Skip to main content

Printing Guide

Instructions for creating print-friendly versions of this Bible study guide.

Why Print?​

While digital study is convenient, printed materials offer advantages:

  • No distractions - No notifications or temptations to browse
  • Better retention - Research shows better comprehension with physical materials
  • Annotation - Write notes directly on pages
  • Portability - No battery needed
  • Group distribution - Easy to share with study groups
  • Offline access - Study anywhere, anytime

What to Print​

Print only the books you're currently studying:

  • More portable
  • Less overwhelming
  • Can update sections without reprinting everything
  • Lower cost

Suggested combinations:

  • Print one book at a time
  • Print by section (Pentateuch, Gospels, Paul's letters, etc.)
  • Print books for a reading plan

Option 2: Quick Reference Tables Only​

The most compact option:

  • quick-reference/old-testament-overview.md (2-3 pages)
  • quick-reference/new-testament-overview.md (1-2 pages)
  • timeline.md (8-10 pages)

Total: 11-15 pages - Perfect for a booklet!

Option 3: Complete Study Guide​

Print the entire guide:

  • All 66 books
  • Quick reference tables
  • Indexes and timelines
  • Total: 300-400+ pages

Best for:

  • Teachers
  • Small group leaders
  • Those wanting a complete reference

Option 4: Custom Selection​

Mix and match based on your needs:

  • All Old Testament OR all New Testament
  • Specific book categories (Historical books, Prophets, Gospels, etc.)
  • Reference materials only (indexes, timeline, character guide)

How to Generate PDFs from Markdown​

Install Pandoc:

Convert Markdown to PDF:

# Single file
pandoc old-testament/01-genesis.md -o genesis.pdf

# Multiple files into one PDF
pandoc old-testament/*.md -o old-testament.pdf

# With custom styling
pandoc genesis.md -o genesis.pdf --pdf-engine=xelatex -V geometry:margin=1in

Tips:

  • Use -V geometry:margin=1in for 1-inch margins
  • Use -V fontsize=11pt or -V fontsize=12pt for larger text
  • Use --toc to add table of contents

Method 2: Using VS Code + Extension​

Steps:

  1. Install Visual Studio Code (free)
  2. Install extension: Markdown PDF by yzane
  3. Open any .md file
  4. Right-click → "Markdown PDF: Export (pdf)"

Pros: Simple, one-click solution Cons: Less customization than Pandoc

Method 3: Using Markdown to PDF Online Converters​

Free websites:

Steps:

  1. Copy markdown content
  2. Paste into converter
  3. Download PDF

Pros: No installation required Cons: One file at a time, less control

Method 4: Print from Browser​

Steps:

  1. View markdown file on GitHub or in browser
  2. Use browser's print function (Ctrl/Cmd + P)
  3. Choose "Save as PDF"

Pros: Works anywhere, no tools needed Cons: Formatting may not be optimal

Method 5: Using Obsidian or Typora​

Obsidian:

  • Free markdown editor
  • Install "Pandoc Plugin"
  • Export to PDF

Typora:

  • Markdown editor ($14.99 one-time purchase)
  • Built-in PDF export
  • Excellent formatting control

For Individual Book Guides:​

  • Paper: Letter size (8.5" x 11") or A4
  • Orientation: Portrait
  • Margins: 0.75" to 1" on all sides
  • Font size: 11pt or 12pt
  • Line spacing: 1.15 or 1.5
  • Color: Black & white (to save ink)
  • Duplex: Print both sides to save paper

For Quick Reference Tables:​

  • Paper: Letter size
  • Orientation: Landscape (for tables)
  • Margins: 0.5" on all sides
  • Font size: 10pt or 11pt
  • Color: Black & white
  • Duplex: Single-sided for reference sheets

For Complete Guide:​

  • Paper: Letter or A4
  • Binding: 3-ring binder or comb binding
  • Sections: Use dividers for Old Testament, New Testament, Reference
  • Cover page: Create a title page
  • Index: Print and include at beginning

Cost-Saving Tips​

  1. Print selectively - Only print what you need right now
  2. Use both sides (duplex printing) - Cuts paper use in half
  3. Black & white only - Color ink is expensive
  4. Draft mode - Use printer's economy/draft mode
  5. Smaller margins - 0.5" margins instead of 1" saves pages
  6. Multiple pages per sheet - Print 2 pages on 1 sheet (requires good eyesight)
  7. Share printing costs - Split cost with study group
  8. Use library or office printer - May be cheaper than home printing

Estimated costs (at $0.05/page for black & white):

  • Single book: $0.50 - $1.50
  • Quick reference: $0.60 - $0.75
  • Complete guide: $15 - $20

Binding Options​

For Short Documents (1-20 pages):​

  • Staple in corner - Free, simple
  • Binder clip - Removable, reusable
  • Folder with brads - Professional look

For Medium Documents (20-100 pages):​

  • 3-ring binder - Add/remove pages easily
  • Spring clips - Sturdy, reusable
  • Folder with pocket - Keep loose pages organized

For Large Documents (100+ pages):​

  • Large 3-ring binder with dividers
  • Comb binding - Office supply stores ($3-5)
  • Spiral binding - Professional ($5-10)
  • Thermal binding - Very professional ($10-15)

Pro tip: Use colored dividers to separate:

  • Old Testament
  • New Testament
  • Reference materials (indexes, timeline)

Creating a Custom Printed Study Bible​

Build your own annotated Bible study companion:

  1. Print the books you want
  2. Leave wide margins (1.5" or more on one side)
  3. Punch holes on the side with large margin
  4. Put in 3-ring binder
  5. Add your Bible (if it has a binder edition)
  6. Alternate pages: Bible text, study guide, Bible text, study guide

Result: A personalized study Bible with notes integrated!

Formatting Tips for Better Printing​

Before Converting to PDF:​

In the markdown files, you may want to:

  1. Remove excessive navigation links (they don't work in print)
  2. Add page breaks where needed: 
    <div style="page-break-after: always;"></div>
  3. Ensure tables fit on page (may need to abbreviate)

Using CSS for Better Print Formatting:​

Create a file print-styles.css:

@media print {
  body {
    font-size: 12pt;
    line-height: 1.5;
    margin: 1in;
  }

  h1 {
    page-break-before: always;
    page-break-after: avoid;
  }

  h2, h3 {
    page-break-after: avoid;
  }

  table {
    page-break-inside: avoid;
  }

  a {
    color: black;
    text-decoration: none;
  }
}

Then use with Pandoc:

pandoc file.md -o file.pdf --css=print-styles.css

Printing from GitHub​

If this guide is on GitHub:

  1. Navigate to the file on GitHub
  2. Click "Raw" button (top right)
  3. Copy the URL
  4. Use Pandoc: pandoc [URL] -o output.pdf

Or use GitHub's built-in print:

  1. View file on GitHub
  2. Press Ctrl/Cmd + P
  3. Save as PDF

Pre-Made PDF Collections (If Available)​

Check the repository for pre-generated PDFs in a pdfs/ folder:

  • ✅ All books (one PDF per book)
  • ✅ Quick reference sheets
  • ✅ Complete guide PDF
  • ✅ Old Testament only
  • ✅ New Testament only

If PDFs aren't available, request them or use the methods above to create your own!

Recommended Page Layout​

┌─────────────────────────────┐
│                             │
│  [Book Title]               │
│                             │
│  [One-Sentence Summary]     │
│                             │
│  [Book Overview]            │
│  Author:...                 │
│  Date:...                   │
│                             │
│  [Book Structure]           │
│  Part 1: ...                │
│  Part 2: ...                │
│                             │
│  [Key Verses]               │
│  Verse 1...                 │
│                             │
│  [Key Themes]               │
│  1. Theme...                │
│  2. Theme...                │
│                             │
│  [Central Message]          │
│  ...                        │
│                             │
│  [Practical Application]    │
│  - For Daily Living         │
│  - For Spiritual Growth     │
│                             │
│  [Recommended Resources]    │
│  ...                        │
│                             │
└─────────────────────────────┘

Each book fits approximately 3-5 pages when printed with standard formatting.

Sample Pandoc Commands​

Basic conversion:

pandoc old-testament/01-genesis.md -o genesis.pdf

With nice formatting:

pandoc old-testament/01-genesis.md -o genesis.pdf \
  --pdf-engine=xelatex \
  -V geometry:margin=1in \
  -V fontsize=12pt \
  -V linestretch=1.3

Combine multiple files:

pandoc old-testament/01-genesis.md old-testament/02-exodus.md -o pentateuch.pdf

All Old Testament:

pandoc old-testament/*.md -o old-testament-complete.pdf \
  --toc \
  --toc-depth=2 \
  -V geometry:margin=0.75in

All New Testament:

pandoc new-testament/*.md -o new-testament-complete.pdf \
  --toc \
  --toc-depth=2

Complete guide with table of contents:

pandoc README.md old-testament/*.md new-testament/*.md -o complete-guide.pdf \
  --toc \
  --toc-depth=3 \
  -V geometry:margin=0.75in \
  -V fontsize=11pt

Troubleshooting​

Problem: Tables don't fit on page Solution: Use landscape orientation or abbreviate column content

Problem: Links don't work in PDF Solution: That's normal - links don't function in print

Problem: Pandoc not found Solution: Make sure Pandoc is installed and in your PATH

Problem: Fonts look wrong Solution: Try different PDF engine: --pdf-engine=pdflatex or xelatex

Problem: Page breaks in weird places Solution: Add manual page breaks or adjust margins

For Study Groups​

Creating handouts for your group:

  1. Print Quick Reference tables - One per person as overview
  2. Print current book being studied - Everyone has the same material
  3. Leave margin space - For note-taking during discussion
  4. Add discussion questions (see each book's guide)
  5. Include key verses - Highlighted for quick reference

Group printing options:

  • One person prints, group reimburses
  • Each person prints their own
  • Church/group provides printing
  • Use online printing service (Vistaprint, FedEx Office)

Digital Alternatives to Printing​

If you prefer digital but want print-like benefits:

  1. Tablet/iPad - Read PDFs, annotate with stylus
  2. E-reader (Kindle, Kobo) - Some support PDFs
  3. Printed summaries only - Keep full guide digital
  4. Both - Print summaries, keep detailed guide on device

← Back to Main Guide | Quick Reference