Open-source, local-first Bible study platform, Open REST API, and Model Context Protocol (MCP) engine.
BibleDesk provides a completely free, open-source foundation for Scripture study with 6 public-domain translations (KJV, ASV, WEB, BBE, Darby, YLT), Strong's Greek & Hebrew lexicons, Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (TSK) cross-references, and a bidirectional Biblical Knowledge Graph.
The entire app is designed so anyone can use BibleDesk directly as a standalone web/desktop/mobile app or consume it as an Open REST API & MCP Server for external AI agents (Claude Code, Cursor, Windsurf, LangChain, custom agents) — no closed AI subscriptions or mandatory API keys required.
| Active phase | Phase 0 — Local-First Bible Foundation & Open Multi-Platform Suite |
| What exists in code | Christian Creator & Ministry Hub (/creators, /c/[handle], /@handle, schema-v9.sql) empowering worship leaders, podcast hosts, writers, and Christian artists with reverent link-in-bio pages, embedded YouTube/Spotify media, Scripture of the Season, 0% platform fee direct patronage links (Patreon, BuyMeACoffee, Stripe), ministry prayer requests with 1-click intercession, and discovery directory; Universal Keyword & Cross-Referencing Engine (src/lib/universalIndexer.ts) interlinking Greek/Hebrew Strong's lemmas, Scripture passages, Community & Personal Prayers, Sermons, and Catechisms into a bidirectional network; Connected Knowledge Drawer (ConnectedKnowledgeDrawer.tsx) embedded in Bible Reader, Sermon Studio, and Prayer Care; Toggleable Multi-Layer Knowledge Graph (GraphView.tsx) synthesizing doctrines, verses, concepts, sermons, and prayers; Production share URL canonicalization (https://bible-desk.vercel.app/share/[slug]); Gemini API token budget optimizations; Marketing Showcase on / with 2 consolidated target pillars (Individual Believers & Discipleship vs Churches, Ministries & Creators) and transparent pricing ($0 for churches forever; $0 free with 5 server AI answers/day or unlimited BYOK; optional $4.99/mo supporter tier); Centralized 3-Column Study Desk workspace (/bible); Expanded Doctrinal RAG System (src/lib/doctrinesData.ts, src/lib/rag.ts) with 8 classical loci of theology; Multi-Tradition Catechisms & Confessions (/catechism) covering Westminster, Heidelberg, Luther's Small Catechism, 1689 Baptist, 39 Articles, and Assemblies of God 16 Truths; Live Worship Radio Dock (LiveRadioPlayer.tsx) with ambient sacred streams & 1-click K-LOVE/Air1 docks; Church Live Sermon Theatre (ChurchLivePlayer.tsx, /sermons) with YouTube/Facebook Live embeds; 1-Click ProPresenter 7 Presentation Slide Exporter; Church Ministry Hub (/church) with prayer chain, embed widgets, and Planning Center interop; Universal & Inline Slash Commands (/creator, /verse, /encourage, /pray, /strongs, /church, /sdk, /radio, /sermon, /slides, /catechism); Words of Encouragement Hub (/encourage); 4-tier prayer escalation system (Private → Circle → Church → Global Atlas); PrayerAtlas 2D vector global map (/prayer); official BibleDesk Client SDK (src/lib/sdk.ts, packages/sdk); Developer Platform (/developers); Jakob's Law mobile UX; local 6-translation engine (KJV, ASV, WEB, BBE, Darby, YLT); Strong's Greek/Hebrew lexicons; TSK cross-references; Quick Jump (Ctrl+K); Chrome Extension MV3 side panel; Discord & WhatsApp bots; Open MCP server (/api/mcp); Open REST APIs; bidirectional Biblical Knowledge Graph; multi-platform build suite (npm run package:all); Android APK (apps/android, Community Beta); Desktop Electron shell (apps/desktop); and dedicated /download install hub. |
| Bible data | Fully local static public domain modules with zero network requirement for reading/search |
| Open APIs & MCP | Exposes /api/mcp, /api/bible/search, /api/bible/chapter, /api/bible/lexicon, /api/graph, /api/prayer, /api/prayer/escalate, /api/church, /api/daily |
| Deploy & Build | Production Next.js 16 build verified across all 34 routes (0 type errors) |
| Source of truth | TODO.md for work · ARCHITECTURE.md for system design · OPS_REPORT.md for ops audit · AGENTS.md for agent rules |
All primary Scripture reading, concordance keyword search, Strong's Greek/Hebrew lexical definitions, Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (TSK) cross-references, and concept navigation run 100% offline and free without requiring any paid API keys or closed cloud dependencies.
- Official Client SDK (
@bibledesk/sdk): Open-source isomorphic TypeScript/JavaScript client library installable via npm (packages/sdk) for Node.js, Web, React Native, and autonomous AI agents:npm install @bibledesk/sdk
import { createBibleDeskClient } from '@bibledesk/sdk'; const client = createBibleDeskClient(); const chapter = await client.bible.getChapter({ book: 'John', chapter: 3 });
- Model Context Protocol (MCP) (
POST /api/mcp): External agents (Claude Code, Cursor, Windsurf, Sigil) can query BibleDesk tools (lookup_passage,search_bible,lookup_strongs,get_daily_verse,query_knowledge_graph). - Open REST Endpoints:
GET /api/bible/chapter?book=John&chapter=3&translation=webGET /api/bible/search?q=light&translation=kjvGET /api/bible/lexicon?strongs=G2889GET /api/graph?node=graceGET /api/daily
- Included 5D AI Study Assistant: Users who sign in receive automatic access to the server-hosted Google Gemini assistant (
gemini-2.5-flash, 15 questions/hr) with zero API key configuration. Guests can also supply their own free Gemini key (BYOK). - Pastoral Prayer Care Workflow & Reminders: Private intercession circles with daily/weekly recurrence, browser push reminders, automated email digest (
/api/prayer/digest), and 1-click follow-up messaging (WhatsApp, Email, SMS, Clipboard).
The Concept Graph indexes verses, lexical roots (e.g. G2889, H7225), TSK cross-references, and theological topics into an open semantic network. Users and external AI agents can traverse this graph to discover linked passages and themes instantly without slow, expensive RAG recalculations.
When exploring complex theological questions, BibleDesk structures insights across 5 clear, complementary lenses:
- 📖 Biblical Foundation: Primary text, chapter narrative flow, and direct textual evidence.
- 🏛️ Historical Setting: Ancient Near East & Greco-Roman era, cultural customs, authorship, and original audience.
- 📜 Original Languages: Strong's Greek & Hebrew lemmas, root definitions, morphology, and transliterations.
- ⚖️ Systematic Theology: Doctrinal coherence, biblical covenants, and historic church consensus.
- 💡 Life Application: Practical modern reflection, spiritual formation, pastoral guidance, and discipleship.
BibleDesk is packaged as a single unified ecosystem installable on any device:
| Platform | Location / Artifact | Key Capabilities |
|---|---|---|
| Web & PWA | Root Web App (/download) |
Zero-install browser access + 1-click Progressive Web App (PWA) installation with offline caching. |
| Desktop App (Electron) | apps/desktop/ |
Native Windows (.exe), macOS (.dmg), and Linux (.AppImage) app with local SQLite storage, Obsidian sync, and local graphify. |
| Android App (Capacitor) | apps/android/ |
Offline-ready Android build with touch Greek/Hebrew lexicons, dark parchment reading mode, and direct APK sideloading. |
| Chrome Extension (MV3) | apps/extension/ |
Manifest V3 Side Panel companion for reading Scripture and looking up Strong's terms while browsing any webpage. |
| Discord Bot & Webhooks | /api/discord/* |
Ed25519-verified slash commands (/ask, /daily, /bible) and 1-click study embed broadcasting to Discord channels. |
| WhatsApp Cloud API & Share | /api/whatsapp/* |
Meta Cloud API interactive bot (daily, John 3:16, ask: ...) and 1-click formatted chat forwarder for small groups. |
| Obsidian Vault Exporter | /api/export/obsidian |
Generates structured Markdown vaults with [[wikilinks]] for local-first personal knowledge management. |
Assemble all platform distributions into a single /dist artifact folder with one command:
# Build & package all targets (Web, Desktop, Android, Chrome Extension)
npm run package:all
# Target-specific builds
npm run build:web # Production Next.js SSR + PWA
npm run build:desktop # Electron packages
npm run build:android # Android assets & Capacitor workspace
npm run build:extension # Pack Chrome extension ZIP# 1. Clone repository
git clone https://github.com/ShadowWalkerNC/BibleDesk.git
cd BibleDesk
# 2. Install dependencies
npm install
# 3. Start local development server
npm run devVisit http://localhost:3000 to open the Study Desk.
BibleDesk is free and open-source software licensed under the MIT License. All bundled Bible texts (KJV, ASV, WEB, BBE, Darby, YLT) and Strong's Lexicons are in the Public Domain.