How do you set up your Bible for defending your faith?

[Arianna09]

I just got a new Bible that I can keep in my purse. I want to set it up so that I can quickly dig into it for answers. I am not the most familiar with scripture, so I already have put Bible tabs in for easy flipping. But, I was wondering, does anyone have a good system to say mark all references for Purgatory or the Pope…??? I have the ‘Verse finder’ and several books highlighted up with scripture references, so I need to find a way to put it together in an organized, easy to find manner.
Suggestions…???

Thanks!

 

[Paul2274]

Hi Arianna,

I keep this “cheat” sheet folded in my wallet… you could put it in the front of your Bible for quick reference.

The attachment is the cheat sheet.

I have a nicer one I can email to anyone who wants one… I can’t put it here cause it’s just over the file size limit (it’s only 1.44mb). Just reply here or PM me with your email and I send it to you.

Enjoy

Paul

 

[FidesSpesCarita]

OOOO Me me me!!!

FSC

 

[Apryl]

I just got a new Bible that I can keep in my purse. I want to set it up so that I can quickly dig into it for answers. I am not the most familiar with scripture, so I already have put Bible tabs in for easy flipping. But, I was wondering, does anyone have a good system to say mark all references for Purgatory or the Pope…??? I have the ‘Verse finder’ and several books highlighted up with scripture references, so I need to find a way to put it together in an organized, easy to find manner.
Suggestions…???

Thanks!

Suggestions! I love suggestions!

Well, these days, we have those Post-Its. They even have the tape flags.

Use those to mark some of the most common answers you need to get to.

Be familiar with those passages and why they are relevant.

There is a document, created by Christopher Wong, the apologist’s Cheat Sheet. Have a copy of that handy. Be familiar with it.

I used to keep certain references written in the back of my bible (and also the back of my Missal).

Enjoy!

 

[JRKH]

I would suggest that, rather than trying to “set-up” your bible for answering these questions you get a book specifically designed for this task.

One such example is "Answer Me This" by Patrick Madrid
Another by the Same Author is “Where is That In The bible”

While I’m not sure about the second one, the first one, Answer me This, is small enough to fit in your purse.

As are as your bible itself is concerned I would suggest just reading through the NT yourself and study it for your own growth and deepening of your faith. As you do this you will be able to internalize and see your faith in a more coherent way.

Peace
James

 

[Apryl]

I would suggest that, rather than trying to “set-up” your bible for answering these questions you get a book specifically designed for this task.

I prefer the idea of being familiar with the Bible itself and knowing where to find things in it. The other books are tools to help one to use the Bible, but it can never replace it. Besides, if you are arguing a point with some one resistant, you’ll get, ‘that’s not really in there’

I have an ‘Apololgist’s Bag’, and I use a King James Bible in that bag. While I like the King James Bible because of the language, when it comes to scripture, I’m more likely to use the NAB. When I’m arguing a point, I go back to the KJV since so many who want to disagree are using that.

I also carry a Book of Mormon and the Book of Scripture (from the Jehovah’s Witnesses).

It’s hard to convince a person using only your language. Use theirs and show them in their texts ways to prove your (Catholic) point.

If it’s a secondary text, you’ve got to find it in your Bible, their Bible, and do a compare and contrast, and you may loose the moment.

 

[Arianna09]

Yeah! I love this! I have been wondering about this for a while. I have a Catholic Answers (I don’t think it is by our Catholic Answers…but not sure) and it has little inserts. However, it is the NAB and I keep hearing on CAL that Ignatius Bible is a preferred translation by many. So, I decided to get one. Being a new Bible, I am itching to dig into it and make it mine!
I love the cheat sheet idea. I have one I ordered through Catholic Answers, but another would be great. They may not be the same. I always love finding new verses. I don’t get challenged enough to keep a King James and other Bibles with me (surprisingly since I live in the Bible Belt).
I was thinking about the Post-It idea. I am just trying to figure out how to make it neat and clean. I would like a way to be able to turn to one passage (say on Mary) and be able to quickly guide myself to the next one that links with it. I thought about making notes in the margin or something…like: Go here next.
Oh, and on the books…I read tons of books like that. Right now I am reading “Mary Mother of the Son” which is AWESOME! Next up: Theology and Sanity (loved Theology for Beginners).

Thanks for ideas…keep 'um coming…I tried to search for this on the Forums before starting a new discussion and didn’t find anything. I just feel this can be helpful for me and others.

 

[PJM]

=Arianna09;6333481]I just got a new Bible that I can keep in my purse. I want to set it up so that I can quickly dig into it for answers. I am not the most familiar with scripture, so I already have put Bible tabs in for easy flipping. But, I was wondering, does anyone have a good system to say mark all references for Purgatory or the Pope…??? I have the ‘Verse finder’ and several books highlighted up with scripture references, so I need to find a way to put it together in an organized, easy to find manner.
Suggestions…???

Thanks!

GREAT QUESTION!

May I suggest the following.

First it would be good to have a solid understanding of the entire bible.

Use BIBLE [devider] BOOK identifier tabs. [One can purchase from a good Christian book store.]

Then use category stick-on- tabs: Sin, Purgatory, Confesion, 1 Church, Mary, ect.[Highlight what your reference is with a yellow marker]

Next in your first reference by category, use the yellow stick-on- tabs [what ever size that works best]

On these put the rest of your topical reference proofs.

For example on the topic of “sin” Tab. 1 John 1:[highlight v.8-10]
then add on your postum: 1 John 5: [highlight v. 16-17]
John 20: [highlight v. 19-23]

Do same for every category.

Love and prayers,

Pat

 

[Apryl]

I was thinking about the Post-It idea. I am just trying to figure out how to make it neat and clean. I would like a way to be able to turn to one passage (say on Mary) and be able to quickly guide myself to the next one that links with it. .

You wanna keep it neat?

Well, it’s been my experience that if if’s a hand touched, used copy, that doesn’t work so good.

Ok, I get food on my sleeves when I eat a sandwich.

But I used to use a Palm device, and I downloaded a free bible from Olive Tree Software. You can buy a NAB, but they had free translations.

On my Palm, I could put notes to tell me which verses to go to next. A bit of a caveat: I have the Bible Reader on my BlackBerry, and it doesn’t allow me to leave such notes.

Electronically, it’s neat.

Hmm… I think I’m going to get the Cheat Sheet and link to the verses on my notebook computer. That’s a project for some late night studies.

 

[aspirant]

I got a small Bible for this purpose and spent several months reading it, underlining/highlighting passages and writing myself notes as I went along. And I keep marking it whenever I discover that something else is helpful.

When it comes to organization, though, nothing beats familiarity. That’s what I’m really striving for.

 

[JRKH]

I prefer the idea of being familiar with the Bible itself and knowing where to find things in it. The other books are tools to help one to use the Bible, but it can never replace it. Besides, if you are arguing a point with some one resistant, you’ll get, ‘that’s not really in there’

I have an ‘Apololgist’s Bag’, and I use a King James Bible in that bag. While I like the King James Bible because of the language, when it comes to scripture, I’m more likely to use the NAB. When I’m arguing a point, I go back to the KJV since so many who want to disagree are using that.

I also carry a Book of Mormon and the Book of Scripture (from the Jehovah’s Witnesses).

It’s hard to convince a person using only your language. Use theirs and show them in their texts ways to prove your (Catholic) point.

If it’s a secondary text, you’ve got to find it in your Bible, their Bible, and do a compare and contrast, and you may loose the moment.

I agree with everything you’ve said above.

The reason I suggested the books is that they would provide a quick and “orthodox” summary of the beliefs and what bible texts are most relevant.
Then one can go to the Bible, - and I like the idea of using the other persons bible too - to read the verses “in context”.

Peace
James