Studying the Holy Bible shouldn’t be hard. Bible by Olive Tree equips you with easy-to-use Bible study tools so you can stop skimming Scripture and get answers—for free. Here are 5 ways you’ll be set up for studying God’s Word: 1) NO WIFI You don’t need a WiFi connection to access your Bible, audio Bible, or any other Bible study tools. Download the Olive Tree Bible App Olive Tree Bible App. Search John 1:1 New King James Version (NKJV) The Eternal Word. 1 In the beginning. Study Bible Notes are a great resource for those wanting to go deeper in studying the Bible. Here are three ways to use study notes in the Olive Tree Bible App to help you unpack God’s Word. In your main window, open the Bible translation of your choice. (I have the NIV translation open on an iPad in portrait mode in this. Read God’s Word at anytime, anywhere using the YouVersion Bible App. Share Scripture with friends, highlight and bookmark passages, and create a daily habit with Bible Plans. Available for iOS, Android, Blackberry, Windows Phone and more. Olivetree Bible Reader Resource Guide Olivetree Bible Reader Resource Guide. By JohnO, January 24, 2011 in Feature Requests for iOS. Share Followers 0.
What is the best Bible app for the iPad? This is a great question that I’m often asked by members of my Bible fellowship group and closest friends, because thanks be to God this is not a category in the App Store were there is a shortage.
For example, you can choose from a wide selection of free Bible apps or premium paid apps. Or if memory storage is a concern, you can go with a Bible app that stores it’s resources on the internet vs. storing it locally on the iPad, like the Blue Letter Bible. Or maybe, the reverse is the case, where you don’t have access to the Internet and need to have all the resources stored locally on the device.
So, while I’m thankful and bless to see that my favorite reading material is represented by so many great apps and developers in the App Store, the Olive Tree Bible Study app (for iPhone and iPad) continues to hold a secured 1st place spot on the home screen of all my Apple devices.
The Olive Tree Bible Study App
To help you find out if the Olive Tree Bible Study app is the best Bible App for you. Here’s my list of reasons why I enjoy reading and studying God’s Word with the Oliver Tree Bible app. Along with a quick video tutorial highlighting some of my quick note-taking tips.
8 Awesome Features Found in the Olive Tree Bible Study App
- Searching to find great topics to read throughout the app is fast.
- The navigation interface is simple and user-friendly, (excellent for folks who are just starting out reading the Bible on the iPad or iPhone).
- Includes features for editing, highlighting and writing personalize notes on verses.
- Compare two Bible translations at once.
- The platform offers a selection of resourceful tools for working in-depth Bible research and word studies.
- Includes a handy split screen note-taking option. (Read on one side of the screen while taking notes on the other.)
- Access to the Olive Tree online store, to download books and other resources right inside the app. (e.g., Christian Bestsellers, Study Bibles, Maps and Atlases, Bible Study Tools and Video Tutorials.)
- Sync notes across all your devices.
- Back up, restore all your personolize notes.
Note Taking Tips on the Bible Study App
I made this video; it shows my note-taking workflow and writing tips with the Bible Study app. Please note that while this video was recorded utilizing and older version of the app. The main note taking principals are still the same. I hope to record and update this video soon. There has been so many new features added to the app that I look forward to sharing those new features and tips with you. So please stand by.
In Conclusion
One of the things I hope you notice from watching the video was how I was able to quickly navigate inside the app. Too many times I find developers focus their attention on providing features, and completely missing the mark by forgetting to give the user a simple way to move throughout the app’s interface.
But I find this is not the case with the Olive Tree Bible Study app, and it’s one of the main reasons why I love recommend the app. Especially to folks who don’t consider themselves to be tech savvy enough or have concerns with making the transition from paper to reading the Bible on a digital platform.
The LAST thing you want —is NOT to be able to find the riches in God’s Word quickly and easy. So enjoy reading the Bible on your favorite mobile device.
Do you like reading the Bible on the iPad or iPhone? Share your thoughts in the comment section below.
Related posts:
Purpose:
To compare (what I believe to be) the best modern-language literal English Bible versions. This is not meant to be a thorough comparison and is an on-going, collaborative study. (Please post comments of your own findings below.)
- The purpose is not to cast doubt on the accuracy of the sacred Word, nor to promote a change from the use of the KJV.
- Each of these versions is reliable and will not lead to wrong doctrine when the text is properly evaluated in context and in relation to the whole of the Scriptures.
- If I have centered on faults, it is for the sake of the preservation of truth and the evaluation of weaknesses, not to degrade the translation.
With a view to:
- Understanding the strengths and weaknesses of the translations
- Pointing out verses that are not translated accurately
- Guiding the version choice of those who would like to read a modern-English translation
Background:
'All scripture is given by inspiration of God' (2 Timothy 3:16 KJV). The original manuscripts were God-breathed and thus were free from error, but we don't have the originals, and many of us can't read Greek. Thus, we have a choice of which translation to read.
No Bible version is perfect. The King James Version is an excellent translation that has stood the test of time, but there is value in comparing translations to get a better understanding of a verse. These pages are intended to help individuals who want to know more about these translations and which one is most suitable for them.
What about the NIV?
I have not included the NIV in this study because I do not agree with its basic translation philosophy, which includes dynamic equivalence. Dynamic equivalence is not a word-for-word translation, but rather 'attempts to convey the thought expressed in a source text (if necessary, at the expense of literalness, original word order, the source text's grammatical voice, etc.)' (Source) Therefore, there is more interpretation done by the translators in dynamic equivalence, and less left up to the reader to understand for himself what the true meaning of the passage is. However, the NIV is a MUCH better representation of the original than the CEV or 'The Message' that call themselves Bibles but are really paraphrases, not translations.
How Literal? And general overview
(Listed from MORE LITERAL to EASIER TO READ, Zondervan, quote reference)
NASB (1995 revision)
- 'seeks the highest possible level of transparency to the original documents that can be achieved while still retaining comprehensibility in English.'
- Special care was given to the rendering of tenses.
- Where word-for-word literalness is unacceptable for the English reader, a footnote indicates the more literal rendering.
ESV
- 'Prioritizes transparency to the form and structure of the original documents' blending literalness with readability.
- An 'essentially literal' translation (preface).
NKJV
- 'Prioritizing transparency to the same source documents as the original KJV but with updated English... The purpose was to refresh and modernize the original KJV without losing its distinctive flavor.'
- A 'Complete equivalence' translation. (introduction)
KJV (Zondervan said the KJV is more literal than the NKJV but placed here due to old-style English and for comparison)
- 'Blending transparency to the form and structure of the Bible documents... with elegant 17th-century English'
Starting Version, Manuscripts used, Committee Conviction:
The topic of which manuscripts are the most accurate is complex and controversial. Reportedly, the variations in manuscripts are relatively small and do not affect the foundational doctrines of Scripture. I do not believe that the manuscripts used should necessarily have a great impact on which translation is chosen, although it may be helpful to know the major differences, some of which I have included here. Some study Bibles such as Penfold's KJV Newberry Bible list the variations in the footnotes, which is helpful to some. For me, it has been helpful in seeing that the variations are not significant in most cases.
More resources on this topic may be cited at a later time.
NASB:
- Started with the 1901 ASV
- NT based on mostly the 26th edition of Eberhard Nestle's Novum Testamentum Graece. (Principles of Translation)
- 'produced with the conviction that the words of Scripture as originally penned... were inspired by God' (foreword)
ESV:
- Started with the 1971 RSV
- NT based on 1993 ed. of the Greek New Testament (4th corrected edition) by UBS and Novum Testamentum Graece (27th ed.) edited by Nestle and Aland. Footnotes indicate significant alternative readings
- The translation team 'shares a common commitment to the truth of God's Word and to historic Christian orthodoxy' (preface)
NKJV:
- Started with the KJV;
- NT based on the Traditional Textus Receptus; readings with weak support are indicated in footnotes. (introduction)
- 'All participating scholars signed a document of subscription to the plenary and verbal inspiration of the original autographs of the Bible' (introduction).
KJV:
- Revision of the Bishops' Bible of 1568 (preface to NASB)
- Based on the Textus Receptus (introduction to NKJV)
Capitalizes personal pronouns for God:
- NASB: Yes
- ESV: No
- NKJV: Yes
- KJV: Only some printings
Incorporates italicised words to show implied words:
- NASB: Yes
- ESV: No
- NKJV: Yes
- KJV: Yes
Advantages / Strengths
NASB
- Excellent for serious Bible study
- 1995 revision is more readable than 1977 (Note that the 1977 version uses 'Thee' and 'Thou' to distinguish God.)
- Does not use the older/poetic English forms (may be viewed as a positive or negative)
ESV
- Literal while retaining better readability than the NASB
- Good for general reading
- Does not use the older/poetic English forms (may be viewed as positive or negative)
NKJV
- Retains wording and source text similar to the KJV (may be viewed as positive or negative)
- Does not use the older/poetic English forms (may be viewed as positive or negative)
- Updates KJV words that are no longer in use today or have changed in meaning.
KJV
- Well-known and trusted
- Easy to memorize
- Excellent literary qualities
- Older English enables reader to distinguish between singular and plural pronouns
- 'Thee,' 'Thou' and 'Thy' are singular whereas 'Ye' and 'You' are plural
Parallel (multiple), interlinear (with NT morphology)(with NASB), and many study helps (but does not have NKJV)
Parallel Online Bible Option 1
Parallel Online Bible Option 2 with italics formatting
Bible Gateway Translation Forum (seeks to help explain the reasons translators chose certain words.)
Free Bible Software (that you install) that offers these Bible versions:
BerBible - Offers free KJV, ESV, NASB, NKJV, NET Bibles. Simple, fast and light.
E-Sword.net - Free, powerful Bible software with many downloadable resources. Must pay for NKJV, NASB. Many private modules available as well.
- E-Sword has a 'compare' function that allows you to compare a chosen set of translations.
- I especially value the following for Bible/word study: KJV+, NASB+($), GNT-TR+/GNT-BYZ+, GNT-WH+ (includes Nestle27/UBS4 in footnotes), RMAC, Vine NT($), ISBE, Strong, KJC (counts not totally accurate), NASEC($), Gill, RWP, K&D
The Word - Free, powerful software that is also popular. I have not used it but it looks excellent. Extra portable. Bibles may be a little more expensive.
Olive Tree Bible online, free
- I note that The Word has the text used in NASB / ESV (basically) with Strong's numbers and Morphological codes, whereas E-sword only has Westcott-Hort (with morphological tags) with the underlying texts to the ESV/NASB in the footnotes.
Bible Resources for iphone, ipod, and/or ipad
Please see this link for more information about mobile apps.
Pocket Sword - by CrossWire, ESword for ipod, iphone, ipad.
Olive Tree Bible Reader Apk Free Download
- Free Bibles: Includes KJV with Strong's numbers & NT morphology; can install for free (offline): ASV, ESV, Darby, ISV, NET, WEB / WH-NA, TR, LXX, HEB+, LAT / RV09 among others
- Free Commentaries: Robertson's Word Pictures, Matthew Henry, Scofield, Keil & Delitzsch on the OT, Jamieson Fausset Brown, Darby translation notes, Adam Clark's Commentary, Barnes, Treasury of Scripture Knowledge, among others.
- Devotionals: Morning & Evening by C.H. Spurgeon
- Dictionaries: Easton, International Standard Bible Encyclopedia, Nave's topical Bible, Webster's 1913
You Version - Includes free offline ESV, HCSB, NIV, NKJV, NET, RVR60, LBLH & more
- Allows online listening to various translations
- Notes feature
Other Resources
Olive Tree Online Bible
Citations are from the following versions (click link for more details):
NASB:1995 Revision, New American Standard Bible, copyright 1995 by Lockman Foundation
ESV: English Standard Version, copyright 2001 Crossway Bibles, a division of Good News Publishers
KJV: King James Version (Authorized Version), 1611, public domain. Quotations may be from the 1769 edition (E-Sword) or 1987 printing (Bible Gateway)- there is little variation between them.
NKJV: New King James Version, copyright 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc.