Catholic Bible Software

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As I have searched around the interwebz, I have not been able to find any extensive Catholic Bible study applications . . . does anyone know of any good ones? That is somewhat of an off-topic question, so here is the real one:

What would you, as a Catholic (laypersons or clergy), like to see in a Bible Study software application?

I’ve made creating a great application like this for Catholics one of my life goals and I already have some ideas and would like some (name removed by moderator)ut from Catholics who enjoy studying the Bible and desire an all-in-one tool to help. So please, put all of your suggestions out here, there are none that are too silly!

PS — I am using this as the beginnings of my research, so please, I’d like as many people as possible to post at least one thing they’d like to see in such an application! Thank you!
 
I would love someone with your skills to do this!
At the moment I use eSword which is excellent but imagine if there was a version with a good Catholic translations such as the RSV-CE and then come Catholic commentaries as well-anything Scott Hahn, Jeff Cavins, Steve Ray ish would be good.
I do like the ease of use of eSword and it does had a DR translation as well as the Vulgate Latin.
Something just like that but more Catholic would be marvellous.
I realise having the RSV-CE would put a price on it-but I think many would be willing to pay.
God bless with the endevour:thumbsup:
 
I’m not sure what Bible study software (I’m familiar with Bible software and with Bible Study materials online, I’m picturing something that is a combination?) might include, so this is completely out of my head - things I often use that it would be convenient if they were a hyperlink away.

Because I don’t read Greek or Hebrew, I often wind up using something like Vines or an online source to find out what word is being used in a verse, and then trying to locate it in other verses for comparison. This would be very handy.

Cross-referencing of quotes/allusions among verses, also of related verses and of other versions of the story when appropriate (eg synoptics).

Links to solid commentary/ notes (although obviously this is somewhat subjective) - but I don’t know what the copyright status is on things like Dr. Hahn. . .
 
My suggestion would be to include maps AND do something no other software does with them, that is, put a link to a map that applies to each book/chapter/section of the Bible. When you’re reading about the Exodus, link to a map or maps that shows the area in that time period. Do that all the way through the NT.

Many other biblical software programs provide maps, but leave it to the user to find the right map of the right period to use. Embedding links to the correct map would be something I would pay for.

Whatever version(s) you use, they should be searchable by word or phrase, and the files should be completely portable, meaning you should not have to rely on an internet connection (like one of the selections noted above) in order to read or search a text.
 
NHInsider said:
I’m not sure what Bible study software (I’m familiar with Bible software and with Bible Study materials online, I’m picturing something that is a combination?) might include, so this is completely out of my head - things I often use that it would be convenient if they were a hyperlink away.
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Two of the best ones I’ve seen are BibleGlo and Logos — and thanks to this thread, Faith Database. These are along the lines of what I’m thinking . . .
Because I don’t read Greek or Hebrew, I often wind up using something like Vines or an online source to find out what word is being used in a verse, and then trying to locate it in other verses for comparison. This would be very handy.
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I know what you mean, Logos has a very handy feature that would does just this and it’s something I would like to incorporate into my own software in some way. You can check out the video here. Just scroll down to “Bible Word Study” under the first section.
Cross-referencing of quotes/allusions among verses, also of related verses and of other versions of the story when appropriate (eg synoptics).
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Thanks for the suggestion! Do you think I should provide cross-references that came with the print version of the particular Bible you are using, or should I provide cross-references that I find myself which would include those in the printed versions?
Links to solid commentary/ notes (although obviously this is somewhat subjective) - but I don’t know what the copyright status is on things like Dr. Hahn. . .
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I’m not sure about the whole copyright thing either . . . but I believe if I either get permission form the author or the publisher that it should be fine. Faith Database says that in order to use the copyrighted versions of the Bible on their software, you need an internet connection? But you don’t have to for BibleGlo which uses the NIV . . . so I don’t know, I’ll look into this issue!
 
zach_dunn said:
As I have searched around the interwebz, I have not been able to find any extensive Catholic Bible study applications . . . does anyone know of any good ones? That is somewhat of an off-topic question, so here is the real one:

What would you, as a Catholic (laypersons or clergy), like to see in a Bible Study software application?

I’ve made creating a great application like this for Catholics one of my life goals and I already have some ideas and would like some (name removed by moderator)ut from Catholics who enjoy studying the Bible and desire an all-in-one tool to help. So please, put all of your suggestions out here, there are none that are too silly!

PS — I am using this as the beginnings of my research, so please, I’d like as many people as possible to post at least one thing they’d like to see in such an application! Thank you!
Click to expand...
I use e-Sword, although this is not exclusively Catholic, RSV-CE, the Catechism and several good Catholic Bible commentaries are available for e-Sword. It is very user friendly and I highly recommend it. Also, there are bible studies from Jeff Cavins and others.
 
jpy15026 said:
The best Catholic software there is can be found at these two links:👍

faithdatabase.com/
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This software has a vast amount of information which is fantastic! It’s got the Catechism and Canon Law which I was going to incorporate into my software. It also has mini “biographies” on the saints which I like. I would do that and I think I’d do biographies on the people of the Bible which I’m not sure if they do.

I think my biggest complaint, and for some this is trivial and then to some this is important, is that I don’t particularly like the user interface . . . It just seems messy and cluttered to me, but that’s just me I guess. 🤷

Oh, and I also like the use of the Catholic Encyclopedia, that’s something I’d like to incorporate too! Geez, I’m getting so many great ideas already!
and:
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harmonymedia.com/cdrom/welcome/welcomecontent.htm
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I really enjoyed the spirituality section and would definitely incorporate that! I like the use of Summa Theologica, timelines, and multiple catechisms!

I didn’t really like the lack of Bibles, but this seems to be more geared toward learning the faith than really studying the Bible? 🤷 I mean, I’d like my software to be a valuable tool for learning the faith but I’d really like for it to motivate people to get more into the Bible I guess? I don’t know, I suppose the two go hand-in-hand, really . . .
 
Ignatius said:
I use e-Sword, although this is not exclusively Catholic, RSV-CE, the Catechism and several good Catholic Bible commentaries are available for e-Sword. It is very user friendly and I highly recommend it. Also, there are bible studies from Jeff Cavins and others.
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Thanks for your comments! Are there any features that aren’t in e - Sword that you would like to see in my software?
 
I’m so happy this has gotten many responses thus far, please continue to post!

I have another question for you guys: what would you like the user interface to be like?

Thanks again fro all of your responses!
 
zach_dunn said:
Thanks for the suggestion! Do you think I should provide cross-references that came with the print version of the particular Bible you are using, or should I provide cross-references that I find myself which would include those in the printed versions?
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I’d like as comprehensive a collection of cross-references as possible, myself. So whatever is in print plus . . .
 
NHInsider said:
I’d like as comprehensive a collection of cross-references as possible, myself. So whatever is in print plus . . .
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Ok! Thank you all for your comments!! Are there any other suggestions? Is there anything anyone doesn’t like about e-Sword?
 
jerendeb said:
I am considering both, but would like opinions. Which one is favored and why?

Thanks.
JERE`
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Can’t go wrong with either one.I use both.

Faith Database is very extensive and a bit hard to maneuver,Harmony Media is more user friendly.Both have features that the other doesn’t.

My main program is Logos / Libronix Catholic Collection that I bought years ago and use it as my primary resource.Price wise it’s gone through the roof.

I bought the Logos Catholic Collection ,it included the NAB,The Latin Vulgate,RSV,KJV,The Jerome Bible Commentary,Maps,Strong’s,Vine’s,(Hebrew /Greek) and numerous other resources,I added the free Libronix update and it added even more features to it .

The beauty of the program is that you can have as many panes open as you like and scroll all the open panes simultaneously.
I open the program with my Douay,NAB,RSV, and Jerome’s as my start page and go from there.

Each program has it’s own advantages.
  • Logos /Libronix - nothing can touch it for serious Bible study
*Faith Database -unequaled in the study of the Saints,The Vatican,Church History,Popes.Documents,Encyclicals,and everything else.
  • Harmony Media -A sheer pleasure for resources on Meditation,Catechisms,Spirituality,and so much more.
All three software websites have demos that you can watch and get an idea of the feel of each program.

If I had to choose one program it would have to be my Logos / Libronix but I would really miss Faith Data base and Harmony Media if I had to give them up.

I am very blessed to be able to have all three of these programs.
.
 
jpy15026 said:
Strong’s,Vine’s,(Hebrew /Greek)
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I have a question, are Strong’s and Vine’s word dictionaries “safe” for Catholics to use? I don’t know if they’re Catholic and from what I’ve seen, I don’t think Strong did Greek words from specifically the Septuagint . . . so what is everyone’s stance on Strong’s and Vine’s, I’d love to incorporate them into my software if I could! Is there any Catholic equivalent??
 
I haven’t been a user of any of these- but I’ve previously mentioned how taken I was with Bibleglo and its interface- the “lenses” can really serve to reorient a reader to the text (especially the map lens and timeline lens.)

I liked the idea of being able to construct reading plans, but thought it would be more useful for Catholics if at least one of them could be based upon the Lectionary. Another feature that could be useful is the ability to have an interlineated text- the “original” with the translation. The multimedia possibilities of Bible software are amazing, so the video clips and articles can really bring things to life. A variation of this could be video commentary. The way that commentary could be arranged thematically is nice, too, such that one might search according to a personal topic, rather than a theological subject.

One thing that would be really cool would be the ability to personalize your copy through annotation, by adding your own texts, photos, videos, etc., as you find them. Like the way we now write in the margins, but adapted to the format. Say you taped a great homily by your pastor- Wouldn’t it be great to add it as an mp3, attached to the scripture he was explaining? Or if you came across a cool quote, or if you just had a personal observation, or a sudden epiphany, or … ? Maybe this function would be something like Evernote, but keyed to the Bible?
 
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