Articles
The Dangers of Electronic Bibles
There are clear benefits to digital Bibles. They provide additional study tools like lexicons and commentaries, quick navigation, and ease of carry. This is not a blanket condemnation of digital Bibles; I use them sometimes too. But consider 5 dangers.
1) Distracted from Devotional Focus. Bible reading requires focused concentration. We’re meditating on what the text means and how it applies to our life. If we’re reading a digital Bible app on our phone, it’s hard not to be distracted when a text or email notification pops up. We may say, “I’ll read it later,” but that’s hard! Our deep, devotional focus is now distracted.
2) Deprives the Bible of Context. - One writer observed, “You don’t look at the world through a paper-towel tube, so why look at your Bible through a three-verse window?” With a physical Bible, your brain isn’t just taking in three verses at a time. It’s seeing those three verses and everything else on the pages surrounding it. It’s hard to know what’s going on before and after a verse when you can’t see it without scrolling.
3) Derails our Navigation Skills. Reading a physical Bible helps us learn the layout, book order, and main points in each chapter. Reading physical pages aids memorization. If someone asks me, “Where’s that verse about not trusting the leaven of the Pharisees?” I may not know off the top of my head it’s in Matthew 16, but because my eyes have been through Matthew from start to finish so many times I know it’s somewhere in the middle of Matthew, and in my Bible it’s on the page to the right in the column furthest to the right. Studies show people who know their physical Bibles well can find verses faster than those using e-Bible menus for navigation.
4) Disguises our Bible reading in public. If I’m reading a physical Bible out in public, people see it and it’s a good opportunity to shine the light of Christ in the community. I’ve had people come sit with me and have conversations about God simply because they saw me reading my Bible. If the Bible is on my phone or iPad, people have no idea what I’m doing. I’m disguising myself and people don’t know if I’m on Facebook, playing Candy Crush, or reading some other book.
5) Discourages Preachers. When I say, “Please turn to this verse,” and I don’t hear any pages ruffling, I don’t know what to make of that. It feels like I’m the only one who turned to the passage, like I’m talking to himself, and no one else is interested. In fairness, I know that’s not true, but it’s hard to shake the feeling in the moment. On the other hand, when I hear pages ruffling it excites and ignites me because it shows me you’re with me and eager to search the Scriptures! It shows visitors we’re serious about God’s word too.
E-Bibles aren’t sinful. Sometimes they come in handy. Just recognize their limitations and aim for what’s best.
