Book Inscription Ideas for a Child's Bible

If you give a Bible to a child as a gift, personalising it makes the gift even better. It doesn't matter whether or not the occasion is religious; you could give a Bible for any event, from first Holy Communion to graduation. Some children are somewhat familiar with the Bible, but they may not know where to begin when they start reading it. Your inscription can give them a starting point and set the tone for the beginning of their journey with God.

Many popular Bible inscriptions are from the New Testament. Jesus and Paul share a lot of timeless wisdom, and much of it applies to children. For example, 1 Timothy 4:12 speaks directly to young people and charges them to be a good example to everyone around them. Romans 12:2 discourages growing up and becoming like the world, and it encourages readers to be transformed as they follow God. Jesus honours children specifically on several occasions. In Matthew 19:14, He invites children to come to Him, and in Mark 9:37, He compares welcoming a child to welcoming Him.

The Old Testament offers variety, from history to law to poetry, and some of it makes a suitable Bible inscription for a child. Psalms and Proverbs are full of prime material for inscriptions. Some wisdom from those books is in Psalm 1:1-3 and Proverbs 3:5-6, both of which tell how important it is to trust God through all of life. The prophet Isaiah also wrote much that can be encouraging to a child, such as verse 40:31, which says that people who follow God will never grow weary.

A famous quote often makes a fitting inscription. Preachers such as Charles Spurgeon and Dwight L. Moody or missionaries such as Hudson Taylor and Jim Elliot wrote very inspiring words about living life for God. Elliot's quotes include, "He is no fool who gives what he cannot keep to gain what he cannot lose," and Moody's quotes include, "God never made a promise that was too good to be true." The words of these and other famous people can bring the word of God to life in a dramatic way.

Writing your own personal inscription may speak to the child more powerfully than someone else's words. When the words come from your heart, they will mean a lot and can follow a child through her whole life. A personal inscription is an encouragement and a memory that may never be forgotten.