Studying Apostle Paul's Letters with Logos: A Practical Guide

In this webinar segment from Dr. John Fallahee, we explore practical ways to study the Apostle Paul’s letters using Logos Bible Software. The training is designed for anyone wanting to move beyond surface-level reading and build a structured, insightful understanding of Paul’s ministry.

Dr. Fallahee begins by introducing the Personal Book feature, which serves as a central workspace for organizing study materials. Instead of relying on generic name searches, he recommends using Logos’ specialized tools like the Paul Person feature. By right-clicking on “Saul” (Paul’s pre-conversion name) and selecting “Paul Person,” users access a comprehensive list of all 1,445 biblical mentions of Paul—including references in Acts, where he appears indirectly through Luke’s narrative. This forms the foundation for building a biography of Paul.

To refine the search, Fallahee demonstrates narrowing results by switching between “Saul” (159 verses) and “Paul” (post-conversion references). He also shows how to link “Paul equals Saul” cautiously, as it limits results to only those explicitly named “Saul.” For deeper organization, he introduces the Fact Book, which categorizes information into People, Places, Things, and Biblical Events. This tool reveals relationships (e.g., Paul’s nephew who warned of a plot against him), locations (e.g., Mars Hill, Athens), events (e.g., Paul’s conversion), and timelines that connect key moments in his life.

To organize findings, Dr. Fallahee recommends creating a notebook named “Paul’s biography” via the Tools menu. He demonstrates creating a new note titled “biography” and adding a page for “Paul’s Conversion” with a heading above Acts 9:1–9. Using the chain link icon, he links specific passages directly into the notebook, embedding references for easy access. He also shows how to create a clippings document to save key insights from commentaries or study bibles, building a hub for cross-references and curated observations.

Further, the Advanced Timeline tool (found under Tools > Advanced Timeline) generates a collapsible timeline of Paul’s life when “Paul” is typed in. Users can collapse categories to focus on specific events like “Paul’s conversion” or “Paul goes to Arabia,” with links to external resources like HarperCollins publications. These tools collectively help manage the vast amount of information on Paul, enabling a structured, comprehensive study.

In the next segment, Dr. Fallahee shifts focus to practical applications for studying Paul’s letters. He highlights the Bible Smart Searches feature, where users can paste concise, keyword-rich sentences like “Paul’s conversion, divine calling, sufferings, and imprisonments” to find relevant passages. Logos organizes results by subject, grouping verses like Acts 9 and 22 to streamline study. The Study Assistant tool further aids this process by summarizing content and suggesting cross-references, though he notes Logos’ built-in assistant is especially efficient.

For organizing information, he emphasizes using Clips to copy content from external sources—such as AI responses—and paste it directly into Logos. He advises creating headings first before pasting to avoid formatting issues. An example prompt helps construct a concise chronology of Paul’s life from conversion through imprisonment and the 13 Pauline epistles, with F.F. Bruce’s *Paul Apostle of the Free Spirit* recommended as a reference for chronological tables (though dates may vary slightly by author).

To organize resources, he shows how to build a Collection via Tools > Collections, naming it “Apostle Paul Resources” and adding relevant books. Advanced search within collections allows narrowing results, such as finding “Paul near conversion” to locate passages explicitly tied to his transformation. Verses like Acts 9 can be inserted into the collection to create a centralized study hub.

When tracing Paul’s missionary journeys, Fallahee uses Event Tags and the Fact Book to search for “Paul’s missionary journeys,” then accesses Maps under the media tool to visualize routes through regions like Galatia and Phrygia. The Advanced Timeline again proves useful, showing Paul’s three missionary journeys as connected events. For contextual depth, he explains how to use the Factbook to explore topics like “slavery” in the Bible, noting that first-century slavery differed significantly from the transatlantic slave trade—often serving as a debt repayment or family support system. He also stresses verifying historical context to avoid anachronistic interpretations.

To explore how Paul used the Old Testament, he demonstrates the Passage Guide (Tools > Passage Guide). By entering a passage like Romans 4:3, users can identify Old Testament quotes (marked by ▲ symbols) and link to Genesis 15:6 to confirm Abrahamic references. Resources like *Paul’s Old Testament Use* by E. Early Ellis and the Intertext View help analyze these connections. The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge icon in the Factbook offers quick cross-reference checks.

Dr. Fallahee also shows how to use the Bible Browser to link tagged relationships—such as filtering verses where Paul is the author or involved in specific events. For example, searching “Paul” + “Acts 13–14” reveals passages about his early ministry. He encourages using AI tools to refine search terms or analyze data, then pasting results into a Personal Book for long-term reference and organization.

Throughout the webinar, practical tips reinforce efficiency and depth: always check the end of Paul’s letters for contextual details; cross-reference frequently using the Passage Guide and Parallel Passages; use AI strategically to aggregate insights, then drill down with Logos’ library; and verify historical context to ensure accurate interpretation. These tools—Factbook, Atlas, Passage Guide, AI, and collections—work together to transform scattered data into rich, integrated insights.

Dr. Fallahee concludes by emphasizing that Paul’s unique role in Scripture makes him a rich subject for study, and Logos’ tagged resources—sermons, commentaries, dictionaries—leverage this data for deeper exploration. He ends with a prayer of gratitude for Paul’s transformation and a call to imitate his sacrificial love, reminding viewers that the goal of study is to know God and His word more fully. A hint of a “Part 2” suggests further exploration is available.

Key Takeaways:

• Use the Paul Person tool to access all biblical mentions of Paul, including indirect references.
• Leverage the Fact Book for categorized insights on people, places, events, and timelines.
• Build a notebook or clippings document to compile notes and cross-references.
• Use Smart Searches and the Study Assistant for efficient, keyword-driven study.
• Employ Collections to organize books and resources related to Paul’s life and letters.
• Visualize journeys and events with the Advanced Timeline and Atlas tools.
• Use the Passage Guide and Intertext tool to explore cross-references between Paul’s letters and the Old Testament.
• Combine AI assistance with Logos’ features for efficient, personalized study workflows.

To access the full training schedule and submit topic requests, visit learnlogos.com/events or email [email protected]. Screenshots illustrating key steps are available in the accompanying materials.