What does "Writing" mean in the Bible?

What does the Bible say about Writing?

WRIT'ING is either ideographic or phonetic. In ideographic writing the signs used represent the ideas themselves, either pictorially by direct imitation of the object, or symbolically, as when the picture of an eye is used to convey the idea of sight or knowledge, and the picture of a lion the idea of courage. In phonetic writing the signs simply represent the sounds of which a word is composed, sometimes encompassing them in whole syllables, sometimes dissolving them in single letters. Ideographic writing - that is, writing by pictures or in hieroglyphics - is an art of very ancient date, and is even now common in many savage nations. In its most unimproved form it is found among our American aborigines, and was the common method used by the Mexicans, some of whose ancient, pictures of this kind are preserved. The most numerous and remarkable specimens of hieroglyphic writing exist in Egypt; they have been sought out by travellers and copied in drawings and copperplates, but have baffled the ingenuity and labor of many ages. A distinguished French antiquary, Champollion, was the first who succeeded in deciphering a great number of them, and his labors have thrown great light upon the Scriptures and vindicated the Mosaic history from a multitude of objections. Now a hieroglyphic inscription can be read as accurately as a classical one. As an example of an old method of phonetic writing may be mentioned the cuneiform inscriptions found on old Assyrian, Babylonian, and Persian monuments. The characters very much resemble arrow-heads, and the key to decipher them was not found until between 1800 and 1815, by Grotefend. It is evident also that the Jews were very early in possession of phonetic writing. Through all the Mosaic history books and writing are mentioned as in familiar use. Ex 17:14; 2 Sam 11:14; 1 Kgs 21:8-9, 1 Kgs 21:11; 2 Kgs 10:1, 2 Kgs 10:2, 2 Kgs 10:6-7. The alphabet which the Jews used was a development of the Phoenician alphabet, and underwent various changes in course of time. The materials used in writing were tablets of stone, Ex 31:18; Ex 32:15-16, Ex 32:19; Deut 34:1, Ex 34:4, Ex 34:28-29, or box-wood and brass, or plaster, Deut 27:2; Josh 8:32, or skin, which was made into the finest parchment or vellum. For hard materials an iron stylus or engraver's tool was used. Job 19:24; Ps 45:1; Isa 8:1; Jer 8:8; Ex 17:1, but for parchment a reed pen and ink. 2 Cor 3:3; 2 John 12; 3 John 13. The parchment was not cut in leaves, forming a book, but put together in long rolls. See Pen. The practice of employing an amanuensis was much more common in ancient days than now. Hence, Paul gives as an authentication of his letters a few words written with his own hand. 1 Cor 16:21; Col 4:18; 2 Thess 3:17. This fact also explains Rom 16:22. The size of the apostle's writing is indicated. Gal 6:11. The ink of the ancients was made of pulverized charcoal or the black of burnt ivory and water, with the addition of some kind of gum. The ink of the East at the present day is a much thicker substance than ours, but is not permanent; a wet sponge will obliterate the finest of their writing. The inkhorn was, and is, a long tube containing the reed pens, with a little case fastened at the side to hold the ink. The whole is thrust into the girdle. See Book.

What is the Greek word for Writing?

Where does Writing appear in the Bible?

Writing is referenced in 14 verses across 6 books. Every passage below is about this one, not just every verse the word turns up in.

• 1 Corinthians 4:14
• 1 Corinthians 5:11
• 1 Corinthians 9:15
• 1 Corinthians 14:37
• 1 John 2:1
• 1 John 2:7
• 1 John 2:8
• 1 John 2:12
• 1 John 2:13
• 1 Timothy 3:14
• 2 Corinthians 2:9
• Galatians 1:20
• Revelation 5:1
• Revelation 10:4

What else appears in these passages?

These turn up in the same passages as Writing.