Electronic Bibles: Good or Bad?

66% of teenagers use an electronic Bible on their phone or tablet more than a hard-copy, paper Bible. 

We are at a unique time in the history of technology and faith. Never in history has the Bible been more accessible than it is now. Within their pocket, anyone can have access to dozens of Bible translations and commentaries for free. In just the blink of an eye, someone can compare a verse in three different translations without having to turn a page. It's remarkable! But yet…is it? 

While we have more Bible resources than any other generation before us, we're also far more Biblically illiterate than any generation before us too. So what's the solve? Are e-Bibles good because of the convenience and accessibility that they offer? Or will they ultimately cause long-term spiritual harm because of the lack of absorption and prone to distraction? The answer is…YES!

Electronic Bible Pros

They are great for convenience. If you have a smartphone or tablet, you can have the Bible with you at all times. They are great for looking at multiple translations too. It is highly beneficial to compare two or three different translations of a passage when studying scripture. E-Bibles make this easy parcheesi! They're good for a quick reference, too.

They are also great for sharing. It's super easy to highlight a verse and share it on Facebook, Twitter, or Myspace (kidding…Myspace is as dead as the T-Rex). You can easily select a verse and text it to a friend. Or copy a passage into Evernote to memorize. There are even some great apps to help with Scripture Memory…I suggest the app Bible Memory Verses.

Electronic Bible Cons 

They are not good for most types of Bible studying, either in a group or in personal devotionals. Several studies have shown that you absorb far less information when you read it on a screen vs. on paper. This goes the same for e-books vs. paper books. Having a paper Bible to physically open, jot down notes, and highlight creates a spiritual timeline for you to look back on the next time you read the passage. While you can highlight and save notes on E-Bibles, it doesn't create the same footprint that a hardcopy Bible does. Also with a hardcopy Bible, it is much easier to physically see the context of the passage/verses within the chapter itself which can help with understanding.

Distractions! It's nearly impossible focus in-depth on anything on your phone because of the thousands of things it's capable of doing. I just checked my own iPhone and saw that I've opened 17 different apps since this morning! It's so hard to focus on one thing on a smartphone because we're always tempted to slide over to Twitter or our Email. Or Candy Crush! Gimme dat next level! 

Conclusion 

Electronic Bibles are great tools to use alongside a good, physical paper Bible. They allow quick reference, translation comparison, and integrate well with social media. E-Bibles are best used as an additional resource or for the convenience of teaching/ referencing, when a physical Bible may not work as well.

However, E-Bibles should never fully supplement a paper, hard copy Bible. If you want to truly absorb the Bible on a deep level, Electronic Bibles are probably not the best way to go. I would encourage you to always use a Paper Bible during any type of small group Bible study, worship service, or personal devotional. You may surprised at how much more you retain!

PS: If you don't have a paper Bible, the New International Version and English Standard Version are both fantastic translations when first starting out reading the Bible!