Benefits of Bible Handwriting

(What I have learned from my handwritten New Testament Bible)

One fellow young men, Bro.Jaypee, sent this photo on my Fb post on March 1, 2014.

https://www.facebook.com/photo/?fbid=728989690465263&set=a.611579358872964

Every Friday night in 2014, our beloved pastor, Rev.Provy R. Cadeliña gathered us young working men to teach and train us with the Word of God. Our group then was called Timothy Club. I remember that night when our Pastor oriented us and challenged us to live a life that should be A.U.G. (Approved Unto God). We were blessed as we were reading 2 Timothy 2:15 where it says, Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth. That night, I also remember that our Pastor challenged us to copy and write out the Scriptures by hand. We smiled for that. I actually laughed. I heard before about writing a Bible verse on journals but that night was the first time that I heard about Bible handwriting. I never thought about its benefits. I was imagining about that old joke in my elementary days that our project in English class is to copy in hand the dictionary found in our school library, but that was just a joke!

 

THE PROCESS

It took a year for me to accept the challenge. November 30, 2015, I started to write the whole verses of Galatians 1. I remember that joy and sense of fulfillment I had when I completed the book of Galatians.

 

That inspired me to continue copying the other Pauline Epistles.

 

I pursued to pen also the General Epistles.

Then the Apocalypse or Revelation.

And finally the Apostolic History or Acts which was completed on August 4, 2016.

My handwritten Bible from the books of Acts to Revelation which started on November 30, 2015 was completed on August 4, 2016 by God's grace.

Three years later, August 13, 2019 to be exact, I was delighted to start writing out the book of Matthew. Due to busyness, I finished only 11 out of 28 chapters on December 11, 2019.

 Then COVID19 pandemic came. Situations became harder. It troubles many. I thank the Lord that He put in my heart to continue my unfinished business of writing out the Scriptures.

 

I started copying Matthew 12 on April 6, 2021 and was able to finish the last chapter on June 29, 2021.

I was inspired to copy Mark 1 on July 1, 2021 and was able to finish the last chapter on July 12, 2021.

I was dedicated to start Luke 1 on July 15, 2021 and was able to finish the last chapter on August 7, 2021.

I was persistent to start John 1 on August 24, 2021 and was able to finish the last chapter on September 10, 2021.

My handwritten Gospel books, which initially started on August 13, 2019 and continued on April 6, 2021 was completed on September 10, 2021 by God's grace.

That made my handwritten New Testament Bible already complete all by God's grace.

 

THE POWERFUL BENEFITS

Copying and writing out the Scriptures taught me many things in life.

 

1.      It reminded me that SMALL THINGS MATTER.

Copying the Bible includes copying properly the period, the comma, and the like. They are small things but they matter. They are all marks of separation but with different meaning and intentions. As to life, period teaches us to where we stop to another, and comma reminds us to pause or slow down. Another punctuation mark is the dash that indicates a break. It is good to note that when our lives is over, the "small" dash between our date of birth and date of death represents the life we have lived. What would people remember with that "small" dash? What will you do with that "small" life? Because only one life t'will soon be passed, and only what's done for Christ will last.

 

2.      It taught me to SLOW DOWN.

There were days that I wanted to fast track writing out the Scriptures. I wanted to finish a certain chapter in a targeted time. But it was in slowing down that allowed me to observe little things with great wonders. Just as when we are bothered with the rigors, the rush, or the routine of life, it is in slowing down and solitude moment or necessary times of silence that greater things happen. The Lord Jesus Christ Himself had solitude moments.

 

3.      It helped me to understand what they say, STRUGGLES ARE REAL.

Our life is full of many decisions. You decide, One day or Day one. The former denotes some future time or a wish. The latter is taking an action, it is the first day of long days ahead. Bible handwriting is a long pursuit and November 30, 2015 was my day one for this journey.

 

It is tiring to hand write for such a long period. There were times that I struggled if I continue or not. It is in those times that I need to remind myself this truth - a long journey is commenced by a single step. Along the way, we experience fainting but we need to STAY MOTIVATED. Sometimes we need to STEP BACK to get again our momentum and keep on what we are doing. We can rest but persevere to continue. Proofreading of what I am writing helps me to evaluate what I have accomplished and inspires me to go where I am heading.

In reality, there may come a time that we are tired of life. It is in those times that we need to get back and look up to the cross where Jesus Christ our Lord and Saviour died, and He was buried and rose again for our sins. That would remind us for the Blessed Hope and encourage us to keep on what we are doing for Him.

 

4.      It reminded me to STEP BACK.

It is fine to step back. Sometimes, it is necessary. It helps you to review what you might have missed and helps you to look beyond the obvious.

 

5.      It caused me to STAY MOTIVATED.

Bible handwriting is doing a favor also for myself. It humbles me and reminds me to give my life to a cause bigger than myself.

 

The list goes on but I am leaving the others to you. I am encouraging you to also do Bible handwriting and discover its powerful benefits for yourself. Or try to write your favorite verses in a card, or a chapter in a journal, or a book, or the Proverbs. Bible handwriting do wonders. If not for yourself, then for someone else. A handwritten Bible is something tangible that you can leave to your family or loved ones. It is like that faith you have received and that you want it to pass on to the next generation.

 

THE NEXT PROJECT

I want to begin also the OLD TESTAMENT. I do not know when. Soon, I want to start the book of Job - the oldest book of the Bible, a man with so much troubles and trials but still chose to praise the Lord. Then perhaps Psalms - the longest book of the Bible. Or maybe Proverbs - so much wisdom to learn. Or Ecclesiastes- reminds us about vanities and the conclusion of the whole matter. I do not know. I am praying for God's leading and it is my desire to also write out and learn more from the Pentateuch, the History, the Wisdom, the Major and the Minor Prophets, all from Genesis to Malachi. (One day... or day one? I have to always remember that!)

 

One of my favorite verses is Romans 15:4, For whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our learning, that we through patience and comfort of the scriptures might have hope.

 

I want to know more about my Lord. I love how it says in John 21:25, And there are also many other things which Jesus did, the which, if they should be written every one, I suppose that even the world itself could not contain the books that should be written. Amen.

 

By God's grace, I am learning a lot in copying and writing out the Scriptures by hand. I found joy in it. I take the joy! To God all be the glory!