Is retaining necessary...?

I used to tell people to review all the time, however, in my own experiences I have seen that what man has faithfully taken the time to memorize, God the Spirit (in an abundance of faithfulness) will bring to mind when needed. For example, I have memorized Ephesians. Can I tell you Ephesians 2:18? No, probably not. However, I have had numerous discussions about the Church and, during those discussions, the Spirit has been faithful enough to bring the text back to mind.

What are your thoughts?

I am SO in agreement with you! I have debates with, particularly, an oldest son of mine who will remain nameless but is one of the main sources of a lot of controversial topics/forums here on MemVerse, about this very thing.

I memorized so many passages and books of the Bible as a child as part of the regular curriculum at a Christian school I attended, in addition to having read through the Bible several times and having an arguable photographic memory (that seems to go blank when asked to remember something my wife told me to do or remember).

Some verses come right back to mind nearly word for word, while others are missing some articles or prepositions; however, I can tell you the subject matter of most chapters of the NT, with many verses/passages memorized at like 70-75% accuracy.

For competition purposes, like the Bible Bee, I can understand the importance of having every reference and verse 100% perfect in recitation. But if I'm out street-preaching, evangelizing, or talking doctrine with brothers and sisters in Christ, it's not as important for me to be as stringent on reciting passages perfectly, so long as I have the content matter and doctrines correct.

I think this approach tackles the overall "Big Picture" approach to Bible study and memorization. The better and earlier we do these things, the longer they will last in our minds for our lifetime. However, if we do these things just for competition, then abandon them when we get too old for competition purposes, how well will they stick at all? But if we continue to study God's Word in a meaningful manner, not even strictly memorizing It, we will still find that God's Word is just as hidden in our hearts; we just won't be competition-worthy after awhile.

Ultimately, which is more important (if you had to choose): knowing the full theological content of John 3:16 with 80-90% memorizational accuracy or not fully understanding John 3:16 theologically, but knowing it 100%? I'm okay with the former, because, as MemVerse proves all the time, my mind fails me far too often with memorization than it does with it understanding the texts. Many people have Scripture memorized, but are heretically off theologically and still heading for hell. Studying the Word should include memorization, but we must study It nonetheless, or else our fate could still be the same as (or worse) than the one who never even picks up a Bible in his/her lifetime.

Any others want to weigh in?

I agree, being legalistic about word content is not what matters. Can you explain what it means and use it in situations to encourage a person? And knowing where to find it in the Bible for a solid reference when sharing. Those things are what is important.

I had found an old Navigators list of scriptures to commit to memory, and wanted to get our youth group memorizing. I didn't want to ask them to do something that I myself had not done, so I set to memorizing! Some passages were confusing. I didn't understand the meaning (I had only been studying the Bible for about a year) so I would read the other scriptures before and after. I liked those so much, I added those in at the same time. I would also look up the same passage in several translations to get a deeper understanding. However, for memorizing I use the New King James because I like carrying the little Gideon New Testament around in my pocket. It makes it easy to keep adding more and more consecutive verses.

It has been almost two years since I started memorizing and I have about 650 verses memorized. I still haven't had much success in motivating the youth, but I have been so richly blessed by memorizing the Word. It overflows into all the other areas of my life. Thanks Memverse!

I think that retaining is VERY neccesary!

Everyone knows John 3:16, but who knows John 16:3? just as important the message of John 3:16 so is the message of every verse. When a verse is read and not memorized it is then quickly forgotten and no longer used to look through at the world. And yes the Holy spirit will bring back verses when nessary but that dose not mean that we do not memorize, if it did, why study the bible at all? if the Holy spirit will do all the work for us.

Josh 1:8

Josh. 1:8. 'This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth; but thou shalt meditate therein day and night, that thou mayest observe to do according to all that is written therein: for then thou shalt make thy way prosperous, and then thou shalt have good success.'

John 16:3. 'And they will do these things because they have not known the Father, nor me.'

KJV and ESV.

@"Zachary M" :)

:) :D