About Narrative
Why Narrative
The challenge for the Western church isn’t access to the Bible, it’s understanding it.
Before the printing press, it was nearly impossible to own a Bible. Today, almost anyone can get a Bible within minutes.
But Biblical literacy is at an all-time low.
The state of the Church
There is a gap in what believers believe.
2025 State of Theology · Ligonier Ministriesnationwide survey highlights widespread confusion about God and His Word, even among evangelicals who claim to have a high view of the Bible.
Read: Are we more biblically illiterate than ever? Ligonier Ministries26% of U.S. evangelicals agreed that the Bible contains ancient myths and is not literally true.
Our story
“How little do I actually know my Bible?”
It began with Elijah and Elisha.
In late 2019, while listening to a sermon about Elijah and Elisha, I realized I couldn’t immediately distinguish the two similar names and thought, “How little do I actually know my Bible?” It was in that moment that the Lord gave me a vision for Narrative: a Bible experience that could answer my Elijah-or-Elisha question, right beside the text of Scripture, without needing to Google the answer or go to an unknown website.
The vision for this project was enormous, and it remained unsettled in my heart for several years. When I finally shared it with close friends, they encouraged me to pursue it. So, in God’s perfect timing, several things converged in early 2026: the advancement of AI coding tools, my own work developing the app’s concept, design, and product vision, plus skills I had been building through my regular work in software and technology.
Today, we are deeply excited—and humbled—to steward this mission. Our prayer is that the Narrative Bible can help readers understand the sacred, unchanging, and immutable truths of God’s word.
Grace and truth be with you,
Jonny ArjesCo-Founder & PresidentNarrative
Our mission
To help the world See Scripture as one narrative about Jesus.
The engagement gap
Meet readers where they are. Take them where they need to go.
The Bible is an extraordinary collection of books—it is the inerrant, holy Word of God. For a modern reader, knowing how to navigate this ancient literature and its complex themes can be overwhelming.
Everyone comes to Scripture for the first time in a unique way—they bring their own questions, experiences, and assumptions. This is especially true for people who do not call themselves Christians or who have never been shown how the books of the Bible connect. Paul tells us that new believers need milk, not meat, as they begin to understand the mysteries of God.
Narrative meets the reader where they are—and helps place clear biblical and historical context within the Scripture text to help them see the big picture and connect the dots to Jesus. Curiosity becomes a doorway into deeper engagement with Scripture, rather than a reason to leave it for Google or another internet site.
No tool, including this one, replaces the need for the community found in the local church. Indeed, Scripture commands us to gather with other believers. If you don’t yet have one, we recommend finding a Bible-believing local church that preaches the Gospel and the truth of God’s Word, and whose mission statement clearly outlines biblical truths that are counter-cultural.
The work of access
Pray for and support those carrying Scripture into difficult places.
While this is true in the Western world—where our physical and digital economy have made God’s Word easy to find, affordable, and available in extraordinary variety—in many other parts of the world, Bible access remains extremely difficult—and even dangerous. We hope you will pray for or financially support organizations whose tireless mission is still Bible access: translating, distributing, and carrying God’s Word into difficult places so that the Light can shine in the darkness.
The Gideons International
Places and distributes Bibles and New Testaments around the world.
Visit organization →TranslationWycliffe Bible Translators
Advances Bible translation so people can encounter Scripture in their own language.
Visit organization →Translation + accessBiblica
Translates Scripture and develops new ways for people to access and engage with the Bible.
Visit organization →Persecuted churchOpen Doors
Supplies Bibles and Christian resources while supporting persecuted Christians worldwide.
Visit organization →Narrative is not affiliated with these organizations. We encourage you to learn about their work and review their ministry and financial information before giving.
Frequently asked
About the app
What is Narrative?
Narrative is an Interactive Bible: a Scripture reading experience paired with a connected reference encyclopedia for people, places, events, ideas, timelines, and related passages.
Is Narrative free?
Yes. The Narrative App is intended to be free to use and its resources are meant to be shared.
Does Narrative use AI?
Yes, but never for theology. AI-assisted search and product development are in use or planned. Our peer-review team reads and proofs any content you’re reading. We love the ability to use the latest tools, but every tool, new or old, should point back to the timeless and infallible Word of God.
Is Narrative a nonprofit?
Not today. The Narrative App is free, but our company is not yet a registered 501(c)(3). Currently, our for-profit company, Narrative LLC, operates the Narrative App and website as ministry initiatives.
Can I donate?
We are not currently enabled for donations. If you want to support the app, please contact us at jonathan@narrativeproducts.com.
Is Narrative for kids?
Yes! Because the Bible is for kids. With that said, a few disclaimers:
- The current product is built for Christian adults, while our dedicated Kids Mode is planned for late 2027.
- Since we use historical artwork on all content pages, some scenes may not be appropriate for all ages. We’ve worked hard to tastefully select every image, editing or censoring content where possible. However, the visual representation of violent, sexual, or spiritually dark passages of the Bible is different for young readers than words on a page. As parents ourselves, we encourage you to explore the content before sharing it with younger children.
Some examples for you to explore:
- Bathsheba’s character card — Sexual flag
- King Saul meeting the witch of Endor — Spiritual flag
- David killing Goliath — Violence flag
Does Narrative replace the local church?
No. Narrative is designed to help readers understand biblical context better. Christians are commanded to gather together, read the Word, and worship God. We encourage you to connect with a Bible-believing local church, a small group of Christ-focused friends, and a routine of daily Scripture reading.
Need help finding a local church? Let us know. We’d be happy to help you find a church with sound theological teaching. Email us at jonathan@narrativeproducts.com.