As much as I still prefer a Bible with pages, a cover, space to write in, and the whole pre-modern deal, I appreciate the benefits of a good Bible app. Here are some recommended by various people at SGC.
I asked Dan Noel what the 18-25-year old crowd prefers. His response was these two:
- BibleGateway Mobile App
- She Reads Truth Bible (iPhone or Android)
John McLeod has used this one for years:
- The Logos Bible app (Android and iPhone versions).
The ESV has a free Bible app available in different formats.
My go-to for a long time now is the Olive Tree app.
All of these have a free version you can start with to check them out but will allow you to pay for add-ons as you need them. They are typically built with the ability to highlight and take notes right in the app. Logos certainly has the most powerful books to add to their basic version, but Olive Tree is strong in that area as well. There's a growing community connected with She Reads Truth, and BibleGateway is a long-time fixture on the web for basic Bible study.
A good Bible app gives you a clean way to read your Bible and get reading plans with reminders. It can turn your 15-minute wait for the dentist into a chance to catch up on your daily Bible reading or help you in a conversation when you want to give a verse to a friend but can't remember the reference.
The downside of Bible apps is that they are on an electronic device that typically gives you access to...everything–your emails, your calendar, your bank account, your friend's latest pictures of her cat, all sports info from forever....you get the point. Sometimes it's hard to tune these out while you're trying to tune in to God's Word.
There are certainly better and worse ways to read and study your Bible, but in the end, the way you will actually read your Bible is always better than the way you won't.
Daniel
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