I am new, I need some help.

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/823401#Comment_823401

Thanks Steve! I have registered for an academic discount!

Mark Barnes

Hi Keith,

I've written a buyers guide to Logos that covers all your options. I think you'll find it useful: http://www.logosbiblesoftwaretraining.com/documents/logos-6-buyers-guide/

As you'll see from the Guide, most people are best off buying Gold, and then if budget allows adding another base package or bundle. Once you have one base package, subsequent base packages are discounted because you already own some of their contents. A sales rep should be able to work out a price for you if you were thinking about two packages.

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/823403#Comment_823403

Thank you Mark! I will be reading what you have posted. I do see that Gold is the most popular package, I was leaning towards that but wanted to see if others that Platinum or Diamond was worth it to them. Or if they would rather do Logos Cloud.

In Christ, Keith.

JC54

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/823402#Comment_823402

The choice between cloud and a base package is a tricky one. Logos seems to go more and more towards a subscription model. If it appeals to you, give it a try (especially try out the first free month!

If you want a BP, start with Gold, it gives you the full logos experience. Other packages just give you more books, so you should decide if you want those books and how badly.

I am a college student, majoring in Christian Ministries. I do plan on getting a Masters in Divinity afterwards. I was wondering what would be the best option for me?

I owned some Logos software a LONG time ago, but never really used it... Then I bought a Mac and it wasn't an option. I wish there had been a good option for me during my seminary career. I bought my first base package just before I graduated. Researching and writing papers would have been much easier, plus all of my notes and highlights from reading the textbooks would still be available to me.

A word of caution: Not that you would be guilty of this, but Logos makes plagiarism much easier than ever before. It also makes catching plagiarists easier. [;)]

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/823410#Comment_823410

Thanks everybody for the feedback! I am enjoying it. It is very helpful

Keith, I am a pastor who prepares sermons weekly. In my opinion, the most "bang for your buck" that gives you both quality and quantity is to upgrade through the Standard Gold base package. The commentaries you get with the base packages through Gold are excellent - New American, Pillar, and the UBS Handbooks being the best. However, there are four older commentary sets included that are very good - Calvin, Black, Lenski, and Lange. You also get the Baker Encyclopedia of the Bible, several other good single volume dictionaries, and a host of original language tools.

So, I always recommend the standard base packages first - until you get up to Standard Gold. The tradition specific base packages are tricky. I haven't looked at them all, but after comaparing several, I believe the Standard packages provide the best value for an evangelical pastor. After the resources you get in Gold, here are my recommendations that I have found most helpful as a busy pastor and the first things I would advise anyone to buy after Gold...

MacArhtur Study BibleZondervan NIV Study Bible

ISBE

Tyndale Commentaries (OT/NT)

Baker New Testament Commentary

Word Biblical Commentary

Expositor's Bible Commentary

Grudem's Systematic Theology

Erickson's Systematic Theology

The King in His Beauty by Thomas Schreiner (Biblical Theology)

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/823429#Comment_823429

Thanks! So I'm guessing Gold should be what I get then. The standard Gold.

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/823429#Comment_823429

In my opinion, the most "bang for your buck" that gives you both quality and quantity is to upgrade through the Standard Gold base package. The commentaries you get with the base packages through Gold are excellent - New American, Pillar, and the UBS Handbooks being the best. However, there are four older commentary sets included that are very good - Calvin, Black, Lenski, and Lange. You also get the Baker Encyclopedia of the Bible, several other good single volume dictionaries, and a host of original language tools.

Something that I don't think has been mentioned yet...

Base packages are fluid. We don't know, but there is a general consensus in the forums that "L7" will come out in late fall (Oct?). When that happens, new base packages will come out. This means that there is the potential of not getting what you want. If you like the gold package, you should try to get it before then.

As an FYI - when new base packages come out, you can purchase a new one with dynamic pricing. You never lose the resources you purchase (don't worry about that), but resources WILL be taken out of the NEW packages being sold when they are offered.

John Goodman

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/823410#Comment_823410

Logos makes plagiarism much easier than ever before. It also makes catching plagiarists easier.

Alabama24 - did you know that universities all use automated tools to detect plagiarism now. But also students all use the same tools to help make sure they didn't accidentally miss a citation. google turnitin

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/823432#Comment_823432

Alabama, you make a great point here about the fluidity of base packages - they change up every time a new version of Logos comes out. For instance, they are advertising the Pulpit Commentary for free with the purchase of a base package. It was included in most of the base packages until Logos 6 came out. I agree 100% if a person wants what is in a package right now, it's important to go ahead because some items may not be included when Logos 7 comes out (likely this Fall).

Keith, yes, as the packages are currently configured, I would buy base packages up through Gold - and then add specific resources that aren't included in any base packages (see my earlier post). For instance, I noticed you are Baptist. Comparing Standard Gold to Baptist Gold shows that Standard gives you SUPERIOR commentary resources for the money. Baptist Gold has more individual commentaries and resources written by Baptists. Not saying those resources aren't good, but those commentary sets that come in Standard are far more valuable for a pastor/teacher who is in the Word week in and week out.

For those new to Logos, my advice is buy packages through Standard Gold, then make a list of what you want and catch things on sale or when you have extra cash. For a pastor, the biggest deficiencies of the Standard Gold package is the lack of a top shelf Bible Encyclopedia (add the ISBE), the lack of recent systematic theologies (add Grudem & Erickson), and good OT commentaries (add Tyndale and Expositor's). Those are my recommendations for first purchases after Gold.

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/823440#Comment_823440

Thank you all for each of your insights. I guess I am leaning toward getting the Gold standard package and make some additions to that. Does anyone use the Logos Now with their base package? Sorry for all the questions haha

Graham Criddle

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/823444#Comment_823444

Does anyone use the Logos Now with their base package?

I, and many others, use Logos Now in addition to base packages. It is designed to augment base packages by incrementally adding new functionality and datasets and some resources.

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/823446#Comment_823446

Awesome! Thank you for the reply

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/823444#Comment_823444

Thank you all for each of your insights. I guess I am leaning toward getting the Gold standard package and make some additions to that. Does anyone use the Logos Now with their base package? Sorry for all the questions haha

Logos Now is a subscription service provid a number of member benefits. ONE of those benefits is early access to future features. There are many other benefits which you would have to weigh to see if it is worth the money. My thought is that you would be better served (as a college student) putting your money into resources. After the gold package, make sure to look for your textbooks!

Deacon Steve

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/823436#Comment_823436

Logos makes plagiarism much easier than ever before. It also makes catching plagiarists easier.

Alabama24 - did you know that universities all use automated tools to detect plagiarism now. But also students all use the same tools to help make sure they didn't accidentally miss a citation. google turnitin

Yes. We all know that.

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/823436#Comment_823436

Logos makes plagiarism much easier than ever before. It also makes catching plagiarists easier.

Alabama24 - did you know that universities all use automated tools to detect plagiarism now. But also students all use the same tools to help make sure they didn't accidentally miss a citation. google turnitin

I do know that from personal experience grading papers. [:)] The tools are excellent, but don't catch everything. As I was reading a paper last week, I was thinking the student had made very good progress in the term... Until I came across a single word which I thought the student would not have known. I searched Google for the sentence with no luck, but then I searched for a specific phrase... Bingo! The paper had used quite a few sentences from someone's dissertation, but had swapped out words. The result was a paper with the "flavor" of the student's own writing.

As I mentioned earlier I didn't have Logos for my seminary career. When I typed up lists of quotes which <might> be useful for my papers I always put quote marks around them in my note file, along with a short citation so I could get back to the original. I can understand some people reading something so many times they start to "own" it. [:s]

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/823448#Comment_823448

Logos Now is a subscription service provid a number of member benefits. ONE of those benefits is early access to future features. There are many other benefits which you would have to weigh to see if it is worth the money. My thought is that you would be better served (as a college student) putting your money into resources. After the gold package, make sure to look for your textbooks!

Thank you again for your advice! I will definitely will be taking it into account.

Jonathan Watson

Welcome, Keith!

First of all, be sure to download all the free resources you can. If you need help finding them, just check my signature.

Others have said this, but let me add my voice to the chorus: The Logos 6 Standard Gold base package is a great place to start for serious, theological students. Gold includes all the Logos datasets. Additionally, these are the resources that make it worth it:

New International Greek Testament Commentary (599.99 if purchased separately)
Pillar New Testament Commentary (599.99 for the 17 vol. set)
UBS Handbooks (659.99 if purchased separately)
New American Commentary Series (529.99 if purchased separately)

The primary reason for upgrading to Logos 6 Standard Platinum is for BDAG.

Likewise, the primary reason for upgrading to Logos 6 Standard Portfolio is for HALOT.

The Academic Discount Program let's you get both of these for only $248.95. I recommend you get Gold plus the Add-on.

If I can be of any more help, don't hesitate to email me at jonathan@learnwithlogos.com

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/823595#Comment_823595

Thank you for the reply Johnathan, I did end up getting the Platinum package. I do hope to get HALOT sometime within the future!

Dan Francis

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/823720#Comment_823720

I hope you are happy with your Platinum package, two items that are missing from it I think you should serious consider adding in the future are:

New Interpreter’s Bible (12 vols.) This is a commentary that is very good and covers the catholic Bible books too. This has many top contributors from evangelical, catholic and mainstream backgrounds. It makes for a very decent critical commentary with reflections for more devotional/practical advice. It has always amazed me it has never been placed into any base package.

Anchor Yale Bible Dictionary (6 vols.) This is the top Bible dictionary available and it a very valuable resource for your studies. It is older but there is still no better Bible dictionary out there.

-Dan

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/823725#Comment_823725

Thanks for the recommendations Dan! I am enjoying the Platinum package thus far. I am learning as I go.

Justin Gatlin

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/823730#Comment_823730

Thanks for the recommendations Dan! I am enjoying the Platinum package thus far. I am learning as I go.

LearnLogos.com is the best training material out there.

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/823734#Comment_823734

Thanks for the recommendation Justin! I am guessing you have used it to learn?

Justin Gatlin

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/823738#Comment_823738

Thanks for the recommendation Justin! I am guessing you have used it to learn?

Yes, and I loved it. It's $65 for the complete training course (versus $225 for Camp Logos, the video training you can buy on the website) and it goes from the most basic features to some incredibly advanced ones.

Matt Hamrick

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/823738#Comment_823738

I also highly recommend learnlogos.com to get your training products. John covers everything to make you a master at the software.

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/823741#Comment_823741

Justin and Matt I appreciate your feedback on your experience there. Do you get to access it for life? Or is it based on a time expiration use?

Matthew C Jones

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/823742#Comment_823742

Do you get to access it for life? Or is it based on a time expiration use?

For life. I highly recommend it.

Matt Hamrick

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/823742#Comment_823742

Once you buy it you own it for life. If you lose it on your computer you can download it again from the website or send John Fallahee an email and he will send you a link to get the product.

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/823745#Comment_823745

Wow. That sounds pretty awesome! Thanks for the recommendation guys

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/823452#Comment_823452

I ended up getting Learn Logos based on your suggestions. Now the hard part...waiting for all 16gb's to download haha [:O]

Matthew C Jones

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/823919#Comment_823919

waiting for all 16gb's to download haha

You will be happy. Enjoy!

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/823926#Comment_823926

[H][Y]

Robert M. Warren

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/823939#Comment_823939

Keith:

If you can stand one more reply: When you get stuck and the help file doesn't resolve your question, search the forums here. My experience is the built-in search here is inadequate; better to use Google and specify "site:community.logos.com".

Also, when you have web browsing time (ha!) search for "tip of the day". You'll see many posts by frequent contributor MJ Smith. You'll learn something every time.

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/823951#Comment_823951

Awesome! I appreciate the tips and advice Robert! [Y]

Edwin Bowden

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/824048#Comment_824048

I agree with the recommendation of Gold as the best base pkg value for most users.

There are several excellent resources that are highly recommended "add-ons" that are not included in any base package. Some have already been mentioned:

AYBD, NICOT/NT, IVP Dictionary 8 vol set

I don't know if Logos is currently doing it, but in the past, you could add these on at the time of purchase at a special low price. Worth checking into. A salesman can help you through that.

There is a current thread about Most Used Resources that you might want to check out.

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/824053#Comment_824053

Thanks Edwin! I did end up getting the Platinum package, and I am enjoying it a lot thus far

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/824059#Comment_824059

Thanks Edwin! I did end up getting the Platinum package, and I am enjoying it a lot thus far

Just out of curiosity, what made you decide to go up to Platinum rather than buying Gold and spending the difference on specific resources as several of us advocate? Was it particular resources that made you feel Platinum was worth the up front investment? I am not looking for an argument, but just taking another look at the advice I am giving people. Glad you made your decision and hope you get as much out of using Logos as I have. Blessings!

Keith

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/824111#Comment_824111

Hey Greg, mainly due to so some of the commentaries that were in Platinum, along with more jounrnals, some original language studies a big one being BDAG. I personally felt these were worth going for Platinum instead of Gold.

DAL

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/824249#Comment_824249

Hey Greg, mainly due to so some of the commentaries that were in Platinum, along with more jounrnals, some original language studies a big one being BDAG. I personally felt these were worth going for Platinum instead of Gold.

Ditto! Platinum and then add-ons is the way to go 👍

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/824249#Comment_824249

Hey Greg, mainly due to so some of the commentaries that were in Platinum, along with more jounrnals, some original language studies a big one being BDAG. I personally felt these were worth going for Platinum instead of Gold.

I own Platinum personally, so I saw enough value to get it. Will have to rethink my advice. I got up to Gold in Logos 5, bought other resources, and then upgraded to Platinum when Logos 6 came out. Enjoy studying!

Keith

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/824261#Comment_824261

Oh no worries Greg! Thank you for your advice though. I just felt for school purposes, bible study preparation, and sermon preparation I thought Platinum was a great deal and definitely worth the extra $500 for what you get. [Y]

Edwin Bowden

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/824059#Comment_824059

Thanks Edwin! I did end up getting the Platinum package, and I am enjoying it a lot thus far

Platinum is a great pkg. I had Gold and upgraded to Platinum when it first became available. The content has changed a few times since I bought it.

I suggest that you utilize the "wish list" feature in Logos to identify the additional resources that you would like to add in the future. Logos will actually notify you when those go on sale. You can even rate their priority. This is handy in terms of any sale price, great sale price, or has to be an absolute bargain to purchase.

I would start with those titles that have been recommended to you in this thread.

Now that you have a base pkg, you may find interest in supplementing it with other base pkgs. Since there is some overlap between base pkgs, you will be credited for the titles you already have and will say your unique Dynamic Pricing.

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/824841#Comment_824841

Awesome! Thanks for the tips! I did see something about reformed started being like $46 since I had the Platinum standard package 👍🏽