For my second look at BibleWorks 9 I’ve been looking at some of the new features a little closer. Specifically the Manuscript Project and the CNTTS Apparatus.
The Manuscript Project is one of my favorite new features. The Manuscript Project includes digitally scanned images of Greek manuscripts. Manuscripts include Nestle-Aland 27, Scrivener, Robinson-Pierpont (Byzantine), Westcot-Hort, Sinaiticus, Alexandrinus, Vaticanus, Bezae, and more.
The images include hyperlinked tags, that can be turned on or off, that show the chapter and verse.
There are also transcriptions of the manuscripts, which you can search, copy, and paste into your notes.
The transcriptions also include transcriber notes. These notes help to clarify any instances where a translation is not clear, where more than one word could have been used, where the original text is not readable, and more.
There is a window that shows the variations between the manuscripts. This is helpful when you want to see how the manuscripts differ.
The Manuscripts Project is an excellent tool for deeper verse analysis.
The scanned images of the manuscripts can be enhanced using image controls (brightness, contrast, sharpness, etc.).
You can also view the image in a separate window.
The manuscript images can also be copied and pasted into your notes.
The Manuscript Project is one of the tools I use the most. I highly recommend it for study of Greek and the manuscript variations. For me it’s a good feeling to see and work with the manuscript images. It’s the closest I will ever come to working with Greek manuscripts.
Another useful tool for studying the New Testament manuscripts is the CNTTS Apparatus. CNTTS stands for Center for New Testament Studies Textual Apparatus.
A Critical Text displays the Greek text and highlights variants. The variants are coded to show the type of variant and reading. Manuscript numbers show which manuscripts have the variant. There is also information about the manuscripts, such as the date it was written. The CNTTS Apparatus is an excellent tool for manuscript information and variant research. Together with the Manuscript Project, the CNTTS Apparatus is an excellent tool for growing in Greek studies.
The research tools in BibleWorks just keeps getting better. There are also many tools for researching the Hebrew language, but no manuscripts ‘yet’. One thing I appreciate about BibleWorks as a company- if you ask for it they will provide. If you want to see a feature added to BibleWorks (such as the Dead Sea Scrolls added to the Manuscript Project), just tell them on their website. They do listen. Most of the features that BibleWorks users love came from user’s requests.
I highly recommend BibleWorks 9- especially for its new manuscript research features. You need not wonder if BibleWorks 9 is worth the upgrade. If you’re a student of Greek, BibleWorks 9 is a necessity.
BibleWorks provided this software free for review. I was not required to give a positive review- only an honest review.
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