How much have you spend on Logos?

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/19501#Comment_19501

yeah, I am not sure how wise it is to ask "how many resources" or "how much money was spent" and I admit that I could easily fall into pride or dejection based upon comparison to others. Kind of like how many guys feel at conferences, as they compare attendance, fame, publications, etc.

I value books and see them as an aid, and even that they are used by God in my ministry life. At times they are a crutch, however, or used to salve a weary spirit (nothing like the high of a new purchase, although before Logos it was CBD that was my object of affection . . . and consumerism . . .

I have almost always looked for, and received, good deals, including my entry into Series X when a local retailer mis-priced a box for a good discount--helpful on my then ym budget. I upgraded a few times to silver and gold, also with some discount, and not only have used the books with joy, but also some of the additional add-ins.

Only in the last couple years have I figured out the goldmine of pre-pubs. Can't always get what I want, but I have started paying attention and getting my foot in the door.

Having a significant library on my lap top has paid many dividends for me. And yet some men--friends of mine, far more capable than me, are blazing great trails solely with their traditional library and paper and pen.

Just be content and a good steward with what you have where you are called.

Glad to hear about the food-pantry, and pray for those coffers to be filled soon abundantly.

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/19489#Comment_19489

You know, Jerry, it's truly not actually necessary for any of us to have more than a good version of the Bible in our own language in order to preach the whole counsel of God.

I know what it is like to be in want, and also to have plenty. God has blessed me incredibly in a monetary way over the years, and I embrace the blessings as a gift, and with joy. But if he had not blessed me in this particular way, I would also rejoice, and make do with much less by way of electronic books.

All this & Heaven too?!

God is so good to all of us. Yes, it is really an unbelievable pleasure to have Logos Bible software. I sometimes wonder since I have much more than I really need will I be required to account for more fruit than I am bearing? In centuries past devout Christians accomplished greater things with a lot less in the way of physical props like software.

In the 90's I had a substantial income and a huge home. I now live in a very humble (small) house with meager income. I scrimped & saved for my NICOT/NICNT Pre-Pub but I had to cancel at the last minute because the antique floor furnace gave out.

Even though I would have been thrilled to have NICOT/NICNT today I would have to place it lower on my list of blessings this week. My Navy Corpsman son just returned from Marine boot camp this week and walked through the front door with armloads of fried chicken for the whole family (I still have 10 kids at home to feed.) My aging parents are in town to visit and my brother got married last week. There are lots of good blessings to count.

I look forward to a bunch of nifty Pre-Pubs in the pipeline, Lord willing. In the meantime I will try and make good use of whatever time, energy & Logos God does allow me to enjoy.

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/19522#Comment_19522

What a recounting of blessing, Matthew! Thank you for that window into your life.

Paul Golder

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/19489#Comment_19489

You know, Jerry, it's truly not actually necessary for any of us to have more than a good version of the Bible in our own language in order to preach the whole counsel of God.

Wilbert Webster White (father of the inductive Bible study method, and founder of the Biblical Seminary in NY) was quoted as saying: "All one needs is a fateful English version of the Bible and a good dictionary, and he will be equipped for every work in Christ Jesus."

Milford Charles Murray

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/19539#Comment_19539

You know, Jerry, it's truly not actually necessary for any of us to have more than a good version of the Bible in our own language in order to preach the whole counsel of God.

Wilbert Webster White (father of the inductive Bible study method, and founder of the Biblical Seminary in NY) was quoted as saying: "All one needs is a fateful English version of the Bible and a good dictionary, and he will be equipped for every work in Christ Jesus."

Peace to you, Paul!

"fateful" ????

....... Mel

Wes Saad

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/19659#Comment_19659

A missionary friend recently told me that when asked how much he earned as a missionary his response was, "Sufficient!"

How much have I spent on Logos? Sufficient.

Paul Golder

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/19659#Comment_19659

Peace to you, Paul!

"fateful" ????

....... Mel

What I need is a spell checker that knows what I meant to type...[:$]

Debra W Bouey

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/19666#Comment_19666

A missionary friend recently told me that when asked how much he earned as a missionary his response was, "Sufficient!"

How much have I spent on Logos? Sufficient.

[Y] This one!

Jacob Hantla

I have spent quite a bit, but I have benefited quite a bit, as has my church. I can think in nothing better to invest in than knowing God more through his Word.

Jerry Bush

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/19718#Comment_19718

Keep in mind that I read and then replied to the original post it was less than an hour after watching dozens of families wait in the rain for a box of food. I am sure that colored my response!

I am truly happy for those that are blessed with either the personal finances or a book budget in order to expand their Logos library. If I came off envious, I did not mean to because I don't feel that way. I love Logos, and am thankful for what it does for me, and I have the t-shirt to prove it! ;-)

I look at my library and sometimes think. "How much is too much?" I don't even mean that from a financial standpoint; but rather how much can I really use? In fact, I have been asking for a few years now for a way to delete (not just hide) resources in an easy way. I know you can do it now, but the important word is "easy." Perhaps in the next version, Logos?

I don't need the Woman's Study Bible, but there it sits, taking up space and being searched. I don't speak Spanish, but I have a Spanish Bible for some reason. I want them to go away. But I digress...

When it comes down to it, I use about 3-4 English bibles including the ESV Reverse Interlinear (what a revolution for me), about 6 commentaries, the basic original language tools, and a few other things. I take my study seriously, but there is a point to where I become overwhelmed with information.

A similar situation is the internet; people send me very useful links all the time, but I don't have time to sift through them all or I would be on the internet all day. So I take my favorite 10 and use them as long as they are still helpful. I can't be reading 25 blogs per day, regardless of how clever they might be. There are people standing in the rain needing food, and I don't even do that very often - maybe once per month. There is a church to run, people to visit, a family to lead, and the list goes on.

Sorry for all the rambling, but I guess when I saw $17K, it sort of took me back. There is absolutely nothing wrong with spending any amount of money on resources, even far more than that amount. But really, how much can one person use and keep up with?

Blessings to all of you in all size churches; Pastors, Sunday School teachers, small group leaders, etc. Blessings to you with 6K resources or the smallest Logos package available. Blessings to you whether you study with a computer or paper and pen (or both, like me). Keep preaching and teaching the Word of God, and may He bless you for it.

Jerry

Donovan R. Palmer

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/19730#Comment_19730

When it comes down to it, I use about 3-4 English bibles including the ESV Reverse Interlinear (what a revolution for me), about 6 commentaries, the basic original language tools, and a few other things. I take my study seriously, but there is a point to where I become overwhelmed with information.

This is a real issue that I have been thinking about... information overload. We have access to more information than ever through the computing age, yet I don't think we have fully come to grips with it.

The danger is that this dynamic begins spills over into Bible software. If one is not careful, you can think that if I just get a huge library of a 1,000 resources, it will make me a better studier of the Word.You run a report on a verse and get 30 to 40 hits on various resources, but in the midst of it get lost and side tracked. Or worse, nuggets of information or resources just get buried.

Sometimes less is more. It would be better to have a couple dozen resources that you really know how to use and digest, than 1,000s that you don't.

As we are looking to the next generation of Logos software, I really hope the brilliance of the design is the ability to manage the awesome mountain of resources that we now have. Otherwise, things will get buried or under utilized as libraries continue to grow.

Ronald Quick

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/19731#Comment_19731

I try not to think about how much I have spent.

Jack Caviness

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/19758#Comment_19758

I try not to think about how much I have spent.

I can identify with that sentiment [:$]

Jack

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/19730#Comment_19730

Blessings to all of you in all size churches; Pastors, Sunday School teachers, small group leaders, etc. Blessings to you with 6K resources or the smallest Logos package available. Blessings to you whether you study with a computer or paper and pen (or both, like me). Keep preaching and teaching the Word of God, and may He bless you for it.

Jerry

Jerry, overall I was blessed by your response. thanks!

Wilson Hines

Over the years, since 1993'sh, I would have to estimate in the range of $15k. Really, all things considered (like since 1993) that isn't that bad. I guess the thing that is astounding about it for most would be the fact that I am not in the ministry. I just attended Bible college, got my Greek classes and went into business. It was a mistake, but that is what happened.

I just spent $750 last month! Good grief, will it even ever end?

BTW, I started with the basic Logos 1.x 3.5" disk for the KJV, and the Original Lang pack (purchased a few weeks later).

I think what keeps me buying is two fold: Maybe one day I will go to Seminary and will need the tools and finally, maybe there will be a church one day that needs a Sunday School teacher. All the ones I have been to don't need anybody, ever. But, I just have attended three, so my scope is kind of narrow.

Jacob Hantla

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/19995#Comment_19995

I think what keeps me buying is two fold: Maybe one day I will go to Seminary and will need the tools and finally, maybe there will be a church one day that needs a Sunday School teacher. All the ones I have been to don't need anybody, ever. But, I just have attended three, so my scope is kind of narrow.

And in the meantime, you're able to do exactly what you would be doing if your #1 priority would be if you were in seminary or teaching: Feeding your own soul with the Word of God, and utilizing the rich assortment of tools available to help you accomplish that primary goal. We come to the Word of God to get the God of the Word...When pastors don't do that the effect is obvious. But business men need to be about the exact same thing; the necessity of spending time in the Word may not be as immediately evident for a business man, but the need is no less great. As a pastor, who works for a living in the medical field, I praise God for your endurance and for your priorities.

Donovan R. Palmer

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/19758#Comment_19758

I try not to think about how much I have spent.

I try to not let my wife think about how much I have spent! [:O]

Wilson Hines

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/20065#Comment_20065

Jacob, you want to know my greatest fear? It is becoming like the Dead Sea. Water goes INTO the Dead Sea and not OUT of the Dead Sea. Thus, it becomes stale and what it has become. Sometimes, I already feel like so.

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/20379#Comment_20379

wow, i got an email notification of a post by Liow Hsiang, which was quite interesting--he chose not to get NIC for stewardship reasons--but the post does not appear here. Maybe he deleted it. I hope no one else did.

Dewayne Davis

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/19731#Comment_19731

When it comes down to it, I use about 3-4 English bibles including the ESV Reverse Interlinear (what a revolution for me), about 6 commentaries, the basic original language tools, and a few other things. I take my study seriously, but there is a point to where I become overwhelmed with information.

This is a real issue that I have been thinking about... information overload. We have access to more information than ever through the computing age, yet I don't think we have fully come to grips with it.

The danger is that this dynamic begins spills over into Bible software. If one is not careful, you can think that if I just get a huge library of a 1,000 resources, it will make me a better studier of the Word.You run a report on a verse and get 30 to 40 hits on various resources, but in the midst of it get lost and side tracked. Or worse, nuggets of information or resources just get buried.

Sometimes less is more. It would be better to have a couple dozen resources that you really know how to use and digest, than 1,000s that you don't.

As we are looking to the next generation of Logos software, I really hope the brilliance of the design is the ability to manage the awesome mountain of resources that we now have. Otherwise, things will get buried or under utilized as libraries continue to grow.

Donovan, you hit the nail on the head. I found myself in that place more than once. I had the attitude that the more resources the better. I am one that has spent literally thousands, maybe more than ten thousand on Logos resources. I always felt that I had to have everything or I would miss something. It became so strong in me that I even found myself using someone's illegally shared license a couple years ago. I had this driving force in me to see what I was missing. But it cost me my reputation and much of my own investment. I hope that everyone here is aware that even in the Bible software world, we are susceptible to the lust for more. I know that this was not the motivation of this thread, but still felt motivated to post this response.

Genghis

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/19488#Comment_19488

Really - how many resources do you need to preach the Word?

Hi Jerry

Well the more I have studied the bible the more I've realized how much I have to read widely to get a better understanding of the material that is there. It isn't a trivial exercise to understand the social, historic, and cultural context of each passage. For example, who would have known that the having a "good eye" (as opposed to having an "evil eye") is Hebraic idiom for having a generous disposition? Or that "binding and loosing" is the authority required to make common law rulings needed for applying the Mosaic commandments? Or that to "destroy the law" means to incorrectly interpret the scripture and to "fulfill" it means to correctly interpret it? These are all Hebraic idioms that can't be known without wide reading. Logos is useful because it makes a wide set of resources quickly accessible.

I would venture to say that the issue of whether or not people have sufficient funds to feed themselves is more to do with whether or not people have an "evil eye" than with overspending on bible software programs. It is a commandment to give to the poor, and to look after the needy. Who will soften their hearts to give in such a time as this?

Tony

Genghis

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/20065#Comment_20065

But business men need to be about the exact same thing; the necessity of spending time in the Word may not be as immediately evident for a business man, but the need is no less great.

I couldn't agree more. Whether you are a professional pastor or a businessman or professional sportsperson, all are part of the Royal Priesthood called to minister to Mankind through teaching God's ways, interceding on its behalf and presenting the Gospel. As all are Priests, all have a duty to study the bible to the best of one's ability. In fact, an argument could be made that anyone who isn't a professional minister/pastor/clergyperson is just a tentmaker in the mold of Paul (whether they know it or not).

Tom Geswein

In response to the original question, I have spent $1758.89 since I first purchased Logos in 2005 (for a total of 924 resources). Oddly enough, I only have the Bible Sudy edition and have made numerous purchases without ever upgrading to Scholar's. The two library builder packages were great purchases. I hope to make the jump to Scholar's edition at some point when the $$$ is available. Even thought $1700 seems like a lot of money, making smaller purchases here and there over time doesn't seem like that big of a deal until I started adding things up...

spitzerpl

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/20664#Comment_20664

Is it a bad thing if my response is "more then my wife knows about?"

TCBlack

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/20666#Comment_20666

Is it a bad thing if my response is "more then my wife knows about?"

Only if she reads the forums. Oh, hello there Mrs. Spitzer! [:O]

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/19771#Comment_19771

i guess i will continue with this alternating "justification" and "hand-wringing" over how much we spend. I DO justify spending on set or books that I may not use now because they are fundamental or foundational works--and I want to build a digital library at the best price for those works., even if I may not use them for a year or two.

But I must note, I have benefited by putting books in collections, searching those collections, and finding nuggets, that in some ways ARE worth it, even if it cost me $100 for that nugget. Obviously I still have spending limitations, so I guess some nuggets will remain for others to mine.

Now, if I just "add add add" and never use, it is a waste of money.

I wonder how digital libraries, online, will affect my need for Logos books in the future . . .

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/19488#Comment_19488

Really - how many resources do you need to preach the Word?

I would say: NA27
                   BHS 4.2
                   BDAG
                   HALOT
                   BDB
                   Robertson: A Hitorical Grammar...
                   Gesenius (or Joüon-Muraoka) A Grammar of Biblical Hebrew
                   Perhaps an English bible or two
                   A good set of commentaries would be nice

Other than that, nothing is really necessary.

TCBlack

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/20721#Comment_20721

I can see it now. Choose between Home Bible study, pastoral collection, scholars collections or... the Somsel collection.

Ted Hans

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/20723#Comment_20723

I can see it now. Choose between Home Bible study, pastoral collection, scholars collections or... the Somsel collection.

I like that Thomas. Good idea, it brought a smile to my face - the Somsel collection.[Y]

Ted.

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/20702#Comment_20702

I wonder how digital libraries, online, will affect my need for Logos books in the future . . .

Daniel,

It is not beyond my imagiation to see a day whe you pay an annual subscription fee to access "everything" (or at least a certain level of content.) I do not know how to transition everyone from private ownership mentality to corporate usage mentality, . Americans in particular like to OWN stuff they use. Other societies, from historic Native American to Japanese to Eastern/Soviet Bloc, have no problem understanding we actually don't own anything, we are just stewards of what we have. There may be a dual model system in coming decades.

Of coure, My bumper sticker reads "You can take my Logos software when you pry it from my cold dead computer" [co]

(for my friends across the pond: In America gun owners frequently have a similar bumper sticker about not giving up their guns.)

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/20721#Comment_20721

Really - how many resources do you need to preach the Word?

I would say: NA27
                   BHS 4.2
                   BDAG
                   HALOT
                   BDB
                   Robertson: A Hitorical Grammar...
                   Gesenius (or Joüon-Muraoka) A Grammar of Biblical Hebrew
                   Perhaps an English bible or two
                   A good set of commentaries would be nice

Other than that, nothing is really necessary.

Ha, I was waiting for you George to comment that forum. It works like a Swiss watch [:)] I like your list by the way, but somehow you forgot to include the Reverse Interlinears. Was it intentional? [H]

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/20721#Comment_20721

Perhaps an English bible or two

What would be your recommendation for a good English Translation George? What would be your Top 2 - 3 translations? What is your opinion about the NET Bible?

Ted Hans

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/20746#Comment_20746

Perhaps an English bible or two

What would be your recommendation for a good English Translation George? What would be your Top 2 - 3 translations? What is your opinion about the NET Bible?

NRSV would be one just leaves two more for George to answer. I will be surprise if the NRSV does not make it into his top three.

Ted.

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/20760#Comment_20760

NRSV would be one just leaves two more for George to answer. I will be surprise if the NRSV does not make it into his top three.

Ted.

Yes, that's what I would think also that would be George's choice. Thank you Ted for your input into the list. I appreciate that.

Ted Hans

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/20721#Comment_20721

Really - how many resources do you need to preach the Word?

I would say: NA27
                   BHS 4.2
                   BDAG
                   HALOT
                   BDB
                   Robertson: A Hitorical Grammar...
                   Gesenius (or Joüon-Muraoka) A Grammar of Biblical Hebrew
                   Perhaps an English bible or two
                   A good set of commentaries would be nice

Other than that, nothing is really necessary.

A good set of commentaries would be nice

My prediction, you mean the Anchor yale Bible.[:D]

Ted.

Matt W

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/20760#Comment_20760

So far I've spent about 2k. Justifiable considering that I have cut back on entertainment. It's amazing how easy it is to subscribe to entertainment services - CableTV, Tivo, Netflix, Cell phone data plans, etc., that in a period of several years, can easily tally far more than what people spend on building a theological library.

Matt.

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/20746#Comment_20746

Perhaps an English bible or two

What would be your recommendation for a good English Translation George? What would be your Top 2 - 3 translations? What is your opinion about the NET Bible?

If recall correctly, George defended The Message pretty vigorously. [6] Would that be one of the rcommended English Bibles?

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/19995#Comment_19995

Over the years, since 1993'sh, I would have to estimate in the range of $15k. Really, all things considered (like since 1993) that isn't that bad. I guess the thing that is astounding about it for most would be the fact that I am not in the ministry. I just attended Bible college, got my Greek classes and went into business. It was a mistake, but that is what happened.

I just spent $750 last month! Good grief, will it even ever end?

BTW, I started with the basic Logos 1.x 3.5" disk for the KJV, and the Original Lang pack (purchased a few weeks later).

I think what keeps me buying is two fold: Maybe one day I will go to Seminary and will need the tools and finally, maybe there will be a church one day that needs a Sunday School teacher. All the ones I have been to don't need anybody, ever. But, I just have attended three, so my scope is kind of narrow.

I stopped counting at $5000.00. This is getting scary.

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/20774#Comment_20774

Perhaps an English bible or two

What would be your recommendation for a good English Translation George? What would be your Top 2 - 3 translations? What is your opinion about the NET Bible?

If recall correctly, George defended The Message pretty vigorously. Would that be one of the rcommended English Bibles?

I would recommend the RSV, NRSV, JPS Tanak (maybe the ESV in a pinch). Whether The Message would be included depends on your purpose in using it. It would speak to many where others would not. It is not and has never been my favorite translation (or even one which I used regularly since I don't have it). I simply think the man has been frightfully maligned.

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/20723#Comment_20723

I can see it now. Choose between Home Bible study, pastoral collection, scholars collections or... the Somsel collection.

You don't indicate what you consider the "Somsel collection" to contain. I can assure you that it isn't one of the larger collections. I attempt to avoid almost anything I would consider to be "fluff" though even so I get a fair amount of that. Unfortunately I don't care to delete any resource I consider to have been purchased even though included with other resources. This naturally includes all of the interlinears other than Tov's Parallel Aligned Hebrew-Aramaic and Greek Texts of the Jewish Scripture which I find useful for determining which Greek words are used to translate which Hebrew/Aramaic words. About the only use I find for the interlinears is to see why another user is having a problem with them. So, if anyone supposes that the "Somsel collection" is extensive, let me disabuse you of the thought.

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/20780#Comment_20780

WARNING! This post is Off-Topic ( like many )

Whether The Message would be included depends on your purpose in using it. It would speak to many where others would not.

I just thought of a possible use for The Message. If we can get The Gideons organization to distribute Bibles in secular restaurants, bars & night clubs, The Message would probably be the version to offer. [B] [D] [<:o)]

I do believe I finally saw a Gideon Bible in a hotel that was a version other than King James. I can't remember which it was though.

[fwiw: I'm not against colorful versions. I do have the Rainbow Bible on computer but it is the King James version.]

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/20742#Comment_20742

Really - how many resources do you need to preach the Word?

I would say: NA27
                   BHS 4.2
                   BDAG
                   HALOT
                   BDB
                   Robertson: A Hitorical Grammar...
                   Gesenius (or Joüon-Muraoka) A Grammar of Biblical Hebrew
                   Perhaps an English bible or two
                   A good set of commentaries would be nice

Other than that, nothing is really necessary.

Ha, I was waiting for you George to comment that forum. It works like a Swiss watch I like your list by the way, but somehow you forgot to include the Reverse Interlinears. Was it intentional?

Bohuslav,

I'm sure you are fully aware of how much I absolutely LOVE interlinears (reverse or not) so I'm assuming this is tongue in cheek. Who let the snake into the garden?

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/20792#Comment_20792

I'm sure you are fully aware of how much I absolutely LOVE interlinears (reverse or not) so I'm assuming this is tongue in cheek. Who let the snake into the garden?

Yes it was [:)] But seriously speaking I really like your clear cut focus on the original languages as far as the Bible understanding is concerned. I like it very much. You caused me even to come back to my Hebrew studies. I love the language and want to get more into it.

To get back to the topic of the forum, I spent much more than I would ever imagine I would do for the non-paper books. Now I think I crossed the line and I can say I invested more into the Logos books than into the paper books. Don't tell that to my wife please [:)]

My problem is, there are so many good things to read and so little time. Sometimes I feel it frustrating. I wish I am still young and can be just student.