Many Christians believe that it is the contents of the Bible that makes it sacred, not the paper and ink, and therefore the Bible can be disposed of like any other book. I recently inherited a family Bible that is over 150 years old. I have a Bible that has missing pages in the NT, pg 115-242, John-2 John. I want to dispose them but don’t know how. Reply. Because of its holy status, many observant Christians (and even non-believers) are hesitant to dispose of it in the same way they might dispose of everyday waste. No reason He can’t do it here too! References This option is a good choice when the Bible has sentimental significance but is either too costly or too difficult to repair. Donate it. This depends on your faith and what believers feel about the Bible. Whereas, other families or believers consider it is blasphemous to write anything in the Bible other than highlighting important verses or words. We tried it, and it worked so well for us that we’re going to do it every year. Your children can gain a deeper appreciation for the Bible by holding one of the earliest English printings in their hands. As you read this, there are countless people all over the world who are praying for a bible of their own, because prayer is the only way they’ll ever get one. I have decided to keep it around until, "I have a Bible that is disintegrating and wanted to know as a Christian how to dispose of it with respect. We are always careful to preserve any personal notes, even on the pastedown end pages. They are chock full of written births, deaths, marriages, etc. Here’s an overview of what we did, the benefits we got from it, and how you can do it too. wikiHow is a “wiki,” similar to Wikipedia, which means that many of our articles are co-written by multiple authors. That is simply a consequence of the fact that so many Bibles were printed as well as the fact that many were treated as important family heirlooms and have therefore survived the ravages of time. Related post: Why You Should Read the Bible Every Day. Yes we are! Keep old family Bibles out of direct sunlight, which can cause paper and bindings to yellow and fade, becoming brittle in time. Did your mother show intentions to have it buried with her? That person can keep his bible. The concept of family was introduced in the very beginning, as we see in Genesis 1:28, "God blessed them and said to them, ‘Be fruitful and increase in number; fill the earth and subdue it. If none of these options sound appropriate, ask a member of the clergy for advice. wikiHow is where trusted research and expert knowledge come together. This article has been viewed 213,278 times. Do not cast me off in the time of old age; forsake me not when my strength is spent. I live in Nigeria and I have about torn apart Bible and other Christian literature. By using our site, you agree to our. Therefore, I support the, "The Bible is sacred to me l believe in the word of God .I found the part about keeping the bible in its own, "I lived in my house 34 years and am moving to a much smaller place. Is there any way they can be used? I feel the family should have been asked first. The Bible does record, for example, that “Lamech took two wives” (Genesis 4:19). One was my grandmother’s who wrote in it a lot. What is the nearest drop off center to me I live in Lexington KY? Some years ago, I inherited 3 old family bibles. We look at every book that comes through, so if it’s usable, we’ll send it on. A four-century-old English Family Bible makes the ideal family heirloom. We use cookies to make wikiHow great. Isn’t placing this much importance on the physical copy of a Bible worshiping it as an idol? Below are just a few ideas for who you may want to donate your Bible to: Churches, who may in turn donate the book to the needy. What could be more respectful of the word of God than to share it with someone who desperately needs it? Reply. The Bible is the most sacred book in Christianity. Please email me. Most importantly, if you would like to receive inventory updates, and special SALE offers including discounts and bonus gifts available only to our Email Newsletter subscribers, you should sign up to receive our Email Newsletter today. On the one hand, as Christians, we respect the word of God in its printed form and we treat our bibles lovingly for what they contain. Bible reading is one aspect of spiritual intimacy that can have an amazing impact on a couple’s sense of togetherness. Early Bibles in … But even if it is—even if pages are falling out and half of Revelation is missing—it is still more of the word of God than most people in the world will ever hold in their hands. But it’s a good question. Yay! Because nothing else rivals its ability to define life and add the crowning embellishments to a new relationship with God, at CYF our Bibles have been carefully selected to complement your life no matter where you are. Some are missing genealogy pages. We do not, but we send lots of bibles with random, imprinted names to the mission field! These have gorgeous, elaborate and ornate original leather covers and spines. When we don’t feel prepared for family Bible time, we read the Bible anyway. This article has been viewed 213,278 times. I have a couple of questions. ", same procedure as the American Legion uses to retire the U.S. flag when it is no longer serviceable. Approved. "It is like disposing of a letter from a lost loved one. I have a couple of older “family “ bibles. It seems like an event that should have some assigned rule or ritual—like disposing of a tattered flag—but it doesn’t. We are THE SOURCE for ancient Bibles. Some of the most stunning Bibles we receive are old Bibles and decorative antique Family Bibles. If so, what address to I send it to? In this case, you may want to create a special vessel for the Bible to separate it from the rest of the trash by placing it in its own bag or box. Churches, who may in turn donate the book to the needy. I would like to make a donation. In 1995 I was given a cassette tape collection of the OT and NT. Because they were designed to withstand the abuse of generations, they were a natural place to keep important documents and record genealogical data like births, deaths and marriages. I'd say the following are the best options, in order of attractiveness: Sell the books as antiques, either to a genealogical society, antique dealer or collector Donate the books to a museum or genealogical society, after having had them appraised, then (if possible) write the donation off come tax season They may have done it because they wanted them to take it and not because of you. For example, a search for New Jersey Bible records brings up these 33 hits. When she heard it, she broke down and wept and wept and then gave her life to JESUS and was a brand new soul and mother. But we’ve practiced daily Bible reading, whether we are able to do it creatively or not. I don't have the heart to re-cycle or bury. Or until you inherit a small library and find an old family bible on a shelf. This rot is due to various causes, but the most common cause is poor tannage. If you have a pre-paid funeral plan, make sure the funeral director knows of your wishes to have the Bible buried or cremated with you. To show your respect, you may want to recite a prayer (or prayers) that hold(s) special meaning for you as you dispose of your Bible, though this is by no means required. molaplume says: Adoption Why would one need to dispose of a Bible? However, for many, "throwing out" the Bible in the same way as they might throw out ordinary paper trash can feel wrong, regardless of the intent of the act. The owner continuously adds records transcribed from old Family Bibles. Thank you for stopping by, glad you enjoyed it. When God created humans, he designed us to live in families. We have all the resources you need to run a bible drive with your local church or ministry! You could pass it along to a family member, or donate it to a local church or museum. ", wanted to dispose the Bibles in a respectable way. I have an old bible of my aunt’s. I would be happy to donate them. The Bible reveals that family relationships are important to God. Pastors and ministry leaders get this question a lot, “What is the proper/correct way to dispose of an old bible?”. If it still bothers you to donate a torn up bible, we invite you to buy a few new ones and send them with your old one. We have two locations. No one has claimed knowing the owners, therefore, we, "To be given four choices for studying my Bible was very useful. There are some common circumstances, questions, and objections that arise when we talk about donating old, worn bibles. Our friends from the missions fields and pastors from many different churches were written me and asking me to help them as usual. respectfully burning is almost like returning God's word in the air, hoping it reaches the senses of someone who needs to hear as well as smell the smoke. You may not be able to change the policy, but you can discuss it with the diocese. For details on what we can and cannot use, see our Needed Materials page – https://lovepackages.org/needed-materials/. ANCESTORS AT REST. Store Bibles for safekeeping by slipping the books into a resealable plastic bag and adding 2 to 3 small pouches of dessicant (silica gel), which absorbs moisture. Not only will it be beautiful again, but it will be sturdy and usable. This allows someone else to experience the word of God who may otherwise not have had the opportunity. With your prayerfully support, we have been able to help Pastors and missionaries with bibles and other books and the works of evangelism were expanded and the glorious message of Gods saving power had reached many regions of this part of the world, but still there are millions souls around us who have never heard the gospel of Jesus Christ and His saving power. At Craft Bookbinding, we can make your old Family Bible look like you have kept it in good condition over the years. Join Our Free Penpals and Take The Bible History Quiz ---bethie on 9/11/06 Thank you. Whether you are struggling through morning chores together, trying to cook dinner, struggling with discipline, or dealing with a difficult family member, the Bible offers encouragement and inspiration for how we should respond and treat our family. On the pages between the Old and New Testaments, old Bibles often contain hand written records or births and deaths. Libraries, who may offer the book for checking out or sell it in a fundraiser. If the Bible contains information on several generations of a family, it may be useful for genealogical research or valuable to the family mentioned in its genealogical pages. We’ve seen God do amazing things to get material into the right hands. The Gideons (Gideons International), who are a Christian group dedicated to distributing the Bible worldwide free of charge. See more ideas about oldest bible, crafts, book crafts. Many find the most strength in God and in their families, and bible verses about family help serve as a reminder of that strength. Send it to us. Not that we’re aware of. I appreciated the advice you gave to do this. Would you accept it? Still want it? wikiHow is a “wiki,” similar to Wikipedia, which means that many of our articles are co-written by multiple authors. gov/nara/ nail.html and the Library of Congress catalogs catalog.loc.gov for family Bibles. Steve and Rebecca Wilke, and we wrote, “After decades of working with couples, we can confidently report to you that marital satisfaction is directly linked to spiritual intimacy, both with the Lord and with each other. The Holy Bible is a very sacred book to millions of people and they may be offended by any method you choose to dispose of it. We have a Bible from the family of an acquaintance. Check its catalog online at www.familysearch.org. Another similar Bible-distributing charity. Last Updated: September 10, 2020 With notable exceptions, most Bibles printed after 1800 in America and after 1700 in Europe are actually not worth very much money. Hi, I am just wondering what people do with old Bibles. Was this wrong, I wanted it more than anything. Why I chose to do this was simple. Unfortunately, we don’t have much use for tapes of any kind anymore. My family buried my Daddy's Bible with my Mother because they did not want me to have it. Can they keep it? The word of God is more powerful than any voodoo. Truly old Bibles in Latin and German start around $750. How can I get rid of a Bible that smells like cigarette smoke? For centuries, some families have written family trees, family names and signatures in Bibles. Please help us continue to provide you with our trusted how-to guides and videos for free by whitelisting wikiHow on your ad blocker. Countless Christians cannot afford to purchase a new Bible, so a donated Bible is a valuable gift. So that is how I will be getting rid it . Jacquelyn Sapiie, Library Services Supervisor at the, All tip submissions are carefully reviewed before being published. Are you still accepting old worn out falling apart bibles? Question: "What does the Bible say about family?" We begin by treating the old dry (even powdery) leather with our own formula leather preserver that we have used for over thirty years. Some Christians like to offer old Bibles free of charge at their own yard sales. But it’s a good question. The problem is, as you can well imagine, the books are deteriorating. 17 thoughts on “ How Do You Dispose of Old Family Bibles? Before you throw away an old Bible, prayerfully consider giving it to someone or donating it to a local church or ministry. This article was very helpful. Martin has returned from distributing Bibles to pastors who in turn gave to their evangelism pastors, who then went to bless hospitals, prisons, and schools. Some people feel that a Bible should be discarded with the same honor as the national flag. We cleared out her apartment on her death but we have no connection to them at all. Generally, Christian churches have little in the way of actual rules when it comes to disposing of a Bible - the most major concerns are that the book is treated with respect and, if possible, used to serve God's greater good. % of people told us that this article helped them. -- some dating to 1779. My name is on the outside. Thank you!!!! I’m staying in FL right now. Many people recorded significant family events, like births, marriages, and deaths in their family Bible, and you may want to preserve this information, if it is in yours. ", "It helped me to know what I can dispose of from a Bible.". Now I'm not limited to one choice, and perhaps will, "The article caused me to reflect on how precious this Bible truly is to me. Gathering with family members in quiet reflection, Enlisting the help of a priest to bless the Bible, Marking the buried Bible's location with a small marker. I need your address as I live in Pennsylvania. Answer: The concept of family is extremely important in the Bible, both in a physical sense and in a theological sense. W e welcome your requests for any Bibles that are more than 200 years old, so let us know if you don’t see what you want. ” Mario n says: October 30, 2017 at 8:09 am. {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/a\/a8\/Dispose-of-a-Bible-Step-1-Version-3.jpg\/v4-460px-Dispose-of-a-Bible-Step-1-Version-3.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/a\/a8\/Dispose-of-a-Bible-Step-1-Version-3.jpg\/aid1961864-v4-728px-Dispose-of-a-Bible-Step-1-Version-3.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":345,"bigWidth":"728","bigHeight":"546","licensing":"