Bob Pritchett releases a simple program for quickly searching the KJV Bible in plain text. Notes and letters from users nurture thoughts of a more powerful program.
History
1986
May 1991
Bob Pritchett and Kiernon Reiniger, Microsoft employees who met at church, begin writing a Bible software product. Their initial goal is to create a “shareware” product to distribute on BBS systems (the dial-up precursors to the Internet era) for Microsoft Windows, instead of the still-dominant MS-DOS operating system.
June-July 1991
An early version of Logos Bible Software is shown to an existing Bible software company. The other company declines to distribute Logos because the future for Microsoft Windows is unclear.
August 1991
Interest increases as testers try early versions of the software. It becomes clear that a shareware business model won’t support the license fees required to access the most popular modern Bible translation. Dale Pritchett (Bob’s father, and at the time president of his own company) begins working to develop a sales strategy and pursue text licenses—things Bob and Kiernon can’t do while working for Microsoft during business hours.
December 1991
Logos Bible Software for Microsoft Windows v1.0 ships. Physical production is done on the kitchen table at Dale and Jenni Pritchett’s house. Shipment is made to the first customers, who responded to an ad in Christian Computing Magazine.
January 1992
Bob, Kiernon, and Dale “quit their day jobs.” After raising a small amount of capital from friends and family, they incorporate Logos Research Systems, Inc. Dale opens a sales and marketing office in Marlton, New Jersey.
February 1992
Bob and Kiernon open a research and development office in Kirkland, Washington.
March 1993
Research and development headquarters move to Oak Harbor, Washington.
August 1995
Logos Bible Software v2.0 ships, built on a brand-new technology. The Logos Library System introduces the “library” concept to Bible software. The LLS is the first Bible software platform designed to support hundreds of electronic books delivered, or unlocked, as separate products.
February 1998
An ever-growing list of new books for the Logos Library System begins to push the limits of the technology. A new plan is developed to build a third-generation platform that can handle 10,000+ electronic books and that is based on research in library science, information retrieval, and the emerging field of digital libraries.
August 2001
The first release of the Libronix Digital Library System is completed. The completely new, user-friendly release of Logos Bible Software Series X is an enormous success.
March 2002
Logos Research Systems, Inc., relocates its headquarters from Oak Harbor, WA, to Bellingham, WA.
July 2003
The Biblical Languages Supplement is released with the Libronix DLS v2.0 code. Logos Bible Software moves to the top level of support for study in Greek, Hebrew, and other biblical languages with new reference books, improved primary texts, and an even stronger search engine.
December 2008
Logos 1.0 for Macintosh is released.
November 2009
Logos Bible Software launches Logos 4, a multiplatform program designed to run on Windows, Macintosh, iPhone, and iPod Touch.
October 2010
Logos 4 Mac releases.
November 2010
Logos publishes the Greek New Testament: SBL Edition, a free critically edited Greek New Testament.
June 2011
Logos releases Vyrso, a Christian ebook store and ereader app that integrates powerful searches and Bible software with Christian fiction and trade ebooks.
January 2012
Proclaim church presentation software releases, giving pastors, worship teams, and volunteers smart, cloud-based, collaborative solutions to Sunday-morning presentations.
June 2012
The Faithlife Study Bible and Faithlife.com launch to the public, giving users free subscriptions to the FSB and the opportunity to create groups and share notes and events in the Faithlife community.
November 2012
Logos 5 launches with precise new tools and seven new base packages. This significant update includes more innovative features and enormous new datasets, including the Bible Sense Lexicon, Clause Search, Bible Facts, and the Timeline of Christian and biblical history.
January 2013
Logos Bible Software provides 2.5 million free copies of the Faithlife Study Bible. Christians worldwide can now study the Scriptures on their iPhones, iPads, Android, Kindle, or online.
May 2013
Logos Mobile Education launches, delivering video-based, seminary-level courses within Logos. Instruction is tethered to digital library resources and other research tools.
November 2013
Logos Bible Software partners with Dallas Theological Seminary to equip their students with personal research libraries and digital research tools.
March 2014
Denominational base packages are introduced as part of Logos 5, starting with a track specifically for Reformed users. Others, such as Baptist and Lutheran, soon follow.
September 2014
Logos Bible Software rebrands as Faithlife, reflecting the company’s ongoing commitment to equipping the Church to grow in the light of the Bible.
October 2014
Logos 6 launches, providing users with improved tools and new ways to study the Bible.
December 2014
Faithlife is named one of Glassdoor’s Top 10 Places to Work for the second consecutive year.
April 2015
Logos Cloud launches with subscription-based access to Logos Bible Software tools and content, allowing users even greater flexibility and options.
October 2015
Faithlife TV launches, bringing family and Bible-based video entertainment and teaching to homes and churches.
January 2016
Over the next several months, Faithlife continues its global commitment helping Christians grow by releasing foreign language versions of Logos in Portuguese, German, Chinese, and Spanish.
August 2016
Logos 7 launches with added features such as Sermon Editor and Courses Tool. Faithlife also releases Archaeology + Jesus, a documentary featuring Dr. Craig Evans.
January 2017
Faithlife celebrates 25 years of equipping the Church to grow in light of the Bible.
February 2017
Faithlife releases a new free version of Logos Bible Software and the first Korean Logos base package. Now, 3 billion people can study Scripture in their own language using Logos tools.
October 2018
Logos 8 launches in English, Spanish, German, Portuguese, Korean, and Chinese. Verbum 8 launches in English and Spanish. Both releases include added features such as Canvas and Workflows.