Hand-Copying the Bible: Starting My Scripture Writing Adventure

Scripture writing, or hand-copying the Bible, is a discipline I was unknowingly introduced to in college when one of my professors handed us a sheet of paper with a bunch of nonsense words on it and asked us to copy it exactly. In essence, he was showing us what it was like to be a scribe, a person who copied the biblical manuscripts on scrolls.

Lately, Scripture writing is being encouraged by many as a way for us to slow down and meditate on what we’re reading instead of rushing through a Bible passage. It’s also a great way to memorize. (Trust me. I used to write and rewrite my notes in classes to study for tests. I would write really small in order to fit as much on a page as possible.)

You can write through a book of the Bible or you can write based on an issue you want to dive into. For example, Shannon, from Sweet Blessings, posts monthly writing plans based on topics like Peace, Contentment, My Comforter, and God Can Make a Way.

Writing the Letters of the Bible

There are so many good reasons to take time to write Scripture down, and while I am excited about those, I am also interested in seeing what it might be like to read the Bible in a handwritten format. Especially the letters in the Bible. They were, after all, letters. Someone took the time to write to someone else. And someone received it, opened it, and read it.

As a person who makes handmade cards, I thought hand-copying letters from the Bible would offer a unique perspective for me.

• What would it be like to write such a letter?
• What would it be like to receive one?
• How might it change the way I read the letter itself?

And so I’ve started a practice in which I am hand-copying letters of the Bible. My first one is 1 Timothy, since it speaks much to leadership and character–something I long to learn more about.

Getting Started

When you start Scripture writing, you can be as elegant or as simple as you want. I have a basic lined A5 notebook with a pretty cover that I am starting out with. I thought about getting a handmade notebook with handmade pages (how cool would that be!?), but that would be pretty expensive. Maybe someday. For now, a basic notebook will do just fine.

Either pick a book of the Bible and start writing and praying your way through that, or find a monthly/topical plan that speaks to your heart.

Write every day, or write every week. While it is a discipline, it helps to do it at a pace that works for you and your season of life. Right now, my aim is one chapter a week.

What About You?

Do you engage in Scripture writing? If so, do you follow a specific plan? How does it impact your relationship with God? If not, is it something you feel drawn to try?