The estimated reading time for this post is 5 minutes
Whether you’re a biblical scholar or new to the Good Book, tech can help you make the most of learning the Bible. From the convenience of having the Bible at your fingertips at all times to the advanced search features and beyond, these apps may become a helpful companion to a printed version of scripture.
Bible
This Bible app, formerly known as Bible by YouVersion, is a comprehensive app that give you helpful tools to learn about the Bible. You can choose from over 30 languages and hundreds of Bible versions, such as New International Version, New American Standard Bible, English Standard Version, New King James Version, New Living Translation, King James Version, and The Message. Many of the more popular versions are available to read off-line so you can have your verses handy no matter where you are.
The app has been updated to include videos such as The Story of Christmas. Some versions of the app are available as an audiobook when you’re connected to the Internet.
Speaking of connections, you can connect with your friends using the app to share notes, highlights and bookmarks — very handy for Bible study groups! You can also keep your notes, highlights and bookmarks private.
Start your 2015 New Year’s resolution right by choosing a plan to read the Bible next year. This app has plenty of plans to fit your lifestyle.
If you allow the app to detect your location you can find events in your area. You can also subscribe to the Verse of the Day that can be a widget on your iPhone Today screen.
This video introduces you to the app:
You can also check out the companion website, Bible.com.
The Bible app is free of charge and free of advertisements. You can find links to download the app for many different devices at bible.com/app.
Glo Bible
Glo Bible brings the Bible to life into the 21st century with its easy to use app that incorporates advanced interactive features. The app is organized in a very intuitive way to make finding a passage simple, you only need two taps to navigate anywhere in the Bible.
Bible verses appear at the top of the screen with additional information in the bottom panels. See extras such as maps, videos, 3D virtual tours of biblical sites, timelines, animation and photographs of geographic locations.
This video demonstrates many of the features of Glo Bible:
http://youtu.be/0PBtg27K_0c
Glo Bible is free to download for iPad and iPhone. Premium content is available for puchase.
Computer versions are available for Mac and PC. Check out the Glo Bible website for more information.
Biblicious
After you’ve been busy studying the Bible with these apps, test your knowledge with Bibilicious, the Bible Trivia App. This app is like a game show for Bible fans. Answer Bible questions correctly and earn Manna points, answer incorrectly and lose Manna points.
You can play in two modes: Single Player Mode that’s timed or Practice Mode that’s untimed. The app lets you choose Old Testament, New Testament or the entire Bible.
When you play in Single Player Mode you can add your high scores to the Manna Board (a/k/a Manna Board) to compare your scores with the rest of the world!
My full review of the app is here: Biblicious – Bible Trivia Fun!
Bibilicious is available for iPhone/iPad/iPod Touch as a free app with 10 sample questions so you can “try before you buy.” The Full version of the app is available for $1.99.
Kindle
Many versions of the Bible on the Kindle are free. If you have the Kindle app or a Kindle, check out the Kindle version of the Bible. For example, The English Standard Version of the Bible is free and rated 4 1/2 stars. You can search for phrases, look up words in the dictionary and adjust the font size for easy reading.
Audible
If you enjoy audiobooks and/or have a long commute, you may enjoy listening to the Bible. Audible has many recordings of the Bible available for your listening pleasure. Check out The Word of Promise Complete Audio Bible: New King James Version, a 98-hour audiobook narrated by stars such as Michael York, Richard, Dreyfuss, Jason Alexander, Marisa Tomei and more.
If you prefer a shorter audiobook, you can listen to the 18-hour James Earl Jones Reads the English Standard Version of the New Testament in an audiobook. Be sure to listen to the sample audio first before purchasing the audiobook. Although this version is rate 4 **** stars, some reviewers found the background music distracting.
Bible Apps for Children
Children can learn about the Bible as they have fun with apps.
Bible for Kids
The Bible for Kids app from YouVersion introduces the Bible to children in an engaging and entertaining format. Your kids can play games, earn awards, and enjoy animated stories.
The app is available in English, Spanish, Chinese, and Korean and was updated earlier this week to include Brazilian Portuguese.
Check out my full review at The Bible for Kids App – Sharing Faith and Fun!
This app is free and ad-free. You can find links to download the app to your iPhone/iPad/iPod Touch, Android devices and Amazon Fire tablet at bible.com/kids.
Bible ABCs for Kids
Your young children can learn about the Bible and their ABC’s in this adorable app. Bible ABCs for Kids shares a story from the Bible with each letter. Children can tap objects to discover hidden features, further engaging them in learning.
This video shows you how Bible ABCs for Kid helps children learn about the Bible while having fun:
Bible ABCs for Kids is available for iPad, iPhone and iPod Touch in a free version for the first seven letters of the alphabet. If you want to go beyond the letter “G” you can buy the full version of the app for $2.99.
The full version of this app is free today for Christmas!
Your Thoughts
Have you ever used any of these Bible apps? Do you have any Bible apps you would recommend? Do you have a Bible reading plan for 2015? Let us know in the Comments section below!
_____________________________
Merry Christmas from The Wonder of Tech!
Whether you celebrate Christmas or not, I wish you and your family a joyful and peaceful season. Thank you for being a Wonder of Tech reader!
_____________________________
* Bible image (edited) courtesy of MattLake via Flickr and Creative Commons
* Merry Christmas image (edited) courtesy of Annie via Flickr and Creative Commons
Hi Carolyn,
Although I am not a Christian and haven’t read the Bible, except for a few pages, the Bible app sounds something that I could use to learn more.
Yes, the kids would love those apps, and a great way to learn more about the Bible and other things that makes it more interesting with all the pictures too.
Thanks for sharing this with us. Wishing you a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year 🙂
Hi Harleena, Merry Christmas and happy blogiversary! Yes, the kids apps can really help bring the Bible to life. Children love to learn through play and these apps help them do just that.
The other apps can be helpful for anyone who wants to learn more about the Bible. You’re right, you don’t have to be a Christian to want to read the Bible. Many people are interested in reading either the entire Bible or certain passages from it. Either way, these apps can be very useful.
Thanks for your comment and your shares, Harleena!
Hey Carolyn,
Am not a Christian or a fan of God Talk. Personally, I haven’t even read Gita.
It is however good to note that technology is helping in making fast changes to how we live our everyday life. It is great to know that there are so many options for the Bible apps and some are even kid friendly.
This is a good post in the times of Christmas,
thanks,
Uttoran Sen,
Hi Uttoran, Yes, even people who aren’t Christians may still have an interest in reading the Bible or having a copy of it as a reference source. Getting a copy of the Bible via a free app is a quick, inexpensive and handy way to get the Bible.
Thanks for stopping by, Uttoran, great to see you here at The Wonder of Tech again!
I have use the You Version App for a few years and highly recommend it. I didn’t realize that Audible had the Bible features. Thanks for this info all in one place! I’ll share it with my friends. And Merry Christmas to you and your family. 🙂
Hi Lois, Welcome to The Wonder of Tech! It’s wonderful to hear from a fellow fan of YouVersion’s Bible app. I first discovered the app many years ago and it continues to improve with each update. This app also offers an audiobook feature for some versions but you have to stream it over the Internet. Be careful if you have a limited data plan for your cell phone! You may want to listen only over Wi-Fi if you’re approaching your monthly data limit.
Audible offers audiobooks that you can download so you don’t have to be connected to the Internet to listen, just to download them. A friend of mine recommended the James Earl Jones narration of the New Testament, but the reviews are mixed because of the background music. Be sure to listen to the sample first at Audible to see if you like the narration.
Thanks for your visit and wonderful comment. Merry Christmas to you and your family too, Lois!
Kindle is the app which is always listed, when we talk about best Bible apps, Kindle app has such a superb interference with simple and easy UI. Nice post btw.
Hi Rahul, Welcome to The Wonder of Tech! Yes, not a lot of people think of Kindle as a Bible app but with all of the choices of free Bibles and the Kindle app being available on nearly every mobile device, you can take the Bible with you wherever you go.
Thanks for stopping by and sharing your thoughts with us, Rahul.
You may also want to consider downloading the free Bible Gateway App as millions of others already have done https://BibleGateway.com/app
Hi Jonathan, Welcome to The Wonder of Tech! Thank you so much for sharing information and a link to your Bible Gateway app. I’m certain Wonder of Tech readers will want to check it out!
Have you ever tried the Bible.is app, http://www.bible.is/apps? It’s simple to use and has hundreds of languages to choose from.
the very best Bible app is JW Library. It has 5 different Bible translations including the King James and The New World Translation, which is in modern easy to understand language and is available on Android, Windows, and iphone/ipad.
Hi Cindy, Welcome to The Wonder of Tech! Thanks for sharing JW Library, an app produced by Jehovah’s Witnesses. Here is the link for readers who want to check it out JW Library App website.