Studying Scripture

The best way is to read the section around the verse and get a sense of the whole picture that the verse is referring to. You are more apt to recall where it is if you have the whole thought.

Knowing the context of a verse is the key. In the case of a piece of dialogue, know who said it to whom where and why.

It also helps to know outlines of the books of the Bible. For instance, Paul's letter to the Galatians is an admonition to them not to neglect the true Gospel for the false ones they're being inundated with. Remembering that might help you remember that a particular verse Paul wrote is in that letter (versus, say, 1 Corinthians). This is a harder task for bigger books (like Exodus and the block of Samuel, Kings, and Chronicles) but knowing the basic structure of the books of the Bible will help you find specific types of verses very easily.

Memorization is difficult. A little trick that might help is to write the verse that you want to memorize on a piece of paper (with the book, chapter, and verse written as well). Then look at it, say it out loud, visualize it when you are not looking at it. Then repeat. Do this everyday until it sticks.

Good luck!

garden66

associate it with some thing ...
1 John 5.18 ... MC Hammer , can't touch this ...
the devil cannot touch you

Repetition is the mother of skill. Repeat it over and over again. Start with Philemon or something similar in terms of length. Once you have that book memorized you will have more confidence in your ability to tackle bigger tasks.

There are books and audio programs on improving your memory, though I can't comment on any of them.

Flash cards (make them yourself out of note cards, or buy them at a local Christian bookstore) are a great help for learning individual verses.

I also repeatedly write out the verses without help, that makes me think very hard on the verses, and learn them faster.

For passages, chapters or books, I don't know of any aids other than just old fashioned recitation.

find a bible that is not a study bible and or no commentary. read it only do not read from this bible and that bible. the reason is that you actually remember how the bible is put together you start to know on which side the verse is on, you remember what the heading says before the chapters ect ect. I noticed this without trying it on purpose. If someone says a verse i can look in my mind and see it in the bible i grew up reading the actual picture of the bible comes to mind, i can see the highlights and such i have made in it. Now i cant do this for every verse but a lot of them. I can see them and go to most passages or at least got on the right book or chapter of a certain topic or passage. This bible of mine is rather raty and fallling apart but i know it so well i can go right to any passage or verse you say. if you give me a different bible i can do this but if you asked me what say rom 8 or any verse says i can at least get it very close by invisioning my bible i have had and read for such a long time because i can picture it in my head. And it helps not to have a different version. Its hard to memerize it when you keep reading it differently in different bibles. hope this wasnt to complicated.

Schroeder said:

find a bible that is not a study bible and or no commentary. read it only do not read from this bible and that bible. the reason is that you actually remember how the bible is put together you start to know on which side the verse is on, you remember what the heading says before the chapters ect ect. I noticed this without trying it on purpose. If someone says a verse i can look in my mind and see it in the bible i grew up reading the actual picture of the bible comes to mind, i can see the highlights and such i have made in it. Now i cant do this for every verse but a lot of them. I can see them and go to most passages or at least got on the right book or chapter of a certain topic or passage. This bible of mine is rather raty and fallling apart but i know it so well i can go right to any passage or verse you say. if you give me a different bible i can do this but if you asked me what say rom 8 or any verse says i can at least get it very close by invisioning my bible i have had and read for such a long time because i can picture it in my head. And it helps not to have a different version. Its hard to memerize it when you keep reading it differently in different bibles. hope this wasnt to complicated.

Click to expand...

I tend to agree that although I highly recommend reading from many different translations and versions to get more indepth understanding, you do have to choose one version to memorize from...for the most part. Early on, I memorized only from the KJV, but then realized after study that the translations were not the best, nor the most helpful (others often did not understand the language and then I had to explain it to them, which lessens the umph of speaking God's Word to people). I have found that there are slight issues with each translation (the nature of any translated work), and have sought to memorize from the best translations of different verses. This is not optimal for those starting out, as this can be confusing. So, to start, I would recommend picking a Bible and sticking with it. But, as you grow, start to study the original language and get a bunch of translations, and then work from those- working to get the best translation memorized for each verse, and picking the easiest to understand versions so that your work can be most beneficial to others. Remember that only the originals are inerrant, and to translate from a very specific language such as Koine Greek to a very broad language such as English will cause minor issues.

In Him,
Dave

Memorization & Association

I personally use Word Association like this:

Jesus is God
I Timothy 3:16
" And without controversy great is the mystery of godliness: God was manifest in the flesh, justified in the Spirit, seen of angels, preached unto the Gentiles, believed on in the world, received up into glory. "

Unanswered Prayer
II Corinthians 12:8-9
" For this thing I besought the Lord thrice, that it might depart from me. And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. "
Pray & Pray
I Thessalonians 5:17
" Pray without Ceasing. "
Prayer & Patience
Romans 8:25
" But if we hope for that we see not, then do we with patience wait for it. "

Prayer Warrior
Ephesians 6:18
" Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints. "

Proclaiming the Authority of Gods Word
II Timothy 4:2
" Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine. "
Prayer Help
Romans 8:26
" Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered. "

True Worship of God
John 4:24
" God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth. "

Pray in Truth & Faith
James 1:6-8
" But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering. For he that wavereth is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed. For let not that man think that he shall receive any thing of the Lord. A double minded man is unstable in all his ways. "
Matthew 21:22
" And all things, whatsoever ye shall ask in prayer, believing, ye shall receive. "

True Sight
Colossians 3:2
" Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth. "

Problems
Philippians 3:13
" Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before.

Strength
Philippians 4:13
" I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me. "

Obedience
James 1:22
" But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves. "

Love
I John 4:8
" He that loveth not knoweth not God; for God is love. "

Love not this World
I John 2:15
" Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world, If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him.

Walk in the Word
Galatians 5:16
" This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh. "

Helping One Another with Caution in Faith
Galatians 6:1
" Brethren, if a man be overtaken in a fault, ye which are spiritual, restore such an one in the spirit of meekness; considering thyself, lest thou also be tempted.

Gods Promise
Galatians 3:29
" And if ye be Christ's, then are ye Abraham's seed, and heirs according to the promise. "

Born Again
II Corinthians 5:17
" Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new. "

Christ's Distinction
I Corinthians 15:22
" For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive. "

Rememberance Day
I Corinthians 11:26
" For as often as ye eat this bread, and drink this cup, ye do shew the Lord's death till he come.

The Only Foundation
I Corinthians 3:11
" For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ. "

God's Gift of Salvation
Ephesians 2:8
" For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God. "

Importance of Faith
Hebrews 11:6
" But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him. "

Living Sacrifice
Romans 12:1
" I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. "

Women ( Just Kidding )
Romans 12:18
" If it be possible, as much as lieth in you, live peaceably with all men. "

Devine Purpose
Romans 8:28
" And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose. "

Assurance of Faith
Romans 8:16
" The spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God. "

Sin
Romans 6:23
" For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord. "

Inheritance of Sin
Romans 5:12
" Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned. "

Blessings
John 20:29
" Jesus saith unto him, Thomas, because thou hast seen me, thou hast believed: blessed are they that have notseen, and yet have believed. "

Jesus is the Way
John 14:6
" Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me. "

Jesus is God
John 10:30
" I and my Father are one. "

Shepherd
John 10:11
" I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd giveth his life for the sheep. "

Prerequisite to Salvation
John 3:3
" Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God. "

Gods Love
John 3:16
" For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. "

Giving it are all
Mark 12:44
" For all they did cast in of their abundance; but she of her want did cast in all that she had, even all her living. "

Bapizing
Matthew 28:19
" Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost. "

Have Faith in Prayer
Matthew 21:22
" And all things, whatsoever ye shall ask in prayer, believing, ye shall receive. "

Cornerstone of the Church
Matthew 16:18
" And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it. "

The Way
Matthew 7:14
" Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it. "

The Lord's Prayer
Matthew 6:9-13
" After this manner therfore pray ye: Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever, Amen. "

The Prayer of Jabez
I Chronicles 4:10
" Oh that thou wouldest bless me indee, and enlarge my coast, and that thine hand might be with me, and that thou wouldest keep me from evil, that it may not grieve me!

The Secrets
Deuteronomy 29:29
" The secret things belong unto to the Lord our God: but those things which are revealed belong unto us and to our children for ever, that we may do all the words of his law. "

Salutation
Philippians 1:2-3
" Grace be unto you, and preace, from God our Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ. I thank my God upon every rememberance of you. "

Pure Religion
James 1:27
" Pure religion and undefiled before God and the Father is this, To visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction, and to keep himself unspotted from the world. "

Fellowship
I John 1:3
" That which we have seen and heard declare we unto you, that ye also may have fellowship with us: and truly our fellowship is with the Father, and with his Son Jesus Christ. "

Thanks Giving
I Thessalonians 5:18
" In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you. "

Devine Protection
Psalms 91:11
" For he shall give his angels charge over thee, to keep thee in all thy ways. "
Hebrews 1:13-14
" But to which of the angels said he at any time, Sit on my right hand, until I make thine enemies thy footstool? Are they not all ministering spirits, sent forth to minister for them who shall be heirs of salvation? "

Praise the Lord
Psalms 113
Praise ye the Lord, Praise O ye servants of the Lord, praise the name of the Lord. Blessed be the name of the Lord from this time forth and forevermore. From the rising of the sun unto the going down of the same the Lord's name is to be praised. The Lord is high above all nations, and his glory above the heavens. Who is like unto the Lord our God, who dwelleth on high, Who humbleth himself to behold the things that are in heaven, and in the earth! He raiseth up the poor out of the dust, and lifteth the needy out of the dunghill; That he may set him with princes, even with the princes of his people. He maketh the barren woman to keep house, and to be a joyful mother of children. Praise ye the Lord. "

Good Affliction
Psalms 119:17
" It is good for me that I have been afflicted; that I might learn thy statutes. "

Perfect Creation
Psalms 139:14
" I will praise thee; for I am fearfully and wonderfully made: marvellous are thy works; and that my soul knoweth right well. "

Desire the Word of God
I Peter 2:2
" As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby. "

The Poor
Proverbs 19:17
" He that hath pity upon the poor lendeth unto the Lord; and that which he hath given will he pay him again. "

A True Heart
Proverbs 21:2
" Every way of a man is right in his own eyes: but the Lord pondereth the hearts. "

Ungodly Man
Proverbs 16:27
" An ungodly man diggeth up evil: and in his lips there is as a burning fire. "

Communications
Proverbs 15:1
" A soft answer turneth away wrath: but grevious words stir up anger. "

Defending your Brothers & Sisters in Christ
Proverbs 31:9
" Open thy mouth, judge righteously and plead the cause of the poor and needy. "

To everything has a Time & Purpose
Ecclesiastes 3:1
" To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven. "

The Abrahamic Covenant
Genesis 17:6-8
" And I will make thee exceeding fruitful, and I will make nations of thee, and kings shall come out of thee. And I will establish my covenant between me and thee and thy seed after thee in their generations for an everlasting convenant, to be a God unto thee, and to thy seed after thee. And I will give unto thee, and to thy seed after thee, the land wherein thou art a stanger, all the land of Canaan, for an everlasting possession; and I will be their God. "

The Abrahamic Covenant Confirmed
Genesis 22:15-18
" And the Angel of the Lord called unto Abraham out of heaven the second time, And said, By myself have I sworn, saith the Lord, for because thou hast done this thing, and hast not withheld thy son, thine only son: That in blessing I will bless thee, and in multiplying I will multiply thy seed as the stars of the heaven, and as the sand which is upon the sea shore; and thy seed shall possess the gate of his enemies; And in thy seed shall all the nations of the earth be blessed; because thou hast obeyed my voice. "

The exaltation of Jesus
Philipians 2:9-11
" Wherefore God also hath hightly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name: That every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth; And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. "

Incarnation of God
John 1:14
" And the Word wa made flesh, and dwelt among us,( and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth. "

God Manifest in the Flesh
I Timothy 3:16
" And without controversy great is the mystery of godliness: God was manifest in the flesh, justified in the Spirit, seen of angels, preached unto the Gentiles, believed on in the world, received up into glory. "

The image of the invisible God
Colossians 1:15
" Who is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of every creature. "

Spread The Gospel
Ephesians 6:19-20
" And for me, that utterance my be given unto me, that I may open my mouth boldly, to make known the mystery of the gospel, For which I am an ambassador in bonds: that therein I may speak boldly, as I ought to speak. "

Trust in the Lord
Proverbs 3:5
" Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. "

God Put You in my Way
Luke 10:29
" But he, willing to justify himself, said unto Jesus, And who is my neighbour? "

Save Me
Romans 10:13
" For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved. "

Absolute Love from God
Romans 8:38
" For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord. "

God be with You
Romans 8:10
" And if Christ be in you, the body is dead because of sin; but the Spirit is life because of righteousness. "

Foolish Answer
Proverbs 18:13
" He that answereth a matter before he hearith it, it is folly and shame unto him. "

Memorization & Association has already been mentioned here but Im just giving you an example.

Blessings !!!

Gerry

rita727 said:

Hi,

I'm looking for advice on how to memorize scripture. I can remember what it says--just not where I found it.


Any advice would be appreciated,

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If you know what it says just do a keyword search using a bible search engine such as BibleGateway.com. I memorized scriptures years ago but have forgotten most, but can still easily find most because I can remember key words and phrases. This is also a great way to quickly assemble many scriptures on the same subject.