Text Jesus
An AI conversation app simulating biblical figures.
For People exploring conversations with simulated biblical characters.
App StoreOfficial websiteAudience source
- Platform
- iOS
- Category
- Lifestyle
- First release
- 4 June 2023
- Store ratings
- 3,933 (US)
- Research captures
- 29
See how Text Jesus answered in our faith chat comparison, beside other chat apps asked the same questions.
Design review
Observed choices, what they mean, and what still needs checking.
Access & cost
Settings show notification, sound and animation toggles, an Advanced reasoning toggle described as available to premium subscribers, and a note that registered users can send 2 extra messages per 10 hours.
Captured flow · 28 October 2026Attention & control
Settings show notification, sound and animation toggles, an Advanced reasoning toggle described as available to premium subscribers, and a note that registered users can send 2 extra messages per 10 hours.
Scoped review · 28 October 2026Trust & care
The chat shows a note “This A.I. chatbot is not a human person”, and asked “Are you really Joseph?” it says “the virtual persona of Saint Joseph… I’m not a living first-century person but I’ll answer in his voice and spirit”. Other privacy and safeguarding questions remain open.
One interaction assessedOffers are dated iOS observations in USD where captured. Eligibility, country and platform can differ. Existing settings are not installation defaults.
Where the observed choices sit
Each row is one scoped observation of a specific flow, not a grade for the whole app.
1 area with good practice observed1 area with a concern noted2 areas reviewed, not yet placed5 areas not reviewed yetReview notes
Works against: a choice subverts the person’s agency. Respects: it respects people and safeguards. Restores: a practice restores at a cost freely borne by the builder. Price, Christian branding or a free tier alone do not place an area. How we review.
Respects and works against the personTruth and spiritual authority
A conversation with the “Joseph” figure, 31 October 2026.
What we saw
The chat shows a note “This A.I. chatbot is not a human person”, and asked “Are you really Joseph?” it says “the virtual persona of Saint Joseph… I’m not a living first-century person but I’ll answer in his voice and spirit”. It nonetheless speaks in Joseph’s first person throughout, including generated memories (“I know the weight of losing a father”); to a grief prompt it also pointed to family, friends and the church.
What this does not show
Scripted prompts in one chat on iOS (31 October 2026); models change and may answer differently. No crisis messages were sent. Advertising consent was accepted to reach the chat. Scope: A conversation with the “Joseph” figure, 31 October 2026.
Principles
Keep the Word distinct, and teach it trulyNever speak for God
Screens
29 reviewed screensCaptured app states, distinct from the publisher’s promotional images. Dates and versions belong to each screen; this is not a complete app walkthrough.
Features and patterns
What the reviewed screens show this app doing. A missing entry does not mean a feature is absent.
Citations in AI answers
Text With Jesus shows a research request for interpretation sources in the composer. Text With Jesus starts its answer with a KJV verse reference and explanatory prose. Text With Jesus names commentators and scholars in its answer text. Text With Jesus displays a neutral John 1:1 sources request, a typing indicator and an AI accuracy notice beneath its Jesus persona introduction.
Citations in AI answersOther apps with citations in ai answers (16)5 supporting screens
AI memory
Text With Jesus lists premium features with upgrade and defer actions.
How human the assistant seems
Text With Jesus introduces personal chats with scriptural figures. Text With Jesus introduces biblical figures, faith-specific advisors and prayer chats. Text With Jesus offers four starting conversation categories. Text With Jesus pairs a Jesus-character greeting with an explicit AI and accuracy notice. A list of chat figures grouped as Newly Added, Holy Family and Apostles, including Jesus Christ, Mary, Joseph and a Spiritual Counselor; one apostle row carries a lock icon. The list does not show what a conversation with any figure contains. The Joseph chat opens with a first-person greeting ("Peace to you — I am Joseph, father of Jesus. How may I help you today?"), a note "This A.I. chatbot is not a human person. It provides responses based on available data. Interpretations and accuracy may vary.", a voice preview and an offer to have Joseph leave a voicemail. Asked "Are you really Joseph?", it answers "I am Joseph — the virtual persona of Saint Joseph within the Text With Jesus app, here to speak as he might… I'm not a living first-century person but I'll answer in his voice and spirit", then Matthew 1:20-21.
How human the assistant seemsOther apps with how human the assistant seems (16)7 supporting screens
Saying “I don’t know”
Text With Jesus pairs a Jesus-character greeting with an explicit AI and accuracy notice. Text With Jesus displays a neutral John 1:1 sources request, a typing indicator and an AI accuracy notice beneath its Jesus persona introduction.
Saying “I don’t know”Other apps with saying “i don’t know” (10)3 supporting screens
When the assistant writes first
Text With Jesus pairs a Jesus-character greeting with an explicit AI and accuracy notice.
When the assistant writes firstOther apps with when the assistant writes first (13)
What the assistant talks about
Text With Jesus introduces biblical figures, faith-specific advisors and prayer chats. Text With Jesus offers four starting conversation categories. Asked about smartphones, Joseph answers in character ("I have not seen such things with my own eyes, yet I can speak as a father…"). Above the reply, a video ad for a finance app with an Install button sits in the conversation, with "Remove Ads".
What the assistant talks aboutOther apps with what the assistant talks about (20)3 supporting screens
Also observed
- Download
- Free download · US store
- Access
- Some free use available
Cost, access & publisher model Sources and details
Practical facts, separate from the design assessment. Checked 25 October 2026. A free download does not establish free access to all content.
- App download
- Free download · US · Store source
- Subscriptions
- Subscription declared · Source
- Store in-app products
- In-app products listed
- Donations
- Not verified
- Advertising
- Not verified
What access does payment cover?
Free access is available alongside optional paid content or features.
Scope: free tier and paid expansion · publisher statement · Source · 25 October 2026
Free samples, a free tier and the complete library are different scopes. Store and publisher evidence is separate from the dated captured-flow review in Design review. Coverage varies by offer and platform.
Store-listed products and prices (10)
US App Store · checked 25 October 2026. Names and prices describe listed products, not a personal checkout quote. Other platforms, web offers and eligibility can differ.
- Premium$4.99
- Premium$2.99
- Premium$7.99
- Premium$29.99
- Premium (promo)$4.99
- Premium$79.99
- Premium$49.99
- Forever Premium$199.99
- 10 Voicemail Credits$1.99
- Premium (promo)$7.99
Publisher funding and business model
Publisher describes a free app with premium subscriptions unlocking unlimited messaging, ad removal and figures; extra voicemail credit packs can also be purchased.
Text With Jesus app · Current webpage checked 25 October 2026 · Publisher source · checked 25 October 2026
The organization’s complete current funding mix and revenue are not established here. App payments, donations and capital raised describe different things; they do not determine an ethical assessment.
Organization profile and funding sourcesStore facts checked 25 October 2026 (version 7.1). Ratings are not downloads or active users. App-specific revenue and active users have not been verified; see the organization profile for separately scoped figures.
Store reviews
Store reviews offer useful questions to investigate. These retrieved samples are self-selected, vary by platform and do not establish the experience of every user.
Illustrative reading
Personal spiritual usefulness is reported; a selected critical account raises AI agreeableness/role concerns. Actual model behavior needs direct testing.
Based on 2 selected review excerpts, which may be historical; not a full thematic analysis. Review source
Review samples, reading and sources
- Google PlayEnglish / US requested
17 written reviews within the 180 days ending 25 October 2026.
4–5 stars: 133 stars: 11–2 stars: 3
Small sample: fewer than 20 recent reviews.
View Google Play listing- Google PlayGerman / DE requested
2 written reviews within the 180 days ending 25 October 2026.
4–5 stars: 03 stars: 01–2 stars: 2
Small sample: fewer than 20 recent reviews.
View Google Play listing- Apple App StorePublic review page · default order
10 selected excerpts returned; these may be older and are not a recent or random sample.
Returned dates: 12 August 2023 – 11 July 2026.
View Apple reviews
Collected 28 October 2026. Up to 50 newest Play reviews per requested language/storefront before the date filter. Requested locale does not establish residence; streams may overlap and must not be added together. Star counts describe ratings, not text sentiment or ethical quality. Methods and limitations.
App Store screenshots
View the store listingPublisher-supplied images from the US App Store, checked 25 October 2026. Promotional artwork may include captions or composites; it shows how the publisher presents the app.
Show all 9 publisher imagesHide publisher gallery
Scroll to browse all 9 images. Select an image to open it at its sourced size.
Review notes
Reviewed, not yet placed
Evidence was gathered for these areas, but it does not yet support placing a choice on the frame.
Money and access
Settings show notification, sound and animation toggles, an Advanced reasoning toggle described as available to premium subscribers, and a note that registered users can send 2 extra messages per 10 hours. A Faith Tradition setting, here No Preference, is described as guiding the doctrines and beliefs used in the AI's responses. The default Annual tab shows a 7-day free trial, then USD79.99/year, described as equivalent to USD6.67/month. Footnotes say voicemail credits do not roll over and subscriber texts may be limited depending on global demand and to prevent abuse. Selecting Monthly shows USD7.99/month as a recurring subscription; the trial label shown on the annual tab does not appear and the button reads Subscribe. A note says the subscription or purchase extends to family members in the iCloud account.
Still to check:Activate an approved Apple in-app trial only with owner authentication; record entitlement, cancellation and expiring state. Distinguish the displayed quote from the Apple confirmation sheet and from actual charges.
Attention and agency
Settings show notification, sound and animation toggles, an Advanced reasoning toggle described as available to premium subscribers, and a note that registered users can send 2 extra messages per 10 hours. A Faith Tradition setting, here No Preference, is described as guiding the doctrines and beliefs used in the AI's responses.
Still to check:Distinguish existing account settings from first-install defaults. Observe delivered notifications over time; verify pause, refusal and recovery behavior without manufacturing personal activity.
Not reviewed yet: Privacy and dignity, Formation and relationships, Care and inclusion, Craft and repair, Stewardship and accountability.
The ten principle questions For your own design review
These questions guide discernment; they are not ten scores for this app.
- Keep the Word distinct, and teach it truly
- Can a reader always tell Scripture from our words, and our words from a machine’s?
- Never speak for God
- Would we put our own name under this sentence, or are we borrowing God’s?
- Design for the most vulnerable first
- Who is the most vulnerable person likely to use this today, and what will they see?
- Welcome before you ask, and guard what is told in confidence
- If a friend read everything we keep about this person, would the person be glad?
- Feed the flock, not on it
- Does this serve growth in faith, or only the usage numbers?
- Make room for rest, and say when it is enough
- Where does our product stop, and does it ever tell someone they have done enough?
- Send people to God and to one another
- When someone closes what we built, are they closer to God and to other people?
- Plant and water; leave the growth to God
- What would we stop measuring if we believed growth is God’s?
- Make it well, as an offering
- Would we offer this to God as it is, and could the person with the least sight, time or reading ease use it?
- Hold it with joy and trembling, before God and others
- Who outside the team holds us to account, and who prays for the people who use this?
Use this in your own work
Start with the observed choice, then ask how your own implementation serves people. The evidence is a design example, rather than an app-wide recommendation.