Writing and Highlighting in Your Bible

Do you write in your Bible? For me, it depends. I tend to leave most of them alone, saving the notes and highlighting for editions designed for it: wide margins. Here's a photo of my Cambridge KJV wide margin opened to Ephesians 1. The notes are for a class I taught on the text.

Over at The Foolish Galatian, Matt Blair has gone crazy with his Zebra highlighter, marking up his new Personal Size Reference ESV. As I mentioned yesterday, I've been reading mine daily and really loving it -- but I haven't worked up the nerve yet to write in it (and probably won't). Now I can experience it vicariously through Matt (and so can you).

Matt also links to an excellent post by Jesus Saenz on what kind of pen to use when marking your Bible (a Pigma Micron). In the past, I've used regular ballpoints, which don't seem to bleed through as much as my usual rollerballs. If I ever work up the nerve to mark up my Personal Size Reference ESV, I will now know the best tools for the job.

Comments

[Stan]

I had previously been using pencil in my NASB wide margin (in calfskin). Thanks to Jesus I'm now using the Pigma Micron 005 for notes and 01 for underlining (with a ruler). Much better. Thanks Jesus.

[Jacob]

One the whole, I tend to avoid writing in most books (that's why God gave us post-it notes), but I have brought myself to write in my journaling Bible. It would be rather absurd to have a journaling Bible and not use the journaling part of it. I received Calvin's Commentaries for my birthday and have been making many more notes than before as I read through Romans.

[Scott]

Glad to see what others do, as I can't bring myself to write in my Bibles. Why not? I worry that I'll be immediately sorry I wrote what I did, and I'll wish I had written something else. I'd rather keep a separate notebook. I realize there's a whole art/science/genre of notetaking that I haven't mastered.

And I've never, personally, understood highlighting. I don't understand what to highlight, first of all, and I don't know what I would do with the highlighted text later: read only that, and ignore what didn't qualify for highlighting?

These are neuroses I haven't shaken off since college days, obviously.

[Nathan Stitt]

I'm still working up the courage to write in a bible for the first time. I bought an In Touch NASB for this purpose but have yet to break it in, as it were. Maybe I'll set this as a belated New Year's resolution and try to write in it by December 31. I already bought some Sigma Microns in brown after reading Jesus Saenz post linked above, but so far have only practiced with them on notebook paper (and they are nice).

[Stan]

Scott, to your point, I always keep in mind that I may one day decide to trash my NASB (I had only recently started with pencil before switching to the Pigma Microns). I have numerous other Bibles around. My few notes would be of little consequence ultimately. For now, I'm primarily using them to study the text a week or so ahead of when my pastor (RC Sproul) will be preaching from it. This has helped me be a better listener during the service.

[Rod Summers]

I can't imagine not writing in my Bible. I feel at home when I'm teaching or reading seeing my notes and highlights. My favorite is my NIV Cambridge wide margin (recently rebound by Mechling in chocolate brown goatskin). I taught both a OT and NT survey classes (with mid-terms and a final) at church using that Bible shortly after I bought it. After something that intense I keep going back to it. That's why I'm eager for the ESV Cambridge wide margin and ready to do another survey class. BLACK LETTER PLEASE!!!

[Jesus Saenz]

WOW! I am glad that my article has been of help to you all.

[matt]

I used to use the zebra highlighters, and if I highlight in my bible they are the ones I use. Lately I have been using the micron pigma pens and I am happy with them. In my wide margin I use a 02Red for underlining and a 005Black for notes. In regular references bibles I use the 02Red for underlining and making short (short because the red is hard for me to read after a while) textual notes on various translations, etc.

for underlining I have found the PERFECT TOOL, use a business card to underline (the darker the better so you can see the contrast with the paper), business cards are about as wide as most columns in bibles and the paper in the card soaks up any extra ink that could streak on the page.

[Hal]

I don't write in any of my bibles anymore; I use separate notebooks and journals now. However, I do draw a small cup (like an underlined capital 'Y') in the margins in various places in the bible which I feel are appropriate to read before and during communion; over the last 30 years, I have found these by far the most useful marks I have made in a bible.

[chad]

I write in just about everything. I do have a blank bible that I am getting used too, but I still carry around a smaller bible for daily use at school.

I usually use a pilot G2 to mark with, I guess I don't have a bible nice enough to worry about archival quality.

[Donnie]

I even have problems with the Pigma Micron pens bleeding through. I kind of hate to use a ballpoint, since they're not (as) archival and I'm afraid the acids in the ink will degrade the paper over time, but to me it's less onerous than having the ink bleed through to the other page.

[Fr. Bill Klock]

I've been using Staedler Textsurfer dry highlighters for many years in combination with fine tip pens -- usually Pigma Microns -- for making notes in the margins. I've got a lot of Bibles, but only mark up a few. My daily use English Bible is the ACC's KJV/1928 BCP combo. The margins aren't big enough for notes, but I highlight in several different colours to help me quickly find various passages. I generally use yellow for most highlighting, but I use pink for passages that I've found useful in evangelism and a few other colours similarly. In my Oxford wide margin KJV I use a similar highlighting system, but I use the Pigma Microns to make notes in the margins. The books I've preached through stand out, because in most cases the margins all around are completely filled with my tiny (think 6 pt) notes crammed everywhere. Honestly, I can't express how advantageous notetaking in a wide margin Bible has been for my personal study, sermon preparation, group study, etc.

I'd be curious to know if anyone else is familiar with Jay Adams' "Christian Counselors New Testament and Proverbs." This is a great resource. It's Adams' own NT translation (which is quite good) oriented toward the nouthetic counselor. It comes pre-highlighted and with notes in the wide margins as well as what might be considered counseling session outlines. I know it sounds weird to purchase Bible that's already highlighted, but if you do any counseling in your church, this is one of the best resources I've think is out there. (http://www.timelesstexts.com/titles/B093.htm)

[Fr. Bill Klock]

Doh! The link didn't work. Try this: http://www.timelesstexts.com/titles/B093.htm

Note that its also available in hardcover (my preference) and bonded leather.

[Tiffany]

I found some Zebrite highlighters at LifeWay. So I think they are still out there. I decided to go buy the micron pens. I've always had that problem of highlighters bleeding through, I just thought it was inevitable. I like the micron pens a lot. When I realized that the marker highlighters and ball point pens aren't the best for keeping your Bible in good condition and can actually damage it, I went out and got the Microns. I want to take care of my Bible!

[Charles Hadden]

Christ is risen!! It says so right in my goatskin covered Bible!!!

[Michael Swoveland]

I have long been from the "don't write in any book for any reason" school, but my Bible is an exception to that rule. For starters taking notes helps me to locate important things later on, things I might not otherwise remember where to find. It also lets me add to the notes already in my Bible and make it personal to me. I even argue with the study notes at times, writing why I believe they are not correct.

I put notes in my Bible VERY sparingly and never without thinking them over before I write anything. For example, if I hear something at church that I think is worthy of noting in my Bible I will make the note on a scrap of paper, take it home and wait a few days before writing it in my Bible, in this way I avoid spur of the moment notes that I will later wish I had not written.

I use only the Pigma Micron fine point (0.25mm) pens, these will not fade, are waterproof, acid free and do not bleed. I can also write very small which I think makes the notes look neater.

I bought a set of six pens all in a different color, I have assigned a different subject to each color, red is "sin & salvation, brown is for historical notes, green for science related notes et cetera. What I do is underline the text I am writing a note about and then make my note in the margin or at the bottom of the page.

[Derek Beyer]

@Nathan ... I can relate brother. I just bought a Intouch NASB also and had to force myself to transfer some notes to it. But once I got the first note in there, the rest was easy. I figured I already messed it up so might as well move foreward :-)

About the topic, I am a fan of reading throug the NT as quickly as I can. Each time highlighting scripts that the Lord brings to light. I use a different color highlighter each time through the NT. What I find is that over the course of a few months the Lord is outlining to me an entire passage of scripture that I may have needed or have actually been living out. It really builds my faith. It helps me to use two different bibles - usually in the $20 range - for this purpose. Each time you read through the NT, you go to the other bible. That way you aren't tempted to try and make this happen on your own and you can be more objective.

[suze]

I gave up on highliters and have used colored pencils and pencil shaped crayons now for years. You have a huge array of colors to choose from and nothing bleeds through.

[suze]

I gave up on highliters and have used colored pencils and pencil shaped crayons now for years. You have a huge array of colors to choose from and nothing bleeds through.

[suze]

I gave up on highliters and have used colored pencils and pencil shaped crayons now for years. You have a huge array of colors to choose from and nothing bleeds through.

[suze]

I gave up on highliters and have used colored pencils and pencil shaped crayons now for years. You have a huge array of colors to choose from and nothing bleeds through.

[suze]

I gave up on highliters and have used colored pencils and pencil shaped crayons now for years. You have a huge array of colors to choose from and nothing bleeds through.

[Kevin Grady]

Since you mentioned colored pencils, Crayola has come out with Twistables which are made in crayons and colored pencils. I use the crayons for marking in books and the pencils for my Bibles and they work great and they do not bleed at all. Now for writing notes, I think I am going to get one of the pens you guys have been pushing on some of your blogs.... but for highlighting or underlining, the Twistable color pencils work just fine.

[Kevin Grady]

Since you mentioned colored pencils, Crayola has come out with Twistables which are made in crayons and colored pencils. I use the crayons for marking in books and the pencils for my Bibles and they work great and they do not bleed at all. Now for writing notes, I think I am going to get one of the pens you guys have been pushing on some of your blogs.... but for highlighting or underlining, the Twistable color pencils work just fine.

[Kevin Grady]

Since you mentioned colored pencils, Crayola has come out with Twistables which are made in crayons and colored pencils. I use the crayons for marking in books and the pencils for my Bibles and they work great and they do not bleed at all. Now for writing notes, I think I am going to get one of the pens you guys have been pushing on some of your blogs.... but for highlighting or underlining, the Twistable color pencils work just fine.

[Kevin Grady]

Since you mentioned colored pencils, Crayola has come out with Twistables which are made in crayons and colored pencils. I use the crayons for marking in books and the pencils for my Bibles and they work great and they do not bleed at all. Now for writing notes, I think I am going to get one of the pens you guys have been pushing on some of your blogs.... but for highlighting or underlining, the Twistable color pencils work just fine.

[mashmouth]

as far as pens go, I absolutely love my Pilot, or is it a Namika, Vanishing point, fine nib. I also have been using, and enjoying, a Sensa Meridian F that was not nearly as expencive. In fact those are no longer made, but you will find many of them around. I read that either people love 'em or hate 'em.
I still have yet to pull the trigger on the nice Pelikan I have been eyeing up, since it would be like buying 5 or 6 Allans at one time!

[Bob Merritt]

I find it easier to use two bibles one on my desk at home that I use to write all kinds of notes and references in and then I have a pristine bible that I carry to church. Any notes that I write at church are one notepads or 3X5 cards. I find that the 3X5 cards are great ie: easy to carry and inexpensive to buy of course that is IMHO.

[Ludovit Juraj Gerhat]

How stupid to write in books. I value books and Bible far too much. Books are for reading, NOT for writing. Rather to have separate notepad or anything else for making notes.

[Dina]

Zebra highlighters are very nice I used them all the time when I was a teen. You think Matt Blair went crazy with his highlighter, lol you should have seen my teen study Bible every thing I read was highlighted, giving my Bible a nice rainbow effect(I used 5 different colored highlighters). If I can ever get my self to highlight in my new Bible I may get a set of Zebra highlighters. Personally I've been using Crayola color pencils in my other Bibles, but I'm not sure if that would be a good idea to use them in my new Intouch Ministries Bible. Zebra highlighters or Crayola color pencils I'm not sure which would be best to use in this Bible? That is if I can get myself to even write in it ROFL.

[Fernando Villegas]

Ludovit,

I certainly respect your preference for writing notes on a separate pad. I ask that you please show similar respect to those who DO prefer writing in books, rather than insulting us or implying we don't value books or the Bible as much as you do.

[Tony Miller]

At first I thought I would never write in my bibles but feel a bit differently now. One of my favorite finds on ebay was an old 1917 Scofield owned by a Northwest Bible institute student in the 1930s. Every page is filled with underlining, colored pencil highlights and many marginal notes, poems on spirituality, etc..... I value this one more than any other I have beacause of the notes. They helped me to make connections between verse i would have missed and provide a connection to this past student via an insight to their thoughts.
I had been keeping a small notebook of favorite verses and passages gleaned from throughout the bible. I finally decided to take one of my bibles, a new, small pocketable version and highlight all of these same verses so I can quickly find them in time of need of spiritual uplifting.

Tony

[mlweidl]

Does cambridge make a single column that is just like this.

[william]

after my first foray into taking notes in my Bible (the ESV journaling hardback), i discovered the importance of being able to erase old notes. let's just say that there are some notes that turned out to be less than insightful on later inspection (usually of the "i wonder what this means!" variety). so these days, i use pencil for notes (usually an .03 mm mechanical, which gets the job done even in narrow margins), and an erasable highlighter for underlining.

speaking of highlighters, i've been using a pilot frixion for a while now, and it works rather well. no bleed-through, nice and vivid like most liquid highlighters, but erasable as well. ink seems to run out pretty quickly, though. nevertheless, i'd highly recommend it: http://www.jetpens.com/index.php/cPath/47_682

[william]

oh, and regarding the frixion highlighter mentioned above, i've only had experience with the yellow one. can't vouch for the bleed-through characteristics of the darker ones...

[Todd F.]

Why all the angst over using pen when you can use pencil? With a good no-mark eraser such as as Staedtler, you can repair, revise and retract both the intended and unintended markings. Unless you're Picasso, your first draft is just that, a first draft.

Additionally, lead both feels and looks good when written on quality paper, doesn't bleed, and unless you are addicted to sharpening your pencil to a razor's edge, it won't break through.

However, the best thing about pencil markings is that it doesn't codify previous trains of thought. Sometimes an entire passage will be of interest to me; later, only certain verses or certain words within that section will draw my focus because I am mining that passage for different content. At first pass, I've underlined the entire passage. If I used a pen, it would be difficult to show the subsequent change in my focus from the passage to a verse or just a word. With a pencil, you can always erase!

[Matt Morales]

Todd - I like the idea. Except that in smaller bibles that I own only a mechanical pencil can write small enough for me (.07, .05)...but it leaves an indent/imprint on the opposite side... The only writing instrument that I have used that doesnt do this is the pigma micron pens.

The problems with pens you mention is true. The only thing I can do to remedy it is to ask myself if what I am writing is really worth it (i.e. will I care in a year).

[Bill]

When I used to do a lot of penciled notes, I would carry a sheet of plastic, such as would come on a comb-bound report cover, cut down to just the size of the paper. I'd put it right behind the sheet I was writing on, and the hardness, compared to paper, kept that indenting/imprinting to a minimum. Helps with pen too. When not using it, I'd just stick it in the back cover. You can cut a sheet for each Bible you're likely to write in.

[Sehwan]

Bill,

I've been considering the plastic sheet option. From your experience, it seems to work; I'll give it a try!

[C. N. K.]

I have found these see through sticky notes very useful. They can be purchased through Levenger. I use them to keep notes in my Bible without actually writing on the page and they can be moved or removed easily.

http://www.levenger.com/PAGETEMPLATES/PRODUCT/Product.asp?Params=Category=322-684|Level=2-3|pageid=6850

I found the 3M colored flags helpful as well. I place the colored tab (flag) next to a verse to highlight it and if need be, I can write a reference or small note on the transparent section. Again, no marking the actual page, but it serves the purpose.

I hope you find these as helpful as I do.

[Sehwan K]

I wanted to know if anybody have underlined their Allan Brevier Clarendon with the PIGMAs, pencils, or any other instrument of choice. I recently purchased one and probably won't be using this Bible as much for study but thought I would ask how the paper (22 gsm, I hear) has fared with others who may be inclined to notate.

Thanks!

[Steven T. Rogers]

I would just like to share that with the pigma micron pens, you can change the tips... so even tho dark blue only comes in 05.. you could switch the tip with a 005 tip from a light blue and write with it a bit and BOOM you have a dark blue 005 :)