Is Your Bible as Old-Fashioned as Mine?
March 22, 2010
Been wondering about something a bit lately. I’ve noticed that more and more people are using online Bibles in their daily routine.
The success of YouVersion has been overwhelming on both PC’s and phones, as they have approximately 8 zillion daily users. Craig Groeschel, pastor of LifeChurch.tv, the organization that developed YouVersion, has lately even been saying before his sermons, “Turn in your Bibles or open up YouVersion on your cell phones to xxx passage.”
Less commonly, people (like me) will use services like BibleGateway or Bible software (often with fancy-shmancy graphics) when a physical Bible isn’t available.
All that to say, I never got into the digital Bible craze. Three reasons:
- I struggle with e-Books in general, albeit less and less.
- I like to mark up the stuff that I’m reading, especially the Bible. The features in software like e-Sword that allow for note-taking just don’t cut it for me.
- Building on point 2, they’re not permanent enough for me. I tend to stay away from proprietary software for things that I want to keep long-term…like notes about stuff I’m reading in the Bible.
All that to say, I really like software like MacSword (official site) for my academic endeavors, as they allow for quick comparisons and referencing of translations and languages. I just can’t get into them for less academic Scriptural uses.
What about you? Have you lost your old-fashioned Bible and turned instead to YouVersion on your iPhone? I’d love to be convinced that I’m missing out. Talk to me, and let’s have a good ole’ fashioned old vs. new media debate.
Image Credit: judybaxter
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8 Comments to Is Your Bible as Old-Fashioned as Mine?
by Adam_S
On March 22, 2010 at 4:24 pm
I haven't regularly used a paper bible in over a decade. Started with my Dell Axim, then my phone, now I alternate between my blackberry and my kindle. There are some negatives, but I think the positives outweigh them.
My recent post Sin Boldly: A Field Guide for Grace by Cathleen Falsani
by Steven Rossi
On March 22, 2010 at 4:40 pm
Don't those (particularly the Blackberry and the Kindle) take a long time to scroll through? I'm not sure about the Blackberry version (perhaps it has some sort of jump to passage feature), but it seems like the Kindle would be a bit of a hassle. No?
by Adam_S
On March 22, 2010 at 4:50 pm
All of them have a jump to passage feature. Some versions in kindle are much better than others. On blackberry I use Youversion, which is pretty good. On Windows Mobile I have used OliveTree and E-sword (I liked Olive Tree better). I used a bunch of different ones on computer, but none of them regularly.
My recent post Sin Boldly: A Field Guide for Grace by Cathleen Falsani
by stephenbateman
On March 22, 2010 at 8:36 pm
Good work on the macsword link!
by Steven Rossi
On March 22, 2010 at 11:10 pm
Ha thanks…gotta keep those old posts fresh.
by RBM
On March 25, 2010 at 8:12 pm
I love using YouVersion. I only take my paper Bible to my ole' fashioned church. Unlike you, I do not like to write in my Bible, that way when I read the same passage again and again, I am free to read and hear it fresh and new and not walk away with the same understanding. And YouVersion has a bookmark feature that has been far more helpful than any marking ever was.
by Steven Rossi
On March 26, 2010 at 4:12 pm
That's a cool perspective…I just like to note things that really stand out to me. I really do like the idea of being able to attach an extended comment to a passage (sorta like a personal commentary, my own thoughts on a passage), and I really like the way e-Sword does this, but like I said in the post I'm just scared that none of these things are permanent enough. In five years, will e-Sword even work on the computer that I own? Is YouVersion going to be maintained forever?
Certainly the argument could be made that my house could burn down and my Bible with it, but judging by the short life of some older software in comparison to the long life of my grandparents' Bibles, I'll take my chances.
I guess the notes thing is the biggest point of contention for me.
by Joe
On September 21, 2010 at 12:04 am
I still love the old King James Version:-)