Why You Should Be Using a Wide-Margin Bible
/So is the ability to write in your Bible worth the investment (and heft)?
In 2018, there are more choices than ever regarding Bibles. Digital applications provide elegant, intuitive, and often free options for reading and studying the Word of God. Physical Bibles can be found in all manner of sizes, shapes, formats, and price ranges.
However, if you’ve attended a Living Faith Fellowship church for any length of time, you’ve probably noticed people using a particular style of Bible: a wide-margin. Per their namesake, these Bibles have more space around the text for you to write notes. They also are typically more expensive than their digital and regular-margin counterparts. So is the ability to write in your Bible worth the investment (and heft)?
Absolutely. Writing in your Bible is an invaluable aid in your study of God’s Word. And the ability to have your thoughts collected in a single place will only benefit you. If you’ve been looking into purchasing (or asking for) a new Bible, consider below the benefits of owning a wide-margin.
…you’ll be forced to interact with and understand the text more.
Writing in your Bible helps you meditate on the Word of God.
The Bible commands us that we meditate on God’s Word constantly (Psalm 1:2). Doing this requires more than a casual reading of scripture. Mediation requires constant and deliberate thinking. And while keeping a journal of your daily reading is helpful, taking notes on the very pages of your Bible is a powerful tool for meditating on God’s Word as your notes and his words are side by side.
In comparison with a regular Bible, a wide-margin provides an average of an inch of extra writing space. This gives you lots of room to jot down notes of all kinds: the meaning of names, the definition of words, or insights into a particular passage of scripture. However, you’ll never have enough room to write at length. This necessitates the distilling of your thoughts into small, digestible chunks. The self-editing process required for laying out intelligible, useful notes is incredibly beneficial. Because you must be selective about what you record in your Bible, you’ll be forced to interact with and understand the text more. Over time, you’ll find that a byproduct of this process is that you’ll retain and recall more of the passage(s) upon which you’ve been meditating.
…you’ll be more likely to spot the passage.
Writing in your Bible improves your ability to find passages of scripture.
The Word of God provides everything the Christian needs in life, but it’s of no use if we don’t know how to navigate it. The Bible contains 66 books, each with its own distinct themes, doctrinal truths, and writing styles. And whether you’re a babe in Christ or a mature believer, there’s nothing wrong with having a little extra help in learning the location of and referencing where various topics reside in scripture.
When you first start using your Bible, it looks like any other; it’s a blank canvas. However, every time you write a note, highlight a word, or underline a passage, you’re creating a visual signpost for yourself. This will make it easier to identify at a glance where specific passages in the Bible are located. Don’t remember where Paul said that cool thing that one time? The next time you read the passage, write a short note or description of the text. You’ll find that even if you quickly thumb through your Bible, you’ll be more likely not only to spot the passage, but even remember where it’s located from the get-go.
…it will ensure that what the Lord reveals to you in his Word isn’t forgotten.
Writing in your Bible provides a record of how the Holy Spirit has taught you.
Throughout the history of the nation of Israel, God delivered them from numerous perils. In the aftermath of each, God often instructed them to memorialize these occasions as a reminder to themselves and future generations of all that God had done (Joshua 4:1-7).
As 21st-century Christians, we often forget this important principle. When you write in your Bible, you create a historical record of where you’ve been in God’s Word. This record can not only prove encouraging to you when times are hard, but the individual(s) who may one day inherit your Bible will be blessed by your notes. God has given us a great gift in preserving and delivering to us the scriptures. Writing in your Bible will help to ensure that what the Lord reveals to you in his Word isn’t forgotten or lost.
Van Sneed is a member and leader at Midtown Baptist Temple. He is part of the discipleship team and teaches Cost of Discipleship as well as certain portions of D2. In this post, Van shares his thoughts on why a wide-margin Bible is a worthy investment for every believer.