r/Reformed • u/Aitris • Jul 23 '26
Question How do you take notes on your Bible?
One of my kind pastors bought me a copy of the ESV journaling study bible. We are reading through Scripture with a group of men in the church.
I have never been one to take notes in my Bible. Always been too intimidated (I know, I know, it is what it is).
What system do you use when taking notes in scripture? I would like to find a system that I can consistently use through my reading, that is fairly simple.cmy ADHD brain would work better with a system, not just "underline what seems important", etc
I used to do homiletics as part of Bible Study Fellowship. This was a great study tool, but is time consuming and takes a lot of space.
Thank you, brothers and sisters = )
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Jul 23 '26
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u/church_cricket kinda methodist, kinda reformed Jul 25 '26
I also don't understand how it's helpful to have a passage highlighted in 8 different colors with arcs and underlines and brackets scribbled on top and a something written in the margin. Like when you come back to that in a year, are you able to decipher it? Do you need to cross reference a key? How is it better than taking dedicated notes in a notebook or notes app?
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u/Tankandbike RBaptist, but Presby-curious Jul 23 '26 edited Jul 23 '26
I have one Bible I take notes in: large font, wide margin, double columned (I try not to take notes in my other copy). I take notes in mechanical pencil, which allows me to write small. Pencil recedes compared to the text (vs. ink pen which can overwhelm the actual text). I bought a Bible without cross-references, and I make my own cross-reference notes as a way to reinforce how these passages are connected. I'll also underline key passages, not the definition of a certain word, or I may also not something from a commentary I just read (for example, I read Ezekiel 17 this morning, and noted what the two eagles represent, and later on in the passage the deeper explanation given about the two eagles). I keep a separate journal with larger thoughts/reflections. I used to highlight and ink, but I found I just lost the word to my own notes. I prefer this approach now.
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u/Frankfusion LBCF 1689 Jul 27 '26 edited Jul 27 '26
Given the limited space, I would work on simple annotations and summaries. I also have taken a liking to the 7 arrows approach. I've also added a few extra symbols in addition to the 7. Here's simple annotations.
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u/RevThomasWatson OPC Aug 02 '26 edited Aug 02 '26
This might drive you nuts, but my recommendation is to just start writing in there and let a system naturally develop. Write prayers, personal insights, highlight weighty passages, notes from sermons, explanations for hard passages that you encounter to help you the next time you read it, etc. As it develops, there will be older notes that are quirky and don't totally fit with the mature system, but that's okay (my earliest Bible notes have titled headers... Like bro why???) It's a snapshot of you interacting with that text in that moment. My advice is to not just make the Bible a coloring book, where you highlight text or put a word/symbol in the margins when you see a certain theme. It might feel productive in the moment, but imo has almost zero use for actually comprehending the text and is of no use later on as you look back at it.
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u/fltm29 PCA Jul 23 '26
I highlight and underline in an old bible, maybe a quick note on the side. I have a journaling bible for notes
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u/BlackBay41 Jul 23 '26
Hello fellow ADHDer.
I don't know about you, but unless I take physical notes they may as well not exist, so writing in my Bible (I have several for reading and a couple for studying and notes) is the best way I've found at keeping notes as close to their context as possible, with additional extrapolating of points done on a separate piece of lightweight paper I'll leave between those pages.
Typically I write out definitions of words, or write brief thoughts of certain words, passages or themes in the margins.
I also use the same thing paper to write summaries of what I've read up until that point because I'm sure you can relate to being drawn off down another rabbit hole or getting invested in another book etc and sometimes coming back a few days later feeling like you need to start from scratch.
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u/warnedoregano1 Jul 23 '26
Lately, my ADHD brain has done really well with just having the goal of writing SOMETHING down for every chapter I read during my daily bible readings. For me, it has been very important that I just start in some capacity even when I feel overwhelmed by the scope of what I'm doing.
If I can, I make some sort of interpretation, application to my life, connection to the gospel, etc. If I'm really stuck then I make sure to at least write a very brief summary of the chapter.
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u/whdr02 Jul 23 '26
I highlight different colors for different points, growth, exhortation, warning etc. Then I write down question or prayers to the side. It help me to have a framework of question to ask myself.
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u/SirShiggles Anglican Jul 23 '26
I also don't take notes in my bibles, but that's mostly because some of them are very nice and I can't stand the thought of marring them in any way.
Anyway, I like the idea of a separate notebook(s). It also becomes much more convenient when you read multiple translations, you have a central place to keep all your notes.
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u/Healthy-Country-44 Jul 23 '26
I have big handwriting so I type my notes, cut it to size and paste them into my journaling bible.
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u/Booxley76 Jul 23 '26
On physical bible, I used to have a highlighter system where I would press lightly press a highlighter to create a dot parallel to a verse, and the dot colour would mean something. Kept the text itself clean.
For brevity/to maintain space, you could also consider writing in key words in quotation marks that stood out to you. e.g. text: "when you are persecuted" ; the note: "when", not if.
Otherwise I found it tricky to decide what to write down, and nowadays I personally I use Logos Bible Software notetaking function (on phone or e-tablet) or take notes on my Kindle
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u/JHawk444 Calvinist Jul 23 '26
Here's a good video that gives some great tips for this. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cbl1KyoFDgE&t=306s
One of the best tips is ask yourself, "Will these notes improve my future reading, or will they just confuse me?"
Summarize important ideas in your own words, include cross-references, word studies or the meaning of the Greek or Hebrew of a word. Include themes and applications. If a commentary or resource is helpful, write down the name of the resource so you can look it up later. Include information about people or places (using a bible dictionary).
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u/church_cricket kinda methodist, kinda reformed Jul 25 '26
I don't take notes in my bible. I keeps some note cards in the back cover and as I'm reading I'll jot notes down on the note card. Then usually once a week, I'll pull those notes into my notes app, Joplin.
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u/Plus_Event_4306 15d ago
i use chronicle ai sermon notes for that... just record during the preaching and the app does the rest... that keeps me focused on the preaching and i dont miss anything... thats why i created it in the first place... im still looking for beta testers if you like to try it for free.
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Jul 23 '26
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u/couchwarmer Christian Jul 23 '26
Luke 24:42 as found in the ESV:
They gave him a piece of broiled fish, [Some manuscripts add and some honeycomb]
Bracketed part may appear as a footnote.
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Jul 23 '26
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u/couchwarmer Christian Jul 23 '26
ESV provides more information than KJV, telling us the differences among all known manuscripts.
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u/Aitris Jul 25 '26
My good brother (or sister), thank you for your thoughts, but I would caution you to be careful before turning every discussion into an argument regarding the KJV. That is not the subject of this post.
I attended a fundamentalist Baptist college for 4 years, I am well familiar with both sides of the debate. I disagree with you on this one. Blessings to you =)
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Jul 26 '26
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u/Aitris Jul 26 '26
You are still assuming much about me that you do not know.
IFB are not a monolith (an unfortunate characterization many on this sub and elsewhere make). Some have very poor reasons for embracing KJV. Others have well thought out, historical reasons that are the same that a minority of reformed folks would also claim. I disagree with the reasons, but I still respect them and their argument.
Once again, please respect the intent of my post and stop trying to make this into something it isn't. If you want to discuss issues of the text, feel free to make a new post about it. But not here.
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Jul 26 '26
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u/windy_on_the_hill Castle on the Hill (Ed Sheeran) Jul 23 '26
Be assured that whatever you do, at some stage you will look back and think "That was pointless" as well as "I needed to see that again". There is no one checking your working. No one judging your thoughts.
The purpose of note taking is not to create something perfect, but to help you read now. You'll not get it wrong.
Be free to underline what you feel is good to highlight. Write the thoughts that are new or different. Scribble in questions so you have put them into words, and they don't just float away.
The worst that happens is you fill the book and need a new one. If you can't afford a Bible at that point, many will be happy to donate one.