There are several good Bible Study software packages available. Probably the best free package out there is ESword at www.e-sword.net. It integrates several versions of the Bible and has a number of commentaries and other resources included too – all for free.
On the other end of the spectrum, the most expensive package (and in my opinion, the best) is the Logos Scholar’s Library. It comes in regular, silver, and gold editions, with each level getting bundled with more and more resources. And even if you get the gold version, there are literally hundreds of other resources available, and more are constantly being produced. All resources are searchable, and interlinked, so it makes it easy to search through hundreds of resources in just seconds (or sometimes minutes – I do wish it were a bit faster). Check it out at www.logos.com.
I bought the regular edition of the Scholar’s Library a few years ago. For most people that will provide more than enough resources for personal study. Because of my needs, I eventually upgraded to the silver and then the gold editions. Plus over the years I’ve added a bunch of additional resources to the package in the areas I am most interested in.
- Ariel Ministries Messianic Collection (Fruchtenbaum)
- Dictionary of Dieties and Demons in the Bible (van der Toorn, Becking & van der Horst)
- Encyclopedia of Judaism (Neusner, Avery-Peck, & Green)
- Essential IVP Reference Collection (excellent value!)
- History of Jewish People in the Time of Christ (Shürer)
- IVP New Testament Commentary Series
- Jewish New Testemant and Commentary (Stern)
- Jewish Sects of the New Testament Era (Weiss)
- JPS Bible and Torah Commentary Collection
- JPS Dictionary of Jewish Words (Eisenberg & Scolnic)
- JPS Guide to Jewish Traditions (Eisenberg)
- JPS Tanakh
- Legends of the Jews (Ginzberg)
- Nelson’s Ultimate Bible Reference (excellent value!)
- Studies in the Dead Sea Scrolls
- The Mishnah (Neusner)
- The Rabbinic Messiah (Huckel)
- Ultimate Archaeology Collection
I also recommend the Morris Proctor training seminars. If you pay that much money for the software, it’s worth the time and added expense to attend one of these two day seminars. It really helped me make this powerful but complex tool much easier to use and understand. Be sure sign up for their free newsletter too, as it often has some useful tips, at www.mpseminars.com.