Resources: Catholic - Protestant

Now that Logos Bible Software (predominantly Protestant/Evangelical resources) has hired a Catholic Product Manager, you can expect to see additional resources available for your Logos Library.

Currently this is what is available for Catholics:
Catholic Product Guide: http://www.logos.com/catholic
Catholic Products in the Logos Store: http://www.logos.com/products/search?Christian+Group=Catholic

Many of you have asked me to respond to this event, and because I support Logos software through my training company (LearnLogos.com), being an ex-catholic, and former employee, I am in a unique position to comment. I have received email, had conversations, and read a lot of thoughts on this issue already, and this blog, not the Logos forum, would be a good place to start a conversation. Additionally, my goal is not to be the Holy Spirit nor to sit in judgment of Logos, that is not my place nor is it my company. But as a consumer, it's important to let any company know what your thoughts and opinions are. All great companies listen to more than just the consumer's pocketbook.

Additionally, the primary purpose of this blog is to study the Bible with Logos 4 and provide tips, tricks, and helps, and that's how I would like to proceed.

So let's address a common question:
Q: Would you buy Catholic resources from Logos? Why or Why not?
A: Yes. In fact, I own several Catholic resources already. Additionally, I will continue to purchase additional Catholic resources in the future.

Q: Why?
A: There are several reasons.
First, I never want to be ignorant and uninformed about any issue I am studying. I want the best resources possible.
Second, I prefer to understand someone's viewpoint from their primary scholarly endorsed resources rather than a second hand, biased or interpreted opinion.
Third, convenience of having all my resources in my Logos library saves me time and sometimes money over the print editions.
Fourth, so I can evangelize and win people to Jesus Christ more effectively. Let me be clear on this fourth point, although Catholics and Protestants do have some doctrine in common, there are enough differences between Catholic and Protestant doctrine that both can not be the path to heaven. You have to choose one or the other.

So today's tip, trick, and help is learning how to study the differences between Catholic and Protestant doctrine. To begin, we need to begin with the Bible.

#1) Let's begin with the Bible. Let's compare Protestant and Catholic Bibles translations.
** Go to Logos 4, and choose Tools > Text Comparison

#2)  ** Next, let add Catholic and Protestant translations.

Catholics Endorse the Following:
Douay-Rheims (D-R {this is the logos abbreviation})
Revised Standard Version - Catholic Edition (RSVCE)

Protestants Endorse the Following:
KJV (AV)
NASB
ESV
NIV

#3) Let's type Romans 4:5 for our Bible passage, and type in the Bible abbreviations in the Bible translation box as seen here.

#4) Now Romans 4:5 is a very important verse, because it deals with the question of Justification (How we are forgiven). Let's read each Bible translation.

Next, let's see where they are difference. Click the first "A" which is to the right of the Bible translation box.

Logos color codes the differences from the first translation at the left (which in this case is the King James).
The D-R has black text, which means it's the same as the KJV. The blue text is what is different than the KJV.

#5) You may have noticed the red circles. If you float your mouse over them, they tell you what the other translation used. I floated my mouse over the red circle by reputed:

#6) If you don't like the red circles, than press the "A" that is crossed out, which is just to the right of the "A" you  pressed earlier.

#7) Now you can see visibly the differences, between your primary text (KJV) and the D-R translation.
The grey text, crossed out comes from the KJV.

Now that you can see the different text, the next step is do word studies to understand the original meaning (Hebrew and Greek Translation).

We'll address that in the next blog.