Bible Gateway celebrates 25 years of Scripture access online

Bible Gateway celebrates 25 years of Scripture access online

With more than 14 trillion views by people since it began in 1993, Bible Gateway has been a valuable Scripture tool for millions in its 25-year history.

The searchable format was created just as the World Wide Web was beginning as an internal Bible research computer tool for students at Calvin College in Grand Rapids, Michigan. Today it ranks number one on global search engines, is part of HarperCollins Christian Publishing, Inc., and is home to more than 200 Bible versions in more than 70 languages — a trusted resource for people in more than 200 countries who rely on it every day for all their desktop and mobile device Bible reading, listening, studying, searching, comparing and sharing needs.

What people around the world search for on Bible Gateway varies throughout the year, but generally remains constant from year to year. 

An interactive visualizing graph lets users explore how cyclical some queries are, often repeating every year around the same time each year (for example, the word “love” being searched in the Bible around Valentine’s Day in February).

Device friendly

Bible Gateway is device friendly, so that no matter what size device a person uses when visiting the site — desktop, tablet, smartphone — the screen is maximized for optimum viewing. And developers are working on a refreshed new design to the site, along with new formats for reading and viewing. 

The just-released free Bible Gateway Bible Audio App lets users listen to a variety of Bible translations, choosing from multiple audio narration styles; navigate quickly anywhere in the Bible; speed up or slow down playback to listen to the Bible at their own pace; and listen to the Bible while reading the very text that’s being narrated.

The long-time favorite Bible Gateway App for both Android and iOS allows people to read more than 90 Bible translations and listen to more than 20 audio Bibles, in addition to taking personal notes, highlighting text, starring favorite verses, following Bible reading plans, enjoying night mode Bible reading and much more. App users also receive the free Visual Verse of the Day and can easily share Bible verses with friends using social media and email.

The top-5 Bible verses searched and shared by users of Bible Gateway are:

1. John 3:16 — For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life.

2. Jeremiah 29:11 — “For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.”

3. Philippians 4:13 — I can do all this through Him who gives me strength.

4. Psalm 23:4 — Even though I walk through the darkest valley, I will fear no evil, for You are with me; Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me.

5. Romans 8:28 — And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love Him, who have been called according to His purpose. (TAB)