Administrators Naomi Posted June 6, 2013 Administrators Posted June 6, 2013 On another thread Gail mentioned how we used to treat our Bibles. I began to wonder if anything has changed. How should our Bibles be treated? Quote If your dreams are not big enough to scare you, they are not big enough for God
Liz Posted June 6, 2013 Posted June 6, 2013 I was taught that we should never put anything on top of it, like another book or papers or such. I remember my parents having a huge family bible, that has a genealogy in it and some special letters, I wasn't allowed to read the letters so I don't know what made them special, we also weren't allowed to touch it. And I'm not sure who gets that Bible when the time comes, but I'm guessing my eldest brother. Now me, I have a lot of different translations and they are stacked on each other on top of the bookcase, I figure it's o.k. to place a Bible on top of another. The one that I use the most is in a bible jacket. Quote For what will a man be profited, if he gains the whole world, and forfeits his soul? Mat. 16:26Please, support the JDRF and help find a cure for Type 1 Diabetes. Please, support the March of Dimes.
cricket Posted June 6, 2013 Posted June 6, 2013 How do you treat an electronic version of the Bible? I've never understood why we should treat our Bibles so delicately. I write in them, put notes in them, store special pamphlets and leaflets in them, etc. Once I left my Bible outside for a week. I forgot I'd left it on a bench in my mother's back yard and then couldn't find it. Searched and searched and searched for it until I finally gave up. Then of course, I remembered exactly where I'd put it! Even though it had snowed on my Bible, it was okay because it had a protective case. Maybe that's why we treat them specially? So that when they've been lost, they're still valuable to us when found! Quote
joeb Posted June 6, 2013 Posted June 6, 2013 LOL. Cricket, in your first sentece you expressed my exact thought when I read the opening post. How do you treat a Bible any differently than a regular book when it's in digital format? For me this a relevant question as the only Bible I use any more is digital. Quote Liberty cannot be established without morality, nor morality without faith.Alexis de Tocqueville
Planey Posted June 7, 2013 Posted June 7, 2013 In my opinion a well-worn Bible is the way it should be. A Bible that is not in use frequently is just a decoration. Notice I said well-used, not abused. Graeme Quote Graeme____________________________________________________________________________________________________________
TruthSeeker123 Posted June 8, 2013 Posted June 8, 2013 I was also taught not to put anything on the Bible and I still cringe everytime I see that someone put stuff on their Bibles. I was also taught that it's alright to write and make notes in your Bible since it's part of your spiritual journey. Your Bible sort of becomes like your spiritual journal scrapbook to a certain extent. But, a scrapbook it is not though and shouldn't be treated like one. Quote
Administrators Naomi Posted June 8, 2013 Author Administrators Posted June 8, 2013 Yes, Truthseeker that is the way I was taught and still practice use and care of my Bible. I have seen people use heir Bible for something solid to write notes/addresses/phone numbers, etc. I suppose it is okay but I personally don't use it in that way. Quote If your dreams are not big enough to scare you, they are not big enough for God
Administrators Naomi Posted June 8, 2013 Author Administrators Posted June 8, 2013 Interesting Liz, I had never given any thought to stacking Bibles on top of each other ... suppose it is indeed okay. The Bibles from family members are also passed on and treasured. I have the Russian version from my mother. I have one of mother's Bibles and my brother has the other. Daddy had only one and I have it. Quote If your dreams are not big enough to scare you, they are not big enough for God
Administrators Naomi Posted June 8, 2013 Author Administrators Posted June 8, 2013 Electronic versions are a good question. I have 4 devices which contain electronic versions. It would seem that there is not much we can do to protect the "Bibles" in these devices. Humm ... interesting Quote If your dreams are not big enough to scare you, they are not big enough for God
Ted Oplinger Posted June 10, 2013 Posted June 10, 2013 Never was taught anything as to how to care for a Bible when I was raised. When I received my first Bible, I was not even a Christian at the time. That all said, when my Bible wasn't shelved, for some reason I never consciously placed another book on top of it. Something within simply regarded the Bible with honor, as a special book. Later, as I began reading it (and became a student of Christ), I always continued to do this - if I had a stack of books to place where my Bible was, the Bible went on top...unless there was another Bible in the stack (in which case, the Bibles were the topmost books in the stack). After so many years, that shifted to a conscious effort. I simply desire to treat God's Word with respect physically, even as He desires me to treat His Word with greater respect spiritually. As for writing within my Bible...between the family and I, we have couple dozen in various places around the house. Of those, the most well-used of mine (ones I take pretty much everywhere) are chock full of notes, cross-references, ties to topics, and observations on particular verses that were particular epiphanies at that point in time. They also contain points I use in teaching and preaching. My first Bible has so many notes in so many places...so well-used, its spine began coming apart, and I had to retire it. Getting another Bible for study, teaching and preaching was not easy for me...the one I would select had to "fit", so to speak. I now have 2 which fill that role now - a larger one for very detailed work, and a smaller one for when I need to reach for the Word quickly. Both are well-used, though not nearly as full of notes and stuff as my first one. Writing in my Bible, I compare that to writing back to a dear Friend who wrote to me from long, long ago. Reading them again, I can go back in time, and visit particular points He has led me through in our walk together...sort of like going back through a scrapbook or photo album, and remembering past events and friends. Blessings, Quote "As iron sharpens iron, so also does one man sharpen another" - Proverbs 27:17 "The offense of the cross is that the cross is a confession of human frailty and sin and of inability to do any good thing. To take the cross of Christ means to depend solely on Him for everything, and this is the abasement of all human pride. Men love to fancy themselves independent. But let the cross be preached, let it be made known that in man dwells no good thing and that all must be received as a gift, and straightway someone is offended." Ellet J. Waggoner, The Glad Tidings "Courage is being scared to death - and saddling up anyway" - John Wayne "The person who pays an ounce of principle for a pound of popularity gets badly cheated" - Ronald Reagan
Ted Oplinger Posted June 10, 2013 Posted June 10, 2013 Bibliolatry? Hmmm - idolatry using the Bible as the idol? That is indeed food for thought... Blessings, Quote "As iron sharpens iron, so also does one man sharpen another" - Proverbs 27:17 "The offense of the cross is that the cross is a confession of human frailty and sin and of inability to do any good thing. To take the cross of Christ means to depend solely on Him for everything, and this is the abasement of all human pride. Men love to fancy themselves independent. But let the cross be preached, let it be made known that in man dwells no good thing and that all must be received as a gift, and straightway someone is offended." Ellet J. Waggoner, The Glad Tidings "Courage is being scared to death - and saddling up anyway" - John Wayne "The person who pays an ounce of principle for a pound of popularity gets badly cheated" - Ronald Reagan
Administrators Naomi Posted June 10, 2013 Author Administrators Posted June 10, 2013 Originally Posted By: Gerry Cabalo Bibliolatry? Hmmm - idolatry using the Bible as the idol? That is indeed food for thought... Blessings, I must agree, it is certainly a concept that I have not considered. Excessive obsession in the care of our Bibles (or of anything) perhaps could put it into the bibliolatry category. However, giving our Bibles special care, a place of honor, only feels like the right thing to do. Just thinking, could it be that perhaps the desire to protect and cherish our Bibles could revert to the not too distant past when they were difficult to own ... or even prior to that time, virtually impossible for a common person to possess. Quote If your dreams are not big enough to scare you, they are not big enough for God
Administrators Gail Posted June 11, 2013 Administrators Posted June 11, 2013 You should see how they come shipped to us all in boxes and sometimes damaged! Quote Isaiah 32:17 And the work of righteousness shall be peace; and the effect of righteousness quietness and assurance for ever.
Administrators Gail Posted June 11, 2013 Administrators Posted June 11, 2013 Having said that, though, they do become like old friends when one has the very special Bible one uses for daily devotions. Quote Isaiah 32:17 And the work of righteousness shall be peace; and the effect of righteousness quietness and assurance for ever.
Administrators Naomi Posted June 11, 2013 Author Administrators Posted June 11, 2013 You should see how they come shipped to us all in boxes and sometimes damaged! Interesting Gail. I had not given thought to that. I know when they would come in Sam's Club I seem to recall them being in their individual boxes. Perhaps that is the way I wish to remember :) Quote If your dreams are not big enough to scare you, they are not big enough for God
Textus Receptus Posted June 11, 2013 Posted June 11, 2013 I take care of my bible only because I have so many notes and highlites. Yet, I don't sanctify it or idolize it. It's only a book made of paper. I would take great joy if my bible fell apart out of use! :D Quote
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