As much as I tried to resist the urge, I finally broke down and bought an iPhone back in March. Since this article isn’t intended as a review of the iPhone, I’ll simply say that the iPhone is far and away the best phone available. Nothing else even comes close.
The iPhone is a powerful tool and there is an application (app) for just about anything you can imagine. One of the first applications I installed after purchasing my iPhone was a Bible app. Since then I’ve tried several Bible apps, each with it’s own set of unique features and tools, and each with it’s pros and cons.
There are free iPhone Bible apps and paid Bible apps. For the average user the free version will more than suit your needs. Here’s three of my favorite iPhone Bible apps, all which are free:
YouVersion includes 18 different English Bible translations, including the American Standard Version, Contemporary English, Holman Christian Standard, New International Version and The Message. A ‘Next’ and ‘Previous’ button at the top of the screen allows easy navigation between chapters.
My favorite feature of YouVersion allows you to simply touch a verse to bring up a menu with the options to email the verse, bookmark the passage or read user commentaries. You can also contribute your own commentary on verse or passage.
The settings option allows you to adjust the font style, size and background color for easy reading.
Finally, you can use the ‘Daily Read’ option to read through the Bible in one year.
Olive Tree’s iPhone Bible software probably offers the most full featured package, but only the basics are free. The free version allows you to download the American Standard Version, the King James, the Bible in Basic English, along with a few others. If you want to add the NIV, New King James or other licensed version you will have to pay a fee for each one.
Olive Tree also includes many other paid ad-dons such as a Greek and Hebrew Lexicon, Bible dictionary, maps and study notes.
Two features really stand out with Olive Tree. A small arrow at the bottom of the screen allows you to view a split screen so you can compare translations. But my favorite is the option to add notes on any verse of the Bible by clicking on the verse number. Once saved, a small paper icon appears next to the verse showing that a note is available.
iTourSoftware.com’s KJV Bible Audiobook is packed with features, but the one that stands out is the audio reading by Alexander Scourby. You can choose the daily Bible reading plan or select from any passage using the quick search feature. You can then read the text or listen to the reading. I’ve used this feature many times on my drive to and from work.
This Bible app also includes a note feature, bookmark option, maps and a history of your Bible readings.
I would recommend this Bible app in addition to any other Bible apps you may choose to run.
There are many iPhone Bible apps available. Let me know your experiences with other Bible apps.
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I will have to agree with you on this. I have searched the entire App store and I too fell in love with Olive Tree’s app. I’ve shared this app with so many of our iPhone friends. Good job.