In a recent sermon, I briefly mentioned the concept of marking up your study Bible as one way to be more diligent as a student of God's Word. Making marks and notations in your Bible can help you to understand the text you're presently studying, and can also help you months and years later to remember things God has taught you. But, I didn't really have any time to give advice on how you might go about this.
First, consider having just one Bible dedicated for this purpose. Rather than mark up one book in one Bible, and another book in another Bible, scattering your notes across several Bibles, designate one to be your study Bible. I would recommend a more literal translation for this purpose, such as the New American Standard Bible (NASB), the New Revised Standard Version (NRSV), or the New King James Version (NKJV). Although other translations such as the New International Version (NIV) can be used, I find the more literal translations better for notetaking. The New English Translation (NET) can be good for notetaking if you get the version that has all the translators' notes included. Whichever Bible you choose, select one with wide margins and that includes lots of cross references. (I also like to have Bibles that I never write in, so that nothing I wrote distracts me from reading what God wrote.)
My method is not the only method or even the best method. I describe it only as an example of ways you can mark up your Bibles. When I'm studying a passage, I use the following markings:
A couple of words of caution - don't get carried away! If you mark up too much, you end up obscuring God's Word, not making it stand out. Every verse is worth highlighting, but if we highlight every verse, then we've accomplished nothing. Also, be careful with what you write in the margins. A particular thought may seem groundbreaking when you have it, but years later, it may seem very unimportant. Use some discretion, and try to keep your margin comments to the timeless truths or clear explanations - things that are not likely to lose their import as you mature in your understanding. Finally, never let the markings take the place of reading God's Word - you may be tempted to just read the circled works and highlights the next time you read a passage. Resist that temptation - always read God's Word, and then let the notes help you process what God has to say.
Marking up a Bible is great for coming back later and quickly seeing the main points and ideas of a passage. But I also find that the process of marking a Bible itself helps me to understand God's Word. When I'm circling repeated words or enumerating the three commands of a passage, I'm forcing myself to understand the structure and main ideas of the passage. Just by marking up the Bible, I'm interacting with God's Word.
First, consider having just one Bible dedicated for this purpose. Rather than mark up one book in one Bible, and another book in another Bible, scattering your notes across several Bibles, designate one to be your study Bible. I would recommend a more literal translation for this purpose, such as the New American Standard Bible (NASB), the New Revised Standard Version (NRSV), or the New King James Version (NKJV). Although other translations such as the New International Version (NIV) can be used, I find the more literal translations better for notetaking. The New English Translation (NET) can be good for notetaking if you get the version that has all the translators' notes included. Whichever Bible you choose, select one with wide margins and that includes lots of cross references. (I also like to have Bibles that I never write in, so that nothing I wrote distracts me from reading what God wrote.)
My method is not the only method or even the best method. I describe it only as an example of ways you can mark up your Bibles. When I'm studying a passage, I use the following markings:
- Underline commands (imperatives) - these are things I should be doing
- Underline with upward "spikes" at each end to designate the main topic - draws the eye quickly to what the passage is about
- Circle repeated words and repeated ideas - if they are repeated, they are usually important (sometimes, I'll draw lines to connect circles to show what things connect together)
- Checkmark next to promises made and promises fulfilled - to see God's intents and His faithfulness
- Exclamation point next to verses that describe God's character - points out how God is described in a given passage, which is often key to understanding the passage
- Highlight verses I want to memorize - helps key phrases stand out (longer passages can be outlined with a highlighter rather than highlighting every line)
- Highlight cross references that are particularly important - helps me to know later which of the cross references are more pertinent than others
- Write in the margins key ideas, revelations, questions, and explanation - quick notes to help interact with the text (for example, if the author makes three points, then I will write "1" next to the first, "2" next to the second, and so on to help me see how the three points fit together)
A couple of words of caution - don't get carried away! If you mark up too much, you end up obscuring God's Word, not making it stand out. Every verse is worth highlighting, but if we highlight every verse, then we've accomplished nothing. Also, be careful with what you write in the margins. A particular thought may seem groundbreaking when you have it, but years later, it may seem very unimportant. Use some discretion, and try to keep your margin comments to the timeless truths or clear explanations - things that are not likely to lose their import as you mature in your understanding. Finally, never let the markings take the place of reading God's Word - you may be tempted to just read the circled works and highlights the next time you read a passage. Resist that temptation - always read God's Word, and then let the notes help you process what God has to say.
Marking up a Bible is great for coming back later and quickly seeing the main points and ideas of a passage. But I also find that the process of marking a Bible itself helps me to understand God's Word. When I'm circling repeated words or enumerating the three commands of a passage, I'm forcing myself to understand the structure and main ideas of the passage. Just by marking up the Bible, I'm interacting with God's Word.
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