Training Presentation Notes

Background information

  1. Launch March 2009
  2. 6 bibles, theOxford Bible Commentary, 2 apocrypha (run Quick Search for definition), 2 concordances, 6000+ entries from Oxford References e.g. The Oxford Encyclopedia of Archaeology in the Near East, How to Read the Bible
  3. Hundreds of maps & images (most from print versions where permission has been obtained)
  4. “OBSO is a site dedicated to the Bible as historical text rather than sacred text. ““The Bible as text, rather than religion, is still important to a variety of fields today from literature to sociology. OBSO is built to help people from any field, regardless of faith, find out how the Bible as text incorporates into their specific studies.” (FAQs) Focus On – Jonah and Genre – as an example of this.

Home page

  1. Focus On – Updated regularly. Open to non-subscribers, links only to subscribers.
  2. Letter from Editor – updated with regular updates
  3. Guided Tour, FAQs, Librarian Resources, etc, News & Reviews
  4. View Bible texts
  5. Features, e.g. Photo Essay, Interviews, Reference

Bible Verse Lookup

  1. Saves default Bible
  2. KJV – Genesis 1, compare with New Oxford Annotated Bible for difference in first line, then click on Commentary for a discussion of the controversy around the translation of the very first word of the bible. Refer back to Focus on Genesis article paragraph 5.

Concordance

  1. Look at commentary, highlight ‘Creation’, use look it up tool (related to earlier discussion on Genesis 1:1) – many references to creation in the bible. Follow NRSV – Creation-Create-Created – Proverbs 8:22 (personified wisdom assisted in the creation)

Quick Search

  1. ‘Apocrypha’ – short entry from A Dictionary of the Bible.(see entries 2, 8, 16 etc. results text refers to chapter of work). Other entries including tabs for Images & Maps, Bible Text – follow entry 1 (Gospel According to St Mark from The Access Bible – show ? by title at top-left – first time readers – show box in text. Jump to Matthew 13:14 via left column navigation for similar feature.
  2. In a Bible page – mouseover– Matthew 13:11 – secrets dfor type of short note.
  3. Hyperlinks to other chapter & verse opens in new browser window – to be able to compare side by side. Uses New Oxford Annotated Bible as default because most widely accepted – looking at being able to set default at account administrator level.
  1. Comparison – with another text or commentary from any of the versions (recreate having several books open side by side at once – unique online. Good to be able to
  2. scroll separately because commentary may be longer than the text – see ‘Commentary Spanning Earlier Chapters’.
  3. ‘meals’ – result 1 (A Dictionary of the Bible) Related content (left column) selected by editorial tagging (grad students) added value because done by subject experts, not search algorithm.

Advanced Search

  1. Main Search - Science in Medicine/Ancient Medicine & Medicine in the Bible
  2. Advanced Bible Search – ‘merchant NEAR temple’ – result 7 (Matthew’s Gospel - The Catholic Study Bible) – follow link to Bible text. Also “den of thieves”

‘Browse’

  1. All – Refine List/Geography/Climate

Bible Texts

  1. With preface, contents list etc.

Timelines

  1. BCE – 500 ticked/unticked

Tools & Resources

  1. Books in the Bible, Calendar, Weights & measures
  2. Lectionary – a reading per day. Only Catholic at the moment.
  3. Further reading & Internet Resources
  4. Lesson plans
  5. Photo Essays
  6. Interviews
  7. Women in the Bible

Last updated 20.11.13