere in NTSK Psalm 18:41; Job 27:9, 35:12; Proverbs 28:9; Zechariah 7:13)

That’s eleven (11) verses relating to God NOT hearing prayer.
When Smart Search gets it wrong, it is not only a wasted of credit(s), but its a waste of time and potentially deleterious disinformation.

Pax Christi in regno Christi

Smart Search Strike out big time:

Reading Isaiah during Advent, I run into Isa 1:15: And when you stretch forth your hands, I will turn away my eyes from you: and when you multiply prayer, I will not hear: for your hands are full of blood.

Q: List the bible verses where God says that He will not hear someone's prayer

A.I. answer: According to the provided articles, there are no specific Bible verses mentioned where God explicitly states that He will not hear someone's prayer. In fact, one of the articles emphasizes that God hears prayers, citing 1 John 5:14-15 which states that if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us[1]. Another article mentions Psalm 4:3, asserting that "God hears every prayer"[2]. The articles generally focus on the importance of prayer, God's willingness to listen, and the need for perseverance in prayer[3]. It's worth noting that the provided information does not directly address the user's query about instances where God says He will not hear prayers. [1] Dabbs, M., “He Hears”, Moment with God: A Devotional on Every Biblical Book (ed. J. D. Barry – R. Van Noord) (Bellingham, WA 2014). [2] Veerman, D., Bible Study Youth (Bellingham, WA 2024). [3] Boulding, M. with Saint Augustine, Expositions of the Psalms 51–72 (ed. J. E. Rotelle) (The Works of Saint Augustine: A Translation for the 21st Century; Hyde Park, NY 2001) XVII, 306.

WRONG ANSWER, NO GO at this Station.

From The New Treasury of Scriptural Knowledge, NTSK: at Isa 1:15 Is *59:2. Ps +66:18. Pr 1:28. Mi 3:4. Jn +*9:31 (Also elsewhere in NTSK Psalm 18:41; Job 27:9, 35:12; Proverbs 28:9; Zechariah 7:13)

That’s eleven (11) verses relating to God NOT hearing prayer.
When Smart Search gets it wrong, it is not only a wasted of credit(s), but its a waste of time and potentially deleterious disinformation.

Pax Christi in regno Christi

BTW, in continuance of preceding post, Smart Search Strike out big time,

A_I results [List the bible verses where God says that he will not hear someone's prayer]

Why isn't printing supported in this Function/Feature?

In examining the resources cited and posted in this query, there were absurd, completely non-sequitur references, such as (see attachment for some detail). The A.I. totally missed the relevant resources of over 100 Commentary articles, 5 Study Bibles and 5 Bible Cross references from the NTSK:

Instead, A.I. provides for this query:

Related Bible Verses > Prayer
Related Bible Verses > Thanksgiving
Related Bible Verses > God’s Will; ditto: Perseverance; Youth; Speech; Change; Youth; Peace; Sovereignty of God;
Bible Study Youth

Verses 19–20. Persevering Prayer
Expositions of the Psalms 51–72, Ps 65:19–20, p 306

Appendix H: Gratitude List and Thankfulness Verses
The Heart of Addiction: A Biblical Perspective, p 239

He Hears
Moment with God: A Devotional on Every Biblical Book

God Hears Prayer
Training: How Do I Grow as A Christian?, p 69

Psalm 86: Hear My Prayer
The Book of Psalms, Ps 86, p 659

1. A New Assurance in Prayer (Verses 14–17)
   The Message of John’s Letters, 1 Jn 5:14–17, p 160

Verses 5–10
Hebrews: Crossway Classic Commentaries, Heb 5:5–10, p 122

Verses 18–19. A Prayer for Understanding
Expositions of the Psalms 99–120, Ps 118:18–19, p 370

Verses of Prayer
East Syrian Daily Offices, p 145

Hearing from God in Prayer
Experiencing God: Knowing and Doing the Will of God, p 174

My Problem Says/God Says
Building Bridges: Biblical Counseling Activities for Children and Teens, p 149

Jesus Says > Motives
Bible Study Youth

F. Faith Says What God Says (Rom. 4:17–21)
Romans & Galatians: The Gospel according to Paul (Student Manual), p 73

Lesson 2: Chapters, Verses, and Headings of the Bible
Unlocking the Treasures of Your Fire Bible: Resources for Spiritual Understanding (Student Manual), p 17

Verses 17–18. O God, My Mercy: This Says It All
Expositions of the Psalms 51–72, Ps 58:17–18, p 176

Verses 1–22, The Prayer of Azariah
New Interpreter’s Bible, Volumes I–XII, Song Thr 1–22; V 7, p 158

Prayers of the Bible
Prayer: Does It Make Any Difference?, p 171

The Bible Says …
Bible Study Youth

What the Bible Says about Itself
Systematic Theology, Volume Three: The Holy Spirit and the Church, p 254

Bible Search Results in Verses Format
Logos Bible Software Training Manual, Volume 1, p 269

Copy Bible Verses
Logos Help

Thunder: Verses 12–13
A Christian Guide to the Qur'an: Building Bridges in Muslim Evangelism, Surah 13:12–13, p 139

Verses 11–12. Where Is Your God?
Expositions of the Psalms 33–50, Ps 41:11–12, p 255

Copy Bible Verses
Verbum Help

The Bible and Prayer
The Fight: A Practical Handbook for Christian Living, p 20

Related Bible Verses > Convictions
Bible Study Youth

Mary: Verses 33–44
A Christian Guide to the Qur'an: Building Bridges in Muslim Evangelism, Surah 3:33–44, p 44

Preparation for War: Verses 60–65
A Christian Guide to the Qur'an: Building Bridges in Muslim Evangelism, Surah 8:60–65, p 112

a. The Works of the Flesh (Verses 19–21)
The Message of Galatians, Ga 5:19–21, p 147

The Bible, a God-Given Book: Verses 53–54
A Christian Guide to the Qur'an: Building Bridges in Muslim Evangelism, Surah 40:53–54, p 258

What the Bible Says
Themelios: Volume 29, No. 2, Spring 2004, p 16

The Bible Says the Gospel Is Versatile
The Gospel-Driven Church: Uniting Church Growth Dreams with the Metrics of Grace, p 84

Fall of Man: Verses 19–25
A Christian Guide to the Qur'an: Building Bridges in Muslim Evangelism, Surah 7:19–25, p 97

(3) Origen on Verses 16–17
Romans: Interpreted by Early Christian Commentators, Ro 4:13–17, p 96

Corruption of the Bible: Verses 46–47
A Christian Guide to the Qur'an: Building Bridges in Muslim Evangelism, Surah 4:46–47, p 61

Tree of Eternity: Verses 120–122
A Christian Guide to the Qur'an: Building Bridges in Muslim Evangelism, Surah 20:120–122, p 180

Use Copy Bible Verses
Logos Bible Software Training Manual, Volume 2, p 45

Corruption of the Bible: Verses 13–14
A Christian Guide to the Qur'an: Building Bridges in Muslim Evangelism, Surah 5:13–14, p 71

Abraham: Verses 83–113
A Christian Guide to the Qur'an: Building Bridges in Muslim Evangelism, Surah 37:83–113, p 243

Be Sure You Know What The Text Says
When Skeptics Ask: A Handbook on Christian Evidences, p 164

Memorize Bible Verses
Bible Study Made Easy, p 13

Query: Wrath of God applied to believers

Returns 12 Locked (unowned) resources of the first 20 provided, the rest of the initial generated list fares no better. I have a decent Library of 7,400+ resources at significant expense and I get 60% unowned resources in a Smart Search??

If I query my Library with ("Wrath of God" OR "God's Wrath") NEAR believers , I yield:

Your Books 583 results in 249 articles in 186 resources

If a Smart Search is returning 60% unowned resources while missing the plethora of information in my owned library as indicated in this simple query, there is something wrong. Granted, my query is not answered, and I have to research for it, but it's better than me being force fed an answer which researching the provided resources is problematic.

BTW, when will the Smart Search provide arguments and references to all (or at least most) orthodox positions rather than dogmatically stating only one in the Synopsis? Especially given the variance in belief among the Baptized Faithful in Christ, this feature or capability seems absent. If I run my query, I will encounter the various beliefs in there differences, contradictions, and supports.

Pax Christi in regno Christi

Smart Search Strike out big time:

Reading Isaiah, during Advent, I run into Isa 1:15: And when you stretch forth your hands, I will turn away my eyes from you: and when you multiply prayer, I will not hear: for your hands are full of blood.

So I query Smart Search Synopsis

Q: List the bible verses where God says that He will not hear someone's prayer

A.I. answer: According to the provided articles, there are no specific Bible verses mentioned where God explicitly states that He will not hear someone's prayer. In fact, one of the articles emphasizes that God hears prayers, citing 1 John 5:14-15 which states that if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us[1]. Another article mentions Psalm 4:3, asserting that "God hears every prayer"[2]. The articles generally focus on the importance of prayer, God's willingness to listen, and the need for perseverance in prayer[3]. It's worth noting that the provided information does not directly address the user's query about instances where God says He will not hear prayers. [1] Dabbs, M., “He Hears”, Moment with God: A Devotional on Every Biblical Book (ed. J. D. Barry – R. Van Noord) (Bellingham, WA 2014). [2] Veerman, D., Bible Study Youth (Bellingham, WA 2024). [3] Boulding, M. with Saint Augustine, Expositions of the Psalms 51–72 (ed. J. E. Rotelle) (The Works of Saint Augustine: A Translation for the 21st Century; Hyde Park, NY 2001) XVII, 306.

WRONG ANSWER, NO GO at this Station.

From The New Treasury of Scriptural Knowledge, NTSK: at Isa 1:15 Is *59:2. Ps +66:18. Pr 1:28. Mi 3:4. Jn +*9:31(Also elsewhere in NTSK Psalm 18:41; Job 27:9, 35:12; Proverbs 28:9; Zechariah 7:13)

That’s eleven (11) verses relating to God NOT hearing prayer.
When Smart Search gets it wrong, it is not only a wasted of credit(s), but its a waste of time and potentially deleterious disinformation.

Pax Christi in regno Christi

BTW, in continuance of preceding post, 

Smart Search Strike out big time,

@Top8305 Just an observation, but I've noticed not all of your searches are AI, they are Precise searches. Check the top right before you hit enter to make sure the AI sparkle icon is showing.

You may try rewording some of you AI searches also. Granted I've found AI doesn't do as well with natural language Bible searches as it does in other books

@Top8305

BTW, in continuance of preceding post, Smart Search Strike out big time,

A_I results [List the bible verses where God says that he will not hear someone's prayer]

Why isn't printing supported in this Function/Feature?

In examining the resources cited and posted in this query, there were absurd, completely non-sequitur references, such as (see attachment for some detail). The A.I. totally missed the relevant resources of over 100 Commentary articles, 5 Study Bibles and 5 Bible Cross references from the NTSK:

I note the continuance with 4-5 duplicated posts on this AI query. I will state only that AI is nuanced to its sources in combination with your query. I got a more balanced Synopsis from a Book Search with "where does God say that He will not listen to prayer" and it understands that "does God say that He will not listen to prayer" is different.

In general, I am prepared to rephrase Queries for a better result. In your case ("list") it is clear that a Precise search is better. Other users find that AI is better for their queries.

@Top8305

Query: Wrath of God applied to believers

Returns 12 Locked (unowned) resources of the first 20 provided, the rest of the initial generated list fares no better. I have a decent Library of 7,400+ resources at significant expense and I get 60% unowned resources in a Smart Search??

…

If a Smart Search is returning 60% unowned resources while missing the plethora of information in my owned library as indicated in this simple query, there is something wrong. Granted, my query is not answered, and I have to research for it, but it's better than me being force fed an answer which researching the provided resources is problematic.

60% unowned does not indicate something is wrong as I got a similar result with 3200 in my library. The Logos catalog is much bigger, and any emphasis would come from judging which resources provide a better answer to your query. The common Synopsis from Books/ALL is "The concept of God's wrath as applied to believers is a complex theological topic". You need to state how your query was not answered in that your were "force fed an answer". Your Precise Search provides a dumb summary without regard to the context i.e. was it part of a discussion?

Don't get me wrong, here. AI has its faults as when relegating a good answer from Books Search to the lower regions of an ALL Search.

BTW, when will the Smart Search provide arguments and references to all (or at least most) orthodox positions rather than dogmatically stating only one in the Synopsis? Especially given the variance in belief among the Baptized Faithful in Christ, this feature or capability seems absent. If I run my query, I will encounter the various beliefs in there differences, contradictions, and supports.

If you want a nuanced result then feed it appropriate books from your Library or attempt to limit the answer to specific beliefs. I have known it to quote specific positions, but that came directly from the source text.

AI Search can be improved in the selection of resources to find it's answer. It often uses resources of little scientific value, while I have lots of better resources. E.g.:

LOGOS AI Search, Books, collection Commentaries:OT "what do commentaries write about dwelling in Gods house in Psalm 84:4?"

The only references are to J.N. Darby and John Wesley, very outdated resources. Not very relevant. I don't understand this selection of resources.

Double-click a word goes to directly by default to an A.I. Smart Search, eating credit like Pac-Man. How does one configure to a plain precise Search, please? Shouldn't a precise search be the default rather than a Smart Search (which should be chosen, given the credit-draw)?

Thanks and Merry Christmas

What do you have in program settings for double click? I have lookup so your problem doesn't occur for me. I should have your problem on a triple click but I can't convince it I'm trying to triple click.

So … I tried this, and found it seriously wanting in multiple ways. The results include "the most common view" (as I would expect from an AI based tool), and not anything that's outside the mainstream.

I would really prefer Logos put time and effort into making the basic product better than on things that really promote conformity. For instance, a simple way to export search results into a spreadsheet or set of links into the resources so I can see what I've already looked at, what I haven't, etc., would be really helpful.

Can we bring back the ability to directly link to a resource in the program instead of being forced to go through an advertising page on ref.ly as well?

Agreed … stop putting AI first … not all of us are pastors looking for short cuts to write a sermon based on information pre-digested by AI.

Query: new testament verses saying to place the other as more important than self

The answer should include Philippians 2:3 at least.

This draws from the book specifically in your library; here's the response I got:

The All search gave a slightly more thorough response, though it still draws primarily on this one source I own:

Apparently it's not drawing answers from the Bible itself.

EDIT: Oops, I see I did not copy your query precisely; I put "others" rather than "the other." When I used the latter, I got results closer to yours:

I wouldn't think that such a small difference should affect the results so much.

”EDIT: Oops, I see I did not copy your query precisely; I put "others" rather than "the other." When I used the latter, I got results closer to yours:”

Sometimes the way we ask the question makes a world of difference. The same is true in real life situations. Here, it probably affects the syntax of the search when using “others” vs “the other.” It appears to be looking for the same thing in terms of content, but the word choice is causing it to search it differently based on the syntax thus looking at different resources to fit the way the question is worded.

This is a search, not a chatbot. It is also a search in resources, not the Bible. It is looking for what we ask it from a selected library. The way we ask may get different results. Is it perfect, no. Does it miss out? Yes. Is it a waste, no…it did what we asked just not what we necessarily intended.

I agree, I’ve asked questions and got bad information. In that case, I change how I ask (rewording the question) or change how I search (smart vs precise). We have to remember it is a tool that has a set of perimeters it works in. Sometimes we forget that and expect it to do exactly what we want when we want it. Also, the way it is designed at the moment has limitations and we must know those limits, which I think we are trying to figure out.

The result to the query when posed in the ALL section (all Verbum books) sucked as well, failing to provide the verse answer directly addressing the query sense.

Poor performance, when the query specifically requested NT Bible verses?

instead of this pay-to-waste-time for inaccurate results, I could enter into a web browser the query and one of the first results will be: https://www.openbible.info/topics/treat_others_as_more_important_than_yourself

And the answer is right there, First Time GO.

We're working on a Smart Bible Search feature to solve this problem; here's a sneak peek of what it will look like:

And here's how Smart Bible Search would treat List the bible verses where God says that He will not hear someone's prayer.

Of the verses @Top8305 was looking for, it returned all of them except Proverbs 1:28 and Job 35:12, and includes many more that NTSK omits.

We've still got some work to do before this feature is ready for beta testing, but I'm excited by its potential.

I'll admit that this has the potential to be a very valuable addition to the Smart Search Feature!

This is what I'm looking for!

This poses an interesting question. Are the results from resources that are not among our "preferred" resources as valid as the ones from "our" preferred resources? Do they have adequate context, so we know they reliably address the search from our God-honoring, Biblical point of view?

What we are speaking about here is religious bias (Roman Catholic, Lutheran, Methodist, Congregational, etc.)

In other words, can we trust Logos, now and in the future, to provide Biblical non-biased results in these AI searches?

Hi @David Benjamin - and welcome to the forums

Are the results from resources that are not among our "preferred" resources as valid as the ones from "our" preferred resources?

Valid is probably a judgment call as some people will have different preferred resources, and views on validity, to others.

To restrict the scope of searches to a particular set of books - "preferred resources" - we can do a Smart Books Search. Doing this will ensure that only results from those resources will be presented.

In other words, can we trust Logos, now and in the future, to provide Biblical non-biased results in these AI searches?

It's a wide question but, in general, I think the answer is no - and this isn't a comment about the quality or reliability of the software. But because these searches are being conducted against a set (narrow or wide) of resources which will contain a range of points of view and will, nearly always if not always, reflect some degree of bias.

(My comments here don't extend to the Biblical Smart Search that Bradley and Mark outline above as I don't have details on how that works)

Graham

You can't trust anyone, at least not 100%, to provide biblical, non-biased results for any query.

In Smart Search, Logos calculates a relevancy score for each search result and displays the results in order. That relevancy score is almost entirely free from theological bias. It's simply looking at whether the article answers the question. It does not attempt to determine whether the article answers the question "correctly." It does not know, for example, that the user is a reformed baptist, and would prefer results from authors who share that view. If that's what you want, you'll need to create a collection of reformed baptist writings, and re-run the search in that collection.

Smart Synopsis also tries really hard to reflect the theology of the articles that it finds rather than inject any theological bias into the synopsis. That does not mean that Smart Synopsis isn't biased, but it should mean that it shares the same biases as the books it found in your library.

@Mark Barnes

 That does not mean that Smart Synopsis isn't biased, but it should mean that it shares the same biases as the books it found in your library.

Unfortunately, given my library precedes Verbum and that buying packages outside one's tradition is often cheaper than paying for individual resources, and that I often pick up as free volumes things I would not otherwise touch, the biases of the books in my library are NOT representative of my biases. Some I have gone so far as to tag as "trash" before hiding them.

A little change of words, led to a much more accurate answer. See examples below.

First smart search (with moderate results): is there a connection between "saying grace at meals" and 1 Korinth 10:31

Second smart search (with good results): is there a connection between "grace at meals" and 1 Cor. 10:31

• Now I used the exact headword "Grace at meals" as found in dictionaries. I think this makes a real difference for AI.
• Maybe it is better to never use ""unless an exact match should be found

Greetings,

Johan Barth

Example 1 (with moderate results)

LOGOS Smart Search Books 2025-01-07: is there a connection between "saying grace at meals" and 1 Korinth 10:31

The connection between "saying grace at meals" and 1 Corinthians 10:31 can be inferred from the articles provided, although not explicitly stated. One of the articles mentions that in certain religious practices, it is customary to say grace before and after meals, praising God as the provider of food[1]. This act of thanksgiving aligns with the broader concept of glorifying God in all aspects of life, including eating, which is the essence of 1 Corinthians 10:31. Another article discusses the practice of "saying grace after meals" as an expression of gratitude for God's gifts[2]. The Catechism of the Roman Catholic Church also emphasizes the importance of asking God for daily bread and giving thanks, particularly in the context of Christian families saying grace at meals[3]. These practices reflect the spirit of glorifying God in daily activities, including eating, which resonates with the principle expressed in 1 Corinthians 10:31, although the specific verse is not directly referenced in the provided articles.

[1] Josephus, F., & Whiston, W. (1987). The works of Josephus: complete and unabridged (p. 605). Hendrickson.

[2] Kurth, G. (1907–1913). Actual Grace. In C. G. Herbermann, E. A. Pace, C. B. Pallen, T. J. Shahan, & J. J. Wynne (Eds.), The Catholic Encyclopedia: An International Work of Reference on the Constitution, Doctrine, Discipline, and History of the Catholic Church: Vols. I–XV. The Encyclopedia Press; The Universal Knowledge Foundation.

[3] Catholic Church. (1997). Catechism of the Catholic Church (2nd Ed., p. 680). Libreria Editrice Vaticana.

-> m.a.w. LOGOS Smart Search ziet wel een verband, maar vindt geen artikelen die dit verband expliciet leggen. Hij mist dus o.a. de directe referenties in de artikelen uit NUBD en CathDict. Leest hij de afkortingen niet goed?

Example 2 (with good and accurate results!)

LOGOS Smart Search Books 2025-01-07: is there a connection between "grace at meals" and 1 Cor. 10:31

There is indeed a connection between "grace at meals" and 1 Corinthians 10:31. This verse, which advises believers to do all things, including eating and drinking, to the glory of God, is often cited as a scriptural basis for the practice of saying grace[1][2][3][4]. The custom of praying before and after meals has been observed since early Christian times, with Church Fathers like Clement of Alexandria and Tertullian mentioning it in their writings[1][2]. The practice involves giving thanks to God for the food provided and asking for His blessing[4][5]. This aligns with the example set by Jesus, who is recorded in the Gospels as blessing food before eating[3][4][5]. The term "grace" in this context represents both thanks (gratiae) and blessing (benedictio)[3]. Over time, various formulas for grace at meals developed, with some early examples preserved in ancient Christian texts[1][3].

[1] Leclercq, H. (1907–1913). Grace at Meals. In C. G. Herbermann, E. A. Pace, C. B. Pallen, T. J. Shahan, & J. J. Wynne (Eds.), The Catholic Encyclopedia: An International Work of Reference on the Constitution, Doctrine, Discipline, and History of the Catholic Church: Vols. I–XV. The Encyclopedia Press; The Universal Knowledge Foundation.

[2] McGovern, J. J., ed. (1906). In Catholic Pocket Dictionary and Cyclopedia (p. 101). Extension Press.

[3] Addis, W. E., & Arnold, T. (1887). In A Catholic Dictionary (Sixth Edition, With Additions, p. 386). The Catholic Publication Society Co.

[4] Unger, M. F., Harrison, R. K., Vos, H. F., Barber, C. J., & Unger, M. F. (1988). In The new Unger’s Bible dictionary (Rev. and updated ed.). Moody Press.

[5] M’Clintock, J., & Strong, J. (1891). Grace at Meals. In Cyclopædia of Biblical, Theological, and Ecclesiastical Literature (Vol. 3, p. 963). Harper & Brothers, Publishers.

@C.J. (Johan) Barth A little change of words, led to a much more accurate answer.

Agree.

"Will the rapture occur before the tribulation?" exhibited no bias in the Synopsis from an ALL Search (ignoring the bias of "before") i.e. it is a subject of debate and it mentioned the 3 major interpretations on the issue of the timing. However, when the query was addressed to a book** with a Pretrib bias, the Synopsis was non-committal because the book discussed the different views on the timing of the Rapture and ignored the author's obvious preference for Pretrib e.g. "it best resolves the seeming contradiction".

I got the same response from "Will the rapture occur before the Second Coming?" despite the book stating "the Rapture and the Second Coming cannot be simultaneous".

And one might have expected a more biased result from the ALL Search because Pretrib are more prolific in publishing (defending) their theology.

So there is a weakness with Synopsis. If you ask "When…" it responded with "at any moment"!

**Mark Hitchcock, The End: Everything You’ll Want to Know about the Apocalypse (Carol Stream, IL: Tyndale, 2012), 160.