Annotating Our Bibles Part 2 – Marking Methods

Two weeks ago, we went over some easy methods to experiencing a rich, full, and intimate quiet time with God.  Last week, in part 1 of this two-part post, we received encouragement that writing in our own Bible is not only something we need not fear, but something we should do as thinking deeply about God and his promises for us is something which pleases him (Joshua 1:8, Psalm 1, John 14:15).  Now, we are focusing exclusively on annotation methods we can use, and what to look for specifically, while reading God’s word.  If last week was the “why,” this week is the “how.”

A Quick Note on Context

Real quick, before we begin diving into a new book of the Bible, make sure to take into account the context (time period, audience, etc.) in which it is written.  For example, while I believe God uses Philippians 4:13 as a reassuring verse personally (which I have quoted to myself more than once while working out), it is even more powerful when understanding it in the context that Paul had experienced life in multiple circumstances, including the prison cell from which he was writing those exact words.  Knowing a fact like this can shed new light on the rest of the book as well.

If you need a place to start on establishing context, these YouTube series on the Old Testament and the New Testament by the Bible Project have served me very well.

How to Annotate Your Bible

So in your high school English class, your teacher may have asked you “guiding questions” before reading a new passage.  These help narrow our focus towards discovering specific beauties the author has in store for us.  The same holds true when seeking out God’s wisdom for us in his scriptures.

As with many things in life, it’s good to know what we are looking for before we just start looking.  So, as a starting point, here is an easy chart of how you can mark your own Bible along with a sample of what a marked page from the Bible can look like along with annotations.

Now let’s reach a little higher and see what fruit can be picked through marking our Bible this way by seeing some explanations and examples.

General Insights (Yellow Highlighter)

When you read a passage of scripture, be it a verse or paragraph, what does God bring to your mind and teaching you (Psalm 51:6, John 14:26)?  Mark that scripture yellow and write down what God is leading you to think!  If you adopt this annotating strategy, this will likely be your most common highlight color.  He is an example from scripture and a journaling example from my own quiet times with our Heavenly Good Sir.

Scriptural Example	Journaling Example
Matthew 3:3 For this is he who was spoken of by the prophet Isaiah when he said, “The voice of one crying in the wilderness: ‘Prepare[a] the way of the Lord; make his paths straight.’”	It’s so cool, and a good reminder, that God will always have his Bible able to prove itself.

Leadership Verses (Purple Highlighter)

As we begin walking with God, he will often allow us to act as a leader in some capacity.  So often, God will use a verse to remind us the humility required in shepherding his flock pastorally, in secular fields, with our families, and in so many other places.  So when a verse encourages you in this, bust out the purple and mark it up!

Scriptural Example	Journaling Example
1 Peter 3:1-2 Likewise, wives, be subject to your own husbands, so that even if some do not obey the word, they may be won without a word by the conduct of their wives, 2 when they see your respectful and pure conduct.	1-2) While Peter is directly addressing wives with unbelieving husbands, the same deeper principle can be applied to husbands, teachers and servant leaders of all kinds: as we follow Christ, the overflow of our humility and good deeds will win others to him.

Figurative Language and Literary Devices (Green Highlighter)

As an English teacher, God has led me to acquire a deep appreciation for when an author becomes an artist as he or she interweaves beautiful figurative language into their stories.  God avidly uses figurative language (John 16:25) and understanding how, when, where, and why God leads his author’s to use powerful rhetoric allows us a much deeper understanding of God, his character, his wisdom, and his will.

Scriptural Example	Journaling Example
Matthew 10:16 Behold, I am sending you out as sheep in the midst of wolves, so be wise as serpents and innocent as doves.	It is so amazing to sit down, be in a unique place with a unique God for QT, and to stumble across such a rich verse of figurative language.  3 similes in one beautiful verse.  God commands us to be wise (trust him, study him, watch, listen, guard heart, learn) and be innocent (without blame).

Memory Verses (Pink Highlighter)

We are called to write God’s word on our heart (Psalm 119:11) and often God will let a verse leap off of the page for us.  What makes this verse so powerful we desire to know it absent a Bible in our hands?  Equip yourself and take special appreciation for the handful of verses God will lead us to write on our hearts.

Scriptural Example	Journaling Example
Romans 8:38-39 38 For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, 39 nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.	He uses a statement of absolute certainty, empowered with more polysyndeton, to answer his rhetorical question he asked in many different ways: Can God ever stop loving us?  The answer is a resounding NO! ♥

Unsure of Meaning and Requires Deeper Insight (Orange Highlighter)

Sometimes a verse will make us say, “This is interesting; I need to dig a little deeper here,” but often we are left with a meager “huh?”  Whichever is the case, do not become frustrated when a momentarily unclear verse pops its head up, but seek the wisdom God has led others to acquire by searching commentaries like those found here at Bible Hub or other resources God has blessed us with.  Then, journal what you find!

Scriptural Example	Journaling Example
John 4:21 Jesus said to her, “Woman, believe me, the hour is coming when neither on this mountain nor in Jerusalem will you worship the Father.	Jesus, speaking authoritatively (“believe me”), assures the woman that soon God will be able to be worshipped everywhere, like right here from where I’m writing.  Commentaries helped.

Scriptures with Multiple Meanings (Blue Highlighter)

As God’s grace is varied (1 Peter 4:10), so are the ways he can illuminate a single passage.  Perhaps you come across a verse you wish to memorize and find useful for teachers or leaders?  Mark it blue and write down what you feel led to say!  Here’s an example:

Scriptural Example	Journaling Example
Ephesians 1:14 For he himself is our peace, who has made us both one and has broken down in his flesh the dividing wall of hostility.	A lot going on here: awesome that Christ alone is our peace, dividing wall could be a metaphor, and the whole verse requires deeper insight. ~Also a Big Idea verse

Writing Technique (Blue Pen Instead of Black)

This is a newer annotation technique I’ve adopted.  As an amateur scribe and writer for God’s kingdom, it is neat to understand how God has led other writers of his to write (Matthew 13:52).  Here is an example:

Scriptural Example	Journaling Example
Psalm 3:7a Arise, O LORD! Save me, O my God!	7) See how David called God by two different names (“God” and “LORD”) close to each other while using parallelism.

Other Marks

Remember, mark your Bible freely.  Sometimes I will take specific techniques from my English teaching days such as boxing a word I would like to dig deeper into, either its definition or etymological origins using Strong’s Concordance, or may underline repeated words in a passage God is leading his author in using repetition (John 1:1 for example).

Only How God Leads You

There are many ways God can lead us to mark our Bible, and much wisdom he can lead us to journal.  There is not one right way necessarily but only how God leads you along your way; trust him (Proverbs 3:5-6).   It is your personal time with him, so make it unique.  If you feel led to draw, write poetry, or journal more analytically, feel free!  You may adopt these strategies, modify them into what you like, or create your own!  Feel free to search Pinterest or other resources to see how others mark their Bibles too.

Ultimately, the lesson you will find popping up frequently is God’s call to trust him because he loves us so much that he is willing to die for our sins so that our times of intimacy can extend beyond coffee and 30 minutes in the morning into eternity.

In our next post, we will begin understanding how God uses figurative language, literary devices, and other rhetorical devices to make himself the first and greatest writer of all time.  Love you, God bless you and have a wonderful weekend!

Gracious heavenly Father, thank you for being here with us.  Guide us as we seek to know you more intimately and acquire a deeper understanding of your word.  Strengthen our analytical skills and reveal to us mysteries which both fill our eyes with wonder, and your heart with joy.  We love you Sir.  In Jesus’ name, by the power of the Holy Spirit we pray, amen.