About two years ago when you looked across your church the chances of seeing more than a couple of iPads in the hands of worshipers was rare. Today, there’s a good chance that a third of a congregation has an iPad in their possession. (I totally made that stat up.)
I bought an iPad the month it made it’s debut. When I unsheathed it’s glory on the platform of a church I was preaching at it seemed foreign. I got some strange stares. Some envious stares. And, some looks of disgust with my over indulgence of modern technology.
A lot has changed since then. Which brings me to an important question. Should you ditch your old school leather bound Bible and use your iPad with a Bible application?
I go back and forth constantly between the two. I’ve written about the history of my Scofield Bible before and how much I use it. Yet, there are times I really enjoy reading the Bible with my iPad. (Note: you can plug in whatever digital Bible you use where I use the iPad in this article.)
I’m want to give you a few of my pros and cons of using the iPad as a main Bible.
Pro- Any and all translations are at my finger tips. I use the KJV, ESV and NKJV primarily.
Pro- I can read it in the dark. C’mon, that’s awesome.
Pro- Plugging in earbuds and listening to music while I read. Even awesomer.
Pro- I can take notes using helpful note applications such as Evernote.
Here are a few cons
Con- I can’t use a pen or highlighter. Yes, within apps this is able to be done. But, it’s a little tedious and hard to reference again in later reading.
Con- Major distractions. I can listen to music on Pandora, but I can also check email, check Twitter and shop on eBay. This can be a hinderance for me if I need to be focused on reading.
I don’t believe I could ever not use my leather Bible. I absolutely love it. It’s worn in, and it has all my chicken scratches for notes written in it. At the same time, using my iPad as a Bible is really fun. I find myself using it more during my time of devotions.
This all comes down to preference. It’s God’s Word. Read it any way that you can. If it’s in a pink Sunday school New Testament, if it’s on a Franklin Electronic Bible, if it’s on your smart phone, if it’s the mother of pearl deluxe size family Bible, if it’s on a scroll, or even if it’s the newest technological advancement, just read the Bible.
The best answer to this question is to use which ever Bible you will read.
Which do you use?
This is a great article and something I’ve thought a whole lot about.
I too love using my iPad for reading…
However, I can truly say I’ve never stuck my iPad under my pillow at night when I couldn’t find peace.
I’ve never taken my iPad and laid on my sick children and declared healing by the authority & power of the Word.
I’ve never put my iPad on the ground and stood on it as I declared the promises of it’s content. (for more than one reason. I’d break the screen for one thing. haha)
With the convenience of paperless billing, paperless applications, etc. I realize this generation is going paperless with a lot of different things, but I don’t think THE WORD is something I’m willing to forfeit on a permanent basis.
I still like stepping to the pulpit and saying, “turn in you bible with me…” My old Thompson Chain will be with me when I draw my last breath.
Thanks for dealing with such a cool issue. I love and appreciate you bro!
Luke St.Clair
I absolutely love this Luke. When I traveled alone I would put my Scofield under my pillow when I slept. Some places I stayed worried me to death, so I would sleep on the Word. I more times than not still take my physical Bible to the pulpit with me. Just in case I need to find a quick reference that I have marked in it.
Thanks for the comment bro. I hope you comment more and drop more nuggets for us to devour.
Love ya!
Well, since I don’t have an Ipad, I use e-Sword. It is a free electronic bible application that you can download on a “regular” laptop
. I use the KJV, AMP, GNB, and the ESV on it.
I also love the Thompson Chain Reference bible that I use for reading and studying. I also have this older smaller black KJV reference leather bible made by Zondervan. It is probably my favorite (even though the words are the smallest in it).
Wonderful. Thanks for the comment Jason!
It’s so fun to read about other men putting their Bible under their pillow. My dad taught me to do that when I was young and I would get scared at night. When my son came in our room scared one night a year ago I told him to do it; he still has it under there!
God bless you my brothers!
Jeremy Causey
Thanks for the comment Jeremy. I appreciate you reading the blog.
Nate
I love preaching with the iPad, but I have never went to the pulpit without a leather bound Bible. When I study I normally use 3-4 Bibles, my Schofield KJV and ESV, Dake and, Chain. Yes the iPad would be convenient for this with the YouVersion Bible app and the ability in landscape mode to use it as a parallel Bible. But theres just somthing about the leather and fliping through those pages that I’m addicted to. I’m in Love with the Word of God and with my Bibles and thier Leather Covering. Great topic Bro. Love and Appreaciate you.
Thanks for a great comment Travy. Keep up those incredible study habits of yours.
I logged in today to follow your blog, which I will try to do faithfully … you totally blessed my soul yesterday (and Mom’s) when you called! I was surprised that you didn’t know that Steve had written “Hallelujah, I Will Praise Him” … he wrote such ‘apostolic’ songs !!!! … leaving NO DOUBT about his beliefs!!! Anyway … thanks again for following the Lord in calling me … I feel so much better today … and I know that you and the church in Knoxville are praying for us now!!!! “I Woke Up This Morning With My Mind … Stayed On Jesus!” … Hallelujah!!!
Love you … !!!!
It was nice to catch up. It’s always my delight to talk about the old paths and our heritage. Thanks for reading my blog, hopefully it’s not too boring. I look forward to hearing from you again!
love you much!
Nate
hello again!!! was wondering if you received your cd and card??? seriously, i didn’t know if i put enough stamps on it … love you!!!!
I got it this past week. Thank you for sending it my way. I’ve really enjoyed it.
The main reason I got an iPad was to preach from it. I used to carry around notes in a binder…the iPad is so much lighter and easier to carry.
I also got it for songs. I have on my iPad hundreds of praise and worship songs and lead sheets, as well as specials that I sing. I’ve tried different Bible apps, but Olive Tree is by far my favorite even though it is not all free (though the KJV and some other versions are free). I find the highlighting functionality of apps like Olive Tree pretty useful, and I use it regularly.
I certainly understand the leather-bound Bible as a point of contact to the Word of God. But I also know that the Word of God is more than ink on a page, or pixels on a screen. Compared to the original Scriptures in their original form, our leather-bound Bibles are high-tech. More than on paper, or an iPad, Kindle, or other device, I want the Word of God in my mind and heart. God, let “the fleshy tables of [my] heart” be the place where Your Word resides (2 Cor. 3:3)!
I love this Bro. Delbert! Thank you for the wonderful response.
Quick question do you ever go to church (preaching or not) without a Leather Bound Bible? As for me this is not an option I take both. People probably think I’m crazy but I normally take my Scofield 3 study Bible (not a small bible) my note book (Moleskine) and my iPad.
When I preach I seem to always take my Scofield KJV with me. I know where everything is in it, just case I need to make reference. I always take my iPad with me. I got a new compact ESV to take with me each time to church. I usually try to take a small notebook in my suit pocket for quick notes. I fluctuate with all these options. It usually depends on my mood, where I am, if I’m to preach, If I’m to emcee or what not.
oh!yes the bible remain suitable for discipleship sake,unless the lord blesses all of our congregation ,over here in nigeria it may look intimidating eventhough its not ,but many a pastor may use it for show.