Is it considered disrespectful to mark passages in your Bible with a highlighting marker?

Question

Serious question.

Answer 1

Not generally, but I don't really like to do it. It's always seemed a little odd to me, to focus in on specific verses as if they were so much more important than the rest. But that may just be a matter of my personal study habits, more than anything else.

Answer 2

I do not believe so. If I thought it would be disrespectful then I would hold the bible, the physical material-not words or meaning, like an idol. The paper it is printed on and the ink used has no deity, nothing special about it. The words and meaning are what matters. If you highlight your bible to learn more and to look deeper into the meaning of a word or just to be able to reference a particula verse, then you are doing what God wants you to do---which is read and learn about him.

There are some religions or people that do consider that disrespectful, and I am not sure why. The bible isn't a God!

Answer 3

Of course not. It is a great help to your learning experience to mark certain passages. If you truly get into studying the Bible, you will probably even make notes in the margin, or make references to other passages. It's what most, not all, serious Bible students do.....simply because it helps retain information and also helps explain sometimes. There is no disrespect, quite the opposite in fact. You are searching the scriptures....that's what God wants you to do. The page and print or not sacred.....the meaning is. The Word is "living".....it is knowledge straight from Christ.....in fact He is referred to as The Word.....The Living Word.....He was in the beginning with God (John 1). It's recommended to take care of your Bible and respect it as you would any possession, but what the sacred part of the Bible is not paper or ink, but the Living Word. Have a great time exploring and marking your Bible. God bless you and open up the Living Word in your heart.

Answer 4

I have more than one bible that i have underlined in red, blue and black ink as well as highlited in any shade you can think of. I've been to many seminars and studies and have never heard that this was disrespectful. In fact I would think it is a good thing because you are highlighting and underlining things that are meaningful or have made an impact on you for future reference!

Answer 5

If you are worried you could get a second Bible. But the bottom line is it would make your Creator smile. Pick a good color. My yellow fades after a number of years, so I go over them as needed. Yellow works well.

Answer 6

I don't believe "highlighting" scripture for future reference is disrespectful. Just don't cross out words and add your own in their place, because this would change the meaning of the inspired Word of God.

Answer 7

No, I do it all the time and I think almost everyone that I know does also. I have one that I have just for church and Bible studies and that type of thing, and than one that I don;t mark in.

Answer 8

That depends on what you think revelation 22:18 says:

For I testify unto every man that heareth the words of the prophecy of this book, If any man shall add unto these things, God shall add unto him the plagues that are written in this book:

Does that mean adding markings such as highlighter marks and underlining and interpretations in the margin?

Answer 9

If you are reading a grossly mistranslated version, like the King James Version, it would be very wise to write in the correctly translated words.

Answer 10

Disrespectful to whom? Come on! Why is there so often this insinuation that if one reads the bible, then one has turned off the intelligence light.