Copying the Bible by hand....

The pastor at my church shared something incredibly intriguing I believe. He was talking about those things in our lives where we say: "Man, I am so going to do that"....but then we don't. He wasn't talking about things like learning the guitar however, it was centered on things where we feel The Spirit leading us.

He then shared one of his own....about someone who suggested to him to write out the Bible by hand. How the act of writing the words, how it further embeds them into the conscious, and of course for centuries, probably 2,000+ years anyway...that's how Scripture was transmitted, scribes writing it by hand. He said something like: "I said, yeah....I am totally going to do this. But then....I didn't".

I myself haven't committed to doing it yet....I just don't see where I'd find the time to commit right now. And I believe our Pastor is now doing it, he mentioned it in a class the other day. I've been meaning to ask him if, that by preaching about it during a sermon....if that gave him that extra push he needed to actually do it.

My comment was included in your post..
- Sorry about that..
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My post/comment.
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Interesting post/topic.
I met a fellow ( Christian ) at StarBucks..some time ago.
- He came every day..with Bible, notebook & pen.
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He writes verses & brief comments.
- He told me that he plans to do..entire Bible.

Their IS GOD and then their Is a desire that stems from the flesh.I would recommend to you to see If whatever you feel you are being led to do Is matching up with the spiritual mirror(the Bible)GOD IS a SPIRIT and those who worship HIM MUST worship HIM In spirit and In TRUTH.

The one writing the Bible by hand Is setting himself up for failure and a feeling of I’m being disobedient which leads to a feeling of condemnation but If Its not a burden then It’s cool because GOD looks at the heart,man looks at how does this make me look.
Romans 14:1-6
King James Version

1 Him that is weak in the faith receive ye, but not to doubtful disputations.

2 For one believeth that he may eat all things: another, who is weak, eateth herbs.

3 Let not him that eateth despise him that eateth not; and let not him which eateth not judge him that eateth: for God hath received him.

4 Who art thou that judgest another man's servant? to his own master he standeth or falleth. Yea, he shall be holden up: for God is able to make him stand.

5 One man esteemeth one day above another: another esteemeth every day alike. Let every man be fully persuaded in his own mind.

6 He that regardeth the day, regardeth it unto the Lord; and he that regardeth not the day, to the Lord he doth not regard it. He that eateth, eateth to the Lord, for he giveth God thanks; and he that eateth not, to the Lord he eateth not, and giveth God thanks.

I don't think I would devote time to the tedium of copying, but rather, spend time everyday listening to the teaching of a great pastor who can lead you to the meaning of scripture. The scriptures are complex and require careful exegesis to get to the one meaning God is communicating. On the other hand, if your objective is to memorize say a book of scripture, then hand copying might help as one way to aid the process. Copying isn't the same as studying, and you do need a gifted and prepared pastor to teach you.

Did they include in that suggestion the version he might right out by hand?

Perhaps one could suggest spending time reading the Bible starting from the Book of Revelation and unto Genesis.

No, I hadn't even thought of that myself...there are so many differing translations as we all know.

While I understand the sentiment you're expressing, or at least I think I do, and believe it has a lot of merit....I equally think there is much to be said for the act of writing down the Bible by hand.

Long story....which starts like this. Back in grade 7 we'd just moved back to Canada from the United States, and I had to start learning French for the first time. All the other students had started learning French in grade 4....ah zut, I was in trouble. After flunking French in grade 7 and 8 I went on to high school...that's our Canadian system 1-6 is primary, 7/8 is intermediary, then 9-12 is high school although in my era high school ended at grade 13.

Anyway I'd flunked French in grades 7 and 8 and was not planning to take French in grade 9 at high school, it wasn't required way back then although it is now. My father though insisted that I take French....I had no choice. I was flunking all year long, until my teacher went on maternity leave and was replaced by a woman who was very young and very attractive...she wore skirts and had the legs of a tennis player.

My mark in French improved, and I became quite proficient at it. One of the methods I used was to take words of vocabualry....like say boire which is the verb to drink....I would write boire - to drink 10x, and it was cemented in my brain, I started getting 100% on all my vocab tests.

I do think the act of writing, commiting words to paper by hand....that this physical act resonates in the brain and sets things into our hard drive and not just in RAM.

The bible on CD can be listened to over about 85 to 87 hours....one can easily listen to and go thru the bible 4 to 6 times a year while listening to it while commuting to and from work......

Sadly that is so true.
I know that Dr.Daniel Wallace, Professor of New Testament Studies at Dallas Seminary, was party to creating the NET Bible. He was the senior NT editor.
And New Testament Scholar and Professor of Religious Studies at UNC Chapel Hill prefers the NRSV (New Revised Standard Version)

Another thing to consider is reading the Bible in the Chronological order of its Books. Link

I know two godly men in my life who have endeavored in this. As the Word dwells in us richly (Colossians 3:16) to write out His promises and whom He is by the testimony of His Word. I can't find any reason why this would go in vain. It sounds like your pastor is on fire for the Lord. Keep us updated.