Cornerstone Bible - The Perfect Bible Study Tool

very good
key review info
application features
  • Cornerstone Bible includes:
  • (22 more, see all...)

The Bible, probably the most important writing ever known to mankind, has constantly been the subject of interpretations conducted by the most enlightened minds of the world for more than 2000 years now. That is why for a modern man, who can and will judge for themselves, having all the pieces of the puzzle is the first step to true knowledge. The purpose of the Cornerstone Bible is exactly that: it offers 15 Bible translations, but also additional information in order to provide the starting point to a holistic point of view upon the matter.

The Looks

The application per se is very well organized, but it may take a while to understand exactly how it functions, mostly due to the difficulty of the subject. In order to acquire additional browsing options, you can add to the main window the Filemaker runtime status panel. The new area will allow you to easily browse through the different entries and change your position within the database.

The Works

The Bible area has three main panels that offer quick access to all the features. The first one, situated in the left upper corner, permits you to view different Bible topics, but also the Notes area.  The menu situated right under this panel lets you see the available additional Bible information, like the Dictionary, the Maps, the Bible Toons, the Strong Concordance cases, but also the Devotionals. Still, most of the action will take place in the Bible panel.

The focus point of the window is represented by the actual information that follows the Bible structure. The books are separated according to the New and the Old testament, and you can easily change the default translation from the panel located in the top right corner. Once you have selected one of the books, you can start reading the verses that are organized in chapters, however you may also easily go back and forth between the chapters, switch between translations, and add your own notes.

In the right side of the Viewer toolbar, you will be able to see general information about the history and the authors of each translation, in order to better understand the internal mechanism and the way in which the final work has been influenced by the external factors. At the bottom of the Viewer, area you will find the Footnote panel that allows you to store your own observations for each chapter, the entry being automatically saved when you move forward.

Considering the size of the application, the Bookmark panel situated in the bottom left corner seems to be one of the most useful features. Unfortunately, the Bookmarks are limited to four entries. Still, the Quick find Book and Chapter tab is very useful if you know what you are looking for.

At all times, you can adjust the application size by pressing the Size arrow buttons that seem to be present in almost every window. The feature is extremely useful in the Bible Maps panel where you will be able to see even the smallest detail. The maps represent significant events within the Bible and are designed to give you a geographical perception of the subjects.

The KjvStro layout appears to be a very interesting and innovative feature, although it seems to be part of the Filemaker runtime menu. It allows you to see two versions in the same window, providing a very nice tool for performing comparisons. The odd part is related to the fact that you must restart the application in order to go back to the initial window. At least I couldn’t find another way. The absence of a document that offers at least some guidance is very disappointing.

Still, the developers have been very well intended and have tried to provide everything you might need in a single application. Anyway, this is the direction in which the fact that you can keep your extensive notes within the app points out. The window offers four panes for each entry, support for the insertion of text strings, a simple search option, and the possibility to print the document.

The Cornerstone Bible goal appears to be the integration of all the information that one might need to really understand this particular subject. If the Dictionary and Strong’s Concordance cases give concise items of information, the Devotionals area is addressing the user in search for spiritual guidance.

The surprise element of the application is the fact that it still has some room left for humor. The  Toons panel displays comics inspired by Bible subjects and guarantees a big smile on you face.


The Good

Although the Bible is the cornerstone for one of the most popular religions of our days, few people are actually aware of the historical side of the writing. If you are trying to better understand the customs and the value systems that surround you, this application might be the perfect tool.  

The Bad

Although the app is, indeed, complete, I believe it lacks one of the most important features: the possibility to compare multiple translations by actually seeing them at the same time.  Or at least you should be able to open several windows. 

The Truth

The Cornerstone Bible is probably the easiest way to access all the information you might need regarding the Bible. And since the application can be used free of charge, there is actually no obstacle to your endeavor.

Here are some snapshots of the application in action:

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user interface 4
features 4
ease of use 4
pricing / value 5


final rating 4
Editor's review
very good