I'm Going Back to my Paper Bible ...

for personal reading, meditation and memorisation. I have heard an increasing number of people saying what I have long begun to conclude, that reading off a screen is not helping me retain scripture. I miss having things appear on a certain place on the page, and most of what I've committed to memory over the years has been from my trusty print Bible of 16 years, and as I recall it to mind or quote it, a mental image of the page is usually somewhere in my mind.

Logos will never be far away once I want to dig deeper, or am on the train and and need something portable. I like the combination of print Bible + Logos on the phone if I'm out and about.

I'd like to hear your thoughts about the place of a printed Bible in your our own daily life and whether my experiences concur with you or not.

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Comments

Mike Binks

I'd like to hear your thoughts about the place of a printed Bible in your our own daily life and whether my experiences concur with you or not.

In my experience there is a balance between memorising individual sections of scripture and conceptualising the broad sweep of the account of God's dealings with his creation.

I am in awe of those with the language skills to adapt the translations of the original manuscripts so that the truth of the message can be stated in words that are applicable to the language that we use today.

I am well aware that if I were to use a bible that contained a translation from even 100 years ago I would, in effect, have to learn a second language in order to apply it to my life today.

‘Ecclesia Reformata, Semper Reformanda?’

Graham Criddle

I haven't used a printed Bible on a regular basis for years - I much prefer the portability, flexibility and readability of an electronic version.

Antonius

My memory is not good, so paper and electronic screen are the same for me (I am a thinker, not a mesmerizer). I asked my pastor if he had ever used Logos, and he said that he has a photographic memory and he needed to "see' the image on paper to put the photo in his memory.

JC54

I have paper Bible in as many corners of my room as possible, striving towards the situation there is always one at hand.

Nevertheless I also use electronic bibles a lot. For reading I do not experience much difference. When I search for something specific I will always go electronic. When I have to switch between many different Bible books/verses, I appreciate a paper bible. Even if just for the sheer fun of turning pages :P

David Ames

When it is my turn to do the Scripture reading I try to use my Hard Copy Bible.

But I have been known to print out the Scripture in 18 point type and have used my tablet / laptop.

Lew Worthington

Eons ago, after I first started using Logos, I posted a message in which I declared my preference to the electronic format. I worded this declaration by attempting to be funny, saying that my "Bible" was gathering dust sitting on the bookshelf.

I was in pastoral ministry and teaching in seminary at the time, and friends told me whenever they looked up my name on the Internet, the first thing they saw was the snippet of my posting that boldly confessed my Bible was gathering dust. [:D]

EastTN

I have found that using a desktop or a laptop is fine for class preparation, but really doesn't work for me as a way to do basic reading. For me, something about a computer screen just isn't conducive to continuous reading. On the other hand, I have a Nexus 7 tablet and find that the expeirence of using it is close enough to reading a paper that it works great. I had a Sony bookreader that I used for a number of years, and it worked well too. For me, it's the combination of a form factor that is about the same size as a paper book, with a similar on-screen layout and equivalent font quality to a paper book, and a simple, intuitive way of flipping pages.

Bruce Dunning

I very seldom use a paper Bible any more. I love the flexibility and portability of an electronic library like Logos. Lately for memorization I have taken to printing off a chapter and carrying that with me. Somehow that seems to work better for me.

James Hiddle

I say you can't go wrong with paper,electronic or even audio Bibles.

Everett Headley

FWIW,

The transition from paper to digital was difficult. When Logos added notes to the android app it was much better. I do find that I must be intentional in finding and remembering addresses in the Bible, no more mental picture to find a reference. The actual words for translation isn't affected. I do miss the paper sometimes, but what I gain in functionality and portability is more than worth it. And, my Bible has only "died" on me once in the four or so years I've been completely digital.

Alan Macgregor

I'd like to hear your thoughts about the place of a printed Bible in your our own daily life and whether my experiences concur with you or not.

Richard

I still use a printed Bible for part of my daily devotions. I also use an electronic Bible (not Logos which I've had since 2000) for reading through the Bible in a year. In addition, I use Logos for sermon preparation and Bible study preparation. And I use Logos to academic research in New Testament. I use a giant-print leather Bible in the pulpit.

I still have many print Bibles which I still use, especially the leather ones. There is something about the feel and smell of an old leather Bible which I have been using for over 25 years, softened and oiled by my natural hand oils. I have an NIV and an ESV on my desk which I refer to if I want to double-check the precise wording of a scripture reference that I know well. I can turn to it faster in print than using Logos (I'm a slow typist!).

IMHO we have the best of both worlds in our generation. I remember sermon preparation in the 1980s before Logos. I was delighted when I bought Logos 1.6 in 1993. It speeded things up and took a lot of the slog out of consulting commentaries and language books. Like you I wouldn't be without it.

I remember carrying around in my pockets a paper diary, a small leather zip Bible and adding a mobile phone to that in the late 1990s. Today I just carry my iPhone with Bible, diary, church membership roll, etc. It's a lot better. But I still have a real use for my print Bibles.

Every blessing

Alan

BillS

For devotional use & reading through the Bible each year, paper--hands down. There, I'll write additional notes & enjoy the reflection of over 20 years of my previous notes. No e-format has proved stable enough over that time frame for those kinds of notes--with only the POSSIBLE exception of MS-Word.

For research, study, sermon prep, answering questions, quick lookup, a deep dive into a book of Scripture, or almost anything else, Logos--hands down.

Erwin Stull, Sr.

I keep and use 3 types of Bibles; My leather Bible, electronic Bible (Logos), and audio Bible.

1. My leather Bible is the Bible that I use for quiet time reading, when preaching or teaching during my participation in a platform service, and when the congregation or group is comprised primarily of young adults (young adults have the tendency to be easily distracted by electronic devices).

2. My Logos Bibles and library is what I use for intensive study, which includes OL study, topic or person study, and context. I also use my Logos mobile app when on the go. Carrying around a leather or hard bound Bible in my day to day travels is a thing of the past.

3. Audio Bibles is what I use to help me with out loud reading skills. I've always had a problem with reading out loud, and with the grace of God, that problem will be gone.

Rosie Perera

I keep a paper Bible by my bed for reading as I'm settling down for the night, because the light from a digital screen stimulates the brain and makes it harder to calm down and fall asleep. I suppose I could wear blue-blocking goggles to read from a tablet, but it's not that comfortable. I'd rather just hold my print-based Bible and not be tempted to check Facebook one last time before drifting off into dreamland.

mab

I'm hopelessly retro, but I'm finding that a tablet is very good for me. There is something about a print Bible that I find completely engaging. Part of it is that you are surrounded by context. An analog timepiece shows the time in relationship to the day better than a digital readout. Much like a print Bible to a portion on a screen.

One of the turnoffs to print Bibles is that they are not usually well-made and designed anymore. So also are many other books.A really nice leather Bible with a sewn binding and good paper is a joy to use.

Print encourages one to linger and for that I can only say amen.

Bruce Roth

I haven't opened up my paper bibles in quite a while. I have to blow off the dust on the various ones that are sitting on the shelf. I find reading on electronic suits me just well. I appreciate the tablet experience that I have with the Ipad. It allows me to expand the text size since my eyes find it more difficult to read printed text these days. Also I can make notes and highlight text. I read on the iphone when I am out and about as I can carry tons of bibles and resources in my pocket.

I have recently got a Kindle Paperwhite so I can better read in bed at night and relieve eye strain and hopefully get better sleep. It's a lot lighter to hold than the ipad.

But I also respect various individuals preferences. I would probably have to say the same thing to those that felt it was strange reading a bound book where they had always read on a scroll and couldn't think of changing. Progress!

MJ. Smith

I've never replaced my Bible with an electronic one for devotion, prayer etc. And I still prefer dead tree books for casual reading but have switched to electronic for more serious study.

GaoLu

I rarely use paper except on long international flights (battery saving) or when teaching/preaching because I want to point out a "real Bible" as the Word of God rather than my iPad or laptop computer. Transitioning was hard, but worth it to me.

Jack Caviness

I haven't used a printed Bible on a regular basis for years - I much prefer the portability, flexibility and readability of an electronic version.

Saves typing when someone else expresses your thoughts for you [:D]

Interestingly enough, before the Lord called Milord home, we both thought we were the oldest members of these forums, yet we were almost exclusively digital.

Steve Maling

Almost 79 here. And you, Jack?

Jack Caviness

Almost 79 here. And you, Jack?

You have a year on me. That makes me feel like a teenager [;)].

Rob

I keep a paper Bible by my bed for reading as I'm settling down for the night, because the light from a digital screen stimulates the brain and makes it harder to calm down and fall asleep.

It has been my observation that I fall asleep just as fast with a tablet as with a paper Bible. [|-)]

David Gullick

When I got Logos 7 years ago I tried moving all my reading to electronic platforms over several months. I discovered I found it easier to recall things to mind with a paper Bible - having that consistent visual aid. So I got myself a decent paper Bible and have used that for reading ever since - and I'm glad I've done so. That said, this Bible is the only paper book I read - everything else is in Logos, and as soon as I want to do any form of Bible study its straight to Logos.

sal

I use both. I normally carry a paper copy to church, and prefer a paper copy for reading and memorization. For serious study I use Logos. It is interesting how the mind can remember visual cues about text position on a page that are lacking in a digital copy.