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The Bible is the most sacred book in Christianity. 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. 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.
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Donate it. If the Bible is in reasonable condition, consider donating it to a person or to a charity that will use it. This allows someone else to experience the word of God who may otherwise not have had the opportunity. 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.
- Libraries, who may offer the book for checking out or sell it in a fundraiser.
- Thrift stores, who can offer the book for relatively cheap to someone who may need it.
- Christian homeless shelters, many of which offer prayer groups and bible study classes.
- The Gideons (Gideons International), who are a Christian group dedicated to distributing the Bible worldwide free of charge. [1] X Research source
- Another similar Bible-distributing charity. For example, some charities will send Bibles to countries where people are persecuted for reading the Bible.
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Have the Bible restored. Just because a Bible is old and worn doesn't necessarily mean it has to stay in that condition. Professional book repair and restoration services offer the ability to bring most old or damaged books back to a high level of quality (for a fee). Some of these services even allow you to ship your books to the restorers for repair. [2] X Research source- These types of services are a great choice for when your Bible carries some sort of sentimental significance. However, because restoration fees can be somewhat pricey, they may not make sense for ordinary Bibles.
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Save the Bible. Alternatively, you may want to keep the Bible, storing it safely so that its condition deteriorates no further. Though the Bible will no longer be practical for everyday use, it may be able to serve as a family heirloom for you to pass down to your children.- This option is a good choice when the Bible has sentimental significance but is either too costly or too difficult to repair.
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Show respect to the Bible. The Bible itself doesn't contain any special instructions for its own disposal. Though the word of God is considered by Christians to be holy and eternal [3] X Research source Matthew 24:35 , the physical document that contains the word is acknowledged as being neither. Still, with its millennia-long history, its billions of devotees, and its rich spiritual tradition, it's important to show the Bible the respect it is due, even if you're not Christian. Virtually any reasonable method of Bible disposal is appropriate as long as it's done with virtuous intentions and with careful respect.- 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.
- Never destroy a Bible with a method that is deliberately irreverent. Though it's not inherently sinful to treat an object of paper and ink with disrespect, it is sinful to deliberately denigrate God.
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Bury the Bible. One way to dispose of an old Bible is to return it to the Earth with a respectful burial. The burial may be as "involved" as you'd like (within reason), though a humble burial is just as valid as one with more pomp and circumstance. Below are just a few ideas you may want to consider for your burial:- Gathering with family members in quiet reflection
- Saying a prayer as the Bible is buried
- Enlisting the help of a priest to bless the Bible
- Marking the buried Bible's location with a small marker
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Cremate the Bible. Another way to dispose of a Bible is to respectfully cremate it (similar to how many national flags are retired ). Though some who wish to disrespect or desecrate God's word do so by burning it, there is nothing inherently wrong with burning the physical Bible so long as proper solemnity and respect are observed. Generally, burning a Bible means building a bonfire or pyre large enough to completely burn the book up, then carefully placing the Bible in the fire and reverently watching as the Bible is burnt.- As above, while cremating your Bible, you may want to consider saying a prayer, reflecting in silence, and so on.
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Recycle the Bible. Finally, since the Bible is made out of paper, you may want to dispose of it by recycling it. This is an especially good choice if you're interested in serving God by preserving the natural beauty of his Earth, as recycling reduces the need to cut down trees for new paper.- 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. 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.
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In special cases, defer to the advice of your personal priest or reverend. Though most Christian churches will accept nearly all methods of Bible disposal so long as they are performed with good intentions and proper respect, some select Christian churches may hold that it is sinful to destroy the physical vessel of God's word regardless of how or why it is done. If you subscribe to the beliefs of this type of church, you will probably want to consult with a member of your clergy to ensure that you dispose of the Bible according to your church's unique rules.- In this case, follow the advice in the rest of this article only after receiving confirmation from a qualified member of your church.
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Leave specific instructions in your will as to the disposal of your Bible. Make sure your family knows where these instructions are located.- 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.
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Be sure to designate where the dedicated Bible is generally located in your home. This is especially important if you have more than one Bible. -
Have the deceased hold the Bible in the casket for viewing. -
Have the Bible buried with you (or cremated) at the funeral.
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Community Q&A
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QuestionWhat can I do if I have burnt a Bible disrespectfully during a time when I was anti-Christian? Will God forgive me?Community AnswerThe Lord is faithful and just to forgive you. Repent, and if you truly mean what you say in your repentance prayer, He will forgive you.
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QuestionWhy would one need to dispose of a Bible?Community AnswerIf the Bible is falling apart or damaged in a way that you can't read it.
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QuestionWe have a Bible from the family of an acquaintance. We cleared out her apartment on her death but we have no connection to them at all. What should we do?Community AnswerYou could give it to their family if they want it, or you could donate it to a local church.
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Tips
- 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.Thanks
- Before disposing of your Bible, take a moment to thumb through it, checking for notes or family history. 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.Thanks
- Some people feel that a Bible should be discarded with the same honor as the national flag.Thanks
Tips from our Readers
The advice in this section is based on the lived experiences of wikiHow readers like you. If you have a helpful tip you’d like to share on wikiHow, please submit it in the field below.
- Donate a Bible to the county jail. Books can be scarce for inmates, and some of the most sought-after books are religious texts.
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Warnings
- Remember to not start worshiping the Bible, God is the one you should be focusing on (if you are a Christian that is).Thanks
- 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.Thanks
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Things You'll Need
- Firewood, if burning
- Casket, box, or clean cloth if burying
- Bible to be retired
References
About This Article
Article Summary
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If you need to dispose of a Bible, consider donating it to a person or a charity who could use it, like a church or a Christian homeless shelter. If you prefer to permanently dispose of the book, do so respectfully, such as with a thoughtful burial or cremation, or have the book recycled. If none of these options sound appropriate, ask a member of the clergy for advice. If you’re getting rid of the Bible just because it’s worn out, consider having it restored through a professional book repair service, or just put it away to be passed down as a family heirloom. If you want to learn how to show respect the Bible while you're getting rid of it, keep reading!
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Reader Success Stories
- "It is like disposing of a letter from a lost loved one. I don't have the heart to re-cycle or bury. I think 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." ..." more
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"It is like disposing of a letter from a lost loved one. I don't have the heart to re-cycle or bury. I think 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."
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"The Bible and the American flag support faith in God, love of God, country and freedom. Therefore, I support the same procedure as the American Legion uses to retire the U.S. flag when it is no longer serviceable. Consumed by fire with proper respect."
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"The Bible is sacred to me l believe in the word of God .I found the part about keeping the bible in its own separate space either wrapped up or in its own box very comforting. So that is how I will be getting rid it . I will bury it in its own box."
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"Great and very helpful info, thanks! Would like to have "shared" it with a few folks but could not find how to do that on this webpage. Usually such a feature is at the top of the page, if you are thinking about adding it, thanks again!"
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"I lived in my house 34 years and am moving to a much smaller place. I found 3 Bibles in a drawer and was stressed about how to respectfully discard of them. This article was very helpful. I chose to burn them while saying a prayer."
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