Do you write in your Bible?

ChicanaRose said:

Do you write in, highlight, or mark your Bible? If so, how has it been helpful?

Do you use a certain color coding system?

Do you have a sample page you would like to show us?

Click to expand...

This is a great thread and I'm glad I stopped in. I guess I didn't realize how helpful my using colored markers has helped me. First, I constantly rotate between two different colors as I read. I've always found in my previous years of highlighting that the same [color] became boring and before I knew it, I wasn't reading any longer. So you can go to many pages in my bible and the color scheme is different (as much as possible with just five different colors that I use). So that actually makes it fun for me.

But I use two colors for a specific reason and that is to help to [ensure] that I pay close attention to God's Word. He wants us to droooooool over His Word. It is so important! So I use the colors to clearly mark out conversation or points that are really important for one reason or another. As I read the entire bible in chronological order of material written (we need to read the entire bible in order as the story and miracle that it is), I force myself with the aid of these crazy highlighters, to never pass on to the next chapter or verse unless I feel like I have a reasonable understanding of the text and could actually discuss it with another instead of just saying, "Uhhhh....yeah man, I dunno...ya know!?"

I also use the pens to skip a lot of text that almost seems to be "filler", and I think there's an example of that in the second photo as well. I do this so that I can go back and easily put the important words into my mind and then somehow my mind sees the rest of the the text and the entire paragraph is mine within a snapshot. It's pretty amazing....but it's a really cool thing to do so that when you go back to the text, you've made it instantly clear for the second time around instead of having to figure it out again (until you get your next bible and start all over again.)

Yes I mark things in my Bible. I love my physical Bible. The feel of the pages is unlike any other book. I use Bible apps for looking up scripture references which I then look up in my Bible. Mostly use You Version. Lots of translations and can listen, makes yard work and other tasks not so bad lol

I think writing in any book is barbaric.

My preferred study bible is the New Revised Standard Version, but for general reading I use the Good News Version, because I find the text very approachable for day-to-day reading. I don't need to mark the Bible with ink, as I use computer software as my main study tool and can highlight, save and cross-reference passages easily.

Yes, I do mark up some of my Bibles. I have an NIV I won't mark up (it's a more expensive one). I treat study Bibles more like textbooks, so yes, notes etc! This year I'm using the F260 plan to read through the Bible, and I bought the NLT reflections Bible for that - it has space for notes which I'm liking. I use a colour code to highlight the following (adapted from someone I know on social media):

• Memory verses
• Main point/argument
• Supporting point/argument
• "Go/do this commands"
• "Stop/don't do this"
• Faith and blessing statements
• Verses that tell me something about God/Trinity
• Promises and Prophecy

I use symbols in the margins for different things:

• ! = something surprising
• !! = something shocking
• ? = question/something I don't understand
• + (cross) = something about God's people
• Single underline = something to take note of
• Double underline = Something to take extra note of

I use (don't laugh!) crayola twistable crayons to highlight. They don't bleed through Bible paper, and the variety of colours means that you can build your own system.

DW1980 said:

Yes, I do mark up some of my Bibles. I have an NIV I won't mark up (it's a more expensive one). I treat study Bibles more like textbooks, so yes, notes etc! This year I'm using the F260 plan to read through the Bible, and I bought the NLT reflections Bible for that - it has space for notes which I'm liking. I use a colour code to highlight the following (adapted from someone I know on social media):

• Memory verses
• Main point/argument
• Supporting point/argument
• "Go/do this commands"
• "Stop/don't do this"
• Faith and blessing statements
• Verses that tell me something about God/Trinity
• Promises and Prophecy

I use symbols in the margins for different things:

• ! = something surprising
• !! = something shocking
• ? = question/something I don't understand
• + (cross) = something about God's people
• Single underline = something to take note of
• Double underline = Something to take extra note of

I use (don't laugh!) crayola twistable crayons to highlight. They don't bleed through Bible paper, and the variety of colours means that you can build your own system.

Click to expand...

I like that one: "Stop/don't do this" !

I use paper bibles as read only, and use e-sword for tagging verses into themes with an ipad. Then I sync the tagged verses to a desktop version of e-sword and copy them into a word processor, print them, and then make notes from there. This is my process for memorizing and meditating on verses. I don't like writing in my bibles, as @Gracia Singh says, it just feels wrong

No, I've never written in any of the Bibles I have.

ChicanaRose said:

Do you write in, highlight, or mark your Bible? If so, how has it been helpful?

Do you use a certain color coding system?

Do you have a sample page you would like to show us?

Click to expand...

I have several paper Bibles in various versions, but the only one I write in is my International Inductive Study Bible (NASB) which I purchased back in 1994, and I follow the suggestions for its use contained in the book.

Romans 8 said:

I use paper bibles as read only, and use e-sword for tagging verses into themes with an ipad. Then I sync the tagged verses to a desktop version of e-sword and copy them into a word processor, print them, and then make notes from there. This is my process for memorizing and meditating on verses. I don't like writing in my bibles, as @Gracia Singh says, it just feels wrong

Click to expand...

I use Logos Bible for Bible study, which is similar to the function of E-Sword and many other Bible tools. It also has a voice function to turn on, which can be listened to while on the go. When I'm doing housework or cooking, I can still meditate on God's Word. It is really a useful tool.

ChicanaRose said:

Do you write in, highlight, or mark your Bible? If so, how has it been helpful?
Do you use a certain color coding system?
Do you have a sample page you would like to show us?

Click to expand...

Yes, I make notes in my bible from either my own study or from the Pastors teaching. My grandfather's bible and my father's bible are filled with notes which often I find enlightening and given to further thought. As an example: Psalm 19:14 - "May our (my) sinful experiences be fought within ourselves, so that only the Christ life may be evident and brighten the path of those we meet along the way". I also have papers throughout with notes for specific passages.

Since I am more inclined to non-fiction most of my books have notes and highlighted areas...Pascal's "Pensees", Chesterton's "Orthodoxy", etc. and it makes for a reliable and quick find when trying to find specific references. (As I often purchase used books I find it very interesting to see what others may have found worth considering by there underlines or notes. (I also date my readings … I find it interesting to give thought to how life, experience, and growth have changes...)

Lastly, my Dad considered Nahum1:7 his life verse which he would note to close his letters and communications. Over time I have found many people have a particular verse that is special to them...and I have attached their name to the specific verse.

I do have some highlighting and writing. I also print out notes (have plans to do so but haven't gotten around to it - argh) planned for blank spots. It's a large study bible and I overdo it when "studying"

ChicanaRose said:

Do you write in, highlight, or mark your Bible? If so, how has it been helpful?

Do you use a certain color coding system?

Do you have a sample page you would like to show us?

Click to expand...

I have, at one time I decided I was going to have just one bible for the rest of my life, I underlined, wrote notes in the margins, and such.

but each time I started reading from beginning to end I was doing more underlining, and writing notes.

After a few times, half the bible was underlined, and I found it did not really do that much for me.

So, I stopped doing it.

ProGoddess said:

I use Logos Bible for Bible study, which is similar to the function of E-Sword and many other Bible tools. It also has a voice function to turn on, which can be listened to while on the go. When I'm doing housework or cooking, I can still meditate on God's Word. It is really a useful tool.

Click to expand...

Thanks! I downloaded logos app on my android and a free ESV "audio" bible for listening. I also have "MySword" for android but it's interface is deplorable and I stopped using it. I checked out Logos desktop software a while back but it's really expensive. I think though that I may subscribe to monthly or yearly subscription down the road. God Bless!

Romans 8 said:

Thanks! I downloaded logos app on my android and a free ESV "audio" bible for listening. I also have "MySword" for android but it's interface is deplorable and I stopped using it. I checked out Logos desktop software a while back but it's really expensive. I think though that I may subscribe to monthly or yearly subscription down the road. God Bless!

Click to expand...

You can try Bible Gateway. It has android and iphone version, and serves the similar function as Logos. It also has the PC version. I particularly like the audio Bible.

I have never been comfortable writing in books. So, there's that.

My two main Bibles are study Bibles with center-column references and extensive notes and commentaries, often taking up more space on the page than the actual text.

I used to keep a journal of my Bible readings with cross references, thoughts, etc. Now, almost all of my reading and Bible study is done online. I like the "feel" of being in God's word with my Bibles, but my eyesight is such that it is difficult to read physical books anymore. It's been years since I have read a novel or non-fiction book. On the computer I can easily increase the text size on the screen.

Also, I am a used book seller on Amazon and it kills me when I have acquired a book to sell that would go for a lot, but open it up to discover that someone has underlined in pen or highlighter. Aargh!

I write in a couple of my "modern language," paperback, versions that I picked up somewhere or other and which are not in good shape anymore. I do not do it with my better copies of the Bible.

I mark passages with small pencil lines in the margin so that when I read the passage again I am reminded but not distracted. I also use post it notes to write on rather than in the actual book. I found that highlighting was distracting.

I don't write in any kind of book, whether I own it or am borrowing (renting) it. The Bible is the last book I would ever consider writing in.

I often highlight passages of interest on my Bible, and other times I like to put a word translation, for example, "Into your hands I commit my spirit" I put a side note to show that I can substitute the word commit with deposit.