About OpenScripture
Discover the text behind the traditions. The truth has nothing to fear.
The Mission
Most people experience Scripture through one translation at a time, without seeing how translation choices — and sometimes manuscript variation — shape what lands on the page. OpenScripture exists so those layers are visible when you want them, and out of the way when you do not.
Every feature serves that aim: Learn Mode brings Hebrew and Greek words into the text, translation difference markers and Verse Locks show where renderings diverge and let you keep the wording you prefer, and textual certainty markers show where the manuscript evidence is more debated. The feature tour shows how each one works.
Values
Accuracy
Published text stays publisher-authored; comparison, source-language, and certainty layers are built from documented data.
Clarity
Complex information is presented intuitively. No degrees in Hebrew/Greek required.
Respect
The diversity of biblical traditions is honoured — Protestant, Catholic, Orthodox, Ecumenical, Jewish, and Independent.
Openness
Sources are cited, commentary is attributed, and the limits of certainty are made visible.
Built on scholarship
Source-language data
Word Study and interlinear tooling draw on documented source-language datasets rather than a single product-wide base text.
Multiple published translations
From public-domain classics to modern scholarship, spanning Protestant, Catholic, Orthodox, Ecumenical, Jewish, and Independent traditions, with more editions added as licensing completes. Status lists what is in the reader today.
What is marked, and what is yours
Where a difference has been explained, the marker shows in the text. Anything you changed yourself — a locked verse, a locked word — is always marked as yours, so you can tell your choices from the translator's.
The planned OpenScripture AI Study Version (OASV) and OpenScripture AI Readers Version (OARV) remain unpublished while their source research, translation, alignment, and review systems are built. Their sources, policies, versions, and publication state will remain explicit.
A Note on Labels and Generalisations
The traditions presented here — Protestant, Catholic, Orthodox, Ecumenical, Jewish, Independent — are generalisations of positions commonly labelled as such. Not every person who identifies with a particular tradition will agree with everything presented under that label on this website. Labels are useful starting points, not complete descriptions of individuals.
Reading about a theological tradition online is not the same as — and is considerably less enriching than — having a respectful conversation of curiosity with someone who holds it, seeking truth together with gentleness and humility, in love and unity as fellow followers of Christ our Saviour and Lord.
Discover the text behind the traditions. The truth has nothing to fear.
Ready to go deeper?
OpenScripture launch updates, progress notes, and partner opportunities go out through the Probably Theology newsletter — there's no separate OpenScripture mailing list.
Premium is free for everyone until 3 March 2027; Pricing has the details.
Go to the Newsletter Signup →Common Questions
Is OpenScripture affiliated with any denomination?
No. All Christian traditions are honoured and represented fairly. The goal is to let readers see the full picture, not to promote any single tradition.
Do you change the Bible?
Not at all. What different translations and manuscripts say is shown unchanged. Context is added, not words.
Will there be a free tier?
Yes. Reading, comparing, and core study tools stay free. Pricing lists exactly what the free plan includes.
What if I don't read Greek or Hebrew?
OpenScripture is designed for everyday readers. Tap a word in Word Study to see its meaning, transliteration, and frequency, with no degree required.
What is a Word Lock?
Your own wording for a Hebrew, Aramaic, or Greek word, shown wherever that word appears in Composite mode. The feature tour explains how it works.
Is OpenScripture based on a single source?
No. OpenScripture does not use a single source, like THGNT, as a single product-wide base text. Published translations keep their own textual bases, while source-language tooling uses documented datasets such as Hebrew/Aramaic BHS/OSHB and Greek SBLGNT via MorphGNT.
What other features are planned?
Right now we are focussed on the core reading experience: getting word alignment right (this is crazy complicated - it's essentially reverse-engineering the English translation), and getting the translation difference markers to be informative, helpful, accurate, and thorough, across Composite, Published, and Interlinear modes. We have more features planned for the near future though: An audio bible (TTS) feature so you can listen even to your composite personalised bible, using my own sultry tones! And hopefully, eventually (this is really cool) a digital map feature, indexed to the bible's text, timeline and geography. Your financial support is going to be required for that one. So please share the app!
What is OpenScripture?
OpenScripture is a free, customisable, translation-aware Bible app that shows where published translations agree and differ across Protestant, Catholic, Orthodox, Ecumenical, Jewish, and Independent traditions. It highlights where and why translations differ, with optional manuscript certainty markers where imported data exists.
Which Bible translations does OpenScripture include?
Multiple published translations spanning Protestant, Catholic, Orthodox, Ecumenical, Jewish, and Independent traditions, with more editions added as licensing completes. Status lists the current catalogue.
How is OpenScripture different from other Bible apps?
Most Bible apps show translations in isolation. OpenScripture is built around comparison, source-language learning, and customisable reading; the feature tour shows how.