He’s Memorized 42 Books of the Bible and You Can, Too
There may be other Christians more committed to the discipline of Scripture memory than Pastor Andy Davis, but I’ve not met them.
But I do know Andy, and can tell you that he’s the real deal. Not only is he the most diligent memorizer of Scripture I’ve ever known, he’s also a genuinely godly man, a devoted husband (to Christine) and father (of five), a careful expositor of Scripture, and a faithful pastor. Since his graduation with a Ph,D. in church history from The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in 1998, he has been pastor of First Baptist Church of Durham, NC. Before that, Andy served as an SBC International Mission Board church planter in Japan.
In 2014, Baptist Press wrote a story about Andy, who at that time had memorized an astounding 35 books of the Bible. Since then he has added another seven.
A few days ago I interviewed Andy by phone in one of my seminary classes. I thought that the readers of this blog might profit from some of the highlights of that conversation.
Why you shouldn’t be intimidated
First of all, before you think Andy is blessed with a superpower memory and uses it to internalize Scripture to a degree you could not, realize that he does not permanently retain all he has memorized. He doesn’t have complete recollection of all 42 books ready on his lips. Exactly 100 days after he has memorized a book of the Bible word-perfectly, his retention of it begins to erode.
That’s because following his complete mental mastery of a book, he recites it each day for 100 days, then moves on to another book. Once he stops reviewing a book, his ability to recall every chapter and verse of it starts to fade.
Of course, he doesn’t forget everything. The months he invested saturating his mind with the book results in a lasting familiarity with the flow and message of the text. Sections of it remain indelibly impressed for immediate retrieval.
So while he retains less and less over time of the exact wording of the books he no longer reviews, his overall grasp of those books (and their grip on him) isn’t diminished. The lifetime benefits of books memorized years ago is unquestioned. Still, it’s encouraging to those of us who are tempted to think that Andy’s ability to memorize is superior to our own to know that, like everyone else, he also doesn’t remember what he doesn’t review.
Why you can memorize like this
Despite that concession, many believers would still be tempted to believe they couldn’t memorize entire books of the Bible. They imagine the little letter of Third John would be as impossible to memorize as the Gospel of John.
Andy says that’s not true. So what’s his secret? It’s simple: repetition over time.
In other words, you keep repeating a book, one verse at a time, over and over until you have it.
Here’s how
Let’s say you plan to memorize the book of Ephesians. On day one you read Ephesians 1:1 aloud ten times. Then you cover it and recite it ten times, adding the chapter number and verse number, saying “1:1.” That’s it for day one.
On day two you begin the principle of “yesterday’s verse first.” So you review verse one, saying it aloud ten times—looking at the verse as needed—and always saying the verse number. Then you go to verse two, reading it aloud ten times, then saying it from memory ten times, each time starting with “1:2.” You’re done for day two.
On day three you review yesterday’s verse first, reciting Ephesians 1:2 ten times, looking at your Bible as necessary. Then you begin the daily practice of reviewing all your verses, so you say Ephesians 1:1-2 aloud ten times, including the verse number for each verse. Now you learn your new verse, using the same method as before: saying verse three aloud ten times and quoting it ten times. That’s all for day three.
By day four you’ve learned the process and have momentum. As before, you review yesterday’s verse first, then all previous verses, and then learn your new verse.
Just repetition over time
There’s no magic here. Just repetition over time. Once you’ve learned the entire book, you stop learning new verses and repeat the entire book daily for one hundred days. Then you start a new book.
Andy says he never spends more than fifteen minutes a day working on Scripture memory. Even during his 100-day review of an entire book, he can recite most of them in fifteen minutes or less. For books that take more than fifteen minutes to say aloud, he sometimes recites only part of the book.
Want more?
Dr. Davis wrote a helpful booklet on An Approach to Extended Memorization of Scripture. In it he explains how he began memorizing Scripture, and provides more detailed instructions on the daily process of memorizing entire books.
A Kindle edition is available for 99 cents on Amazon, or you can download a PDF of it (in English, Japanese, or Spanish) for free here on the First Baptist Church website.
More teaching by Dr. Davis on Scripture memory, including a summary of the Bible’s teaching on memorizing Scripture, the benefits of doing so, why he believes it’s best to memorize entire books instead of isolated verses, and answers to the most common excuses for not memorizing Scripture is available here on the church’s website.
I’d also recommend his book, An Infinite Journey: Growing Toward Christlikeness.
Besides the Bible, it would be difficult to find any other single resource with more biblically sound, theologically rich, pastorally helpful, and practical insight about Christian growth than this book.
I’d recommend it to anyone on the “infinite journey” toward Christlikeness.
What about it?
James 1:25 says this about coming to God’s Word: “the one who looks into the perfect law, the law of liberty, and perseveres, being no hearer who forgets but a doer who acts, he will be blessed in his doing.” The one who memorizes Scripture is the one most determined not to be one “who forgets.” Which will you be?
Photo from Baptist Press
So I do this sport called Bible Quizzing which is intended to get kids literally memorizing the Bible, just like you’ve written in this article. I’ve done this for seven years, and am now nearly too old to quiz (quizzers must be under twenty). I’ve memorized over 4000 verses: all of Galatians, Philippians, 1st and 2nd Thessalonians, Timothy’s, and 2nd Peter, Titus, Philemon, James, all of Romans, 880 verses of Luke, and portions of the other three Gospels and Acts. Granted, this is only the New Testament, but so much spiritual maturity can be gained through this and comfort in time of need or testing. (I say this from personal experience.) Now, why am I messaging you (all)? Because I desire this ministry to grow, so that more people may join Bible Quizzing and have the Word in their minds and hearts. This sport is extremely competitive, and the Nationals event will be going on this week actually! If you would do an article on Bible Quizzing, more kids might be excited to memorize God’s word. (Competition + awesome people = motivation to study, even when you don’t feel like spending time working on memorizing.) It’s great that you wrote this article; here young people will have an ever increasing desire to memorize. Email me if you’d like information about how it works. Visit Biblequiznationals.com THIS Saturday if you want to watch the scores of the most competitive quizzes out there. I believe live streaming of the championship quizzes is also available there, which start at 7:00 pm (Missouri time zone.).
I had not heard about this Bible Quiz before. What a great sport to participate in! Thanks for commenting, and may God bless all those involved. I’ll have to check out the nationals online on Saturday.
I don’t nees or want a book. God by His Spirit has alloted me many Scriptures. For by the grace of God I am that I am. Not another book. By hardship and hurt. There is no other way.
Nice! I participated in this as well, but many years ago now. Like Andy I no longer can quote them like I used to but as the article states the content and flow of the scriptures overall are indelible. Being a part of that, especially in the world quiz league (which particularly emphasized memorization) was invaluable.
Noah, I was not familiar with this particular Bible quiz organization, but it sounds like it’s been a great blessing to you and to many others. If it has helped you memorize that much Scripture at your age, then it has much to commend it. I can’t imagine an older Christian not wishing they’d had that much Scripture internalized when they were your age. Well done, brother! That investment of your time will serve you well for as long as you live. Keep it up!
But is the Spirit providing the Understanding of what he’s saying? You read the scriptures thinking that in them you have Eternal Life, but it is they which testify of Me. I could have the entire bible memorized and still not Know Him.
Thanks for the comment, Stephen. What you say is true, but in Andy’s case, the Spirit does indeed provide the understanding. He is one of the godliest men I know. He memorizes Scripture (now working on his 45th book) because of His love for the Lord and His Word. And he doesn’t just memorize it, he lives it. Thanks again for writing.
Regularly being in God’s word and seeking his wisdom allows us to grow. It is through the Holy Spirit that we learn and grow. I believe the task and gift of memorizing scripture allows us to hide His word in our hearts. It is through our faithfulness that He will help us to understand the scriptures. I don’t enter into memorization thinking I have to know and understand it before I can memorize it. It all goes hand in hand.
I started memorizing the Book of James in December of 2017 being encouraged by my wife. It took me three weeks to memorize the entire book of James. I was so excited I decided to do the gospel of Mark. I had completed the gospel of Mark by June 2018. Since then I have also memorized Psalm 51, the Book of Jonah, the book of Ephesians, and now I am working on Romans. I do not memorize the verse numbers, only the text. I have found this so encouraging and helpful and also has given me a greater contextual understanding of each of the books, verses, and chapters. I also memorize with the intent of presenting the scriptures conversationally word for word to a person, a church, or Bible study group, or any small group. This helps me to really seek for understanding and expression so that I present the word in a way that honors God and honors the context. I use NKJV and EVA versions. I’m 57 years old, just an average guy. I don’t have a college degree. This is something I like to encourage as many people as I can to do. God has given us a great mind and to use it for his glory is such a wonderful thing. He will honor our efforts in storing up His word in our hearts. To God be the glory forever and ever amen.
David, what an encouraging testimony! May your tribe increase! Thank you so much for writing. May the Lord use your example to encourage many others.
Such an inspiring testimonial. TY!
In my last comment I meant to say ESV version, not EVA.
David, I’m 56 and have never memorized even a whole chapter in the Bible, but i plan to change that in 2022. I am probably going to start with James. Thanks for sharing your story