When I was invited in 1990(?) to see a pre-release demo of
CD-Word, I came away from this event wondering about the
impact this sort of technology would have on how people
studied the scriptures. I conjured up visions of a whole new
kind of bible exposition, *electronic sermons*, where
knowledge of the subject matter was replace with *virtual
knowledge.*
This subject has a direct bearing on the study of NT Greek.
Virtual knowledge is making major inroads on the study of
Biblical languages. People who have not and will never take
the time to learn the languages can now use the languages in
a way which will simulate great erudition before an audience
which has no expertise in these matters.
There has always been a big market for *tools* that will
make a pastor or a teacher appear to be a scholar. These
tools are not new. However the unwrapping of CD-Word a few
years back was akin to the discovery of the atomic bomb.
These new electronic tools are orders of magnitude more
effective than the older weapons.
Virtual knowledge isnt going to go away. But I would rather
spend five minutes listening to someone who has actually
read their sources than spend months listening to someone
who knows how to manipulate the tools to simulate
knowledge.
Clay Bartholomew
Three Tree Point
PostScript
The problem here is not with the electronic tools
themselves. The electronic tools are very useful and I am
thankful to have access to what is probably the very best of
these systems. I use it regularly.