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Bible Study Software

"Everything in the Scriptures is God's Word. All of it is useful for teaching and helping people and for correcting them and showing them how to live."
–  2 Timothy 3:16 (CEV)

This list in the table below is not necessarily a reflection of "the best" software. And it certainly does not reflect an official endorsement by Avondale Pattillo UMC or the United Methodist denomination.  Many people have personal favorites in Bible Study software. 

The list below reflects what one Adult Sunday School teacher in our church owns and finds helpful in personal Bible study as well as in preparing to lead an adult Sunday School class weekly.

Software used by an Adult Bible class teacher
Software Program
Features and comments
Logos Lesson Builder

Start with pre-made lesson questions and leader notes, then adapt and print. Leaders notes only print on a "Leader" copy. 

When creating a list of passage-related questions for Adult Sunday School lessons, I supplement the Lesson Builder questions with commentary and questions derived from LESSONMaker Adult Questions, Teacher's Commentary, Teacher's Outline & Study Bible, other commentaries, online Bible studies, and from my own observations.
WORDSearch

References are CROSS compatible. Originally these were STEP compatible, but the newer software versions can search for and integrate STEP books. I personally find this software easier and faster to use than QuickVerse (STEP compatible), PC Study Bible (not STEP compatible), or the NIV Complete Bible Study LIbrary (not STEP compatible) all of which I also own.

I normally use both WORDSearch and the (no longer sold) NIV Study Bible Complete Library when gathering information for a weekly Adult Bible Study Class. The following Bibles and modules, purchased over the last several years, are the ones I use the most:

  • Bible translations (in decreasing order of personal use). I often view 2 or 3 of these versions in a parallel translation window. I plan to add the Jerusalem Bible and the Holman Christian Bible.
    • NASB (New American Standard Bible) - 1995 Update
    • NIV (New International Version)
    • NRSV (New Revised Standard Version)
    • CJB (Complete Jewish Bible)
    • CWSB (Complete Word Study Bible)
    • CEV (Contemporary English Version)
    • KJV (King James Version)
  • Bible Notes
    • The Complete Word Study Bible Notes
    • Ryrie Study Notes
    • Life Application Bible Notes
  • Commentaries (in order of decreasing personal use):
    • IVP Bible Background Commentary (OT and NT)
    • Barclay's Daily Bible Study Series (NT)
    • Bible Biography Series (by John Butler)
    • Bible Exposition Commentary (including the "Be" series) by Wiersbe
    • Hard Sayings of the Bible
    • Teacher's Commentary
    • The Teacher's Outline & Study Bible
  • History and Culture
    • Life and Times of Jesus the Messiah (Edersheim)
    • The New Manners and Customs of Bible Times
    • Sketches of Jewish Social Life (Edersheim)
    • The Temple, Its Ministry and Services (Edersheim)
  • Lessons
    • LESSONmaker (Adult questions)
    • Lesson Builder (Logos) (using the LifeGuide Bible Studies)
    • LifeGuide Tpoical Bible Studies
    • Teacher's Outline & Study Bible (includes questions)
  • Language (used occasionally, to check connotations or translations of a specific word or phrase):
    • The Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew and English Lexicon
    • The Complete Word Study Dictionary
    • NASB Greek-Hebrew Concordance and Dictionary
    • Strong's Concordance
    • Strong's Talking Greek & Hebrew Dictionary
    • That's Easy for You to Say
    • Vines Expository Dictionary (Old Testament Hebrew and New Testament Greek)
  • Maps and photos
    • WORSsearch maps
    • Photographs of Israel
  • Outlines
    • Butler's Bible Biography Series outlines
    • LESSONmaker Outlines
    • Life Application Outlines
    • Ryrie Outlines
    • Teacher's Outline and Study Bible (TOSB)
    • Wiersbe Expository Outlines
    • WORDseach Outlines
Logos Bible Atlas This software has satellite view geographic maps, a 3-D wire frame map of Palestine that you can rotate, and topical maps. Another map program I use, though to a lesser extent is the Parsons Bible Atlas, a product designed to fit with QuickVerse, but usable as a separate purchase. The Parsons product has a lot of topical maps.
NIV Study Bible Complete Library

(from Zondervan). This program is no longer sold, was not STEP software, but a STEP reader is included. The "Complete Library" software used to be on sale for about $80, but Zondervan changed the collections it offers as well as the pricing. Zondervan is now selling Pradis-compatible software and books.

I use both this software and the WORDSearch software as references for the lessons I prepare using the Logos Lesson Builder program.  I most heavily use the following parts of the NIV Study Bible Complete Library:

  • Bible translations: NIV, NRSV, NASB
  • NIV Bible Commentary
  • NIV Study Bible Notes
  • NIV Study Bible Footnotes

These get less frequent use:

  • NIV Compact Dictionary of the Bible
  • Zondervan NIV Atlas of the Bible
New International Version Study Bible (Zondervan)

I have and use an earlier (and unfortunately no longer available) excellent interactive Bible CD that contains NIV & KJV translations, video clips, music, Expert Commentary, Inspirational Commentary, NIV Compact Dictionary, Extensive Concordance, Naves Topical Bible, timelines, and photos.

I find this old CD a joy to use even when doing Bible Study for a Disciple Bible Study course. The software design and layout is attractive and a pleasure to use -- even the color scheme is "easy on the eyes".   Though not a complete study "library", it is truly excellent for someone doing basic or even intermediate level Bible Study. Another plus in my mind is that the included KJV CD includes scripture readings by James Earl Jones -- I love the sound of his voice.

I'm disappointed that the software CD I use is no longer available, but the NIV Study Bible (or TNIV Study Bible) is very good for general Bible Study. I prefer its Study Notes to those in several other Bibles.

For word and phrase studies, I recommend adding the NASB (1995 Update). While more awkward for reading, the NASB is a more literal translation. Couple that with an NASB-related Strongs concordance, Strongs OT and NT Dictionaries, and a Vines Dictionary for more thorough word studies.
PC Study Bible Reference Library

While PC Study Bible Reference Library was my first "bundle" (I got as a gift from my loving wife), I prefer the interface and operation of the WORDsearch software.

One nice aspect of the PC Study Bible system is that it's associated with a "Community Library" of downloadable (into PC Study Bible) of online commentaries, sermons, and outlines.

Some "modules" that I use in PC Study Bible either because I have not bought them for WORDsearch or they are (not yet) availble in WORDsearch:

  • Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew lexicon and Thayer's Greek Lexicon are excellent for examining connotations and roots words.
  • Englishman's Concordance
  • Interlinear Bible (OT Hebrew, NT Greek)
  • International Standard Bible Encyclopedia (ISBE)
  • "The Life and Times of Jesus the Messiah" (Edersheim)
  • Nelson's Bible Dictionary
  • New Unger's Bible Dictionary
  • "Sketches of Jewish Social Life" (Edersheim)
  • "The Temple, it's Ministry and Services" (Edersheim)
  • Thayer's Greek Lexicon
On the teacher's "Possible Buy" list