Marking Your Bible

The idea of Bible marking is to chain texts together for studying or teaching. There is more than one correct way to mark your Bible. We have listed 5 methods. Each method listed has instructions, advantages and disadvantages. The exact method(s) you use will be determined by what you want to accomplish. The method will also determine the tools you will need. We have also included abbreviations for the books of the Bible. If there is a study you would like please contact us and let us know. Phone (203) 333-2876

CHAIN REFERENCE METHOD

1. On a spare page in the back or the front of your Bible you would place a list of the topics you wish to mark.
2. Alongside each topic, list the first reference with a code for that subject. The code could be the first letter of the title. Eg Second Coming - SC
3. When you have looked up the first reference, you will write the next reference with its code either in the margin near the text or after the text.
4. You will continue to look up the next text and write the following reference with its code until the study is finished.
5. After the last text you will write the code and the letter "E" to indicate the End of the subject.

Advantages
1. You could have a study on a subject with no warning.
2. It helps you become familiar with your Bible.
3. Gives you a set order to follow.
4. Printed sheets can be obtained for this type of marking.

Disadvantages
1. You can not change the order of your study.
2. If you lose your place you would need some other reference to know where to go next, or else start again.
3. Not suitable for further study.
4. If glued in references from printed sheets are used, they often fall out.

COLOUR CODE METHOD

1. First make a list of topics to be marked and appoint a colour for each topic.
2. Keep this list in the back of your Bible.
3. Whenever a text or a passage of Scriptures comes to your attention, mark it with the appropriate colour by a straight line of the right colour, down the margin alongside the text or texts, or as far as the subject continues. If there is a sub-heading, then place a line of your subject colour under that sub-heading or chapter heading to indicate that whole section has to do with that topic.

Advantages
1. Colours stand out.
2. Suitable for ongoing personal study.
3. Can give a good overall view of a Bible teaching.

Disadvantages
1. There is some limit on the number of subjects.
2. Not suitable for some subjects where a set sequence of texts is needed. Eg some prophetic subjects.
3. Need colours on hand when marking.

Comments
1. Too much colour can be a disaster, but if done with care, can be most helpful.
2. To obtain more colours that are distinctly different, some biros and some highlighters can be used as well as coloured pencils.
3. Test all colours before you try in your Bible.
4. Group similar subjects and use symbols at the end of your coloured line.
5. Pick colours that to you, have relevance to the subject, and are easy to remember. eg Green for Go - Promises, Black for law or sin.

CROSS REFERENCE OR MARGINAL REFERENCE METHOD

1. Where you have found two or more texts speaking about the same subject you can, alongside one of these texts, in the margin, write the reference to those other texts. Then go to those other texts and write the reference of the first text.
2. If it is to do with only a word or a phrase from the text that you wish to support from other texts, then place an "R" alongside that word or phrase.

Advantages
1. Can be added to.
2. Not limited by subjects.
3. Quick support for a difficult text.

Disadvantages
1. Limited by space in margin for reference.
2. You need to know where to start from.
3. Hard to follow through a complete study.

Comments
1. Many Bible's have this type of reference in them when printed.

NUMBER REFERENCE METHOD

1. When you have information about a word or passage that you cannot fit in the margin, highlight - underline or mark in an appropriate way to suit your system of marking.
2. Then in the margin, place a number - that number will be the same as a number on a page in the back of your Bible.
3. To know what that number should be, look at the last lot of information you put on that page and the number you put with it, the number is the next number. So if your last entry was 5, then this one would be 6.
4. Put the reference for your text at the end of your information entry for cross reference.

Advantages
1. Allows comment or explanation on a thought in greater detail.
2. Helps to keep information about a word or passage from being forgotten.

Disadvantages
1. Has a limited use.

HIGHLIGHTING AND UNDERLINING METHOD

1. Emphasise just one word or phrase in the section. Just enough to make the thought that you want to stand out.
2. This can be done in a number of ways:
· A neat line under the word - preferably in a colour to suit your total marking system.
· Keep a pencil or fine biro - only one colour just for underlining.
· If you are very neat and careful, a very effective way is to just write over the letters to thicken them a little BUT test the steadiness of your hand and the suitability of the pen on something first.

Advantages
1. Reminds you of important part of the text.
2. It makes that part stand out.

Disadvantages
1. Too much, lessens the clarity of the text.

SUBJECT LISTS METHOD

1. On a page at the back of your Bible, make lists of texts under a subject heading.
2. Leave plenty of room so you can keep adding extra texts you find as you read the Bible or listen to sermons.
3. Add an extra page if you need to.
4. A mark can be placed alongside the more suitable texts for the topic.

Advantages
1. Good personal study.
2. A quick source of references from which to pick for a study.
3. Does not clutter the margin of your Bible.

Disadvantages
1. It needs a reasonable amount of space in the back of your Bible.

ABBREVIATIONS FOR THE BOOKS OF THE BIBLE