15 Creative Ways to Take Notes in Your Bible: A Guide for Meaningful Scripture Engagement
As you scroll Instagram and Pinterest, do you find yourself stopping your scroll when you see beautiful Bible layouts filled with notes in the margins, highlighted sections, and sticky notes? And perhaps you think to yourself, “I would love for my Bible to look like that, but how do you know what to write?” You’re in luck! I’m going to share with you why I feel writing in your Bible is so important, and share several ideas that will inspire you to begin to write Bible margin notes. Plus, I have a handy resource available as well!
Why Take Notes In Your Bible
I remember summers as a kid, going to a tiny little United Methodist church with my Grandma and Papa. Grandma took me to her Sunday school class, and gave me Werther’s candies out of her purse so I’d be quiet while they had their lesson. All of those sweet old ladies loved me, giving me big hugs and pinching my cheeks. And their Bibles were mostly King James versions, dog-eared pages, that had been passed down for at least two generations.
If those ladies saw what my Bible looks like, they’d probably slap my cheek rather than pinch it. They might think it was sacrilege to use sticky notes, colored pens and markers, and write all over the pages. But for me, my Bible is a treasure trove of lessons, sermon notes, questions, definitions, and so much more. It is truly my prized possession, the one singular item I would prioritize if there was a fire.
I led a Bible study last fall, and every single week, at least one person in the class made a comment about my Bible pages. And every single time a comment was made, I would respond with this explanation as to why I write in my Bible:
I write in my Bible not only for myself, but also for anyone who finds my Bible when I’m no longer on this earth. The notes in my Bible are lessons, my ever-growing knowledge of God and His Word. It’s incredibly helpful when studying the same passage of scripture more than once to reference notes from previous study times. But it’s more than that.
One day, I’ll be gone. But hopefully, my Bible will remain. Whether it’s my daughter, any grandchildren I have at the time, or a complete stranger, my prayer is that all of those notes will help someone else learn about God and know Him the way I know Him. I’m creating a legacy that is about so much more than anything I have done or ever could do on this earth.
Creative Ideas for Bible Margin Notes
If you feel stuck and you’re not sure what to write in your own Bible, I’ve got a lot of ideas and suggestions. There are more in the guide, “How to Take Notes in Your Bible“, available in my Etsy shop, but here are a few to get you started:
#1 – DATES & EVENTS
When you start a new book of the Bible, or an important event occurs in the passage of scripture you’ve chosen to study, it is a good idea to establish the timeline and gain context around that timeframe or event. Some dates you may wish to notate in your Bible include:
- when a particular book of the Bible was written
- timeline of specific kings/rulers
- when a prophesy was spoken and when it came to pass (include a cross-reference to the accompanying scripture as well)
- year of birth or death of significant people
- timeframe of wars or war-related events
- number of years between important related events (for example, the time that passed between the end of Genesis and the beginning of Exodus)
- dates of people mentioned in genealogies (and where they exist in the Bible)
Often when we read scripture, we don’t realize how long certain events lasted, or how much time passed between two significant events. To us, it’s a few pages of the Bible, but in reality, hundreds or even thousands of years may have passed. This adds depth to your study of scripture and, in my opinion, makes the scriptures come to life.
#2 – DEFINITIONS & ORIGINAL TERMS
The Bible in its entirety has been translated into over 700 languages, even though it was originally written in three languages: Greek, Hebrew, and Aramaic. When you are doing a deep study of scripture, use the Logos app or similar tool to uncover the original words and phrases of scripture, then write its original word/phrase along with its definition in your Bible.
It’s also a great idea to write down definitions of English words or phrases that are new to you, or slightly confusing. For example, you will come across “churchy” words like “sanctification” and “repentance”. If these words are unfamiliar to you, write the Biblical definition of them in your Bible.
PRO TIP: Create a Bible dictionary insert for yourself to use as a reference tool as you continue to study.
Be sure to reference different translations as you study, including the original language, and write down original terms when relevant. For example, in the Creation account in Genesis, the name of God changes from Elohim (Creator God) to Yahweh (personal name of God) once God creates Adam.
#3 – SYMBOLOGY
In addition to words and phrases, the Bible uses thousands of symbols to describe different things throughout scripture. You have to remember that the writings of the Bible are thousands of years old, and many of the symbols that were common back then are no longer common to us. Pay attention to things like the types of metals and woods used in different settings and look up their significance. (The use of bronze is a great one to start with!)
You will also notice the use of fruits and plants, stars and clouds, rain or lack thereof, deserts and valleys, light and darkness, and even animals as descriptive terms or as key components in Biblical events. Every word of the Bible is intentional, so document these things as you study.
#4 – CROSS-REFERENCES
Not all Bibles have cross-references in the margins or in the footer. And not all cross-references are listed, even if they do appear in your Bible. Any time you are studying scripture and find a related text, write the cross-reference(s) in the margins, and a note about that cross-reference, if you wish to add more context.
TIP: When I add a cross-reference, I also go to that cross-reference and add the other related scripture. For example, Daniel 1:8 says that Daniel would not defile himself by eating the king’s food. This references Levitical laws spoken of in Leviticus 3:17 and 11:46-47. I have these cross-references written in Daniel, and I also cross-reference Daniel in the margins of Leviticus.
#5 – SERMON NOTES
Do you take notes in church? As you follow along, consider taking notes in your Bible.
Some people prefer to use a separate journal or notebook for sermon notes, but I find that I will refer back to my sermon notes when I use a notepad to tear off pages and insert them into my Bible using washi tape.
It’s always nice to get a new & fresh perspective on scriptures, and the sermon may share something you never though about before as it relates to that passage.
Tools to Get Started Marking Your Bible
Now that your creative wheels are turning, here are some helpful tools and tips to get started.
BIBLE TOOLS:
- A Bible with wide-margins: I highly recommend (and personally use) the She Reads Truth Bible, but any Bible with wide margins will work.
- Your favorite Bible-safe pens and highlighters: I use THESE Micron pens and THESE Zebra Mildliners.
- Sticky notes and other Bible inserts: I love THESE transparent sticky notes, THESE annotation tabs, and I made THESE Bible study insert notepads.
- How to Take Notes in Your Bible PDF guide: use discount code BLOGFRIEND for 20% off!
Remember, your Bible does not (and should not) look like anyone else’s Bible. This is your “workbook” with the Lord and should be inspiring for you. Take your time, enjoy the process, and give yourself grace as you learn. Make Bible study fun!
