It’s Only Impossible Until It’s Done

Last updated on: July 26, 2018 at 9:34 am by Dillon Burroughs

It’s Only Impossible Until It’s Done 2018-07-26T09:34:09-04:00 Dillon Burroughs

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

This is what it looks like to have two handwritten Bibles on my bookshelf. It isn’t ornately decorated or leather bound, but it’s done.

The work represents nearly eight years of regularly writing out Scripture. From Genesis 1 to Revelation 22, every word of each verse is recorded.

When I began, my goal was to finish the New Testament within a year. The idea of one chapter per weekday to complete the New Testament’s 260 chapters felt like a difficult, yet possible goal. Once finished, I felt led to continue with the Old Testament to make the Bible complete.

The task felt impossible–until it was done. I had only found a handful of people who had completed an entire handwritten Bible in modern times. Among them, I was certainly the youngest to attempt the feat. There were many times I wondered, “What am I thinking?”

In my research, I later discovered an entire movement of people who hand write the Bible in South Korea. One woman has completed the entire Bible 12 times. If my Google translation of the movement’s website is correct, it looks like the Korean Bible handwriting movement now has a person who has completed the Bible 15 times! Many others have written it three, five, or even nine times.

I’m now on my third time through the New Testament. To be honest, it’s slow. I started in April and began with some of the shorter books to build some momentum. I’ve completed 52 chapters as of today. That leaves 208 chapters remaining in the New Testament–not counting the Old Testament.

Many days it seems impossible. When it does, all I have to do is look at my bookshelf. When I see what God has already done, it encourages me to continue moving forward.

The same is true in many areas of life. I don’t always feel like doing the next thing, whether housework or a major work project. But when I see what God has already done, I am reminded the impossible is possible. It’s only impossible without God. With God, all things are possible.

+++

Dillon Burroughs is the author and coauthor of numerous books. He blogs about his experiences of handwriting the Bible at the Holy Writ Project on Patheos.com. Find out more about Dillon at Facebook or Twitter.

handwrite the entire bible

handwritten bible

Handwritten copies of the Bible

transcribe the bible

impossible

motivation

Previous Post

April 24, 2018

A Handwritten Bible in Progress: The Work of Sharon Pasquarette

Browse Our Archives

Select a Category handwrite the entire bible handwritten bible Handwritten copies of the Bible transcribe the bible

Select a Month July 2018 April 2018 February 2018 January 2018 December 2017 September 2013 August 2013 July 2013 June 2013 May 2013 April 2013 March 2013 February 2013 January 2013 December 2012 November 2012 October 2012 September 2012 August 2012 July 2012 June 2012 May 2012 April 2012 March 2012 February 2012 January 2012 December 2011 November 2011 October 2011 September 2011 August 2011 July 2011 June 2011 May 2011 April 2011 March 2011 February 2011 January 2011

TAKE THE

Religious Wisdom Quiz

Which book records the walls of Jerusalem being rebuilt?

Select your answer to see how you score.

Haggai Ezra Nehemiah Malachi