This is what it looks like to have two handwritten Bibles on my bookshelf. It isn’t ornately decorated or leather bound, but it’s done. The work represents nearly eight years of regularly writing out Scripture. From Genesis 1 to Revelation 22, every word of each verse is recorded. When I began, my goal was to finish the New Testament within a year. The idea of one chapter per weekday to complete the New Testament’s 260 chapters felt like a difficult,... Read more
I recently connected online with educator Mrs. Sharon C. (Martz) Pasquarette. In addition to teaching, she is a mother and grandmother in Pennsylvania who has been handwriting the Bible from start to finish. She graciously agreed to answer some questions about her handwritten Bible, currently completed from Genesis through Luke, to encourage others who may be interested in handwriting Scripture themselves. 1. What led you to start handwriting the Bible? I realized that as I entered the second half of... Read more
I’ve recently spent time investigating a manuscript called the Great Bible of Mainz. Why? It’s a Latin Bible manuscript completed by a single scribe around the time of the invention of the Gutenberg Press in 1453. It includes several inspiring features for those who continue the practice of Bible handwriting today. A Single Scribe Unlike many manuscripts of the time, the Great Bible of Mainz was completed by a single scribe. This is a remarkable accomplishment, as many complete Bibles... Read more
I recently announced the completion of my second time handwriting the entire Bible in English. While rare, I am not the only one to successfully finish an entire handwritten Bible. A brief search shows the following: Mona’s Bible According to the video, “Mona spent 16 years (1968-1984) writing a copy of the King Jame’s Bible. Why? ‘It just happened…’ Every word is true…Here, she shares a glimpse of the story, with photos and the 4 volume copy she wrote.” Jeff’s... Read more
On the last day of 2010, I began a little experiment to handwritten the entire New Testament called the Holy Writ Project. The goal was to handwrite one chapter of my NIV Bible each weekday and complete the New Testament in one year. Along the way, this project turned into a movement. I would think about handwriting Scripture as I fell asleep and crave writing it when I awoke the next morning. In nine months the New Testament was complete... Read more
I’ve just finished handwriting through Psalm 117, the shortest chapter in the Bible. From a handwriting perspective, it’s refreshing in comparison with some of the longer chapters earlier in the book. Yet it’s words offer several points of impact that endure still today. First, the Lord Is the Focus of Life The psalmist urges readers to praise God and to “extol” him, honoring his name. While it is easy to make life about us and what we want, our focus... Read more
I’m currently handwriting Psalm 105. After more than 100 chapters of handwriting, I am still in the same book with over 40 chapters to go. The process has included many ups and downs. As I’ve considered what I’ve learned, four observations emerge that can inform our faith in any area of spiritual growth. First, the Psalms cover the wide range of human emotions. Most churches fully embrace the Bible’s teachings on encouragement, giving, and love. Few highlight the agony of... Read more
The recent “Dreamer” immigration battle in U.S. government continues to elicit strong emotions from Christians of all backgrounds. Pelosi quotes the Bible to support her Democratic view, while wall-supporters argue security is of utmost importance. One interesting observation is the use of the Bible by those who hold views across the spectrum on immigration. What does the Bible really say about immigration? The Old Testament is clear about providing care to what translations often call “foreigners.” The Torah based this... Read more
John Crist mocks the stereotypical “Bible quoter” lady in his video “Lady who has a Bible verse for every situation”: However, this lighthearted piece does bring up a more serious question: Does the Bible really have a verse for “every situation”? A close look reveals both the reality and the limits of this approach. The Reality First, the Bible is a huge book. It includes 1,189 chapters and 66 books, making it an anthology of writing from the history of... Read more
When I first began handwriting Scripture, a major factor was to grow closer to God. One surprising benefit, however, is how handwriting the Bible has improved my prayer life. Let’s face it: praying can be hard work. It’s easy to fall asleep praying at night and lose focus praying during the day. But praying as I handwrite Scripture forces my attention on a small set of words at a time. For example, I am currently working through the Psalms. As... Read more
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