Is it really free?
Reading is completely free — every verse, every word study, every Scholar's Note — no account required. Study tools — the five AI-guided templates, unlimited notes, group features — are available from $5/month and keep the reading free for everyone else.
Why does anything cost money if the Word is free?
The reading experience is free and always will be — that is a theological commitment, not a pricing strategy. The AI-guided study tools are different: every session with the Hovering Guide carries a real infrastructure cost, billed per use, that grows as more people use it. The subscription tiers cover that cost honestly. Your subscription keeps the AI Guide running at full capability — and keeps the reading free for everyone who can't afford anything. It is a structure we can stand behind.
Do I need an account to read?
No. Open it and read. Create a free account when you want to save more than 20 notes, use the study templates, or join a group.
Is there an app?
Yes — available right now on any device. Open the-living-word.org in your browser and install it to your home screen in 30 seconds. On iPhone: Safari → Share → Add to Home Screen. On Android: Chrome menu → Install App. On desktop: the install icon in the Chrome or Edge address bar.
What are the four reading themes?
Spring, Summer, Harvest, and Winter — four color palettes for the reading pane. Switch between them in the settings panel (gear icon, top right). All four are available free.
How do I adjust the font size?
Open the settings panel (gear icon, top right). Use the + and − buttons next to the font size display.
What is the Day Streak?
A quiet tracker showing how many consecutive days you've read. It resets if you miss a day. It's there to encourage consistency, not create pressure.
How do I send feedback?
Tap the gear icon → Send Feedback. Choose a category (Suggestion, Bug, Question, or Praise), write your observation, and tap Send. The context (which chapter you're on) is filled in automatically.
Where are the other books?
The Gospels and Acts are available now. The rest of the New Testament follows in the coming weeks. The Old Testament follows book by book through the coming months. The app updates automatically.
What are the five study templates?
Five different postures before the text — Open Study, The Proclaimer, The Personal Journal, The Group Session, and The Scholar's Study. Each has an AI Guide that shapes its voice to the template. Available from $5/month.
How do groups join?
Leader subscribes → Portal generates a QR code and invite link → Members scan → Free account → Full access instantly. No payment from members.
What translation does it use?
An original Scholar's Paraphrase built from the Greek and Hebrew primary sources — not a revision of any existing translation.
Will the Old Testament have the same depth?
Yes. The same methodology — Hebrew sourcing, Greek Septuagint, Aramaic where relevant, Second Temple context — applied to every book from Genesis to Malachi.