Free Bible Study Tool

[Goodboy]

I realize that this has most likely been posted on this forum before, but for anyone who does not know about it yet it is a very useful tool!

For anyone that is not using a PC program to look up verses, phrases or words in the Bible or just have the Bible read to you, you may want to check this out. I use this Bible tool all the time. I very rarely even open my Bible, as it is much easier to just use this program.

e-Sword: Free Bible Study for the PC

e-Sword is a feature rich and user friendly free Windows app with everything needed to study the Bible in an enjoyable and enriching manner!

www.e-sword.net

 

[Ghoti Ichthus]

I also use it.
IIRC, someone, who was on another site, and who is now here, recommended it. Sadly, I don't remember who it was.

I also use Blue Letter Bible on my Android and BibleGateway on my PC. And pdfs of various works on my PC.

However, I still have hard-copy because electronic can be tampered with, made unavailable, or simply disappear. And if no electricity and/or internet access for whatever reason

When I'm doing something complex that's for academic purposes, there's still no substitute for open books spread out all over the table or floor
Now that I don't have to share, school work can be left out on Parents' dining room table

And my siblings can't mess with it

 

[Goodboy]

However, I still have hard-copy because electronic can be tampered with, made unavailable, or simply disappear. And if no electricity and/or internet access for whatever reason

Great points!!!

This is why I like e-sword which is a download, so unless you download it again it won't change. While is does require electricity or at least a battery, if there is no electricity available I have more problems than just the ability to access an electronic Bible.

 

[Ghoti Ichthus]

Great points!!!

This is why I like e-sword which is a download, so unless you download it again it won't change. While is does require electricity or at least a battery, if there is no electricity available I have more problems than just the ability to access an electronic Bible.

I just don't trust electronic publications because like software, I'm thinking probably back doors that could be exploited someday to access and change ebooks like a Bible. Or sleeper or future malware that looks for and targets certain types of documents to corrupt, erase, etc., and/or maybe report to TPTB.

I agree with issues if no electricity, but under those circumstances, we need to utterly depend on God even more than during "normal" times. Without good spiritual health and comfort, everything else falls apart. Having access to a Bible can make a huge difference Hymnals, too

If/when hard persecution happens, having Christian stuff on one's cell phone could be a huge problem. Cell phones are subject to presentation on demand, like papers, in some places. Checkpoints happen with little or no notice, too. If things get like that here, I'd probably try not to carry my cell phone anywhere, although I suppose they could do something similar to the vaccine e-passports/apps to force having it in one's possession. Uninstalling programs and deleting documents never completely gets rid of stuff, and forensic software, which is getting more common and easy-to-use, will uncover it pretty fast.

Plus a hard-copy Bible means I can read it without racking up more screen time/blue light exposure

 

[Goodboy]

I just don't trust electronic publications because like software, I'm thinking probably back doors that could be exploited someday to access and change ebooks like a Bible. Or sleeper or future malware that looks for and targets certain types of documents to corrupt, erase, etc., and/or maybe report to TPTB.

Don't get it twisted, I was not at all disputing your point that we should all have hard copy Bibles. I totally agree with you and I have two.

My only point was that an electronic Bible that requires the Internet can be changed in seconds by AI without our knowledge. If you want to be extra cautious you could download e-Sword on a different PC or Smart Phone and never again connect it to the Internet. Many of us have old PCs or Smart Phones that we no longer use on the Internet anyway that we could use for that purpose.

Again. your point is valid and well made.

 

[Ghoti Ichthus]

Don't get it twisted, I was not at all disputing your point that we should all have hard copy Bibles. I totally agree with you and I have two.

My only point was that an electronic Bible that requires the Internet can be changed in seconds by AI without our knowledge. If you want to be extra cautious you could download e-Sword on a different PC or Smart Phone and never again connect it to the Internet. Many of us have old PCs or Smart Phones that we no longer use on the Internet anyway that we could use for that purpose.

Again. your point is valid and well made.

Agreed . . . thin client-type tech is dangerous and subject to term, price, and content changes, while a downloaded and owned product is much safer. Maybe I'm a little too paranoid . . . I even worry about a downloaded item potentially having a back door to allow future corruption or deletion. Probably because Microsoft windows software and Microsoft Office documents are known to be riddled with back doors (and have been "forever"). One of the reasons MS Office 97 isn't supported anymore is if a document is password protected by a user, it's virtually impossible for Microsoft or anyone else to open the document without the password. Private/protected actually meant something then. The newer version Office "protected" documents are easily opened by Microsoft or anyone with the right software to exploit built-in back doors, etc. Now, Microsoft is going to all subscription version of their programs Kindle books that are rented can't be read after the expiration, even if they're downloaded. Wonder how many owned downloaded Kindle books will be remotely disabled when censorship happens . . .

 

[Goodboy]

Agreed . . . thin client-type tech is dangerous and subject to term, price, and content changes, while a downloaded and owned product is much safer. Maybe I'm a little too paranoid . . . I even worry about a downloaded item potentially having a back door to allow future corruption or deletion. Probably because Microsoft windows software and Microsoft Office documents are known to be riddled with back doors (and have been "forever"). One of the reasons MS Office 97 isn't supported anymore is if a document is password protected by a user, it's virtually impossible for Microsoft or anyone else to open the document without the password. Private/protected actually meant something then. The newer version Office "protected" documents are easily opened by Microsoft or anyone with the right software to exploit built-in back doors, etc. Now, Microsoft is going to all subscription version of their programs

Again I agree but my last point is that I am saying that you can't be hacked if there is no connection to the Internet.

 

[Ghoti Ichthus]

Again I agree but my last point is that I am saying that you can't be hacked if there is no connection to the Internet.

I agree a downloaded item on a never-connected device cannot be hacked. However, what if there's a date-time limitation embedded into the document, as there is with rental/borrowed ebooks?

I think we agree about the niceties of electronic Bibles and study materials, the safest way to obtain and keep them, and the necessity of having a hard-copy as a back-up and way to check on the reliability/accuracy of the electronic version, especially if it's on a device that is used to access the internet or could be accessed via bluetooth, etc.

 

[Tall Timbers]

Again I agree but my last point is that I am saying that you can't be hacked if there is no connection to the Internet.

Tell that to your refrigerator...

 

[Tall Timbers]

I have some downloaded Bibles on my phone. They're not much safer than a Bible accessed via the web. Both can be surrepticiously altered unless the device the downloaded one is on is never connected to the internet, as Mr. Goodboy has said.

I wonder if we'll ever reach a point where internet access is global and no login is required... devices with the necesssary chip automatically connect... and the device owner can't control that... even with the device turned off. Just thinking out loud.

 

[Andy C]

I go back and forth between reading the Bible on line, or my hard copy. I have a dozen or so bibles at home, and there are many days when it simply feels better studying off one of the many versions I have on my shelf. To me, it feels more personal holding an actual bible vice reading one on my IPAD. However, either way, it does not matter, what matters is reading His Word, in whatever manner one chooses.