Memorizing Scripture By Lee Moses The story is commonly told of a small-town courtroom. When the time came to swear in the first witness, the court clerk realized he did not have a Bible. The judge interjected, “That’s alright. Mrs. Jones is here, and she is a member of the church of Christ. Just have the witness place his hand on her head.” Whether historical or legendary, this story portrays the reputation New Testament Christians had in times past for their knowledge of the Scriptures. It seemed to others that their minds were overflowing with Scripture. This thorough knowledge of the Scriptures did not come by accident. Gospel preachers made determined efforts to memorize the entire New Testament, and occasionally the entire Old Testament as well. Gospel meetings would extend for weeks, with Scripture-filled sermons running at least an hour each night. Country plowboys would memorize Scripture while they worked their rows. Families would memorize Scripture together each day. Members of the Lord’s church truly comprised a “Bible-totin’ and Bible-quotin’” people. Very few people, if any, would affirm that members of the Lord’s church in the twenty-first century have committed Scripture to memory to the extent that they did a hundred, or even fifty, years ago. This is very unfortunate, and at least partly explains many of the other problems plaguing the church today. Christians need to recommit themselves to memorizing Scripture. Why Memorize Scripture? Our desire to memorize Scripture must be more noble than to impress others with our knowledge of the Scriptures. Indeed, there are very compelling reasons to memorize Scripture, based on principles taught by the Scriptures themselves. As Christians, we are to have God’s laws placed in our minds and written in our hearts (Hebrews 8:10). As Jude wrote, “But, beloved, remember ye the words which were spoken before of the apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ” (Jude 17). Consider further some specific reasons to memorize Scripture. To Be Better Bible Students The Lord commands us to be diligent students of Scripture (2 Timothy 2:15; compare with Hebrews 5:12-14; 1 Peter 2:2). Indeed, our salvation depends on our having a knowledge of the Scriptures (1 Timothy 2:4; John 17:17; Romans 10:17). Memorizing Scripture certainly facilitates one’s growth in God’s word. Our time spent in Bible study will be more fruitful if related verses immediately come to mind. When one has memorized Scripture, he can study and meditate upon God’s word even when he does not have a Bible in front of him. When reading commentaries or other extrabiblical writings, we will know what Scripture references say without having to look up each of them. We will be able to read such writings with a more discerning eye (1 Thessalonians 5:21; 1 John 4:1). Preparing sermons and classes can be a very painstaking, time-consuming process. Indeed, one should always take such responsibilities very seriously, but one who has memorized Scripture will be able to prepare sermons and Bible classes more effectively. Time spent memorizing Scripture is worthwhile Bible study in itself. It is impossible to do a cursory reading of Scripture while memorizing—one is forced to focus on the words much more intensely than when merely reading. Memorizing helps one understand how Scripture works together, as one has in mind other parts of Scripture well in mind while reading and memorizing. I cannot count the “Aha!” moments I have had while memorizing Scripture, as I finally understood a Biblical teaching that previously eluded me. One plainly knows Scripture better when he has committed it to memory than when he has simply read it. To Live the Christian Life We sometimes sing, “O to be like Thee, Blessed Redeemer…stamp Thine own image deep on my heart.” The Lord is not going to stamp His own image on anyone mystically or miraculously. Christ left us an example to follow (John 13:15; 1 Peter 2:21; 1 John 3:16). We become Christ-like as we follow the truths found in Scripture. However, one cannot live by truths he does not remember. The wise man instructs, “Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life” (Proverbs 4:23). Whatever is in our mind is going to direct the way we live. Filling our minds with Scripture makes us far more likely to live Christian lives. The word hidden in one’s heart strengthens him for the trials and tragedies of life (Psalm 119:81; Romans 15:4). Living the Christian life must remain a goal, if not the goal of memorizing Scripture. God does not only want us to know His word for the sale of knowing it—He wants us to be saved by it, and He demands that we obey it (Deuteronomy 5:29; John 13:17; 15:14; 1 Timothy 2:4). The infamous Soviet premier Nikita Khrushchev allegedly had committed large portions of the New Testament to memory, yet his life was far removed from God. If one should memorize the entire Bible yet live and die apart from God, his memorization was a vain enterprise. However, as one maintains a view toward faithful obedience, no moment spent memorizing Scripture is wasted. To Resist Temptation Immediately following His baptism, our Lord faced fierce temptations from the tempter. However, Jesus was well-armed for the temptations that came His way. Whether a temptation appealed to the lust of the flesh, to the lust of the eyes, or to the pride of life, Jesus met each temptation with “It is written”—He quoted Scripture from memory (Matthew 4:4, 7, 10). For our battle against the tempter, we likewise arm ourselves with Scripture (Ephesians 6:14-17). Each of us faces numerous enticements to sin, probably every day. Although the world pressures us to be like the world, God tells us we must not let that happen and what must happen to keep that from happening: “And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God” (Romans 12:2). We are acceptably transformed by the renewing of our minds, and our minds are renewed by the good, and acceptable, and perfect will of God. The world places thoughts in our minds that will conform us to the world if not countered, but we can counter that conformation by placing thoughts from Scripture in our minds (Philippians 4:8). And we should not merely have an awareness of what Scripture says, but we should deeply etch the precious Scriptures in our minds. As the psalmist penned, “Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee” (Psalm 119:11). To Avoid Doctrinal Error Avoiding error might well be classified with resisting temptation, because error can be very alluring, and succumbing to it is sin (Isaiah 30:10; Micah 2:11; Romans 16:18). To avoid error, one needs to know the truth. “I have not departed from thy judgments: for thou hast taught me…Through thy precepts I get understanding: therefore I hate every false way” (Psalm 119:102, 104). Many have departed from the truth because they did not thoroughly engrain the truth in their minds; they did not hate every false way because they did not grasp the truth. The restoration of New Testament Christianity that took place in the nineteenth century required numerous honest-hearted individuals to come out from under the haze of denominational error. There can be little doubt that Scripture memorization helped many of them to do just that. Elias Smith, Thomas Campbell, Walter Scott, Raccoon John Smith, Alexander Campbell and many of the other preachers of the restoration made a great commitment to memorizing Scripture. It is altogether possible they would have remained under that haze had they not made that commitment. Almost without fail, those I have known to take the strongest stands against error have had a great deal of Scripture memorized. However, I have seen many succumb to error because they did not know the Scripture, or at least did not retain knowledge of it. In the time of Hosea, the LORD lamented, “My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge: because thou hast rejected knowledge, I will also reject thee, that thou shalt be no priest to me: seeing thou hast forgotten the law of thy God, I will also forget thy children” (Hosea 4:6). We want to ensure that we do not fall into the same lack of knowledge; we want to ensure that we do not forget the law of our God. To Better Teach Others Christians are commanded, “But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear” (1 Peter 3:15). How can a Christian be better prepared to “give an answer” regarding his hope than to know specifically what God’s word says about it? A memory of Scripture will help one teach others. If you are able to remember exactly what a passage says and where it is found, will you not be much more effective in what you have to say? Parents are to teach their children the word of God, and prior to instructing parents how diligently they are to teach their children (Deuteronomy 6:7-9), the Israelites were told, ““And these words, which I command thee this day, shall be in thine heart” (verse 6). If we are to teach our children successfully, we will need to have the words of God already in our hearts and minds. Also, one who has memorized Scripture will be more effective in delivering sermons and Bible classes. Quoting Scripture gives time for the preacher or teacher to look his hearers in the eye instead of reading to them. Some say, “I memorize my sermon outline and illustrations, but read the Scriptures.” Which is more valuable, for the preacher to memorize his outline, or to memorize his Scriptures? Which is more valuable, for the preacher to memorize his illustrations, or to memorize his Scriptures? Sermon outlines and illustrations are useful tools, but their usefulness is limited—“But the word of the Lord endureth for ever” (1 Peter 1:25). For Love of God’s Word The Christian’s love of God’s word should nature stir in him the desire to memorize it. “I will delight myself in thy statutes: I will not forget thy word” (Psalm 119:16). “I will never forget thy precepts: for with them thou hast quickened me” (119:93). Our appreciation for God’s word, and our gratitude for God’s salvation granted through the Gospel, should create in each of God’s children a burning desire to write God’s message deep in our hearts. Many elderly people do crossword puzzles and similar activities to keep their minds sharp. Memorization has also been shown to be very good mental exercise. If one is going to spend time exercising his mind, why not spend that time deriving spiritual benefit out of that exercise as well? Memorizing all 6200 verses of the Koran is a fairly common accomplishment among Muslims. Memorization schools, devoted to this task, are found throughout predominantly Muslim countries, and have sprung up in several places in the United States. While the Bible is much longer than the Koran, the New Testament is not much longer. If Muslims can devote themselves to such an extent to memorizing a most unholy book, can we not match or exceed such devotion in our own love for the Divinely-inspired word of God? [We will conclude this study next month as we consider “How to Memorize Scripture” – LM]. Memorizing Scripture Part 2 By Lee Moses How to Memorize Scripture Last month, we began to examine the subject of Memorizing Scripture by asking the question, “Why Memorize Scripture?” The reasons are numerous, convincing, and Biblical. It is our hope that reflecting upon those reasons has convinced some readers to be more diligent in memorizing passages of Scripture. And we want to help readers toward that end, as this month we discuss “How to Memorize Scripture.” Please understand the following is largely composed of suggestions, not Biblical imperatives. However, the suggestions are intended to get us to a goal which is certainly Biblical—to hide the word of God in our hearts (Psalm 119:11). Make a Plan Almost no one is going to memorize significant amounts of Scripture without some type of plan. We will likely retain a few verses that we hear repeated often enough in sermons, Bible classes, and bulletin articles, but that is about all. There are a few occasional geniuses with photographic memory (or “photogenic” or “photostatic” memory, as I have heard some brethren aptly put it). But for the rest of us, we are going to need a plan to memorize Scripture. A plan will set goals to achieve, and how one hopes to achieve those goals. Perhaps your goal in memorization is to memorize the New Testament. Then consider how many verses you can memorize in a day. You may decide you can memorize ten verses in a day, but you can only allot time for memorization 4 days out of the week. At this rate, you could memorize 2080 verses in one year, and the New Testament in less than four years. If you want to memorize the New Testament in a shorter amount of time, you will need either to add an extra day of memorization, or memorize more verses each day. Perhaps you realize that ten verses a day is too many—you can extend your timeframe as need demands. You need a plan that works for you. Anybody can memorize Scripture, but different people memorize at different rates. Memorize passages you want to memorize. This issue of the Fulton County Gospel News contains a plan that may be of help to you to memorize the New Testament—use the plan as it is, re-tailor it to suit your needs, or use a different plan. The reader is familiar with the saying, “Plan the work, and then work the plan.” Whatever you plan, do it, and adapt it as necessary. The exact makeup of your plan is not nearly as important as that you plan to memorize! Repetition Any successful memorization plan will require the three Rs—repetition, repetition, repetition. “Memory involves the making of an impression by a experience, the retention of some record of this impression and the re-entry of this record into consciousness (or behavior) as recall and recognition.”[1] As such, you will need to go over your memory work repeatedly. Continue to review it at increasing intervals. After you initially memorize a passage, plan to go over it again in a few hours. Go over it again the next day, then two days later, then a week later, then two weeks later, and so on. From that point, you will still need to review those passages periodically. Repetition spread out over a period of time is essential to memorization. Use Planned Time and Extra Time One needs to set aside specific time to memorize Scripture; otherwise, it will never happen. Memorizing more verses per day will obviously require more time, so set aside enough time to accomplish your goals. Set aside one time each day to memorize passages initially, and set aside one or more later times to review. Choose times (and places) in which distractions will be minimal—for most people, this includes late night and early morning. Plan to incorporate Scripture memorization into your personal and family devotionals. However, the necessity of setting aside specific times does not exclude “spur-of-the-moment” memorizing. You may have “down time” at your job which could be used for memorizing Scripture. You can mentally review memory work while driving, walking, or jogging. One must plan that he is going to use such free moments for memorizing Scripture. The psalmist said of the blessed man, “But his delight is in the law of the LORD; and in his law doth he meditate day and night” (Psalm 1:2). Emphasize Accuracy Be precise when memorizing—do not be satisfied with “pretty close” or “getting the gist of it.” Having other than a word-for-word memorization of a passage can affect your understanding of the passage. One might run through a passage a few times while settling for less than perfect, but if possible, do not end that particular session before you can quote the passage perfectly. If you find this too difficult, you may be attempting too large a passage at one time. As you take longer intervals between reviewing a passage, little mistakes may creep into your memory of that passage. When reviewing, clean out those mistakes. Evaluate and Assess At regular intervals, assess your progress. Have you been memorizing at the same pace that your plan calls for? Are you achieving your short-term objectives and long-term goals? If not, determine why not. Is the plan a little unrealistic, or have you simply not been doing what is necessary to keep up with the plan? On the other hand, you may have found you can do more than what your plan asks. Re-tool your plan and your efforts as the need requires. Topical Memorization or Sectional Memorization? Topical memorization refers to memorizing scattered verses that deal with particular topics. “Sectional memorization” refers to memorizing consecutive chunks of Scripture in whatever size section one might choose to memorize—book, chapter, or otherwise. Both types of memorization have their value. Topical memorization can provide a storehouse of verses at the ready when reflecting or speaking on those topics in the future. Also, if you do not find it easy to memorize large portions of Scripture, it will be more encouraging to you in the short run to memorize passages whose importance you readily perceive. However, in the long run, sectional memorization will yield singular benefits. When one memorizes topically, he tends to memorize verses with which he is already very familiar, and to which he has already attached a particular significance. But “All scripture is given by inspiration of God (literally, ‘God-breathed’), and is profitable…” (2 Timothy 3:16). God has given every word of Scripture for a reason. And it is when we are mining in less familiar areas that we tend to find the hidden gems. Also, when one memorizes an entire section, particularly an entire book of the Bible, he better grasps how it fits together. One is much less likely to take a verse out of context when he has memorized the context in which the verse is found. Flashcards For memorizing small bites of Scripture, index cards can be a valuable tool. Simply write the Scripture reference on one side of the card, and write the text of that passage on the other. Once you amass a good number of cards, you can test your knowledge of the passages both ways—recite the text from memory when you read the reference on one side, or locate the reference when you read the text on the other side. Many Bible programs provide a flashcard function for memory work.[2] Once you begin to memorize large passages, index cards will be impractical. However, they can be very helpful for topical memorization and in the early stages of sectional memorization. Use the Same Bible for Primary Scripture Memory You will generally want to use the same Bible for memorizing Scripture. This will require you to select one translation. Using the same translation facilitates memorization. One reason Christians of previous generations had more Scripture memorized is that they always heard the same passages quoted the same way. There are members of the church who will hear a passage one time from the KJV, another time from the NKJV, another from the NIV, and another from the New Living Bible (the last two are not actually translations, and do not belong in the Lord’s church at all—but hopefully you see my point). Again, consider the necessity of repetition to memorization—when the repetitions vary slightly, much less when they vary significantly, one is much less likely to retain all the different variations. As such, the plethora of translations in use today has hurt our memory of Scriptures. Comparing what other translations have to say can certainly be valuable. There will be times when we want to memorize passages in other translations as well, as we might find that another version more clearly expresses the thought of certain passages. But for the most part, you need to choose one version and stick with it. You want to make sure the Bible from which you choose to memorize is a translation—not a paraphrase. You want to memorize God’s word, not some man’s recap of what he thinks the Bible means. We believe that no Bible translation will be better for Scripture memory than the common King James Version (KJV). It is among the best in translational accuracy, and unequaled in literary excellence. Some people have noted that the formal English sticks in their minds more easily.[3] Additionally, the KJV has withstood the test of time. Think of the numerous Bible translations (in some cases, we use the term loosely) produced in the twentieth century—the American Standard Version (1901), the Confraternity Version (1941), the Revised Standard Version (1952), the New American Standard Bible (1967), the Living Bible (1971), the New International Version (1978), and the New King James Version (1982). This is only to name the most widely-used translations and paraphrases; and indeed they have all seen significant sales. Yet of these translations, none published before 1978 is still in widespread circulation or use. Yet almost 400 years after the KJV’s initial publication, and 241 years after the current KJV revision was released, it remains the most widely-used translation in the world. If a twenty-year-old Christian begins the process of memorizing from the KJV today, his memorized verses will likely remain from a widely-used translation when he is in his sixties, seventies, and beyond. Be aware that many Bibles professing to be KJV contain many modernizations. For example, some publishers change “an hill” to “a hill” (Matthew 5:14). Some change “throughly” (pronounced “THROO-lee”) to “thoroughly” (note the added o) (Psalm 51:2; 2 Timothy 3:17; et al.). While these changes are not earth-shattering, if you want to memorize the King James Version, you want to make sure it is not merely some publisher’s variation of the King James Version you are memorizing. Not only should you use the same translation for memorizing Scripture, but also use the same physical Bible. Part of memorizing Scripture is visual, and our eyes should “take a snapshot” of the verse on the page. As one writer describes it, “Burn each verse into your brain with your eyes.”[4] However, if one uses different Bibles at different times, it will confuse the picture that his mind has formed. I have several copies of the same New Testament, so when one wears out, I can still maintain the same picture. I also have a whole Bible and a separate Old Testament made by the same publisher with matching pagination. Such things can help continuity and maintaining the mental picture of passages we have memorized. Practice in Different Ways According to communication research, people retain 20 percent of what they hear and 30 percent of what they see. However, when different ways of perceiving knowledge are combined, people are far more likely to retain knowledge. People retain 50 percent of what they both hear and see. So one should use his different faculties when memorizing Scripture. Quote a passage silently, quote it aloud, quote it while checking in your Bible, quote it with an audio recording of the passage, write or type it out from memory, test your memory work by reciting it to a family member or friend while he checks it with the Bible—however you can incorporate the different faculties into memorizing, do it. And putting into practice what Scripture teaches not only allows you to live acceptably before God, it will help you to remember it. While people retain 50 percent of what they hear and see, they retain 80 percent of what they hear, see, and do. “I understand more than the ancients, because I keep thy precepts” (Psalm 119:100). Separate and Link Similar Passages There are many passages that are very similar. The Gospel accounts of Matthew, Mark, and Luke often conform very closely in wording. Ephesians and Colossians have similar subject matter and similar wording. Such similarities present difficulties in memory work, as one can have difficulty keeping them separate in his mind. So you will want to memorize those passages more separately. When you begin to memorize the New Testament, you will not want to begin by memorizing Matthew, Mark, and Luke in order—that is inviting confusion. Note how such books are separated in the plan provided in this issue. But even once you have memorized and reviewed them separately, you may find that the similarities between passages cause you to want to jump from one to the other. After a period of time you will want to link those passages. Review similar passages together, such as the temptation of Jesus in Matthew 4:1-11, Mark 1:12-13, and Luke 4:1-13. Make sure you have the ability to quote each passage individually without jumping into one of the others. Encourage Yourself Memorizing Scripture requires motivation. Remind yourself that memorizing Scripture is something you can do. Think of how many song lyrics you have stored up in your head—you have probably memorized the words to hundreds, or even thousands, of songs over the years. Each one of those songs probably contains about as many words as a half chapter of the Bible. There may be times when memorizing Scripture seems particularly difficult, but do not allow yourself to think you cannot do it. As you begin to memorize entire books of the Bible, you can encourage yourself by beginning with a book that means something to you and that is not too long. Attempting to begin by memorizing First Chronicles is not nearly as likely to be successful as beginning with Galatians or James. Some people have “memory partners,” which can be a great encouragement. Just as one trying to implement an exercise regimen will be more likely to succeed if he has a workout partner, one beginning a plan of memorizing Scripture will be aided by another like-minded individual with the same goals, prodding him on when “the going gets tough.” It may be your spouse, a friend, or anyone with the like desire to commit the word of God to memory. Always remind yourself of the reasons for memorizing Scripture. Memorizing Scripture is wonderful and valuable, and you need to keep that in mind. And make sure that it is valuable to you—as it can help you better understand Scripture, make sure you understand the Scriptures you are memorizing. As it can help you overcome temptation, be sure to call memorized passages to mind when confronted with temptation. Conclusion There are numerous tools one can incorporate to help him memorize Scripture, but different tools will help different people differently. The simple truth is that you should memorize Scripture, and that you can memorize Scripture. Doing so will prove immensely rewarding. It was said of Ezra, “For Ezra had prepared his heart to seek the law of the LORD, and to do it, and to teach in Israel statutes and judgments” (Ezra 7:10). How better to prepare one’s heart to seek, do, and teach the word of God than to embed the word of God in one’s heart and mind? However, memorizing Scripture should never be an end unto itself. It has been said, “It is possible to store the mind with a million facts and still be entirely uneducated.” This even pertains to the all-sufficient life-giving word of God. One might even say it especially pertains to the word of God, as the word of God demands application. “But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves” (James 1:22). As we prepare our hearts, let us be sure that we prepare ourselves to do what the word of God instructs. But let us prepare our hearts to become a people of the book by committing God’s word to memory. ________________________________________ [1] Ralph W. Gerard, “What is Memory?” Scientific American (September, 1953), p. 2. [2] One such program is e-Sword, available for free download at e-sword.net. [3] Lavonne Masters, Memorize and Meditate (Nashville: Thomas Nelson, 1991), p. 40. [4] Andrew M. Davis, “An Approach to Extended Memorization of Scripture” (n.p.: n.d.), pp. 8-9.
Posted on: Mon, 21 Jul 2014 08:46:29 +0000
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