How important is memorizing Scripture?

[Hunterpoet]

I think understanding and application are more important than memorizing.

i have met people who have looked down upon me and others who couldn't or wouldn't memorize.

I'd much rather understand and do what is taught.

[vicki-aka-bebe]

well i think it is very important to read the bible and i think nothing u read in there goes void... if you pray and asked the Holy Spirit to guide and help you.. memorising scriptures is great but i think God writes them on our hearts as well and will bring them back to remebrance when need be .. most of the time... but i do understand memory problems.. and i do believe you can read the bible and learn from it with out an education ect.... my brother quit school early on and learned to read alittle bit but when it comes to the bible he can read it fine... that is God...

God bless sister vicki

[Fraught]

Have you ever notice how unfamiliar people are with the Scripture? I have asked the question, what Scripture has the Lord shown you recently? I get blank stares...if they mention the rough context of some verse they carelessly quote, they can't tell me where it is.

i'm doing better at memorizing scripture as yes, i believe it's important. even more important, imo, is reading the scripture and thereby getting to know God. in this way we may learn to discern both good and evil.

[Ddavid from NC]

If you are genuinely studying Scripture in a discipline way, have you ever noticed how that concentrated study commits it to memory. Studying for a Sunday school lesson or a sermon, you have been concentrating and meditating all week on a particular passage. By the end of the week you know backwards and forward. Better than knowing the words and sentence structure you know the context and parallel passages.

[Physicsfreak]

A missionary worker that brings bibles from the Netherlands to China (which is forbidden officialy) told a story a couple of weeks ago, after he returned from a half year during trip.

He told us that a mid-level security prison found out that 777 bible text were found on the wall of a chinese prison were christians were held because, well because they were christian.

Those 3 prisoners started writing texts on the wall that they did remember, because they hadn't a book to read it from, they didn't got any postcards, or the possibility to surf on the internet.

The writings on the wall helped the captured christian to keep on praying, praising and passionatly loving God.

Maybe that is why it's so important, because you never know how long you will be able to use the facilities (books, internet) that you have right now. Atleast, that was the lesson for me.

[patricia1]

I enjoy seeing this question up here posted.

I had always a comprehension problem from very early trauma. Then I had a massive brain injury. This made things very difficult for me to remember.

When I was first born again I had no idea it was important to know where the scripture was written and I would read the word as if it had no chapter or verse.

My pastor would work with me in memorizing scripture. The first one was John 3:16. I knew in my heart and lived it but if anyone asked me what 3:16 said I wouldn't know but I knew the scripture.

Faith comes by hearing the word, hearing the word of God so I would practice saying things out loud while each time driving the verse deeper and deeper into my heart and renewing my mind.

Jesus has never left be speechless when it came to His word or witnessing. He loves me enough to save me the embarrasment. But those who know me here will see me using parables as well as analogies to the word needing to be expressed.

Myself, I cannot go further until I know that scripture I have practiced and lived.

Although the unsaved can memorize scripture and Lucifer knows it well also. Just memorizing scripture is not enough...

Yet I know plenty of christians tortured and mentally stayed alive on only one scripture they can remember. Under such strains it gives me great awareness of brainwashing and what it can do.

People can be booksmart and it does them no good cos they cannot apply it in Life. patricia1

[stan4257]

A missionary worker that brings bibles from the Netherlands to China (which is forbidden officialy) told a story a couple of weeks ago, after he returned from a half year during trip.

The missionary worker you were listening to two weeks ago was probably talking about bibles distributed in China to those who are not part of the official church there. I am not sure, because I do know that millions of bibles are printed in China every year and distributed through the official churches there.

"Between 1979 and 1986, the Chinese Government allowed the Bible to be circulated among Christians on the mainland and designated factories for printing. A total of 5 million copies were sold during these six years.

In 1985, the government ratified a foundation to print the Bible, with funds, paper and technology provided by Bible Societies in the United States, Japan, Hong Kong and European and other Asian countries. Contracts were signed and at least 700,000 copies of the Bible in Chinese were printed every year in designated printing houses.

In the years since 1987, around 20 million copies of the Bible in Chinese and some ethnic minority languages have been printed on China

[Guest Biblicist]

Memorizing scripture is not the same as "hiding God's word in your heart".

[patricia1]

esther...I use to cry about it also and frustrated as well because I did not want to look or sound or appear 'dumb'. I grieved the person I once knew. I had to and accept who I am today and get rid of that pride as well.....not easy.. It is so wonderful when you are like.."Where did that come from" and you know that you know it is God!!! Praise the Lord!!! It took me a whole year of my pastor pointing His finger my way and saying "quick, John 3:16 says..." and then He would point the finger...it could be anytime any where. I Thank God for that man every day!! patricia1

[Guest yod]

It was easier to memorize verses verbatim when I only read one version of the Bible...but now I check verses in a few different versions to see if there are variances of interpretation and can't quote verbatim as much...but I know what it says much better...and that is more important.