Whats the best choice for bible study? - Page 2

briwayjones · 06-16-2010, 02:13 AM

I'll put in my .02 which is basically what everyone else already said. The best program I've seen for bible Study is e-Sword followed by OliveTree. But you need some kind of computer device to use them. I haven't seen a good way to study on a e-ink device. Like the others said they are slow. I found a ASV bible in HTML format that uses hyperlinks to navigate with like someone else mentioned. But it only works so-so.

HarryT · 06-16-2010, 03:51 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tdmsu

If you get the wifi Ipad, there is no dataplan, but you only have internet where you have wifi access.
I think if I get an Ipad I would only consider the wifi version to avoid the monthly data fees. I have an iPhone for when I need internet on the go using 3g.

I've used the ESV Study Bible on my iPhone, but the screen is very small and it is not useful for making lots of notes and such. I think the iPad may be just the thing in this case.

Good luck in your search!

Absolutely right; use WiFi and there are no fees for internet access. (Plus, of course, you can do lots of things with the iPad that don't involve internet access).

I have the ESV study bible with the Olive Tree Bible Reader app on the iPad; it's excellent, and far, far better than using a simple book reader.

AndyPost · 06-16-2010, 10:10 AM

eSword sounds like the best solution. My class I teach is a prison ministry, and I'm pretty sure they don't let laptops in. Pardon the pun, but they keep the place pretty locked down.

I'll check on that and consider a mini notebook of some sort. I'll also look at the entrourage (haven't even heard of it so thanks for the lead). I'll also check out the wifi iPad. My rep (a Mac devotee would be thrilled to see me holding an iAnything)

Sounds like I'll stick with paper for a while if neither solution works out and wait for the next Gen.

Thank you all very much for your fantastic input!

jwhayn · 06-16-2010, 12:37 PM

I recommend PocketBible from Laridian. It runs on almost all the platforms and is surperb on the iPAD.

briwayjones · 06-16-2010, 02:50 PM

You know, you might want to look into getting a netbook. Nice and small yet still has a keyboard so it would be easier to keep notes on.

Bremen Cole · 06-16-2010, 06:48 PM

+1 for Olive Tree on the iPad. No need for a data plan or 3G at all....

If not that then two netbooks....

Critteranne · 06-16-2010, 09:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AndyPost

Hey Thrill Seekers,
I'm keen to get an ereader specifically for bible study. I've read complaints that the Kindle will have you turning one page at a time to move through large texts (like the bible??)

Is there a device out there that would lend itself to jumping to a particular book/chapter in the bible more than others?

I was tempted with a Zondervan e-book Bible when the price dropped on the B&N web site, but the reviews showed that most people had problems using it as a study Bible/reference.

Have you considered a dedicated electronic Bible, such as the devices put out by Franklin or Royal? Some of them even come with pull-out keyboards so you can type search text in, as well as dictionaries. Here are some examples with reviews.

HarryT · 06-17-2010, 02:29 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bremen Cole

+1 for Olive Tree on the iPad. No need for a data plan or 3G at all....

I've used the Olive Tree stuff for years, originally on PDAs. The iPad version is the nicest yet, by far. Thoroughly recommended.

If I had to have a criticism of them, it would be that all their reference material is somewhat "evangelical" in nature. I study the bible personally, not as a religious text, but as a literary work, and I'd love to see Olive Tree make some of the literary study bibles and commentaries (eg the Oxford Bible Commentary) available for purchase.

osnova · 07-23-2010, 01:47 AM

I think one of the Bibles in my signature (also see the site) should address most, if not all, of your concerns. Especially, look at the NET Bible with 60,000 notes, sophisticated navigation and crosslinks and the ability to open any verse of the Bible in seconds (with Direct Verse Jump).

Lady Fitzgerald · 07-24-2010, 10:23 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by briwayjones

You know, you might want to look into getting a netbook. Nice and small yet still has a keyboard so it would be easier to keep notes on.

I second the netbook notion (notebooks and laptops, too). I have a free Bible program on both my netbook and desktop called e-Sword. The program is free and one can download many Bibles and Bible related files (such as Bible dictionaries) free and others for a nominal fee. The program allows for searching, taking notes, and side by side version comparisons for up to 4 versions. It would be worth the expense and hassle of getting an extra device to gain the ease of use and additional functionality. One of the e-book readers I'm trying out has the King James version and it is pretty much useless because of a lack of bookmarks, etc. for navigation. The program doesn't need WiFi to work once the program is installed and you have downloaded the Bibles, etc. you want/need.

Nathanael · 07-25-2010, 10:27 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by starrigger

For serious study, I would not recommend an e-ink device.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Marcy

What he said.

What she said.

You might try googling "electronic Bibles", which are essentially specialized ereaders for the Bible, with features specific to Bible study. Franklin, I know, has been making them for at least a generation, and I see prices ranging from $25 (KJV only, of course) to $150. But I'm not sure if there are any with all the features you're looking for.

For home study on your PC, others are right -- e-sword is by far the best thing out there.

The best thing about e-sword is that it's free, and there is no end of translations (in dozens of languages; many have built-in Strong's numbers) and study materials (a couple dozen commentaries, nearly as many dictionaries and concordances, devotionals, maps, even the complete Church Fathers), and a lively community continuously producing more.

The worst thing about e-sword is that it's free, which means it depends on out-of-copyright (i.e., very old) study materials. Most of the translations are quite old as well. Though I see you can also purchase a few modern translations and study materials.

The only other thing to be aware of is that the study materials are heavily evangelical. If that's your persuasion, you'll be in heaven (figuratively!); if not, you'll find the study materials a bit disappointing. Still, for Catholics, e-sword has full support for the deuterocanonicals, and there are several translations available that include them (Vulgate, Douay-Rheims, KJV, RSV; there's even a copyright-violating NAV module); for study materials (aside from the Catholic Catechism, which I believe is available) Catholics will have to look elsewhere.

www.e-sword.net

[/commercial]

--Nathanael

jasonfedelem · 07-26-2010, 04:40 PM

As others have stated, E-Ink is not good for study, but its great for daily reading. The following are the two RSS feeds I have in Calibre that download the reading so I can sync to the Kindle:

ESV read thru the Bible in a Year (section from OT, Psalms, NT each day): http://www.gnpcb.org/esv/share/rss2....reading.bible/

ESV Read the Bible in 90 days(Chronological): http://www.biblegateway.com/resource...n=6&version=47

VentureForth · 07-26-2010, 04:57 PM

I personally like youversion.com available for my Blackberry. Its totally free, but has access to many different translations because you are only "borrowing" when you are online. Again, data fees apply if applicable. Olive tree has some great resources for other smartphones and PCs.

Folks here are right, though. An eReader version of the Bible with a hyperlinked concordance seems to be outside the core usage of the typical eBook reader.

Mr. Goodbar · 07-26-2010, 10:33 PM

I'm using Pocket Bible on the iPad and it is fantastic. Very easy to jump around, you can have multiple Bible's and/or reference books open and displayed at the same time. I typically have half the screen allocated to the Bible and then have the remaining half split between two different reference sources for the particular book/passage/verse I'm reading. It works exceptionally well.

As already mentioned you don't need a data package if you buy the wifi version. I have an android phone which has a wireless hotspot feature which lets me connect to the internet from my ipad with just using the data plan already associated with my phone.

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06-16-2010, 02:13 AM	#16
briwayjones Beo Neo! Posts: 31 Karma: 146 Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: Sykesville, MD Device: Bebook Neo	I'll put in my .02 which is basically what everyone else already said. The best program I've seen for bible Study is e-Sword followed by OliveTree. But you need some kind of computer device to use them. I haven't seen a good way to study on a e-ink device. Like the others said they are slow. I found a ASV bible in HTML format that uses hyperlinks to navigate with like someone else mentioned. But it only works so-so.

06-16-2010, 10:10 AM	#18
AndyPost Junior Member Posts: 5 Karma: 10 Join Date: Jun 2010 Device: Sony Touch	eSword sounds like the best solution. My class I teach is a prison ministry, and I'm pretty sure they don't let laptops in. Pardon the pun, but they keep the place pretty locked down. I'll check on that and consider a mini notebook of some sort. I'll also look at the entrourage (haven't even heard of it so thanks for the lead). I'll also check out the wifi iPad. My rep (a Mac devotee would be thrilled to see me holding an iAnything) Sounds like I'll stick with paper for a while if neither solution works out and wait for the next Gen. Thank you all very much for your fantastic input!

06-16-2010, 12:37 PM	#19
jwhayn Enthusiast Posts: 42 Karma: 2685 Join Date: Aug 2004 Device: Kindle Voyage	I recommend PocketBible from Laridian. It runs on almost all the platforms and is surperb on the iPAD.

06-16-2010, 02:50 PM	#20
briwayjones Beo Neo! Posts: 31 Karma: 146 Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: Sykesville, MD Device: Bebook Neo	You know, you might want to look into getting a netbook. Nice and small yet still has a keyboard so it would be easier to keep notes on.

06-16-2010, 06:48 PM	#21
Bremen Cole Wizard Posts: 1,115 Karma: 2718 Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Texas Device: iPad	+1 for Olive Tree on the iPad. No need for a data plan or 3G at all.... If not that then two netbooks....

07-23-2010, 01:47 AM	#24
osnova Kindler of the Flame Posts: 582 Karma: 646016 Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: US of A Device: K DX,3,KT,KP,KF, KFHD; Nook C, PRS600, iPad, Xoom, N900, N810, Zaurus	I think one of the Bibles in my signature (also see the site) should address most, if not all, of your concerns. Especially, look at the NET Bible with 60,000 notes, sophisticated navigation and crosslinks and the ability to open any verse of the Bible in seconds (with Direct Verse Jump).

07-26-2010, 04:40 PM	#27
jasonfedelem Zealot Posts: 118 Karma: 202232 Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: Texas Device: Kindle Paperwhite Gen2	As others have stated, E-Ink is not good for study, but its great for daily reading. The following are the two RSS feeds I have in Calibre that download the reading so I can sync to the Kindle: ESV read thru the Bible in a Year (section from OT, Psalms, NT each day): http://www.gnpcb.org/esv/share/rss2....reading.bible/ ESV Read the Bible in 90 days(Chronological): http://www.biblegateway.com/resource...n=6&version=47

07-26-2010, 04:57 PM	#28
VentureForth Enthusiast Posts: 35 Karma: 110 Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: SE Georgia Device: Augen's The Book	I personally like youversion.com available for my Blackberry. Its totally free, but has access to many different translations because you are only "borrowing" when you are online. Again, data fees apply if applicable. Olive tree has some great resources for other smartphones and PCs. Folks here are right, though. An eReader version of the Bible with a hyperlinked concordance seems to be outside the core usage of the typical eBook reader.

07-26-2010, 10:33 PM	#29
Mr. Goodbar Wizard Posts: 1,005 Karma: 98078 Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Atlanta, GA Device: iPad Mini 4	I'm using Pocket Bible on the iPad and it is fantastic. Very easy to jump around, you can have multiple Bible's and/or reference books open and displayed at the same time. I typically have half the screen allocated to the Bible and then have the remaining half split between two different reference sources for the particular book/passage/verse I'm reading. It works exceptionally well. As already mentioned you don't need a data package if you buy the wifi version. I have an android phone which has a wireless hotspot feature which lets me connect to the internet from my ipad with just using the data plan already associated with my phone.

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