Whole Bible Study Helps

Software | Talmud | Myths and Facts of the Arab-Israeli Conflict | Jewish Encyclopedia

Concept Wizard | Creation Science | The Heart of the New Covenant | Manna

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Software Recommendations for Bible Study from Whole Bible dot com

Click here to see our recommendation for upgrading to the best software of all!  You will need the Macromedia Flash player (click here to get it for free).

If you have a computer, a good way to use it for study is to get one of the Bible software packages.  There a number of good ones but we haven't tried them all.  There are two packages described below that we have tried and we like really well.

The advantages to a software package are that it's cheaper than buying all the hardcover books separately, if you put the package on a laptop it is even more portable than hauling around your library with you, and once the package is installed you can search whatever books were included in your package all at once.  The downside is if there is no electricity there is no study.  Unless you have a squirrel on a wheel that runs a generator.  But after a while he would probably get tired and then where would you be.  Bruce has a Hewlett-Packard laptop in addition to his desktop and he uses the laptop as his Bible at studies and congregational meetings.  Anytime someone is making a point from a commentary or the original languages he can check it out right away.

Some software packages are expensive depending on what you get, but most of them you can buy in pieces as you can afford them.  Even if you just get the basic search program and a couple of books with three or four bibles it is phenomenal what you can do and how much it enriches your study time.   If you can afford it, having the two packages below on a laptop gives new meaning to the Scripture that we should be "instant in season and out of season" or "be always ready to give a defense for the hope that is in you."

Logos

This software company makes a number of different products and they are adding more all the time.  At the time of this writing they are for Windows based computers, not Macintosh (see below for the Mac product we recommend).  For a review of three different software packages click this link:http://www.christianweek.org/stories/vol15/no18/ristau.html

One of the drawbacks of this company's packages is that they are oriented more towards English (it is hard to work in the original languages), and they have mostly a standard Protestant slant.  If you want to use the original languages or consult some references that are other than Protestant (the Talmud for instance), these are not the packages to go with.  However, for the English and for the standard Protestant stuff they are hard to beat.  They have improved the ease of use since they first came out, and usually offer free upgrades (at least so far for me).

Bruce has the Level 4 package, which is pretty expensive at around $500.00.  But they have three levels below that for less money and of course fewer reference book selections.  They also sell individual books, and they have a good selection of other packages, such as a package for helping a person put together a Bible study lesson. 

Their website is www.logos.com and they are always easy to deal with.  I think you can choose to order off the web or have them send the CD's to you.  All my upgrades have come off of the web, so I'm not sure if they do it any other way.  When I purchased I got CD's with all the books but they were locked.  Logos gave me unlock codes for the books I purchased and I just unlocked what I bought.  Customer Service has been first rate, and they have helped me several times when I got a new computer or had to re-format a hard drive.

Accordance

The people who make Accordance call their company Oaktree Software.  Their web site is www.accordancebible.com but you can't order from the web, you have to call a toll-free number.  You can, however, download some things from the site.  Their web site has a description of everything, with pricing.  Their packages are a little hard to understand, but if you call them you can get good help.  They are a smaller company so Tech Support is a little harder to get sometimes, but they are very friendly and knowledgeable.

Accordance is for Macintosh computers only.  If you have a Windows machine and want to run Accordance you must install an emulator.  There are several Mac Emulators (this link is to one called Basilisk II) available for free on the web.  I installed an emulator and after adjusting a couple of easy-to-fix items I was up and running.  If you go with the emulator, however, Oaksoft cannot help with Tech support.

The place to go to for a more in depth review than I have done here is Review by Ken Ristau.

Bruce bought the Scholar's 4 package and the Jewish 2 Advanced package, along with the Septuagint, the Septuagint database, and the NASB bible package for about $700.00.  You can get just about any combination you want for less money, or you can buy a whole lot more and spend more too.  You get a CD and some unlock codes for whatever you bought.  To unlock everything on the Scholar's CD is something like $1,700.00, but all that stuff is way more than most people need.

e-Sword

e-Sword is a software package for your computer that you can get for free if you can't afford it. But if you can afford to send Rick Meyers some coin it is well worth whatever you can spare. If you make a donation you will get the CD.

Though it is free, it is very good and is easy to use.

Free Online Resources

Crosswalk and Bible Gateway are two of the online Bible search tools you can use for free. Each site has more services if you'd like to use those too. The drawback to these search tools is you can only use them online. Each site has stuff they sell which you may want to look at. You can search different versions, and sometimes even other books.

Talmud

This is essentially a commentary on the Jewish Oral Law, which in turn is a series of rulings and interpretations on the Torah (first five books of the Tanakh (OT)).  It was put together by Jewish people over a long period of time, but was pretty much finished by about the fifth century.  There are different parts but they are all generally referred to as the Talmud.

The Mishna (meesh-nah) is the section containing all of what was formerly called the Oral Law, and was put together by Rabbi Judah around the second century.  It has 63 parts called tractates, which are grouped under six headings called Orders.  The six orders include Zera'im (it means Seeds, and includes a famous tractate called Brakhot (or blessings), Nezakin (Damages), Nashim ( Women), including laws of Kiddushin or marriage and Gittin or divorce), Kodashim (sacrifices and ritual slaughter), and Taharot (laws of purity and impurity).  One of the 63 tractates is Pirkei Avot (peer-kay ah-vote), meaning roughly 'Ethics of the Fathers,' which is a collection of the rabbi's most famous sayings and proverbs.  You will hear this tractate referred to on occasion in your studies of Torah or the Law.

Jewish tradition holds that the Oral Law was given originally to Moses at the same time as Torah.  It was subsequently handed down (you guessed it - orally) with the written Torah until is was also written down by Rabbi Judah.  Many Jews still believe that the Oral Law is equal to the written Torah, and in some cases over-rides Torah, a position with which this ministry disagrees.  We feel that the Oral Law should've stayed oral.  If God had wanted everyone to know the material contained in the Mishna, He would've made sure it was included in the written Torah.  However, there is much to be gained from the Talmud and we do not recommend throwing out the baby with the bathwater.

The Gemara (gay-mar-ah, the word means 'rabbinic discussions') is the section containing commentary on the Oral Law made by certain leading rabbis at various times.  Talmud and Gemara are also used interchangeably.  Part of the Gemara is called the Jerusalem Talmud and was finished around 400 A.D., and the other part is called the Babylonian Talmud and was finished around the 500 year-mark after the Christ.  This collection of writings and opinions is an unparalleled study resource for the serious student, although a lot of it has to be patiently sifted through because of the time factor and an abbreviated writing style.

Below is a link to a site that discusses many of the erroneous impressions and quotations from the Talmud.  It is a Jewish site and has many good articles on the often deliberate attempts to discredit the excellent teachings found in Talmud.

Talmud: The Real Truth about Talmud

Myths and Facts of the Arab-Israeli Conflict

American-Israeli Cooperative Enterprise

This is so good and so appropriate that it deserves a heading by itself on our site.  The title of this section is also the title of a book, and the publishers (AICE) have their own web site.  Both are perhaps the single best references for information on the continuing conflict between Israel and the Arab countries.  The information is organized under subject headings so you can read (or surf) according to whatever question is on your mind.

Below is the web site link, which presents new information all the time to supplement the Myths and Facts already covered, and which also has the book for sale.  Buy the book and help to clear up the myths and simplify the facts of the conflict for your friends, neighbors, or church buddies.  The author is Mitchell G. Bard.

Below is the web site link, which presents new information all the time to supplement the Myths and Facts already covered, and which also has the book for sale.  Buy the book and help to clear up the myths and simplify the facts of the conflict for your friends, neighbors, or church buddies.  The author is Mitchell G. Bard.

The web site also has many other interesting books and programs to promote the already substantial benefits that America receives through our alliance with our Jewish brothers and sisters.

www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org

Jewish Encyclopedia

This is a handy reference tool for a Jewish perspective on subjects in the Tanakh (OT), Jewish culture, and Jewish history.  It is the online version of the printed edition that was last published about 100 years ago, so it doesn't have more recent information.  But it still has a great deal of helpful articles, especially if you need to write a paper for a class.  Click on the link to go to the index and begin searching.

www.jewishencyclopedia.com

If you have trouble with display or font problems, be sure to click at the link near the top of the page Having font/display problems?  This will give you instructions on loading a free Unicode font that will help with displaying all the special characters they use.

Concept Wizard dot com

This website is run by Mal and Udi Ohana in Israel. They have developed some short presentations called Nutshell, as in History in a Nutshell. These are in a bunch of different languages and give excellent information on events and conditions in the Middle East affecting Israel. You can watch them online or buy the CD flash presentations. We've purchased several of them ourselves. If you want to view them click on the links below.

Hamas, Profile of Hatred

http://www.conceptwizard.com/terror/a1.html 

The Pipeline of Hatred - Anti-Semitism

http://www.conceptwizard.com/pipeline_of_hatred.html 

History in a Nutshell

http://www.conceptwizard.com/conen/conflict_2.html

History in a Nutshell, Too

http://www.conceptwizard.com/nutoo/nutshell3.html

Imagine

http://www.conceptwizard.com/imagine/imagine_n.html

The Trial

http://www.conceptwizard.com/trial/trial.html 

If you want clear, brief, and accurate information, go to Concept Wizard and see if they can't help. They also design websites, from scratch.

Creation Science DVD Series

From Dr. Kent Hovind we have a video series called "Creation Science Seminars," which is seven volumes, or roughly 17 hours of material on DVD.  Obtain on the web site www.drdino.com.

Hugely important series of videos for absolutely anyone's library.  Dr. Hovind does a good job taking God at His Word.  This ministry is not really from the Hebraic perspective, but extremely valuable anyway.  If you home school you will want this information for your kids.  He does not copyright the material, so you can get one set and copy for your friends if the budget is a problem.  They cost about $75.00 now for the set but well worth the investment.  We have made about 40 copies ourselves for anybody who wants one.

CLICK HERE to go to the Dr. Dino Store and purchase

For those of you who know something about the legal assault by the federal government on Dr. Hovind, you can go to the website below for his blog and updated information.

Dr. Kent Hovind's Blog

The Heart of the New Covenant

Bruce's book is a good study help too. About 300 pages, with over 700 verses directly quoted and explained, it is a framework for the whole Bible concepts. Click on the link to go to a page that has the chapters listed with section headings and links to pdf files so you can read and print for personal use.

The Heart of the New Covenant

Manna for Whole Bible Christians

In many congregations there is a reading schedule where the first five books of the OT and the first five of the NT (plus other readings from the prophets and other books) are divided into weekly portions to be read all year long.

This link will take you to the page where we have the portions in a chart, we have a pdf booklet you can print, and there are links to articles or commentary on each portion for further study.

Manna For Whole Bible Christians

You can also go to Berea and check out the weekly commentary on the Parasha, under a forum called Manna.

Weekly commentary on the Parasha from Bruce S. Bertram. Berea at wholebible.com

Free Whole Bible Booklets from The Word of God Ministries

We have converted some of the articles written by Bruce into booklet form. All you have to do is either print them with the duplex (print both sides) feature of your printer, or print the odd pages then reprint the other side with the even pages. Fold, staple, and you've got a nice little booklet.

They're free, but please don't misuse the privilige of having them. If they are useful consider sending us a donation to help with developing more and supporting our ministry efforts.

Christian Faith and Practice Through Blessing and Prayer

Christian Faith and Practice Through Modesty

Christian Faith and Practice Through God's Fall Feasts

Christian Faith and Practice Through God's Spring Feasts

Christian Faith and Practice Through The Sabbath

Christian Faith and Practice Through Sex, Clean and Unclean

Christian Faith and Practice Through Tradition

Head Coverings and Bible Study

Whole Bible Christianity