Scripture in inEden — YouVersion first, BSB growing in-app
At launch, the Faith tab anchors your reading in YouVersion — the translation you already use, one tap from any devotional reference. We're also bundling the Berean Standard Bible (BSB) in-app in stages so offline reading doesn't depend on a network.
YouVersion deep links (primary at launch)
From the Faith tab or any devotional verse reference, tap Open in YouVersion. That opens the YouVersion app (or website) at the same passage in whatever translation you've set as your default — NIV, ESV, NLT, MSG, KJV, and thousands more.
If you don't have YouVersion installed, the button opens the App Store to install it.
We chose YouVersion as the primary reader because no single bundled translation is the right answer for every member, and YouVersion is where most women already read.
The in-app BSB reader (partial at launch, expanding)
The bundled Bible is the Berean Standard Bible (BSB) — a modern, scholarly translation under Creative Commons BY-SA. At launch, a starter set of chapters ships in the app (including John 3 and Psalm 23); we expand toward the full text over time.
What works in the in-app reader today:
- Chapter reading for bundled passages — swipe forward or back within what's installed.
- Verse-level highlighting and saving where the chapter is available.
- Open in YouVersion on every verse view — your escape hatch to any translation.
What's coming as we bundle more BSB text:
- Full 66-book offline reading (~5 MB total).
- Full-text search across the whole Bible.
- Tap-to-define for older theological terms in plain English.
Why BSB and not NIV by default?
Licensing. NIV, ESV, NLT, and most modern translations charge real licensing fees and limit how text can be displayed in apps. BSB is published under terms that allow free distribution.
Quality. BSB is a modern, accurate evangelical-tradition translation — not a fringe paraphrase.
Choice. YouVersion handles the translation you actually prefer; BSB gives us a zero-cost in-app path we're growing deliberately.
How devotionals link to verses
When a devotional references a passage, the citation is tappable. If the chapter is bundled in-app, you'll see BSB text plus Open in YouVersion. If not yet bundled, we route you straight to YouVersion at that passage.
Founder-authored devotionals follow the same pattern. Founders may quote NIV in copy (with attribution); the link still opens YouVersion at the cited reference.
Reading plans
We don't have native reading plans inside inEden at v1. YouVersion's reading plans are excellent, free, and where most members already track theirs.
Saved verses
Where the in-app reader is available, long-pressing a verse adds it to your Saved verses list in Library. Saved verses sync across your devices and stay private. You can optionally surface a pinned verse on your profile (Settings → Profile → Pinned verse).