Bible Journaling, Quick Historical Summary
- 7 days ago
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Bible Journaling, Quick Historical Summary
Bible journaling (also called Bible art journaling or illustrated faith) is the modern practice of creatively responding to Scripture in a Bible—through notes, drawings, art, prayers, highlights, or decorations—often in wide-margin or journaling Bibles. scrapbook.com
Quick Historical Summary
Ancient & Medieval Roots (Illuminated Manuscripts): Hand-copied Bibles in monasteries (pre-printing press) often included colourful illustrations called "illuminations." These weren't just decorative; they helped explain the text to largely illiterate people, as Bibles were mostly in Latin and restricted to the clergy. Famous example: the Book of Kells (~800 AD), with intricate Gospel illustrations.
Post-Printing Press (1400s–1700s): Gutenberg Bibles (mid-1400s) had wide margins for hand-added decorations (titles, letters, gold leaf) by artisans. This was expensive and a status symbol. "Extra-illustrating" (adding images, sometimes by disassembling books) emerged, including during the Reformation for hiding Catholic imagery in Protestant Bibles.
18th–19th Centuries (Grangerising & Family Bibles): The term "Grangerising" came from James Granger's books with blank pages for added illustrations (popular 1700s). Bibles were turned into massive illustrated sets (e.g., the Kitto Bible with 30,000+ images). Families used "Family Bibles" as vital record books for births, deaths, marriages, photos, clippings, and keepsakes—essentially early scrapbooks.
19th–20th Centuries (Marginalia): As personal Bibles became common and affordable, owners added notes, underlines, and commentary in the margins (marginalia). This was widespread for personal study and reflection.
Late 20th Century: Wide-margin "devotional" or study Bibles appeared (1980s–90s) with extra space for notes, prompts, and doodling to support interactive Bible study.
Modern Boom (2010s–Present): Popularised around 2014 by artist Shanna Noel via her Illustrated Faith blog, blending art journaling with Scripture. Colourful, creative Bible art exploded in popularity, with dedicated journaling Bibles becoming widely available. It emphasises personal engagement, creativity, and deeper meditation on the Word.
Bible Journaling.
In short, while the artistic, creative style feels new, writing, illustrating, and personalising Bibles have deep historical roots in accessibility, devotion, record-keeping, and artistic expression. Today, it’s a popular way to make Scripture more personal and memorable.
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