my life and my doctrine

So I’ve got a smartphone, an HTC Desire. The last thing I wanted to mention was two particular apps I’ve installed. Today, the Bible software I use, CadreBible.

Unlike the iPhone, there isn’t an ESV app, which is a shame, since that’s the translation we use at Evening Church. There is an app called ‘YouVersion’ which came with an ESV. Olive Tree reader is a common app supporting multiple platforms.

However, in the end I went with CadreBible which is an Android specific Bible. Why? Cost, and I didn’t just want an ESV. I was hoping to get a Hebrew Old Testament and Greek New Testament also. YouVersion didn’t have it. Olive Tree would charge me $17 for ESV, $46 for BHS (Hebrew) and $36 for NA27 (Greek). ie $99 all up. CadreBible has the ESV for $10 and a public domain version of Hebrew and Greek, which it offers for free.

So, was it worth it? Of course. The physical ESV I carry around cost me $10, so it’s not unreasonable to pay the same for an electronic copy. Plus, I also have access to Greek and Hebrew, if really necessary, whenever I have my phone with  me.

One last thing, I’ll still carry around a physical Bible for a couple of reasons.

1. I still feel a little uncomfortable pulling out my phone during a sermon, even if I know I’m doing the right thing. I can’t turn the pages in a real book and get distracted by some app or email or …
2. I want to encourage others to have a physical Bible on them at all times, so I’ve got to set the example. What if I’m meeting someone who doesn’t have a Bible app of some description? We can both look at a book together, but both staring at a phone seems a little odd to me.
3. The most important reason is that I want to have  a Bible ready to give away whenever the opportunity arises. The reason I bought lots of the same $10 Bibles is that they are easily replaceable. If I give one away, I can get another off the shelf at home. Since it’s the same version, I can find particular passages or verses easily, especially since sometimes my memory is, it’s on the left or right hand side of the page.

God has made himself known to us. We don’t need to strive to find or understand him. God’s word can be near us, even on our phones. (Another reason, by the way, to be thankful for the Reformation. That the Bible is in everyday language we can understand is a privilege others died for, that I too often take for granted.)

[11] “For this commandment that I command you today is not too hard for you, neither is it far off. [12] It is not in heaven, that you should say, ‘Who will ascend to heaven for us and bring it to us, that we may hear it and do it?’ [13] Neither is it beyond the sea, that you should say, ‘Who will go over the sea for us and bring it to us, that we may hear it and do it?’ [14] But the word is very near you. It is in your mouth and in your heart, so that you can do it. (Deuteronomy 30:11-14 ESV)