Just Kate Posted January 4, 2016 Share Posted January 4, 2016 I ha e been more consistent about reading my Bible each morning and I've even started a journal where copy specific verses that are important to me. I thought about highlighting those verses in my Bible and I googled this to see how others write in their Bibles. I learned that there are all of these systems out there for highlighting (using different colors to mark certain types of verses). So now, I'm not sure what to do! If you write in your Bible, what does it look like? Do you use a specific system or just mark whatever speaks to you? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PrincessMommy Posted January 4, 2016 Share Posted January 4, 2016 no, I don't underline or highlight. I find it distracting when I go back to re-read that passage. What was important to me once may not be the thing that stands out the next time and the underlining is like a "Look at Me!!" sign. 5 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
carriede Posted January 4, 2016 Share Posted January 4, 2016 (edited) I just mark whatever strikes my fancy. I do that with textbooks too. I also write notes in the margin. Writing in books helps me process the information. I also love going back though my bible to see what verses I've found significant in the past. I don't have a system. Systems for this kind of thing bug me because I worry to much about keeping the system neat and tidy instead of using it as a tool. ETA, If you don't want to mark it up, for whatever reason, you might consider keeping a journal to write verses and thoughts down in. Edited January 4, 2016 by carriede 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Girls' Mom Posted January 4, 2016 Share Posted January 4, 2016 I have one for study that is full of notes and such. It is my favorite. The writing is usually a clarification of a passage, or other passage references that pertain to the passage I'm reading. Then I have another that I take to church that I don't really write in, other than writing down sermon dates. (I am kind of obsessed with writing down sermon dates next to the verses that are preached). 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sheryl Posted January 4, 2016 Share Posted January 4, 2016 These are all good ideas! I used to underline (with a pen) certain verses. But, I didn't like the underline and was hard to find (it didn't stand out). For some time now I've been highlighting. I do not use a system as Carrie said b/c I'd have to memorize "how" to use the system - LOL! My highlighters are pink, blue, yellow, etc. Phil 4:8 is purple. No, I don't have a purple highlighter but I used pink and blue to yield purple. Pretty. I was going to try and highlight OT God's words in one color and other passages in other colors but it didn't work out. Now I just find a passage and pull out any color. For me it works. Certain favorite verses are still favored and I re-read them. We all know that verses are like onions in that you read a passage one time and 5 years later re-read it and a "layer" has been peeled back rendering an even greater meaning and/or different perspective. Also, I continue to highlight. There are single words that I write down and plan on doing a topical chain reference (like Thompsons). Hope this makes sense, I just woke up. LOL! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MFG Posted January 4, 2016 Share Posted January 4, 2016 no, I don't underline or highlight. I find it distracting when I go back to re-read that passage. What was important to me once may not be the thing that stands out the next time and the underlining is like a "Look at Me!!" sign. This. On a similar note, I don't even like red-letter Bibles. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
marbel Posted January 4, 2016 Share Posted January 4, 2016 I don't write in paper Bibles. But I use Olive Tree on my kindle (and since Christmas, my phone!) and highlight a lot there. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bolt. Posted January 4, 2016 Share Posted January 4, 2016 I don't write much in my Bible, but I do for two reasons. I mark the start and end of passages that I'm reading aloud (lightly, in pencil), and I mark places where I have learned substantive actual information about the translation itself -- ie alternate word meanings. I don't make personal notes, or underline for emphasis. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rachel Posted January 4, 2016 Share Posted January 4, 2016 My bible is 15 years old, I vary how I write or highlight. I frequently write the date near a verse that means something to me and a brief note. I'll write down how a word is translated differently or what the original Greek/Hebrew word was or meant. Sometimes I underline, sometimes I highlight, I am not consistent at all. I do the same thing when I read through my Bible Gateway app. A church I visited had a beautiful display in their lobby, they took photographs of people's bibles opened up to a meaningful passage. A paragraph was posted near it explaining why they had chosen that passage. Some bibles had mulit-color highlighting, others simple underlines, some had a drawing, some had folded down wrinkly pages, some were covered in handwritten notes, it was beautiful. I want to recreate something like it from my grandfather's bible (he's a pastor of 60 years) but haven't had a chance. He did send me a several page letter about passages he had underlined in his bible and why. It is one of my prized possessions and he used it to preach his last lesson before retiring for a 3rd time a couple weeks ago. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gardenmom5 Posted January 4, 2016 Share Posted January 4, 2016 (edited) I hadn't been religious very long before dh and I met and started dating. I asked him what he did for marking - and he repeated one church leaders comment when he was asked what he did. "I don't mark my scriptures - I know my scriptures." dh pointed out, if you use the same set over the years, and mark meaningful scriptures - eventually they're so marked you can't find anything from the markings. - unless you already know where to look. one thing that dh was doing when we married was going through verse by verse - and making his own concordance. it could take an hour for a short verse. - he had each topic/word on an index card (this was before PCs) Edited January 4, 2016 by gardenmom5 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ScoutTN Posted January 4, 2016 Share Posted January 4, 2016 yes, in pencil no system Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Just Kate Posted January 4, 2016 Author Share Posted January 4, 2016 Thanks everyone! I think I will just use a colored pencil to highlight/underline passages that are particularly important to me. While I like the idea of a system, after thinking about it, I feel that it would probably take away from my reading, rather than adding to it. I would become a slave to the system, ya know? I like the idea of my kids having my marked up Bible when I'm gone. It seems like a nice thing to pass down. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Liz CA Posted January 4, 2016 Share Posted January 4, 2016 I am a margin annotater and light underliner. :) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
happi duck Posted January 4, 2016 Share Posted January 4, 2016 I sometimes use post it notes if I want written stuff to stay near a certain passage. I too find highlighting etc distracting. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ottakee Posted January 4, 2016 Share Posted January 4, 2016 Right now I am doing the Daily Bible program. I am highlighting one key verse from each passage/day. I am also writing that verse down in a journal each day. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chelli Posted January 4, 2016 Share Posted January 4, 2016 I don't have a set marking system, but I do write notes in the margin, draw pictures, underline, and highlight all over my Bible. It actually helps me find things more quickly! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
meena Posted January 4, 2016 Share Posted January 4, 2016 I have a hard time convincing myself it's okay to write in my Bible. Not that I think it's too sacred or anything. It's more that I'm afraid I'll look back and think to myself, "that was a dumb thought" or "why did I write that?" But won't be able to erase. I have a thing about looking back at my old thoughts and seeing them as immature. I guess I should see it as growth but most of the time it's just cringe-worthy to me. So I have a good study Bible that I don't write in. Instead I'll write in a notebook. Then I have an old, cheapie women's Bible that I tell myself is no big deal to mark up. I use Crayola Twistable crayons to highlights verses that stick out to me. Gel highlighters are nice, too. No color coding or anything. Maybe I'll work up to actually writing notes in it, lol. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Just Kate Posted January 4, 2016 Author Share Posted January 4, 2016 Right now I am doing the Daily Bible program. I am highlighting one key verse from each passage/day. I am also writing that verse down in a journal each day. What is the Daily Bible Program? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mommaduck Posted January 4, 2016 Share Posted January 4, 2016 No. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TianXiaXueXiao Posted January 4, 2016 Share Posted January 4, 2016 I don't mark my bible but I was raised in a religion where we did. We used the special blue chalk sticks that wipe away easily. http://christianscience.buysub.com/catalogsearch/result/?q=chalk+holders+ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MooCow Posted January 4, 2016 Share Posted January 4, 2016 I highlight. My dson uses a bible marking crayon. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ottakee Posted January 4, 2016 Share Posted January 4, 2016 What is the Daily Bible Program? It is a Chronological Bible divided into 365 daily readings with just a bit of commentary. http://www.christianbook.com/the-daily-bible-softcover/9780736944311/pd/944311?dv=c&en=google-pla&event=SHOP&kw=bibles-0-20&p=1179710&gclid=CKCy9br7kMoCFcIjgQod0OMAXw I also bought the Daily Bible Devotional http://www.amazon.com/The-Daily-Bible%C2%AE-Devotional-Chronological/dp/0736927913to go with it for this year but the Bible alone is a great program. The Devotional book is out of print but I got a used one through Amazon that arrived very quickly and was in almost brand new condition. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted January 4, 2016 Share Posted January 4, 2016 I have several different ones but one I use for taking notes and marking things. I will underline and make a note, and I try to remember to date and put the pastor's initials as well. It gives me a better idea of what the thought was behind it at the time. My grandma recently gave me her father's Bible, and I have loved having a look at his thoughts from in some places, 75 years ago. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jaz Posted January 4, 2016 Share Posted January 4, 2016 I try to write sermon or study notes in blue pen and my thoughts in pencil, so it's easier for me to find the notes. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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