THE RISE OF

DIGITAL BIBLES
Juan Alfonso A.
Mercado
AND ITS EFFCTS ON
26YP2 THE SPIRITUALITY
OF CHRISTIAN
BELIEVERS
 Jesus Christ is the same
yesterday and today and
forever.
Hebrews 13:8
 PART I
The Rise of Digital Bibles
 Guttenberg Printing Press

Retrieved from http://blog.biblioteca.unizar.es/wp-

content/uploads/2017/01/incipit_genese_image_en_une.jpg
 Digital Bibles

Retrieved from https://www.scottwfisher.com/church/should-i-use-

a-digital-bible-or-not/
 Bible App by YouVersion

Retrieved from: my phone

 Bible App by YouVersion

Retrieved from: my phone

 Bible App by YouVersion
• 350 million installs worldwide
• 1,797 Bible translations in 1,247 languages
• 16.7 billion chapters were read in 2017
• 532 chapters were read in one second alone
• Philippine users: 152% growth
 GloBible

Retrieved from: https://globible.com/wp-

content/themes/globible/images/iPhones.png
 Filament

Retrieved from: https://files.tyndale.com/thpdata/images--covers/HiResJPG/978-1-4964-3631-

3.jpg?width=420&quality=65 and
https://g.christianbook.com/g/slideshow/4/433165/main/433165_99_bbx.jpg
 PART II
Debate: Digital vs Physical
Bibles
 PROS CONS
1. Different features of 1. Distracting
Bible apps 2. A digital Bible does not
2. Online resources that stand alone, instead
help supplement the sharing space with
experience other apps
3. Convenience, for those 3. “The message does not
with active lifestyles feel real”
PART III
Survey
 Survey
• 20 respondents
• 12 females, 8 males
• Across Metro Manila
• High School and College Level
• Ages 16-20
• Mostly protestant, with three Catholic respondents
Survey
 Survey
What Bible Apps Do You Use?
• 14 respondents: the Bible App by YouVersion
• 3 respondents: the Holy Bible App
• 2 respondents: ESV Bible App
• 1 respondent: GloBible App
• 1 respondent: Light Bible App
• 1 respondent: Japanese-language Bible App

• Note: responses overalp as two respondents report having

more than one application on their phone.
Survey
Survey
Survey
Survey
 “YES”
“Yes, there are features in the Bible app that interests the
readers to make time reading the scriptures. The streaks in
the YouVersion bible app encourages my friends and I to
read the bible everyday. Regarding the devotions from the
church, I also use and collect the devotion plans from the
YouVersion bible app that excites me to finish my devotion
everyday.”
 “NO”
“No because using your phone distracts you because of the
notifications you are getting. It also makes you want to do
your devotions quickly because you want to do something
else w your phone”

“It only helps when you need a quick search.”

“The message doesn’t feel real sometimes”

CONCLUSION
 Conclusion
• Digital Bibles uses technology to its advantage
• But for most people, it only supplements the Bible reading
experience
• Different viewpoints on whether using one format over the
other is better
• In the end, it all depends on the person
THE END
 REFERENCES
Chan, M.J. (n.d.). The Bible and the Internet. Retrieved from
http://global.oup.com/obso/focus/focus_on_bible_and_the_internet/.

Garcia, E. (2010). Zondervan Launches eBook of New NIV Bible. Retrieved from
https://www.christianpost.com/news/zondervan-launches-ebook-of-new-niv-bible-48163/

GloBible. (n.d.). About GloBible. Retrieved from https://globible.com/about/.

Gryboski, M. (2014). Are Digital Bibles as Holy as Paper Bibles? Retrieved from
https://www.christianpost.com/news/are-digital-bibles-as-holy-as-paper-bibles-123342/.

Jackson, G.P. (2014). 8 Reasons You Should Get Bail On Your Bible App and Get Back to Your Hard
Copy. Retrieved from https://griffinpauljackson.com/2014/04/07/8-reasons-to-bail-on-bible-apps/.

Perky, S. (2014). Should Digital Bibles Be Acceptable in a Worship Service? Retrieved from
https://www.steveperky.com/should-digital-bibles-be-acceptable-in-a-worship-service/.
 REFERENCES
Rau, A. (2016). 5 Reasons You Should Embrace Digital Bible Study. Retrieved from
https://churchtechtoday.com/2016/01/22/5-digital-bible-study/.

YouVersion. (2017). 2017 Year in Review. Retrieved from

http://installs.youversion.com/2017-year-in-review/index.html

YouVersion. (n.d.). The Bible App. Retrieved from

https://www.youversion.com/the-bible-app/.

Tyndale House Publishers Announces Innovative Print + Digital Bible. (2018). Retrieved
from https://www.biblegateway.com/blog/2018/07/tyndale-house-publishers-
announces-interactive-print-and-digital-bible/.