One day in St. Louis, Missouri, a young convert named C. I. Scofield walked into the office of a friend. He found him with a new copy of the Scriptures on his desk and a pencil in his hand. “Why, man, you’re spoiling that beautiful Bible!” exclaimed the young Christian.

His older friend pointed him to Acts 8, where he had underscored the fifth verse, “Then Philip went down to the city of Samaria, and preached Christ unto them.” Then he had connected by a line to the eight verse which reads, “And there was great joy in that city.”

Years afterward, Scofield frequently introduced his friend C. E. Paxson as “the man who first taught me to mark my Bible.” The inspiration and instruction that Paxson gave him led to the preparation of the now-famous Scofield Reference Bible with its helpful footnotes and cross-references.

All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work. – 2 Timothy 3:16-17

*Unless otherwise noted, Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.