I was pleased to find out this morning that NIV is available as a free download for the YouVersion mobile software. I installed it on my Android phone and am happy to have it in addition to the NLT which was given away freely sometime last year.
Biblica and YouVersion are to be commended for this gesture. However, I want us always to keep in mind the majority of the world’s population who don’t have access to smart phones and high speed Internet. Such people need the Bible in a free format that is easy to access, either in print, audio or electronic format. I would love to see publishers find creative ways to give away quality translations like the NLT and NIV for those who can’t access costly gadgets and Internet access. One system is the SWORD module system of Crosswire Bible Society. Another is Audio Scripture Ministries. Both these organizations are on the cutting edge of providing the Bible in many languages for those who need them most.
Find out more about the NIV giveaway at YouVersion:Limited Time: NIV Available Offline…Free on YouVersion!
28 Comments
I was amazed at how many versions I was able to download free from this site, to my wife’s iPhone. This includes NLT, ESV and The Message, as well as NIV (2011 and 1984).
These downloads, at least some of them, are “Currently available for web-enabled phones with 240×320 or 320×240 screen resolutions” running Java, which means not just high end smartphones. See this page, which also has several endorsements from Africa showing that the people behind this have the African “market” in mind – although so far no African languages (unless Arabic counts) on offer. As such there seems to be some overlap with the Go Bible from Crosswire Bible Society, but the latter does not offer NIV.
I’m so mad that YouVersion started running ads at the bottom of the screen, even though they’ve added some value otherwise. (Hate to say I haven’t quite taken advantage of the ‘notes’ function, which I’d planned to do.)
Is the other app you mentioned any good? (I’m a little careful gettings apps on android these days
…I love YouVersion for reading, but I wouldn’t mind a cross-reference here or there, or (lo and behold!) commentaries or concordances! As it is, I “read”, but I don’t “dig in”, when using only my phone to read. Sux.
XOXO
And Bible has no ads. I don’t find the YouVersion ads to be intrusive. You will be frustrated with And Bible if you have a particular Bible version that you want to use that isn’t in their list.
Personally I use my smart phone and tablet for reading and lookup but if I’m doing research/study I switch to my computer.
Just saw this post and the comments. Just wanted to clarify that YouVersion does not run any ads on our site or our apps. The only thing that even resembles what you are describing is the “notices/announcement” aread that we have on our Android app dashboard. We use that area to make users aware of new features or special things they can do with the app. We never have and never plan to sell ads of any type…and those notices only appear on the dashboard and not in the are of the app where you read the Bible. We are constantly working to make the apps better and make it easier for people to make the Bible a part of their everyday lives. We appreciate the feedback and will work to add as much as we can. Hope this helps clarify our positon on ads.
Thanks, Bobby. I hadn’t noticed ads. The announcements thing seems totally OK to me.
David, did you mean to suggest that showing (appropriate) ads on a Christian ministry website, as I now do, is not totally OK? Obviously some people, like Tracey, are going to be put off by them. But the labourer is worthy of his/her hire, isn’t he/she? I consider ads to be a much less intrusive and undesirable way of raising the money for ministry than the constant appeals for donations seen on some sites.
If you’re going to put up ads, can I suggest using Project Wonderful? http://www.projectwonderful.com/ It’s ads are much fairer for all.
People should also be smarter in choosing which services to use. There are so many great free products out there now. For example, I use Github.com to host my static web pages, and Google’s App Engine for dynamic stuff.
Dannii, thanks for the tips. I will bear them in mind.
It is a great app with an easy setup. Unfortunately, NIV 1984 is not available to download for androids. We have horrible reception at our church and my husband seems to need an offline version. (Praise the Lord that he wants to read the bible now that’s he’s becoming tech savvy). Hopefully it will come soon.
I was surprised when reading Genesis and finding out, that the text isn’t even near at any Finnish bible translations, which we have two, older version y. 1939 and newery. 1992.
That leaded me to wonder why is that?
– is this version really suitable for any christian, or is this version of Jehovah’s witness or mormons, or something between ?
My phone loaded a finnish version, that is actually like a shorted version of precious God’s words, that are not allowed to modify for any purposes.
As christians we shoud be faithful to original text that has widely used everywhere around the world among roman catholic as well as protestant or lutherans.
I’m quite amazed and disturbed, how I find such translation that is more loyal for original God’s precious word ?
Good job. However, can u guys provide the 1984 NIV bible when your offline. My church bibles have not yet updated to the 2011 NIV. Thanks
Hi. Please send the APK file of the NIV to my email – i.am.raymund@gmail.com.
I’ve been looking for the NIV to load on my android phone for a long time.
THANKS for your help!
PLEASE HELP. I’m from a developing country ,Zimbabwe, we dont have visa cards here. I’m trying to find an NIV bible to download to my android tablet that doesn’t require an internet connection, and free. Does anyone know where I can get it?
Brendon, I don’t know of anywhere to get a free download of the NIV Bible.
Brendon, I would suggest that you contact Biblica (formerly the International Bible Society) as they might be prepared to make special arrangements for people in developing countries. They already have some special outreach projects in Zimbabwe.
Niv bibles are the best and easy to undrstand
Hi am a christian just got a new phone I desire a bible in it thanks.
Google on “download Bible app” to install a Bible on your new phone.
want NIV Bible if you
Let God bless you.
want NIV Bible if you have enough
Let God bless you and your ministry.
Zerihun, this blog does not have any Bibles for distribution. We just discuss Bible translation on this blog.
How can get a The TLB?
please let me download the NIV version of the BIBLE.
Francine, we do not have any Bible translations to download. This blog is about discussing how to make better translations of the Bible.
send me please
It is currently available for download for offline use again for just a short while.
I am using an android mobile and downloaded NIV Bible Free version. I have been using it for the last 2 months and made a lot of bookmarks and favorite notes on my readings. Suddenly my phone started slowing down and I got the problem fixed by reinstalling the software in an authorised centre yesterday. But alas, i realised that my favorite App had disappeared and I am trying to download the App afresh but not sure how to recover my precious notings made on the previous app. Can you help?
Sorry, John, but we don’t give any software or app advice from this blog. We just blog about translations of the Bible.