Why I Keep Using a Physical Bible

In today’s digital age, it’s easy to rely on my smartphone for many things I do. In particular, technology has enhanced my ability to study the Bible. With a few clicks or swipes, I can easily find what the Bible says, compare different translations, perform a quick search, and easily share a favorite saying with someone else. 

But with all the power and convenience an electronic Bible provides, it has not replaced a physical Bible for me. I still prefer to use a print version in many circumstances. Here are five reasons why I use a physical Bible:

1. Using a print Bible limits the distractions.
   Whether I’m reading the Bible on my own or opening it in community with others, it’s best to stay focused. A print Bible won’t have notifications that pop up, drawing my attention away from God’s Word. My work e-mail message or social media notification can wait a bit. Also, even if I disable my notifications on my device, its multi-purpose nature (easily accessible communication, tools, games) can distract me from the important task of reading the Scriptures.

2. A print Bible breeds familiarity.
   My parents gave me a Bible as a gift when I was a child, and I still have that old hardcover. When I flip through it, I see highlights, dog-eared pages, and handwritten margin notes. I also have familiarity with this old Bible: I remember where the maps and index are, the general location for a biblical book, and even which side of the page to look for a particular passage. My old hardcover is like an old friend, and serves as a record of how I’ve been impacted by God’s Word. 

3. Using a print Bible helps me to read the text in context.
   Having the surrounding content in view assists me in understanding the biblical text. Jesus’s Parable of the Prodigal Son actually describes two sons (Luke 15:11-32), and is the third movement of a three-part teaching. A print Bible makes it easy for me to see that the parable is told to two distinct groups, (1) tax collectors and sinners and (2) Pharisees and teachers of the law (see Luke 15:1-2), which correspond with the two sons in the parable. Also, having the context in front of me puts guardrails on my interpretation. If I see that Paul has been discussing his ability to be content through any and all circumstances in Philippians 4:11-12, then I am less likely to end up with an incorrect application of “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me” in 4:13.

4. Using a print Bible reminds me to keep “turning the page.”
   Turning physical pages to look up a Bible passage makes me more aware of the content surrounding it. For example, if I’m studying Jesus’s encounter with the Samaritan woman (John 4:1-26), I am reminded by my print Bible of Jesus’s encounter with Nicodemus (John 3:1-21) right before it. The placement of the two accounts invites me to compare and contrast the two figures. Also, flipping the pages of a physical Bible reminds me that there is more to the story. When I turn to the account of Joseph being sold into slavery, I am reminded that this tragedy is not the end. Seeing the print Bible and the content after this account reminds me of the big picture: Joseph’s presence in Egypt keeps the Jacob’s family alive (Genesis 50:20), and sets up the passover and exodus. Ultimately, seeing hundreds of physical pages after Genesis reminds me that God has a much bigger plan of redemption, involving the promised land, the prophets, the Messiah, and the new heaven and new earth. 

5. Using a print Bible is an act of worship.
   The prevalence of technology has made handwritten letters more rare. When I receive a handwritten card from someone, I am touched because I know it took intention and effort. In the same way, using my physical Bible takes intention and effort. Flipping through the pages is a tactile reminder of my devotion to God. It is my way of expressing my worship. It’s similar to how some churchgoers dress formally on Sunday as part of their expression of worship. While I can just absent-mindedly have my smartphone with me, the extra step of remembering and using my print Bible tells God that He is worth the effort. 

“In a world dominated by screens, let’s consider the simple but profound impact of having a physical Bible in our hands.”

To be sure, having and using a print Bible does not have inherent value by itself. I should never think that using a physical Bible guarantees me anything or makes me superior to others. After all, you and I can still do the things mentioned above using an electronic version. However, it’s the principles behind my reasons for using a print Bible that matter to me, and I encourage you to consider them too. In a world dominated by screens, let’s consider the simple but profound impact of having a physical Bible in our hands. 

Ultimately, whether you use a physical or electronic Bible, what matters most is that you are encountering the Word of God. Like the blessed person in Psalm 1, let’s meditate on God’s Word day and night. Let’s come with a sense of reverence and wonder for what our Creator and King has for us.

Passage for Meditation:  Psalm 119:9-16 (NIV)

How can a young person stay on the path of purity?

    By living according to your word.

I seek you with all my heart;

    do not let me stray from your commands.

I have hidden your word in my heart

    that I might not sin against you.

Praise be to you, Lord;

    teach me your decrees.

With my lips I recount

    all the laws that come from your mouth.

I rejoice in following your statutes

    as one rejoices in great riches.

I meditate on your precepts

    and consider your ways.

I delight in your decrees;

    I will not neglect your word.