Taking a highlighter to the Bible?

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Just curious as to whether or not this is considered to be disrespectful?

I still have not told my mother of my intent to convert to Catholicism. I’m currently in RCIA and LOVING IT!!!

The reason for my question is that her view of Jesus is that he was “just a man”. What I’m thinking of doing is purchasing a copy of The Old Testament and highlighting all of the parts that pertain to Jesus. I don’t know if it will change her view of Jesus but I figure if nothing else it will help her better understand the reason for my decision.

Thanks!
 
Not only do I highlight, but I write in the margins. There are highlighters made especially for bibles!
 
I use colored pencils. They don’t bleed thru the pages. Plus, I color the verses different colors, based on the subject matter. For example, verses that speak to me as a woman, I color in pink. Financial verses I color in green. Those are just a couple of examples. My Bible looks like a rainbow in some places. That may be too much for some people, but it works for me.

Scout :tiphat:
 
I don’t think it’s disrespectful, but I don’t highlight because I find it distracting when I go back and read the passages again another time. I usually read with a notebook where I can write chapter and verse and any reflective ideas that come to me in prayer.
 
mdrummer5 said:
Just curious as to whether or not this is considered to be disrespectful?

I still have not told my mother of my intent to convert to Catholicism. I’m currently in RCIA and LOVING IT!!!

The reason for my question is that her view of Jesus is that he was “just a man”. What I’m thinking of doing is purchasing a copy of The Old Testament and highlighting all of the parts that pertain to Jesus. I don’t know if it will change her view of Jesus but I figure if nothing else it will help her better understand the reason for my decision.

Thanks!
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Sorry, I would not do that. It is only my opinion, ok?
Look, the Church does not stop in the Bible, it goes on for 2000 years. The Church = Bible+Tradition.

Look, if Jesus was a man, tell me sincerely: would the Church last for 2000 years in honor of a simple man, carpenter, of one of the most humble villages of Israel (it was not quoted within the first 200), who preached for 3 years and was crucified? Period! Would you follow sucha phantom?

Do you think it possible that 1 billion persons would follow a carpenter crucified on the year 33 aD? Why in hell would anybody follow such a stupid thing? There were thousands of crucified men in the times of the Romans. Why Jesus?

Because he (the man only) said nice things? So did Buddha and Confucius.

1 billion people following a Person they whink it is God and after alll they all have fallen into a trap and all made a mistake for 2000 years it is too much to bear.

No company, no Society, no Nation, no State, no Country, no Imperium in the history of Manking survived for such a long time with the same creed: Jesus is God.

As Natanael put it: "If it is not God’s, it will not survive, if it is God’s, you cannot resist.

My view. Hope it helps. Good Luck.

But, sincerely, I would not discuss much or any. Actions are better than words. When your mother sees you happy, sees your good deeds, as any mother, she will change her mind. Mother’s heart talks.
 
To be honest, I don’t think the Old Testament is the best place to start. Yes, there are very many allusions to Jesus, but only as interpreted by Christians! There aren’t many jews - other than messianic types - who consider, say, the suffering servant of Isaiah to be about Jesus.

I would recommend that you highlight those parts of the Christian Scripture that refer to the divinity of Jesus, especially when He refers to himself as such - for example, He refers to Himself as " the Lord of the Sabbath" (cant recall ref), which, of course, for a mere man, is to elevate himself to godhood. So, we conclude that Jesus was either a complete egotist of magnificent proportions… or He was simply telling the truth about Himself!
 
I honestly cringe at the thought…

Something I myself would not do. (even the destruction of aesthetics would get under my skin…)
 
While there is nothing wrong with highlighting a Bible, you should be highlighting for your own benefit, not for someone else.

Trust me. I have years of relationship training.
 
=mdrummer5;8506320]Just curious as to whether or not this is considered to be disrespectful?
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I still have not told my mother of my intent to convert to Catholicism. I’m currently in RCIA and LOVING IT!!!
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The reason for my question is that her view of Jesus is that he was “just a man”. What I’m thinking of doing is purchasing a copy of The Old Testament and highlighting all of the parts that pertain to Jesus. I don’t know if it will change her view of Jesus but I figure if nothing else it will help her better understand the reason for my decision.
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Thanks!
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GREAT IDEA GO FOR IT:thumbsup:

Respect and disrespect most often is grounded in what we intend it to be; not simply the action itself? Yes?

God Bless,
Pat
 
mdrummer5 said:
Oooh cool! thanks all!
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Regular highlighters bleed through the paper but the ones expecially made for Bible use work really well. You can get them at any Christian store and probably at a Catholic store as well.
 
Scout said:
I use colored pencils. They don’t bleed thru the pages. Plus, I color the verses different colors, based on the subject matter. For example, verses that speak to me as a woman, I color in pink. Financial verses I color in green. Those are just a couple of examples. My Bible looks like a rainbow in some places. That may be too much for some people, but it works for me.

Scout :tiphat:
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That’s a neat idea.
 
mdrummer5 said:
Just curious as to whether or not this is considered to be disrespectful?

I still have not told my mother of my intent to convert to Catholicism. I’m currently in RCIA and LOVING IT!!!

The reason for my question is that her view of Jesus is that he was “just a man”. What I’m thinking of doing is purchasing a copy of The Old Testament and highlighting all of the parts that pertain to Jesus. I don’t know if it will change her view of Jesus but I figure if nothing else it will help her better understand the reason for my decision.

Thanks!
Click to expand...
I see no problem in highlighting a Bible in the context you’ve described. I have a Bible in which I underline material with colored pencils in a similar fashion Scout described (i.e., a specific color designated for a specific topic). Here are some things to keep in mind.
  1. The idea of highlighting a Bible in order to enhance ones learning of the Word of God is radically different from someone marking up a Bible as an act of desecration. The former intention (which is, of course, yours) is respectful and the latter intention is disrespectful.
  2. Generally speaking, all Bibles are marked, highlighted, have notes written in them, etc. This is done by the publishers. For example, if a particular Bible has chapter and verse numbers, certain words in italics, footnotes, notes pointing out scriptural parallels, words of Jesus printed in red ink, page numbers, headings for each gospel such as “The Gospel of Matthew” (which the evangelists never actually wrote; all the gospels are, technically speaking, anonymous), etc., then the publishers have already “marked” the Bible. In other words, they added material that was not originally there (i.e., footnotes, chapter and verse numbers, etc.) and marked/highlighted certain material that was (i.e., italics, red ink for the words of Jesus, etc.). If you think about it, there is not really any difference between what you want to do and what Bible publishers have already done.
  3. I know of a priest who teaches Scripture classes in a major university. He encourages all of his students (who are mostly seminarians training to be priests) to have a Bible designated as a “study Bible” and to mark it and write notes in it accordingly.
 
Apologies if you knew this already, but people might be interested to hear that the Bible was only divided into chapters in the 12th or 13th century, by Stephen Langdon, the then Archbishop of Canterbury (Catholic, of course). He died in 1225 but i don’t know how near his death he did it, which is why I said 12 or 13th century.

These chapters were themselves divided into verses only in 1552, by Robert Stevens. He was a printer, I think.

I find that many people think that the Bible was written already divided up.
 
mdrummer5 said:
Just curious as to whether or not this is considered to be disrespectful?

I still have not told my mother of my intent to convert to Catholicism. I’m currently in RCIA and LOVING IT!!!

The reason for my question is that her view of Jesus is that he was “just a man”. What I’m thinking of doing is purchasing a copy of The Old Testament and highlighting all of the parts that pertain to Jesus. I don’t know if it will change her view of Jesus but I figure if nothing else it will help her better understand the reason for my decision.

Thanks!
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By all means…go for it. I do it all the time.
 
paperwight66 said:
Apologies if you knew this already, but people might be interested to hear that the Bible was only divided into chapters in the 12th or 13th century, by Stephen Langdon, the then Archbishop of Canterbury (Catholic, of course). He died in 1225 but i don’t know how near his death he did it, which is why I said 12 or 13th century.

These chapters were themselves divided into verses only in 1552, by Robert Stevens. He was a printer, I think.
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For the record, Robertus Stephanus (Latin) aka Robert Estienne (French) was also the publisher of that edition of the Textus Receptus which still bears his name.
I find that many people think that the Bible was written already divided up.
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Which is admittedly kind of silly. Did St. Paul say to his scribe, “Alright Tertius, today I can only dictate to you chapters 3 and 4, and perhaps a few verses more if time allows it. I really need to think of other verses I have to say to the Romans.” 😉
 
mdrummer5 said:
Just curious as to whether or not this is considered to be disrespectful?

I still have not told my mother of my intent to convert to Catholicism. I’m currently in RCIA and LOVING IT!!!

The reason for my question is that her view of Jesus is that he was “just a man”. What I’m thinking of doing is purchasing a copy of The Old Testament and highlighting all of the parts that pertain to Jesus. I don’t know if it will change her view of Jesus but I figure if nothing else it will help her better understand the reason for my decision.

Thanks!
Click to expand...
Is she going to read the bible after you? How will you highlighting your bible help her to understand Jesus?

If Jesus is just a man then he is a liar because he claims to be God. Or he is a lunitic. But, he couldn’t be good if he is a lunitic. No lunitic does the things that Jesus did or said. Most people, ( except for hardened atheists) who read the gospels come to understand that Jesus is a good man and does not fit the profile of a liar or lunitic. Nor would his disciples die for a liar or a lunitic. So if Jesus is not a liar or a lunitic then he must be who he claimed to be, the Son of God.
 
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