One of my readers asked me what apps I use to read, study, and listen to the Bible. In this post, I share my thoughts on four different apps that I have used.
BibleGateway.com - started out as a student project to make a digital, online Bible. It later became a division of Zondervan Publishing, now HarperCollins Christian Publishing. Their Bibles are available through the web and apps. I started using this online resource years ago, primarily because it had many current English translations available, but also because it had a good search tool, which could search not only verse references, but also words and names. I keep this app installed on my phone and tablet because it has one or two translations not available in the other apps. Not all of the Bible translations available are available in audio, but many good ones are. Besides, if English isn't your first language, they have many non-English translations available, too.
The app for iPhone is available in the iTunes store.
The app for Android is available in the Google Play store.
Or you can use your PC or Mac and a browser and access all of the Bibles and tools at their website - BibleGateway.com
FaithComesByHearing.com is an organization that began in 1972 as a tape-lending library. Their goal today is to have audio translations of the Bible in every spoken language on earth - this way people in poor regions who can't read, can still hear the word. I first came across this site when looking for an affordable, downloadable audio Bible. However, they now have app versions available for both the iPhone and Android. I don't currently use their app, but mention them here because of their goal to have translations in every spoken language. You can use their Bibles online, too. Moreover, if all you are looking for is an mp3 version to download, they still have that available as well. Check out their site at Bible.is
The app for iPhone is available in the iTunes store.
The app for Android is available in the Google Play store.
Or you can use your PC or Mac and a browser and access all of the Bibles and tools at their website -
FaithComesByHearing.com
My current "go-to" app is Bible.com (also known as YouVersion). It started as an outreach tool offered by Life.Church in Kansas. Like Bible Gateway - it has numerous English versions of the Bible available and many have audio as well. However, it also has tons of daily devotionals, notes and more. The main reason I prefer this app is that it synchronizes well across multiple devices. If I'm reading on my phone, my progress tracks to my tablet. Bible Gateway supposedly synchronizes too, but I haven't had it work very well. Thus the reason I use YouVersion.
All versions of their apps are available from YouVersion's download page. (They even have apps for Kindle Fire, Windows and others.)
Or you can use your PC or Mac and a browser and access all of the Bibles and tools at their website - Bible.com
The last tool I'd like to mention isn't available as an app, yet (but I hope they build this as an app). It's StudyLight.org. This site allows you to use Bible study tools like dictionaries, interlinear translations, commentaries, concordances, and encyclopedias. So if you're into word studies and original Biblical languages like Hebrew, Aramaic, and Greek, this is one of the best free online resources that I've found. I have it saved as a shortcut to my phone's home screen. It does have some devotionals and reading plans, too. So I use this in concert with BibleGateway and YouVersion.
Try them all and let me know which one you like best.
~~Ken
~~Ken
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