Best Pens and Pencils for Bible Study

ByPam

Have you ever found yourself hesitating with pen in hand, unsure whether to write in your  journal or Bible for fear of smudging, bleeding ink, or simply “messing it up”? You’re not alone. I used to feel that way, too—until I discovered that the right writing tools can turn Bible notes into treasured reflections rather than regrets.

A dear friend once shared a heartfelt story with me. After her father passed, her mother lovingly handed her his Bible. He had read it faithfully for years but never written in it. While the gift was deeply meaningful, she longed to see his thoughts tucked into the margins.  Those little moments of insight, conviction, or prayer that would’ve painted a fuller picture of his walk with God. That story still stirs my heart.

Maybe you’ve been holding back for similar reasons. So let me gently encourage you: your handwritten thoughts aren’t imperfections—they’re breadcrumbs of faith that someone else may one day cherish.  In fact, reading over our own notes at a later date can be life-changing also. 

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I really enjoy writing my notes and thoughts from my Bible Study in a journal.  Even there, I want to keep it neat and easy on the eye.  Choosing the right tools has been super helpful to me.

With the right pens and pencils for Bible Study, you can write freely in your Bible or journal without worrying about damage.

Here’s a list of tried-and-true favorites I recommend for Bible journaling, notetaking, and even those delicate pages in Bible study books and journals:

Best Pens & Highlighters for Bible Journaling

  • Erasable Highlighters – These light colored highlighters are erasable, gentle on pages, and come in soft, cheerful colors.
  • Pens – These erasable pens, just like their highlighter cousins are erasable and smooth.  These are perfect for second thoughts or doodles.
  • Colored Pencils – These wax-based colored pencils offer vibrant color.  Be cautious with these on thinner paper as they may bleed if pressed too hard.
  • Bible Journaling Bundle– This Bible Journaling set includes a really nice set of no-bleed writing tools designed specifically for Bible pages. It’s a great purchase if you just want to buy one thing rather than all of the tools separately.
  • Fine Line Pens – I’ve used these superb skinny ink pens for years, and I still love their clean lines and archival ink that holds up beautifully.
  • Markers – These fine tip markers claim to be no-bleed and I’ve never had a problem with them.  I’ve found them to be dependable and great for notetaking or writing in my Bible study journals. I have not used these in my Bible.
  • Highlighters, great variety of colors – If you want to use a lot of different colors, these highlighters are excellent. They are no bleed and add nice color without overpowering the page.
  • Bible Highlighter Set – This highlighter set was the first one I purchased that was specially designed for Bible pages.  Their smooth, dry pigment doesn’t smudge. They are excellent.
  • Mechanical Colored Pencils – These are my new favorite mechanical colored pencils.  I’ve long been a fan of their basic mechanical pencil and was so pleased to find out they now offer the colored pencil option also.

 Try This Before You Dive In

Want to test your tools safely? Flip to a blank page at the back of your Bible or journal and write the name of each pen or highlighter. Some journals actually include a pen or pencil test page just for this purpose.  Then flip the page and check for bleed-through. If it’s clean, you may have found your go-to tool.

If you’ve discovered a pen, pencil, or highlighter that works beautifully for you, I’d love to hear about it! Feel free to share in the comments so we can keep growing this list together.

And most of all—write boldly, beautifully, and with grace. Your words matter, and your margins may one day speak volumes to someone you love.

More Bible Study Tools

If you are looking for some additional Bible Study recommendations, here is a post on My Favorite Bible Study Resources.

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