Does Audio Count - Chris Needham

Does audio count?

If we say hearing the Bible read out loud with our ears “doesn’t count,” we’re accidentally implying that the vast majority of God’s people throughout history didn’t experience God’s Word as intended. Is that fair?

Going back thousands of years, from the beginning of the Torah all the way through history up to the printing press, the way most of God’s people encountered Scripture was through their ears. Public reading wasn’t some weird extra. It was normal. (In fact, when you read the Bible and notice repetition or patterns, many scholars think those features can actually serve hearing, oral transmission, and memory.)

It’s no wonder the Bible says, “Faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ” (Romans 10:17). God’s people are encouraged to hear the Word read out loud from the beginning (see Deuteronomy 31:11–13; Joshua 8:34–35). The New Testament keeps the same assumption: “Devote yourself to the public reading of Scripture” (1 Timothy 4:13). There’s even a blessing tied to reading aloud and hearing (Revelation 1:3).

Of course, we’re so blessed to have written Bibles. We can read with our eyes whenever we want. And reading with our eyes is a different cognitive experience than hearing with our ears. Each has its own advantages. Personally, I find that reading helps me to notice the details, whereas hearing really helps me grasp the context and “big picture.” I want to receive God’s Word in every way I can.

So as you seek to consume “daily bread,” do audio Bibles count? I say yes, absolutely! And on some days, they may just be the difference between consuming your Bible or not. The most important thing is that God’s Word ends up in your heart: “I have stored up your word in my heart” (Psalm 119:11).