Have You Ever Written Out Scripture?

[DerSchweik]

I was chatting with one of our elder's wives a number of months ago and she mentioned she liked to write out Scriptures sometimes as part of her bible study / quiet times; she said doing so really helped her in various ways appreciate what she was reading / studying. I'd never really done that before, short of writing out verses here and there for the purpose of memorization and that sort of thing - but never whole chapters or even entire books.

I decided to try it. I started with the gospel of John about a year ago, and have been doing it almost daily ever since, to the point where I'm currently finishing the gospel of Mark with only Hebrews, James, and Revelation to go before I've completely written out the entire New Testament (I've jumped around the NT books, back and forth, not going start to finish...)

It has been an amazing blessing, unlike anything I imagined. I feel I'm getting insights into His Word unlike any I've ever received before. It's as if time slows down (to as fast as I my cursive allows), enabling me to see and appreciate subtleties in His Word I've never seen before. Sometimes, it's as if I were actually there, if that makes sense.

Has anyone else tried this? What were / are your experiences?

 

[LovebirdsFlying]

Thank you for reminding me. I haven't done it in a long time, and it is a positive experience.

 

[Petros2015]

Has anyone else tried this? What were / are your experiences?

Yes it can be quite amazing - take a look at the prayers in some of Paul's letters - Colossians 1:9-14 he says "for this reason since the say we have heard about you we have not stopped praying for you"

What follows is a wonderful prayer - and if it was good for Paul to pray that for the Colossians Church it seems to me it is good for us to pray that for ourselves and those in need. It can be rewritten from what Paul is asking to be done for them to asking that God do it for us

God, may you fill us with the knowledge of your will
through all spiritual wisdom and understanding
In order that we might live a life worthy of the Lord
And please him in every way: bearing fruit in every good work
Growing in the knowledge of You...

Try it and write it down on paper; and then pray it. I think you will find that it "comes alive". I try to keep in mind my loved ones in the faith and family as my "us".

 

[brinny]

Yes, it helps me to slow down and to really examine and absorb what i'm reading.

Thanks for the reminder. i need to start again.

 

[Br4nd0n]

I was chatting with one of our elder's wives a number of months ago and she mentioned she liked to write out Scriptures sometimes as part of her bible study / quiet times; she said doing so really helped her in various ways appreciate what she was reading / studying. I'd never really done that before, short of writing out verses here and there for the purpose of memorization and that sort of thing - but never whole chapters or even entire books.

I decided to try it. I started with the gospel of John about a year ago, and have been doing it almost daily ever since, to the point where I'm currently finishing the gospel of Mark with only Hebrews, James, and Revelation to go before I've completely written out the entire New Testament (I've jumped around the NT books, back and forth, not going start to finish...)

It has been an amazing blessing, unlike anything I imagined. I feel I'm getting insights into His Word unlike any I've ever received before. It's as if time slows down (to as fast as I my cursive allows), enabling me to see and appreciate subtleties in His Word I've never seen before. Sometimes, it's as if I were actually there, if that makes sense.

Has anyone else tried this? What were / are your experiences?

Thats so cool for you to share this, i was memorizing 2 timothy awhile back and i resorted to writing it out. honestly i didnt make it through the whole book before i went on to other forms of study. But i would have to agree that writing it out must help us meditate on His word in some way or another, to where it almost reveals more dimensions, beyond-as i can sometimes do-glossing over verses.

Very cool !

 

[David's Harp]

I've never thought of writing out whole books before. An excellent idea. Thank you for bringing this to our attention.

 

[dunk_x]

I’ve never thought of this myself. But I can see where it’d be beneficial for memorization or slowing yourself down to absorb and understand what’s being said. Great idea and will try it! Thanks!

 

[Citizen of the Kingdom]

I remember writing out word studies in longhand and that was really helpful in seeing the flow of the biblical meanings leading to fuller understandings than could be gotten from a read thru. Writing things out feels to me like a way to get a close hug from God and I've been looking for that lately. Thanks for the reminder @DerSchweik

Eta in fact that inspired me to write out by hand this word study on Father in the new testament by hand. there;s a lot there.

What Does the Bible Say About God The Father In The New Testament? (openbible.info)

 

[DerSchweik]

Thank you for reminding me. I haven't done it in a long time, and it is a positive experience.

It's been a blessing to me, that's for sure!

 

[DerSchweik]

Yes it can be quite amazing - take a look at the prayers in some of Paul's letters - Colossians 1:9-14 he says "for this reason since the say we have heard about you we have not stopped praying for you"

What follows is a wonderful prayer - and if it was good for Paul to pray that for the Colossians Church it seems to me it is good for us to pray that for ourselves and those in need. It can be rewritten from what Paul is asking to be done for them to asking that God do it for us

God, may you fill us with the knowledge of your will
through all spiritual wisdom and understanding
In order that we might live a life worthy of the Lord
And please him in every way: bearing fruit in every good work
Growing in the knowledge of You...

Try it and write it down on paper; and then pray it. I think you will find that it "comes alive". I try to keep in mind my loved ones in the faith and family as my "us".

That's a wonderful prayer!

 

[DerSchweik]

Yes, it helps me to slow down and to really examine and absorb what i'm reading.

Thanks for the reminder. i need to start again.

That's been my experience too. Reading is its own experience, but after the experience of writing out what I'd only ever read before made me compare reading to a "flyover" of the scenes, whereas in the writing, I tend to feel more a part of the actual scene, if that makes sense. Reading is still #1, but it can be a blessing too to, as you say, 'slow down and really examine and absorb' His word.

 

[DerSchweik]

Thats so cool for you to share this, i was memorizing 2 timothy awhile back and i resorted to writing it out. honestly i didnt make it through the whole book before i went on to other forms of study. But i would have to agree that writing it out must help us meditate on His word in some way or another, to where it almost reveals more dimensions, beyond-as i can sometimes do-glossing over verses.

Very cool !

Amen!

And that's me too - it's altogether too easy to "gloss over" passages I've probably read scores of time before. In truth, after 41 years of being a Christian, I'm always finding something new in such passages - which is one of the reasons I love His word so much; it's a gold mine of limitless size - with jewels all along the way - some of which can be missed if one "digs" too hastily, which can be easy to do.

 

[DerSchweik]

I've never thought of writing out whole books before. An excellent idea. Thank you for bringing this to our attention.

You're absolutely welcome. I've thoroughly enjoyed doing it. If you try it, maybe come back and share your experience too.

 

[DerSchweik]

I’ve never thought of this myself. But I can see where it’d be beneficial for memorization or slowing yourself down to absorb and understand what’s being said. Great idea and will try it! Thanks!

That was my reaction too when she told me about it.

The "slow down" for me has been the real blessing - like you note, "absorbing" and understanding the text (and context) much better.

 

[DerSchweik]

I remember writing out word studies in longhand and that was really helpful in seeing the flow of the biblical meanings leading to fuller understandings than could be gotten from a read thru. Writing things out feels to me like a way to get a close hug from God and I've been looking for that lately. Thanks for the reminder @DerSchweik

Eta in fact that inspired me to write out by hand this word study on Father in the new testament by hand. there;s a lot there.

What Does the Bible Say About God The Father In The New Testament? (openbible.info)

You're welcome - and thanks for that study too!

 

[DerSchweik]

Some "practical tips," for what it's worth:

I knew if I were to do this that my "addictive personality" would kick in and not allow me to be satisfied writing out just one chapter or book, that I'd be in it for the long haul - so to that end I wanted some semblance of consistency in the effort throughout - same paper, same pen/ink, etc. I found some "bible pens" - non-bleed, fine point pens originally designed for writing notes in bibles. I'm already on my third package of twelve pens, with three left before I need to open my fourth (oy). And I found a consistent supply of narrow-ruled filler paper; bought a bunch of that.

I also knew I'd want to keep what I wrote (regardless my less-than-John-Hancockish handwriting), so that consistency at least was important as when finished, I'll put them everything together and bind it carefully (I do bookbinding as a hobby).

 

[Tigger45]

Some "practical tips," for what it's worth:

I knew if I were to do this that my "addictive personality" would kick in and not allow me to be satisfied writing out just one chapter or book, that I'd be in it for the long haul - so to that end I wanted some semblance of consistency in the effort throughout - same paper, same pen/ink, etc. I found some "bible pens" - non-bleed, fine point pens originally designed for writing notes in bibles. I'm already on my third package of twelve pens, with three left before I need to open my fourth (oy). And I found a consistent supply of narrow-ruled filler paper; bought a bunch of that.

I also knew I'd want to keep what I wrote (regardless my less-than-John-Hancockish handwriting), so that consistency at least was important as when finished, I'll put them everything together and bind it carefully (I do bookbinding as a hobby).

I have OCD tendencies myself and try to turn it into a silver lining by channeling it into God and His Word. Writing out scripture is a great suggestion particularly as being opposed to less productive genera.

 

[brinny]

That's been my experience too. Reading is its own experience, but after the experience of writing out what I'd only ever read before made me compare reading to a "flyover" of the scenes, whereas in the writing, I tend to feel more a part of the actual scene, if that makes sense. Reading is still #1, but it can be a blessing too to, as you say, 'slow down and really examine and absorb' His word.

Yes, exactly. And it helps with my Bible study in that the slowing down, rather than skimming, leads to even more questions and thus researching what i just read.

God's Word really does "feed" us when we read it slowly and prayerfully.....reminds me of that verse, Jeremiah 33:3, where God says to call on Him and He will show us mighty things we have not yet seen. And that's exactly what we're doing when we open His Word, we're "calling on Him".

Thank you. Your thread reminded me of this delightful verse.

 

[brinny]

Some "practical tips," for what it's worth:

I knew if I were to do this that my "addictive personality" would kick in and not allow me to be satisfied writing out just one chapter or book, that I'd be in it for the long haul - so to that end I wanted some semblance of consistency in the effort throughout - same paper, same pen/ink, etc. I found some "bible pens" - non-bleed, fine point pens originally designed for writing notes in bibles. I'm already on my third package of twelve pens, with three left before I need to open my fourth (oy). And I found a consistent supply of narrow-ruled filler paper; bought a bunch of that.

I also knew I'd want to keep what I wrote (regardless my less-than-John-Hancockish handwriting), so that consistency at least was important as when finished, I'll put them everything together and bind it carefully (I do bookbinding as a hobby).

i'm convinced that God blesses each stroke of that pen, and is pleased with the very fact that you even have a desire to write the verses out.

This is a way to bless God and to honor Him, by delving into His Word. Thank you for the reminder, the encouragement, and the inspiration.

 

[ARBITER01]

If I'm not reading scripture, I write it out and check it against the earliest examples I can find.

I have a couple books finished.