Marking Bibles

I don't think it's a sign of spiritual maturity at all. It's just a personal preference. I know people who would never mark in their Bibles. They think it's disrespectful. I like to mark in mine as a study tool. I also do this in books that I read. I highlight passages that have extra special meaning to me and I also write the definitions of certain words. I have a small Bible that I carry with me on trips and have many passages marked pertaining to salvation and Jesus just in case I get a chance to witness. But marking in your Bible by no means makes one more mature. That only comes by living what we read!

 

Marking is a good idea, as is taking notes (even if you toss them when you get home). It helps you pay attention.

We should desire to learn the content of Scripture. Marking unquestionably helps.

I've never met a person who displayed a sound grasp of what the Bible teaches and where the passages are found who did not carry and mark his Bible.

But, if it makes you nonmarkers feel any better, some of the most vicious preacher eaters I've encountered were also Bible toters and quoters. So it's not a cure-all.

 

I do not mark my Bible lest I include something inaccurate--It's one of my quirks. Of course, that was my experience before I started pastoring. I write sermonic information on separate sheets of paper.

 

I carry a Palm PDA with the Bible in it. My granddaughter carries e-sword in her Pocket PC. Have to borrow Bibles for sword drills, but we always keep extras in the classroom.

Offers the ability to bookmark and highlight, but the notes are in another area, so we flip back and forth. Thank goodness it handles hand writing!

My home study Bible is full of highlights and notes.

 

For many years I never marked in a bible; thinking to mark in a bible, God's holy word to be a terrible thing to do! After I finally did start to mark mine I noticed how helpful it was, memory triggers and notes of special ways a verse related to another or a historical fact of interest. Mine is now terribly marked and I find it very helpful. Often I mark the bible instead of taking notes. At times I do both.
I try to sit where there is minimal distraction between me and the preacher and once the service begins my whole focus is totally on the person at the pulpit, either the music director or the pastor. This helps my focus and concentration to be solely on what the Lord will bring to my heart in that service.
It would be a terrible thing to think others were even noticing who was or was not marking their bible. In such a case that person would seem to benefit little from the sermon.
Our prayer should be that our heart and mind are open to both hear and apply what God has in store for us during this service, including each word of each song, making an effort never to glance around or notice what else is occuring.

 

Well, of course there are degrees of spiritual maturity.

Level One--you bring your Bible with you to SS and church

Level Two--It's a red-letter edition with chain references and Schofield-type notes (like the NIV)

Level Three-You underline passages, write notes in the margin (this is a compliment to the preacher), and you are approaching super-spirituality.

Level Four--You have your Bible in one of those Bible covers--complete with a pen and plenty of pockets to put stuff.

Level Five--You bring TWO bibles to church--a KJV and one other translation. You've hit the big one, Elizabeth.

 

Me too! I have had my Bible rebound 3 times and it needs it again. I don't want a new Bible because I would lose all my highlights, margin notes, etc.

No, it does not make me more spiritual. I just :love2: my Bible...

 

A legalistical marking of the text?

Oh, I guess I am ok . . . whew! I do highlight.

Don't wanna get zapped by the legalistic Bible police . . .

 

Hi Blessed, I love my Bible too! I was wondering if you could get them rebound. Where do you have that done?

 

What about when I bring my parallel Bible with 4 Bibles in it?

I love to mark mine up.. It helps me understand it better.

 

Extra points for that Tim!:tongue3:

 

I take mine to the local Christian bookstore (which in our town is Hallmark) and they send them off and have them rebound.

I could get a new Bible cheaper than I could get mine rebound, but I just can't bring myself to part with my old one that I bought in 1976.

§ue (stickin' with the oldie but goodie) :flower:

 

I think you're on to something here!

Level Six--You bring your Bible and a Greek testament to church.

Level Seven-- You bring the Hebrew Scriptures, signed by Moses himself.

Rob

 

Tiny Tim and Rob,

You guys just blew the top off he super-spirituality charts with your new levels. I'm pretty spiritually mature, but y'all put me in the shade. I've got to get me one of those 4-version Bibles. Then I'll be back in your league. Don't worry, I'll be real humble about my new level of spirituality.

In fact, humility is one of my best qualities, and I'm proud of it.

 

probably good to remember its just a book, albeit a unqiue one.

The words and teachings within are inspired, not the ink nor the wood pulp used to make the pages. Yea, even the glidded edges are not specially inspired by the Holy Spirit.

Mark it up I say. I have some friends who will go out and buy a new Bible every year and just absolutely write it up inside as they study and go through it in a year.

It's just a book, it's not divine.

 

Preachin Jesus, you're right.

Whenever I get a new Bible, I try to transfer all the notes from the old one. That can take weeks if you've had that old Bible for 10 or 15 years. But it's worth it. I'd hate to lose those gems I've written down from sermons and SS lessons over the years.

 

preachinjesus:

I've done that a few times in the past and it forces you to really dig out the truths once more from scratch and challenge your accuracy, thinking and committment! I had to stop after a few years as the bibles were stacking up! But it is a great way to start the year with a new unmarked bible and to try to view it as though previously unseen!

 

I take my Bible to Church, and I don't think I have a translation that does not have an underline or note in it.

The best part is reading notes I made in copies that are rough on the edges.

 

I taped an old quote into the front of my bible that says:

" A Bible that is falling apart usually belongs to a person that isn't"

Makes me feel better about my raggy Bible!