There are some ancient texts that are so important to addressing arguments made by unbelievers against Christian faith that to be unknowledgeable in them would make Professional Theologists seem foolish. Dr. Heiser speaks of the LOGOS anthology entitled Context of Scripture (COS) that addresses “canonical compositions” which is the term of creation myths created by different early civilizations [1]. Canonical compositions are reference works of cultures that developed in ways that relied upon story-telling to explain the universe in which they lived. The Babylonian epic of creation is entitled Enuma Elish and the story of the epic flood Atra-hasis. Also included in the Context of Scripture are the epic story of Gilgamesh and the Baal cycle of Ugarit. All of these myths have some similarities to the accounts of creation and the flood and other Genesis records of actual happenings. These similarities have led some non-believers to declare Scripture, especially Genesis, to be merely a myth that corresponds to the known myths of these ancient cultures. If your LOGOS does not have the Context of Scripture integrated within your library, buy it now; it’s that important to your understanding of myth attacks against the Word of God that you are expected by Him to defend.
Dr. Heiser also introduces some LOGOS training to help find texts within the large software program. But, his teaching is merely the tip of possibilities made available to students with this powerful software.
One of the handiest tools available in LOGOS is the ability to form collections. Collections is a list with links of writings that go together. One way LOGOS users accomplish this is to just combine books together under a certain topic that are automatically linked together and displayed within the collections portion of LOGOS.
That technique is great as long as your library does not grow. But, as you have already probably learned, once you begin purchasing books through the LOGOS software, it is difficult to stop. There are too many valuable resources that are always tempting investment; most LOGOS users add books and then more books to their collection as needed.
Becker Professional Theologist Academy requires the use of LOGOS to enter into the Professional Theologist degree program. Throughout our classes we will be giving you tips on how to streamline your collections of books, so that when you add new books, they automatically join the topical list of other like kind books. This collection development requires perfected “formulas” that let the computer software do the work for you.
For instance, one of the important primary texts for the Second Temple Period are the Dead Sea Scrolls. Go to Tools/Library/Collections. Place the title “Dead Sea Scrolls” then in the block identified with “Start with resources matching:” write the words subject: “Dead Sea” without the underline. That formula tells LOGOS software to display every book in your library that is the subject “Dead Sea.” The biblical scrolls from Qumran are then gathered into the collection with links to each one. Quickly, Professional Theologists have the primary source material to make Second Temple Period studies into excellent scholarship study.
Now if students wish to gather studies based upon the Dead Sea Scrolls but not inclusive of the primary documents, a new collection can be gathered. Title this “Dead Sea Scroll Studies” then fill in the blank for resources matching with: Dead Sea Scrolls ANDNOT dictionary ANDNOT greek without the underline. Notice that the resulting collection is vastly different from the first.
Another important collection for the study of Second Temple Period material can be entitled “Apparatus” with the formula type:apparatus . The Apocrypha, and Pseudepigraph of the Old Testaments, as well as the Apparatus for Greek New Testament translates Greek words into English. Another, “Apostolic Fathers” with resource formula Ante-Nicene, Apostolic Fathers brings up many of the primary source text that formed the early beliefs in the Christian Church. Also, Ancient Texts with formula ancient and literature bring together many great primary texts of literature from the earliest writings of mankind. Collections are made the best tools for Professional Theologists as personalized sets are developed to assist referencing the scholarship material on LOGOS.
Bibliography
Heiser, Michael S. BI101 Lecture Introducing Biblical Interpretation: Contexts and Resources: LOGOS Bible Software.
Links
About the Author
Kathy L. McFarland is President and Founder of Becker Bible Ministries, Inc. and the Becker Professional Theology Academy. She is also a Becker Bible Studies Teacher and author of Guided Bible Studies for Hungry Christians. She has received her Bachelor of Science degree in Religious Studies from Liberty University, is on track for the Master of Divinity (Professional Ministries Track) degree from Liberty Baptist Theological Seminary & Graduate School in 2016 and will be seeking a Doctor of Philosophy Degree in Theology and Apologetics beginning in the fall of 2016. She is the originator of the newest theological movement to encourage Christian leaders to minister within the modern-day marketplace as Professional Theologists. She is also the Curriculum Developer for Becker Professional Theology Academy and a teaching faculty member. Kathy's favorite studies to teach include the connections between Old Testament exegesis, Christian Apologetics, and Bible typology and mysteries.
©2014-2015 Kathy L. McFarland. All Rights Reserved.