Old Bibles & Lasting Spiritual Legacies
How a Worn-Out Bible Can Spark a Legacy of Belief
Old Bibles & Lasting Legacies
Imagine flipping through a 100-year-old Bible filled with notes, highlights, and scribbles that practically burst with history.
One afternoon, I stumbled upon just that—a worn-out, once-beloved Bible from the year 1911, discovered in a box of donated books at the local library where I work. Most discarded books simply can’t make it onto our shelves, but this one stood out like a treasure waiting to be unearthed. I had to examine this copy.
I’ve always loved peeking into old Bibles. There’s something captivating about seeing the faded maps, the older translations, and of course, the marginal notes left behind by someone’s earnest devotion.
As I flipped through this copy, I found pages upon pages of notes on the importance of salvation, the love found in Jesus, and the power found in the purpose of the Christian life. It was a legacy of a life lived with God’s word.
I couldn’t help but imagine all the prayers whispered over those pages, the studies conducted in era of two world wars, a journey filled story, and a legacy woven into each ink-stained margin.
It got me thinking: What kind of notes and prayers would someone find in my Bible? Truthfully, they’d probably need a hieroglyphologist or a special decoder to interpret my handwriting. That said, I hope they’d see evidence of a real faith journey—verses that spoke to me, highlighted phrases that sparked a heart change, marks connecting thoughts and prayers.
A few years back, I bought a Bible specifically designed with wide margins for note-taking. The goal being, anytime we have a family devotional time or bible study we use it as our copy to work from. So during family devotionals or studies, we use that Bible so my daughter can highlight a verse that stands out to her, and my wife can jot down her own insights.
My hope is that someday, this worn and scribbled-on Bible will be passed down through generations, bearing witness to answered prayers and seeds of faith that grew into mighty trees.
Because here’s the beautiful truth: Though the binding may crack and the ink may fade, God’s Word never grows old. Time can’t diminish its power. If anything, the handwritten notes and highlights become footprints of faith for others to follow.
Leaving a Lasting Legacy
All of us leave a legacy, whether we realize it or not. We pass down character traits, skills, attitudes, and yes, our faith. Proverbs 13:22 reminds us that “A good person leaves an inheritance for their children’s children,” and that inheritance isn’t just material—it can be deeply spiritual and impactful for eternity. Even if you don’t have kids, your influence and faith form a legacy others will inherit in some way.
Billy Graham said it well:
“The greatest legacy one can pass on to one’s children and grandchildren is not money or material things accumulated in one’s life, but rather a legacy of character and faith.”
A legacy is inevitable. What will your legacy be?
Who knows? Maybe one day, a library worker may flip through a copy of your old Bible and see a legacy worth living.
Three Ways I’m Trying to Leave a Legacy
Be Intentional with My Words
I want my everyday language—especially at home and with friends—to reflect encouragement, love, and truth. Whether it’s praising my daughter’s creativity, thanking my wife for her support, or even offering a kind word to a coworker, our words carry weight. Intentional words can leave behind a culture of honor that lasts longer than any physical gift.Embrace God’s Word
The Bible can handle your notes, your questions, and your prayers. Jotting down dates next to answered prayers or recording a lesson God taught you last week might seem small, but these little artifacts of faith become part of your spiritual testimony. Over time, they serve as reminders of how God showed up in your life.Pray with Purpose
All prayers matter, but purposeful prayer says, “God, I’m asking for breakthrough, peace, and real encounters with You.” It’s how we partner with Him for our family’s future. Just be real! It’s how we ask Him to show Himself real in our day-to-day moments
Scriptures: Proverbs 13:22 and Psalm 78:4-7
Prayer:
God, use my life in a way that honors You and leaves a lasting legacy. I want to be a person who is intentional, prayerful, and grounded in Your Word. Let my prayers plant seeds of faith that You will bring to fruition. Amen.
Adam, this is quite good. One of the problems with doing so much on laptops, phones, and digital media is that we lose the handwritten history and a lot of what we store as digital records become lost or unreadable after a few decades. I treasure and still go back to the old Bible notes and hymns I wrote in my own handwriting I left 50 years ago.
20+ years ago I found a website https://greatsite.com/ that sells antique Bibles. Some are a little old. Some are truly ancient. The older ones get a bit pricy. When we paid off our home, my husband gave me a 1600s Geneva Bible. It is precious, although I don't read it frequently because the old English is harder to read and the small print is problematic for me to read without reading glasses. It is still one of my most precious possessions.
They actually have a deal where they can make one of these old Bibles into a family Bible. They take an old Bible, that the cover is destroyed, add family tree, birth/marriage/death pages, and other notes and then rebind the Bible. I always thought that would be cool to do.
We have several other old Bibles: 2 were handed down from my husband's mom and grandma
and 2+ were found at estate sales. We love old Bibles.
I've finally gotten where I highlight text, but I probably should start writing down some of my insights into my Bible to hand down.