Slowing Down with the Word

Hand-Writing the Gospels: Why I’m Copying God's Word by Hand

A few days ago I posted a couple of pictures on own Facebook of the first three pages of my latest project: writing out the four Gospels by hand. I’ve bought a beautiful, soft-tooled leather journal with 400 pages of parchment inside, and I’m determined to fill it with the words of Matthew, Mark, Luke and John.

The cover is covered in intricate floral tooling and fastens with a simple leather strap and buckle. It feels weighty and special — the kind of book you want to treat with care. I’ve only done the opening chapters of Matthew so far (the genealogy, the birth of Jesus, the visit of the wise men, the flight to Egypt, and Herod’s terrible deed), but already two glaring spelling mistakes have jumped out at me. I’m leaving them there. They feel honest. This isn’t a printed Bible; it’s a very human attempt to linger over every word.

Why bother doing something so slow and old-fashioned in 2026? Partly because I’m tired of rushing through Scripture on a screen. When you type or swipe, your eyes skim. When you write by hand, you have to slow right down. You notice things you’d otherwise miss — the rhythm of the genealogy, the way Matthew keeps saying “this was to fulfil what the Lord had spoken by the prophet,” the tenderness of Joseph’s obedience in the face of an angel’s dream. Copying it forces you to meditate.

There’s something profoundly moving about the physical act of writing the story of the Word who became flesh. The eternal Son of God, who has always existed, stepped into time and space and took on a real human body. Now, in my own small way, I’m taking His story and putting it into my own hand — letter by letter, line by line. It feels like a tiny echo of the incarnation itself: the Word becoming tangible, personal, close.

The early church loved to copy the Scriptures. Monks spent their lives illuminating Gospels with gold and colour because they believed these words were treasure. I’m not illuminating anything fancy, but I understand the impulse. There’s a quiet joy in creating something that didn’t exist before — not just reading the story of Jesus, but participating in it with my own hands.

I don’t know whether 400 pages will be enough (Matthew is already taking up more space than I expected!), but even if I run out of room I’ll keep going. The goal isn’t perfection; it’s presence. It’s letting the words of the Gospels sink deeper into my heart and mind than they ever have before.

If you’ve ever thought about doing something similar — whether it’s copying a chapter a week, writing out a Psalm, or keeping a simple Scripture journal — I’d encourage you to try it. You don’t need fancy parchment or tooled leather. A cheap notebook and a decent pen will do. The point is to slow down, to listen, and to let the living Word do its work in you.

I’ll keep you posted on how the project goes. Mistakes and all.

Grace and peace,

Shaun.

Article written by Shaun Fereday, Leader @SFGH Church