Recently, Notion added a new backlinks feature that is similar to those bi-directional links in other note taking applications like Roam research and obsidian.md. This new feature opens up a better way to take digital Bible notes in Notion where you can have notes referencing the text and each other.
What is the new Notion backlinks feature?
Backlinks are a way to create a link in both directions between two notes in notion. So you could have a project page and then add a link to a resource, that resource would then link back to the project. This helps with navigating between notes as well as seeing connections between different notes.
The version in Notion isn’t the same as something like Roam research where you have the addition of an graph view and previews, but the concept is the same.
Taking Bible notes with Notion backlinks
A few months back I came across a YouTube video from Abraham Peters on using a Zettlekasten inspired note taking system and Emacs for Bible notes.
The basic concept is to make a note as you read the Bible and add a link both to the passage you read and from the passage to the note. As you start continue reading, you can expand your first note, or references it in other passages.
When you read the bible passage later, you’ll see links to the note which then has links to other passages on the same topic.
The power of atomic Bible notes
There are two main benefits to this approach. The first is that you can notice patterns, repetitions and themes you might have missed otherwise. Certainly you can find these through commentaries, study Bibles, and other resources, but this methods has your own personal notes and you can add study notes as well.
The second is that you can re-use your notes in other resources. You can start assembling larger topics by linking to your notes, or using those notes as you prepare a sermon, resource or larger reference tool.
Download the Bible template
I’ve made a Notion plain text Bible template using the WEB translation (it’s open source) which you can download or look at for inspiration.
Do you use a similar system, perhaps in a different note taking application?
Mickey Mellen says
That’s a big step forward for Notion, but I still think Roam is a far better place to take and reference Bible notes. Here’s a bit about how I do it there: https://www.roamresearchtips.com/processing-bible-notes-using-roam-research/
Chris Wilson says
Thanks for taking the time tomorrow reply Mickey. I’ve been interested in trying roam research and your post might be the final push I need to give it a go.
By the way, if you want to share about how you use roam on churchmag, we’re always interested in guest contributors and regular writers.
Mickey Mellen says
Cool, I’d be happy to. Send me a note at [email protected] and we can sort it out. Thanks.