First Steps in Logos: Mastering Dictionaries, Encyclopedias, Commentaries & Theological Works
Dr. John Fallahee's "First Steps in Logos" webinar provides a practical roadmap for new and intermediate Logos users to effectively use scholarly resources. The focus is on how dictionaries, encyclopedias, commentaries, and theological works can deepen digital Bible study, especially for those seeking structured, peer-reviewed tools rather than AI summaries. Dr. Fallahee begins by introducing a decision tree that maps study needs to the right resource type: dictionaries and encyclopedias for background information, commentaries for passage interpretation, and theological works for doctrinal study.
One practical tip is navigating the Logos library in "detailed view" to see richer information at a glance. Using "type colon" searches (e.g., type colon encyclopedia) helps filter results by category, making it easier to find what you need. Dictionaries are highlighted as time-savers, offering concise summaries of people, places, and customs, with cross-references to relevant passages. The Factbook feature is also showcased as a comprehensive tool for exploring questions like "What was Aaron involved in?" or "What quotes did Aaron speak?" with lens-based filtering options.
Commentaries are presented as essential for answering questions like "What does this passage mean?" or "How do scholars understand difficult phrases?" Dr. Fallahee demonstrates how to use the "I" button and Ctrl+A to select multiple commentaries, and stresses reading the full article first to avoid information overload. He also explains how to organize resources using custom tags, such as creating a tag: Fallahee application to quickly access resources like the Life Application Commentary or Leadership Ministries Worldwide.
For deeper exploration, the webinar covers advanced search strategies, including searching by series (e.g., series: evangelical exegetical commentaries), subject (e.g., subject: revelation), or criticism. These tools help users find specific types of commentaries, such as exegetical, devotional, or application-focused works. The CLEAR method (Confess, List, Exegete, Analyze, Relate) is introduced as a framework for systematic study, paired with historical background guides for richer context.
Logos’ Passage Guide is demonstrated as a central hub for aggregating resources on specific passages, such as Revelation 20:11–15. Users can sort results by priority, series, author, or denomination. The webinar also shows how to use the Study Assistant to build custom guides, organize resources hierarchically, and link panels for seamless navigation. Cross-referencing features, like link sets and hyperlinks, help maintain context while exploring parallel texts and theological insights. The session concludes with a reminder to prioritize observing the text and understanding its historical background before diving into commentaries or theology, ensuring a disciplined, repeatable study process that fosters deeper engagement with Scripture.