Bible Study Magazine Review

Bible Study Magazine (BSM) is a bimonthly magazine published by Logos, the producer of the predominant bible software in the U.S. The issue I am reviewing is the inaugural issue (Nov. / Dec. 2008).

As a minister, I care deeply about bible study. As a dedicated Logos user, I love the idea of a magazine that approaches Bible study with the tools in mind that I use. At about 40 pages of content, the magazine deals with subjects that I would break into three categories:

1. Inspirational & General Audience topics, such as “Facing Today with the Book of Hebrews,” and “Choosing a Bible Translation.”
2. “Text” topics, such as, the significance of the Qumran scrolls, or comparisons of archeological finds to the Bible text, or “Who Took Verse 4 Out of My Bible?”
3. “Getting the Most out of Logos” topics, such as “Using Bible Dictionaries,” and “Discovering the Power of Luke’s Gospel.”

For my purposes, I am particularly interested in the latter two, since I have ready access to plenty of the first category. Unfortunately for me, there was a fairly substantial portion of this type included.

I enjoyed the Text topics. The discovery in Isaiah 53:11 eloquently demonstrated the value of archeological finds, and the two accounts of Sennacherib’s attack on Jerusalem provided valuable perspective. This is the type of material that I could always read more of, though I’d want to be sure that BSM is more than just a facsimile of Biblical Archeology Review. “Who Took Verse 4 Out of My Bible?” may be the type of article that skillfully avoids that danger.

I would have liked an expansion of the “Logos” category, though too much of it may put the magazine name into question. Specifically, I’d like the steps of an article like “Using Bible Dictionaries” enriched with more depth, and a greater focus on resources that are part of common libraries. In my estimation, a magazine from Logos is going to be read primarily by Logos users. I’d enjoy a clear sense of which resources would be the best addition to my current library – not just Marketing talk (not that there was in this issue), but a demonstration that shows the power of a resource. In addition, there is value locked in the resources I already own, and I’d like to leverage that. I certainly hope that BSM never becomes a magazine that merely tries to upsell people.

In that sense, “Discovering the Power of Luke’s Gospel” is probably my favorite article in this issue (even though it made me put the BDAG on my shopping list).

To round up the review a little, let me add that the production quality and design of BSM is very nice. I’ve felt yucky paper before, and BSM is definitely an enjoyable experience.

So, am I sold? On the one hand, there’s much to like. On the other hand, I feel there’s a degree of lack of focus (remember, though, that I have only seen one issue!). I’m not the kind of guy who needs more interesting reading. To make my list, it’s got to be something I really, really want to read. At the current stage, there may not be enough of that type in BSM, though I’ll admit I’m still on the fence.

Note: Logos currently is running a promotion - you could win a free subscription!