History

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Bob and Kiernon open a research and development office in Kirkland, Washington.

Research and development headquarters move to Oak Harbor, Washington.

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.

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.

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.

Logos Research Systems, Inc., relocates its headquarters from Oak Harbor, WA, to Bellingham, WA.

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.

Logos 1.0 for Macintosh is released.

Logos Bible Software launches Logos 4, a multiplatform program designed to run on Windows, Macintosh, iPhone, and iPod Touch.

Logos 4 Mac releases.

Logos publishes the Greek New Testament: SBL Edition, a free critically edited Greek New Testament.

Logos releases Vyrso, a Christian ebook store and ereader app that integrates powerful searches and Bible software with Christian fiction and trade ebooks.

Proclaim church presentation software releases, giving pastors, worship teams, and volunteers smart, cloud-based, collaborative solutions to Sunday-morning presentations.

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.

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.