Electronic Bible, or physical Bible?
By ByronEA
@ByronEA (109)
United States
March 30, 2011 9:16am CST
On my Android, I use YouVersion (a great Bible App for Androids, iPhones, and BlackBerry) and on my computer I use e-Sword (I HIGHLY recommend this freeware!). I have many Bibles laying around the house. But, it seems, they rarely get used. My main Bible is only used during my morning prayers (in which I have a lectionary reading from the Bible every day). It seems like any other time if I need to look up a passage, I use Youversion or e-Sword. Mostly, it is out of convenience. If I am on a web forum or email discussing the Bible, it is quicker to type the reference in then to flip through the Bible. If I am riding the public bus or at college or on break at work, I usually don't have my Bible, but I do have my phone on me.
So what about you? Do you use any electronic versions of the Bible? Do you prefer to use the physical book, or to use the electronic version(s)? What are your thoughts on the electronic vs. physical Bible issue in general?
The Lord be with you!
Byron A.
2 people like this
5 responses
@allyoftherain (7208)
• United States
30 Mar 11
I have an electronic Bible, but I've grown to hate it. At first I loved it and thought it was convenient but over time I've realized it isn't. It got really slow scrolling so I'll be hitting the down arrow and nothing will happen and then suddenly it'll scroll up eight verses or so. Very annoying. Plus, the holy word of God should have have to depend on button batteries. That's just wrong. I'm switching back to my good old-fashioned paper bibles.
@ByronEA (109)
• United States
30 Mar 11
That is the weakest argument I have ever heard. You are against electronic bibles because it is wrong for God's word to have to depend upon batteries?
My belief is that the power of the Scriptures are in its words, not in the way it is presented (on a paper page vs on a screen). I know people who have discovered great truths reading the Bible electronically, and also people who have discovered great truths reading it from a physical book.
1 person likes this
@allyoftherain (7208)
• United States
30 Mar 11
Not "wrong" as in morally wrong. "Wrong" as in I think it's messed up. I have no problem with anyone reading the bible in an electronic format... but I've come to hate electronic books in general myself so I've quit reading the Bible electronically.
@carmelanirel (20942)
• United States
30 Mar 11
I use e-sword too, that is one of the best free resources when it comes to looking up root meanings of what the Bible says. As for reading it, the only time I read scriptures online is if someone posts it up, other than that, give me the real thing..I love the feel of a book and the pages...When I am out, as a music lover, I only listen to music, but at home when I study scripture, it is the book itself I read..:)
@ByronEA (109)
• United States
30 Mar 11
Another great advantage of Youversion and e-Sword that I love is comparing translations! :) I love comparing Young's Literal Translation with all these other Bibles. It really shows you how much liberty they take in interpreting passages rather than literally translating it. Do you ever use Young's Literal Translation?
1 person likes this
@carmelanirel (20942)
• United States
30 Mar 11
I think I have heard of that version, but didn't know much about it. I'll have to check it out..
@ccdiane (151)
• Cheyenne, Wyoming
5 Apr 11
Greetings,
What I use is both "Bible Gateway" for online passages. And the reason I do this, about everyday I receive Encouraging word to my email. But they don't use the bible version that I do all the time. So each morning I copy where the passage is taken from, and paste it in Bible Gateway which it is set to the version I use.
I also use my physical bible to go to church with, so I can follow the pastor's sermon and write down what I need to be reminded about the message.
So yes, I still use both on a regular basis. This bible I have is the best investment I had ever made for myself. I bought it in 2007 so it is not all that old. I still love the features or the tools that it has.
So they are both very important to me to use on a regular basis.
I hope this helps.
God bless you.
@violann (436)
• United States
15 Apr 11
I don't have an electronic Bible, didn't know they were available til I came across your discussion here on mylot. With that being said I don't think I would like to own one, guess I'm just old fashion I like my Bible with all the highlights in it and being able to flip through the pages when I'm looking for something in particular that I've highlighted and when I come across something new again I can highlight that.
Enjoy the day and be blessed.
@jacrosealbert (107)
• Philippines
30 Mar 11
i think whichever of these two you could use without any difference. Since both of them contains the word of god.So yeah that's the only important thing....
@carmelanirel (20942)
• United States
30 Mar 11
jacrose, I think the important thing is to eliminate false translations in various bibles. Yes, all say god, but so do other religious writings..
