Bert Brown and Kent Ochel are the founders of the company, Bible Research Systems, located in Austin, Texas. (1) Bible Research Systems (BRS) remained in operation from 1981 until the company shutdown sometime late 2017 or 2018. I know that their website went dark by the fall of 2019.
They are credited for creating the first-ever Bible study software, ‘The Word Processor’ in 1982. (2) ‘The Word Processor’ application was originally developed on an Apple personal computer that was bought in 1979 and BRS produced the first release for the Apple II platform in 1981. (3) In addition, the ‘The Word Processor’ software initially was released to run on the following platforms: Apple II+ and Apple III, then on the Radio Shack TRS80 computers; later, the IBM’s PC-DOS and MS-DOS versions were released. (4)
During late-1983, ‘THE WORD Processor’ was sold with its first add-on, called TOPICS. (5) This add-on contained the cross-reference indexes that covered over 200 primary subjects within the bible. From this point, BRS focused on creating, developing, producing, and marketing additional add-on products to expand and enhance ‘THE WORD Processor’ application; in addition to, updating the ‘THE WORD Processor’ application.
From that single application developed and produced in 1981 to its last incarnation in 2017…it is known as ‘THE WORD Processor’ that is a family of products for personal study of the Bible. (6) ‘THE WORD Processor’ suite (version 7.1.39) consists of the following products:
Application:
Verse Search is described as “the cornerstone product” of all products from Bible Research Systems and all additional products or add-ons require Verse Search to expand its features. (6)
Bible Translations:
1. American Standard Version (ASV)
2. English Standard Version (ESV)
3. Greek New Testament (GNT)
4. King James Translation (KJV)
5. The Living Bible (LBV)
6. New American Standard Version (NAS)
7. New International Translation (NIV)
8. New King James Translation (NKJ)
9. New Living Translation (NLT)
10. New Revised Standard Translation (NRS)
11. Reina Valera Actualizada (RVA)
12. Revised Standard Translation (RSV)
13. Young’s Literal Translation (YLT)
Add-ons:
1. Bible Maps
2. Bible Timeline
3. Bible Dictionary
4. Personal Commentary
5. Topical Cross Reference
6. People Cross Reference
7. Bible Outlines (book by book)
8. Librarian (to preserve your studies, sermons, or lessons)
9. Daily Bible Reading Schedule
10. Morning & Evening Devotional
Bible Study Aids:
1. Greek Transliterators
2. Hebrew Transliterators
3. Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
4. Christian Classics Library
5. Matthew Henry Commentary
6. Torrey’s Topical Bible
7. Nave’s Topical Bible
8. Chronological Bible
9. Major Bible Themes
10. Vine’s Dictionary
11. Chain References
VerseSearchers 