The Bible does not always lend itself easily to ebook reading, because ebooks are best read sequentially and bibles are often used as a reference books. Reading from chapter to chapter in an ebook is easy; ebooks have chapters. Flipping back and forth through pages on an ebook is literally impossible; ebooks don't have pages.
The problem is solved with the YouVersion app from Lifechurch.tv. Not only does it become possible to flip through pages of the Bible, it becomes possible to flip through versions and translations of the Bible as long as there is an active internet connection.
Using YouVersion to Read the Bible
Sequential biblical reading on YouVersion is enhanced beyond regular ebook experiences. There are various reading plans which are contributed by different churches and theologians. The plans are designed for daily reading, and some plans can be finished in about a month, while others are scheduled to be daily reading for a year.
It is also possible to just chose a Bible version and start reading. YouVersion currently has 41 bible translations, with 16 in English. It should be noted that the multi-campus church that developed of YouVersion is affiliated with the Evangelical Covenant Church. This means that some books traditionally associated with Orthodox and Catholic bibles may not be found on YouVersion. For example, Ecclesiasticus is not found on YouVersion, although the app does have the King James Version.It does not have any of the Apocrypha which is usually found in the KJV.
Using YouVersion to Find Verses
The one of the most impressive aspects of YouVersion being able to easily different translations and versions of the same verse. Users can search for a verse by keyword, book, chapter, or verse number. By clicking the top bar that says the current translation, it is easy to flip into another translation. For example:
- 1 Corinthians 13:13: So these three things remain: faith, hope, and love. But the best one of these is love. (God's Word Bible translation on YouVersion)
- 1 Corinthians 13:13: And now abideth faith, hope, charity, these three; but the greatest of these is charity. (King James Bible translation on YouVersion)
- 1 Corinthians 13:13: For now there are faith, hope, and love. But of these three, the greatest is love. (Contemporary English Bible translation on YouVersion)
YouVersion notes that there are different copyrights on the Bible versions. Essentially, a user of the App has 41 different bibles in one app. YouVersion also has free electronic Bible ebooks to download for offline reading.
Bible study becomes more meaningful when different translations are available, and using the Bible as a reference becomes more useful when one is able to find the translation that is being referred to in another source. It is also possible to share verses across social networks and email through the app.
YouVersion App Availabilty
The YouVersion App is available free in the following formats:
- Android (on 1.5 and higher),
- Blackberry (on 4.2.1 or higher, and specific devices listed on YouVersion's mobile page),
- iPhone and iTouch (with the 2.0 firmware upgrade), and
- iPad (as Bible HD), and
- Java/Mobile Web for web-enabled phones by going to m.youversion.com.
Although the YouVersion app is free for the iPhone/ iTouch, the required 2.0 firmware upgrade is not free for iTouch users. It is sold through iTunes and must be done before installing YouVersion. This review used the Youversion for iPhone/iTouch App.
The only two frustrations with YouVersion will be for people with limited connectivity, because the app requires an internet connections to access all the features, and for times when readers are seeking specific verses found only within Orthodox and Catholic bibles. For the most part, YouVersion is the electronic version of the Bible that Christians have been waiting for, because it is easy to flip through verses and it goes beyond the printed Bible by allowing quick searches of different versions and translations.
Related Reading:
Three Theological Virtues in the Toy Story Movies
Motivational Books for Young Adults: eBooks by the Harris Twins
News App Review: Four Free iPhone Apps from the iTunes Store
eBook Review: Christianity by Diarmaid MacCulloch
Alex Sharp - Alex Sharp is a teacher who has been keeping Suite101 readers up to date with the latest in audio- and e-book gadgetry since 2008.
