Since I think it is not worth it to memorize an entire English Bible translation since the English parses concepts and uses words differently than Hebrew, Aramaic, and Greek, I’ve decided to first learn the original languages, then to memorize the Bible in the originals.
This is what some Muslims do with the Qur’an—though those I have asked about it didn’t actually learn the meanings of the ancient Arabic they memorized. Learning the meaning actually makes it EASIER to memorize something. The Qur’an has a length somewhere between the New Testament and the Tanakh, so I’m sure if Muslims can do it in 2 years, 6-7 hours a day in a classroom with an instructor, surrounded by fellow Muslims with the same goal, how much more so Christians if Christianity is indeed true, our God real and powerful, and His teachings/Word most relevant?
Deuteronomy 32:1-43 is the only part of the Bible God explicitly tells His people to memorize, so that seems like the best place to start.
Since there are multiple different Bible manuscripts, I have chosen the ones traditionally accepted by Orthodox Judaism and Eastern Orthodox Christianity respectively, mainly for simplicity, stability, and to minimize needless controversy.
Also, the advice to kings of making their own handwritten copy of the whole law of God (in the original languages) sounds like good advice for Bible memorization as well.
Whether or not I start a class for this purpose like the Muslims (know anyone interested in attending/sending their kids to it?), I figure a good way to test my memorization is to write out the entire Bible from memory, then compare it to the manuscript I memorized it from.
I’m the only one I know ANYWHERE seriously trying to do this, with my primary purpose being to obey all God’s commands, so anyone else wishing to do this, please let’s be in touch for mutual help and encouragement!
