Historical Background of Scripture and Its Significance

The term "Scripture" in the New Testament consistently refers to a specific collection of sacred books, understood to be divinely inspired, which Christians typically call the Old Testament ^[1]. This collection was considered God's means of preserving his revealed will, with inspired individuals commissioned to record his revelations ^[1]. The body of "Scripture" expanded over time as God deemed necessary, culminating in the complete Old and New Testaments ^[1].

The Old Testament text was primarily written on skins, rolled into volumes similar to modern synagogue scrolls ^[4]. The original script, with the exception of four letters, is largely preserved ^[4]. Scribes played a crucial role in the preservation and transmission of these texts. They were often men of great wisdom and learned in the law, serving as ready writers for kings, prophets, and in legal contexts ^[2]. Families like the Kenites, Zebulun, and Levi were noted for producing scribes ^[2]. These scribes also functioned as religious teachers and writers of public documents ^[2].

The New Testament writings, like other contemporary books, have a traceable early history ^[5]. Authors such as Paul often dictated their letters to an amanuensis, adding a personal salutation by hand ^[5]. From the earliest days of the Christian church, the New Testament Gospels and Epistles were recognized as inspired and read alongside the Old Testament in public congregations, a practice transferred from the Jewish synagogue ^[8]. For instance, Paul's statement in 2 Timothy 3:16, which refers to the Hebrew Scriptures, is understood to apply to all Scripture, including the New Testament ^[6]. This verse emphasizes that Scripture is "God-breathed," meaning it is breathed out by God's own speech, though it does not negate the active involvement of human authors ^[6].

The historical context of these writings is crucial for understanding their significance. The Old Testament, for example, contains prophecies and promises that find their fulfillment in the New Testament ^{[7, 11]}. The apostle Paul highlights that "whatsoever things were written aforetime" in the Old Testament were recorded for the learning and instruction of believers, particularly concerning the knowledge of Christ ^[12]. This includes understanding his person, offices, and grace ^[12].

Chronological details within Scripture, particularly in the genealogies of patriarchs before and after the flood, have presented challenges for chronologists and critics due to variations among the printed Hebrew text, the Samaritan Pentateuch, the Septuagint, and Josephus's accounts ^[10]. Flavius Josephus, a first-century Jewish historian, noted that authors write histories for various reasons, including demonstrating skill in composition or preserving accurate records ^[3].

The concept of "Scripture" is not merely a collection of ancient texts but is understood as God's infallible record of revelation ^[1]. This divine inspiration ensures its effectiveness, its source, and its ability to provide wisdom for living out salvation ^[6]. The term "Scripture" itself, in Greek, is never used for general writings but exclusively for the sacred texts ^[9].

Sources

Easton's Bible Dictionary “Easton's Bible Dictionary: Scripture — Invariably in the New Testament denotes that definite collection of sacred books, regarded as given by inspiration of God, which we usually call the Old Testament (2 Tim. 3:15, 16; John 20:9; Gal. 3:22; 2 Pet. 1:20). It was God's purpose thus to perpetuate his revealed will. From time to time he raised up men to commit to writing in an infallible record the revelation he gave. The "Scripture," or collection of sacred writings, was thus enlarged from time to time as God saw necessary. We have now a completed "Scripture," consisting of the Old and New Testa”
Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Scribes — Antiquity of -- Jdj 5:14. Wore an inkhorn at their girdles -- Eze 9:2,3. Families celebrated for furnishing Kenites. -- 1Ch 2:55. Zebulun. -- Jdj 5:14. Levi. -- 1Ch 24:6; 2Ch 34:13. Generally men of great wisdom -- 1Ch 27:32. Often learned in the law -- Ezr 7:6. Were ready writers -- Ps 45:1. Acted as Secretaries to kings. -- 2Sa 8:17; 20:25; 2Ki 12:10; Es 3:12. Secretaries to prophets. -- Jer 36:5,26. Notaries in courts of justice. -- Jer 32:11,12. Religious teachers. -- Ne 8:2-6. Writers of public documents. -- 1Ch 24:6. Keepers of the muster-rolls of the”
Project Gutenberg “Flavius Josephus, Antiquities of the Jews, CHAPTER 11, section 1: . Concerning Florus The Procurator, Who Necessitated The Jews To Take Up Arms Against The Romans. The Conclusion. FOOTNOTES PREFACE.1 1. Those who undertake to write histories, do not, I perceive, take that trouble on one and the same account, but for many reasons, and those such as are very different one from another. For some of them apply themselves to this part of learning to show their skill in composition, and that they may therein acquire a reputation for speaking finely: others of them there are, who write histories in o”
Smith's Bible Dictionary “Smith's Bible Dictionary: Old Testament — I. TEXT OF THE OLD TESTAMENT.-- + History of the text. -A history of the text of the Old Testament should properly commence from the date of the completion of the canon. As regards the form in which the sacred writings were little doubt that the text was ordinarily were preserved, there can be written on skins, rolled up into volumes, like the modern synagogue rolls. (Psalms 40:7; Jeremiah 36:14; Ezekiel 2:9; Zechariah 5:1) The original character in which the text was expressed is that still preserved to us, with the exception of four letters, on the M”
Smith's Bible Dictionary “Smith's Bible Dictionary: New Testament — It is proposed in this article to consider the text of the New Testament. The subject naturally divides itself into-- I. The history of the written text; II. The history of the printed text. I. THE HISTORY OF THE WRITTEN TEXT.-- + The early history of the apostolic writings externally, as far as it can be traced, is the same as that of other contemporary books. St. Paul, like Cicero or Pliny often employed the services of an amanuensis, to whom he dictated his letters, affixing the salutation "with his own hand." (1 Corinthians 16:21; 2 Thessalonians 3”
2 Timothy (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on 2 Timothy 3:16: 3:16-17 These verses elaborate on 3:15 by explaining Scripture’s effectiveness, its source, and the ways that it gives wisdom to live out our salvation. Paul was speaking of the Hebrew Scriptures (the Old Testament), but his statement can now apply to all Scripture, including the New Testament (see, e.g., 2 Pet 3:15-16). 3:16 The fact that Scripture is inspired by God (literally God-breathed, breathed out by God’s own speech; see also Heb 4:12-13; 2 Pet 1:20-21) does not negate the active involvement of the human authors. But it does affirm that God is fully re”
Romans (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Romans 15:4: 15:4 Such things were written in the Scriptures long ago to teach us: All that God caused to be recorded in the Old Testament has supreme relevance to believers, who experience the fulfillment of God’s plan.”
1 Timothy (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on 1 Timothy 4:13: Till I come--when Timothy's commission would be superseded for the time by the presence of the apostle himself (Ti1 1:3; Ti1 3:14). reading--especially in the public congregation. The practice of reading Scripture was transferred from the Jewish synagogue to the Christian Church (Luk 4:16-20; Act 13:15; Act 15:21; Co2 3:14). The New Testament Gospel and Epistles being recognized as inspired by those who had the gift of discerning spirits, were from the first, according as they were written, read along with the Old Testament in the Church (Th1 5:21”
2 Timothy (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on 2 Timothy 3:16: All scripture--Greek, "Every Scripture," that is, Scripture in its every part. However, English Version is sustained, though the Greek article be wanting, by the technical use of the term "Scripture" being so well known as not to need the article (compare Greek, Eph 3:15; Eph 2:21). The Greek is never used of writings in general, but only of the sacred Scriptures. The position of the two Greek adjectives closely united by "and," forbids our taking the one as an epithet, the other as predicated and translated as ALFORD and ELLICOTT. "Every Scripture ”
Genesis (Methodist/Wesleyan) “Adam Clarke on Genesis 5:3: And Adam lived a hundred and thirty years, etc. - The Scripture chronology especially in the ages of some of the antediluvian and postdiluvian patriarchs, has exceedingly puzzled chronologists, critics, and divines. The printed Hebrew text, the Samaritan, the Septuagint, and Josephus, are all different, and have their respective vouchers and defenders. The following tables of the genealogies of the patriarchs before and after the flood, according to the Hebrew, Samaritan, and Septuagint, will at once exhibit the discordances. For much satisfactory information on thi”
Romans (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on Romans 1:2: Which he had promised afore,.... The Gospel is here further commended from the antiquity it: it was no novel doctrine, an upstart notion, but what God had conceived in his own breast from eternity. This mystery was hid in him from the beginning of the world, and was ordained before the world was; in time God was pleased to make it known to the sons of men; he "promised" it, he spoke of it, and declared it by his prophets, Isaiah and others, "afore" the Apostle Paul was called forth to be a preacher of it; which promise, or promises of it, lie in the Holy Scriptures”
Romans (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on Romans 15:3: For whatsoever things were written aforetime,.... In the books of the Old Testament; the apostle says this, to vindicate the pertinency of the above citation, and to prevent any objection that might be made against it; since whatsoever was written in that psalm did not belong personally to David, but to Christ; and what is written concerning him, is designed for the use and instruction of his people; yea, whatever is written anywhere in the sacred Scriptures, were written for our learning; to instruct in the knowledge of Christ, of his person, offices, grace, righte”

Ask Your Own Question