What is the proper way to dispose of a ruined Bible?

Answer

There is no “biblical” way to dispose of an old, damaged, or ruined Bible, as the Bible itself does not address this question. It is, therefore, a matter of personal conviction. It is important to understand that it is not the paper, binding, and ink that are considered “sacred” or “holy.” It is the Word of God that is holy, not the material it is printed on. We are not to worship or idolize the Bible. The purpose of the Bible is to teach us about Jesus the Savior and the salvation He provides and to guide us to worship Him with all our heart, soul, mind, and strength. The paper and ink of a Bible are simply the means through which God communicates His Word to us.

However, discarding a Bible should be seen as the last resort. Many old Bibles, if rebound, could be restored to be “as good as new” and then continue to be used or given to someone else. Even a worn Bible, given to someone in need of a Bible, can be a great blessing. Some individuals keep old Bibles as family heirlooms to remind future generations of their ancestors’ commitment to God’s Word. There are numerous options, all of which are worth prayerfully considering.

Ultimately, if a Bible is genuinely damaged to the point of being unusable, it can be disposed of. Disposing of a Bible will not incur God’s displeasure in any way. Some individuals prefer to burn a Bible rather than placing it in the trash. Neither method is inherently right or wrong. There is a story of a person who discarded a Bible with the trash. A garbage collector found the Bible, took it out of the trash, began reading it, and put his faith in Jesus Christ as Savior. God can use His powerful Word (Isaiah 55:11;Hebrews 4:12) to testify of Him, even from the pages of a discarded Bible.