Free Bible Version
Free Bible VersionFree—available to anyone
Copying—with no limit
No cost—no charge for downloading and useHELP WANTED! As we complete the final edits to the Free BibleVersion New Testament we're asking for all input on all the books--edits, typos, suggestions. We are also looking for any printers who could offer to print the Free Bible Version at low or no cost. So let us know via the contact page.
Good News 2012! The Free Bible Version New Testament is complete as of 31 December 2011, and just a few final edits remain on this the first release....
What is the Free Bible Version?
The Free Bible Version is a new translation into modern English from the standard Greek text.
Its intent is to be as faithful to the original meaning without being awkward or misleading. The style is contemporary English without using slang or fashionable colloquialisms, speaking to our modern society in a way people will understand.This is an ongoing project that expects change and development. The initial posting will be of version one, with further revisions to come. You are encouraged to copy and share this resource, subject to the limitations of the license. It is provided under a Creative Commons license that allows free use and dissemination provided that the source is given (Free Bible Version) and the text is not changed.
Available books in white (all in PDF format)
Finally, a truly free Bible—free in terms of availability, free in terms of use, and free in terms of cost for download from the Internet.
What does this mean?The Free Bible Version (so far just the New Testament) is freely available. This means it can be viewed online, re-posted on other websites, and printed. It is free for use not only in the sense it doesn’t cost anything to use, but that the whole of the Free Bible Version can be used without any restrictions as to quantity and books.
This contrasts with almost all other modern English language translations available today. Most people (including church leaders) are not aware that modern English versions limit the amount of text you can use. This is often set at a specific number of verses, and also that no complete single book of the New Testament can be copied. Technically this would mean that you could not copy out the book of Philemon say for your Bible study class, even though it only comprises 25 verses.
A brief review of modern English versions reveals that the maximum number of verses that can be reproduced is usually between 250 and 500 in total. Limits are invariably placed on how much of a Biblical book can be published, such as up to 50%. Otherwise you have to ask for written permission and may have to pay royalties.
No such limits are placed on the use of the Free Bible Version. You are free to republish the whole text, complete books, or as long quotes as you wish. The only stipulation is that you identify the Free Bible Version and do not change the text.
So now you can use the Bible as freely as you want—producing booklets for Bible study on specific books, making the Bible available for viewing and/or download on your website, using it for personal Bible study on your phone or iPad or computer as you wish. You can even download it and print it. You may even sell it to cover the costs of printing/copying (though we would hope you would not intend to make a profit!)
Let your church know. Let your minister know. And may this free version of the Bible be a blessing to all as God intended.
Dr. Jonathan Gallagher, translator
Free Bible Version is now available on e-Sword www.e-sword.net with this plugin: http://goo.gl/6dTn3
The Free Bible Version is a project of Free Bible Ministry,
Contact: info AT freebibleministry.org