What is scripture and what does it mean to us? Many people
put their trust in a set of written documents but reject other documents
without understanding what they are about. If we look at the front of our
Bibles we will see varying content. Protestant Bibles have less material than
Catholic Bibles, and Jewish Bibles have even less material. Which Bible
collection is best for students of Biblical study? Which individual works
should we look at? To start out, we have to understand that all works written
are all helpful to our understanding in different ways. If we start eliminating
what we don’t understand we will never gain understanding. Therefore, before we
throw out entire works we need to put them into our timeline of biblical
history. Scripture is a written document, a letter, or a book. It really is
lines of words. We have then made the word scripture
into something holy in our personal understanding. That is not exactly the
original meaning of the word. The Greek word graphe is translated as stylus
and writing. The Hebrew uses words
like ketav, katav, and midrash. These are alterations that the Masoretic Rabbis
made to the text that the Temple Scribes wrote while they were under the
direction of the High Priest. The Temple Scribes wrote around 300 BCE, while
the Masorete’s wrote between 300 CE and 1000 CE. If we recognize that there is
a 600 to 1300 year gap between those writings we will start to make sense of
our scripture.
1124 LSJ Gloss: γραφή representation by means of lines
Dodson: γραφή a writing, passage of scripture, the
scriptures (a) a writing, (b) a passage of scripture; plur: the scriptures.
Strong's: γραφή a document, i.e. holy Writ (or its contents
or a statement in it) Derivation: from G1125; KJV
Usage: scripture.
G1125 Thayer:
1) a writing, thing written 2) the Scripture, used to denote either the
book itself, or its contents 3) a certain portion or section of the Holy
Scripture
γραφή graphē graf-ay' From G1125;
a document, that is, holy Writ (or its contents or
a statement in it) KJV Usage: scripture.
The word we use for scripture
is the word graphe in the Greek.
We get words like graph and graphite from this word. There are many people who
attempt to spiritualize the word scripture,
as if what someone combined into a book in 300 CE or 1000 CE is better than all
other extra biblical writings. But the first usage of this word may shatter the
idea that what we call scripture is
extra holy. The first usage of a word in text usually sets the stage for the
rest of the usages in the bible. The first usage of scripture is a bit of a
surprise.
Ex 32:4 And he received the gold at their hand and
fashioned it with a graving tool and made it a molten calf; and they said,
These are your gods, O Israel, which brought you up out of the land of
Egypt! AMP
Exodus 32:4G2532And G1209he took them G1537from out of G3588 G5495their hands, G1473 G2532and G4111he shaped G1473them G1722with G3588the G1124.1stylus.
G2532And G4160he made G1473it G3448[2calf G5560.81a molten]. G2532And G2036they said, G3778These are G3588 G2316your gods, G1473 G*O Israel, G3748who G307hauled G1473you G1537from out of G1093the land G*of Egypt
Aaron used a stylus, graphe, to make a golden calf, and called
it Israel’s gods, theos/elohim. The idea that the stylus Aaron used is scripture
would tell us it was not holy writ from Yahweh, but simply something Aaron
wrote to appease the people. This tells us that some things may be called
scripture but they are not holy or sacred writings.
Ex 32:15-16 And Moses turned and
went down from the mountain with the two tables of the Testimony in his hand,
tables or tablets that were written on both sides. 16 The tables were the work of God; the
writing was the writing of God, graven upon the tables. AMP
Exodus 32:16 G2532And G3588the G4109tablets G2041[2a work G23163of God G1510.7.61were], G2532and G3588the G1124writing, G1124[2a
writing G23163of God G1510.2.31is] G2850.3chiseled
G1722in G3588the G4109tablets
These tablets were the work of Theos/Elohim,
these were sacred writing. You would think that he would take extra care with
these tablets as they were from Yahweh, however Moses smashed them. While Moses
may have felt the writing on the tablets was important, he didn’t value them as
if they were sacred, but rather Moses valued the salvation of the people even
more. This brings up an important point, if we had the tablets on earth today
someone would have put them in a museum and people would have made an idol out
of them. But they were not so important that Moses handled them carefully, he
did not value the tablets more than getting the people on the right track.
Therefore, today we can value the commands, but in the end the salvation of the
people is far more important. If we keep that in mind, Jesus is the only
salvation for humanity. Jews today have no salvation, there is no temple so
they cannot atone for their sins. So while Jews may value and idolize the law,
they have no salvation. Moses’ example is a good one here.
1 Chron 28:19 All this the Lord made me understand by the
writing by His hand upon me, all the work to be done according to the
plan. AMP
1 Chronicles 28:19 G3956All G1722in G1124the writing G1537by G5495the hand G2962of the lord
G1325David
gave G* G3588to G*Solomon, G2596according to G3588the G4018.3advantage
G1473to
him G4907for
understanding G3588of
the G2716.1working
out G3588of
the G3855.2plan.
Notice the discrepancy between the Amplified and the Greek.
Should we have a purest attitude and only read the Greek text? Is it alright to
get the overall idea reading a text that does not read as exact as the oldest
text? Those are good questions aren’t they? David says that the writing,
scripture, was by the hand of Yahweh. It was the plans for the temple and what
it was to look like. David gave the scripture to Solomon so that he would understand
the plans for the temple. In this case the scripture was the temple plans.
Again if we had these scriptures in our possession we might idolize them.
1 Kings 6:28-29 Solomon overlaid
the cherubim with gold. 29 He carved all the walls of the house (these two holy
rooms) round about with figures of cherubim, palm trees, and open flowers,
within and without. AMP
1 Kings 6:29 G2532And G3956all G3588the G5109walls G3588of the G3624house G2945round about G1462.5[2sculptures
G11251he depicted] G1722with G1124.1a
stylus --G5502 cherubim,
G2532and G5404palms G2532and G1276.1[2opened
and spread out G4070.21leaves] G3588to the G2082inner G2532and G3588to the G1857.2outer
Yet again we see the idea of a
stylus being scripture, in that what it represents, in this case a cherubim, is
a witness to something. It is scripture without words. This scripture was
destroyed when the temple was destroyed. As we have studied previously, there
was over three hundred years of abominations in the temple, such as male and
female prostitution, abortions, and the worshipping of stars, angels and
cherubim. We can see that sometimes what is sculpted can become an idol, just as
the golden calf was, and the cherubim became one also. We can understand why
some people made alterations to scripture, it was to cover up their sins.
2 Chron 21:12-15 And there came a
letter to Jehoram from Elijah the prophet, saying, Thus says the Lord, the God
of David your father [forefather]: Because you have not walked in the ways of
Jehoshaphat your father nor in the ways of Asa king of Judah, 13 But have walked
in the ways of Israel's kings, and made Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem
play the harlot like the [spiritual] harlotry of Ahab's house, and also have
slain your brothers of your father's house, who were better than you, 14
Behold, the Lord will smite your people, and your children, your wives, and all
your possessions with a great plague. 15 And you yourself shall have a severe
illness because of an intestinal disease, until your bowels fall out because of
the sickness, day after day. AMP
2 Chronicles 21:12 G2532And G2064there came G1473to him G1722in G1124writing G3844words by G*Elijah G3588the G4396prophet, G3004saying, G3592Thus G3004says G2962the lord, G3588the G2316God G*of David G3588 G3962your father, G1473 G446.2Because
G3756you
did not G4198go G1722in G3598the way G*of Jehoshaphat G3588 G3962your father, G1473 G2532and G1722in G3598the ways G*of Asa G935king G*of Judah
Elijah wrote a letter to Jehoram which
is called scripture. Elijah is a
prophet, and most of the books in our Bible are written by prophets. This
letter was not “good news” or the gospel, it was a death sentence to Jehoram
who forsook Yahweh and brought idolatry into Judah. This understanding is that
sometimes scripture is not good news.
One of the hard parts for us to
deal with is the obvious disconnect between the Old and New Testaments. The Old
Testement was written in several separate books and started in Paleo Hebrew and
ancient Hebrew. During the Babylonian captivity Hebrew changed again to block
Hebrew. After the Greeks took over the region, Ptolemy commissioned the
scribing of the Hebrew texts for archiving in the Library at Alexandria, 300
BCE. The books were copied and also sent out to synagogues throughout the
region. Meanwhile the dominant spoken language was Aramaic, as Assyria had
taken the Northern kingdom into captivity, then allowed others to inhabit the
northern region. The dominant written language was Greek. There were copies
written at the time in Aramaic as well. The New Testament was not written in
Hebrew, but Greek and Aramaic only. By the time of the first century, no one
wrote in Hebrew any longer and very few read Hebrew. The Essenes kept Hebrew
alive and translated all the works they had into common languages, Greek,
Latin, Syriac, and Ethiopian. The Septuagint Greek is the same Greek language
as the New Testament Greek. This makes for consistency between both Old and New
Testament. The disconnect took place when Latin translators in the 1600’s CE
thought to use the Masoretic text for the Old Testament, not recognizing that
one thousand years of rabbinic alterations to the Old Testament would cause us some
trouble today. http://musingsofawinsomeheart.blogspot.com/2014/12/erasing-jesus-intentional-sabotage.html
All the scrolls that were being
read in the synagogues were written in Greek. Therefore when Jesus refers to
scripture, what is he referring to? The Greek, not the Hebrew. People in the first
century were expected to know the scriptures in the Greek.
Matt 21:42-43 Jesus asked them, Have you never read in the
Scriptures: The very Stone which the builders rejected and threw away has
become the Cornerstone; this is the Lord's doing, and it is marvelous in our
eyes? [Ps 118:22,23.] 43 I tell you, for this reason the kingdom of God will be
taken away from you and given to a people who will produce the fruits of it.
AMP
Matthew 21:42 G3004[2says G14733to them G3588 G*1Jesus], G3763At no time G314did you read G1722in G3588the G1124scriptures? G3037The stone G3739which G593[3rejected G35881the ones G36182building], G3778this one G1096became G1519as G2776head G1137corner stone;
G3844by G2962the Lord G1096this happened, G3778 G2532and G1510.2.3it
is G2298wonderful
G1722in G3788our eyes. G1473
Because the Pharisees, chief priests, and elders didn’t
know the scriptures, they will lose the kingdom, and it will be given to those
who produce fruits. They should have memorized the scriptures of the prophets.
Who were the prophets? Those from the school of the prophets starting with Shem
and Eber, through Samuel, Elijah, and Elisha, etc. The prophets were well
respected by the Essenes, the Nazarenes, the Therapeutaes, and the Damascus
community. To review history, a split occurred among the Jews between 200 BCE
to 100 BCE. Some people stayed in Jerusalem and served in the temple even
though a high priest was appointed who was not of the line of Aaron. This was
an abomination and the Holy Spirit led the prophets and others out of the city
to outer regions. Those who stayed in temple service lost the Holy Spirit due
to their compromise, and there were no longer any prophets among them. They
were known as the Pharisees. Those who were prophets left Jerusalem; some went
north to Damascus, northwest to Nazareth, east into the wilderness, and south
to Egypt. Most of these communities had already been established before and
after the southern kingdom’s captivity, and these prophets were later known as
the Essenes, the Nazarenes and the Therapeutaes. The Pharisees and Sadducees
had stopped expecting the words of the prophets to be fulfilled. Compromise and
dismissing the Holy Spirit cause people to become hardened and stubborn
spiritually. By this time, as Jesus points out, they didn’t know the
scriptures.
This is the contention; it is not between some guy claiming
to be the Messiah and a bunch of high profile scripturally correct religious
leaders. That is a spin someone wants us to believe. The contention is between
the prophets of Yahweh, and those religious leaders who rejected Yahweh. Just
like in the Old Testament times. It is the same story. After the civil war in
Jerusalem, the Romans came in and destroyed the temple in 70 CE. The Jews were
driven out of Jerusalem and the Pharisees and priests went southwest to start a
Yeshiva, a school. By this time they recognized that the things that Jesus had
said were true and they made the decision to attempt to erase Jesus from the
Old Testament. Today it seems our misconception of the first century coming of
Jesus is a dispute between knowledgeable religious leaders and some strange guy
claiming to be Messiah. Instead it is about the misguided religious leaders
rejecting their last chance at saving Jerusalem, themselves, and their future.
Matt 26:53-56 Do you suppose that
I cannot appeal to My Father, and He will immediately provide Me with more than
twelve legions [more than 80,000] of angels? 54 But how then would the
Scriptures be fulfilled, that it must come about this way? 55 At that moment
Jesus said to the crowds, Have you come out with swords and clubs as [you
would] against a robber to capture Me? Day after day I was accustomed to sit in
the porches and courts of the temple teaching, and you did not arrest Me. 56
But all this has taken place in order that the Scriptures of the prophets might
be fulfilled. Then all the disciples deserted Him and, fleeing, escaped. AMP
Matthew 26:54G4459How G3767then G4137should [3be
fulfilled G35881the G11242scriptures], G3754that G3779thus G1163it must G1096take place?
54G4459How G3767then G4137should [3be
fulfilled G35881the G11242scriptures], G3754that G3779thus G1163it must G1096take place?
55G1722In G1565that G3588 G5610hour G2036Jesus said G3588 G* G3588to the G3793multitudes, G5613As G1909against G3027a robber G1831do you come forth G3326with G3162swords G2532and G3586wood spears G4815to seize G1473me? G2596Daily G2250 G4314with G1473you G2516I sat G1321teaching G1722in G3588the G2413temple, G2532and G3756you did not G2902seize G1473me.
56G3778But this G1161 G3650entire thing G1096has happened, G2443that G4137[5should
be fulfilled G35881the G11242scriptures G35883of the G43964prophets]. G5119Then G3588[2the G31013disciples G39561all] G863leaving G1473him, G5343fled.
Even though Jesus’ disciples knew
the scriptures, they didn’t want to see him crucified. Jesus knew what had to
take place, but the short sightedness of the people motivated them to think that
it would be better to keep Jesus alive. But we know Jesus had to rescue the
dead by redeeming them from Hades. http://musingsofawinsomeheart.blogspot.com/2013/09/eden-garden-of-god-jesus-plan-for-lower.html
Luke 4:17-21 And there was handed
to Him [the roll of] the book of the prophet Isaiah. He opened (unrolled) the
book and found the place where it was written, [Isa 61:1,2.] 18 The Spirit of
the Lord [is] upon Me, because He has anointed Me [the Anointed One, the
Messiah] to preach the good news (the Gospel) to the poor; He has sent Me to
announce release to the captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to send
forth as delivered those who are oppressed [who are downtrodden, bruised,
crushed, and broken down by calamity], 19 To proclaim the accepted and
acceptable year of the Lord [the day when salvation and the free favors of God
profusely abound.] [Isa 61:1,2.] 20 Then
He rolled up the book and gave it back to the attendant and sat down; and the
eyes of all in the synagogue were gazing [attentively] at Him. 21 And He began
to speak to them: Today this Scripture has been fulfilled while you are present
and hearing. AMP
Luke 4:21G756And
he beganG1161 G3004to sayG4314toG1473themG3754that,G4594TodayG4137[2has been
fulfilledG3588 G11241this scripture]G3778 G1722inG3588 G3775your ears.G1473
Look at Isaiah 61:1 in the
Septuagint and compare it to the King James Version which comes from the
Masoretic text.
Isaiah 61:1G4151SpiritG2962of the lordG1909is uponG1473me,G3739 G1752becauseG5548he anointedG1473meG2097to announce good newsG4434to the poor.G649He has sentG1473meG2390to healG3588the onesG4937being brokenG3588in theG2588heart;G2784to proclaimG164[2to captivesG8591a release],G2532andG5185[2to the blindG3091recovery of sight];
Isa 61:1 The Spirit of the Lord
God is upon me; because the Lord hath anointed me to preach good tidings unto
the meek; he hath sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to
the captives, and the opening of the prison to them that are bound; KJV
As we have studied before, the
phrase “recovery of sight to the blind”
has been erased from the Masoretic texts in Isaiah 61. http://musingsofawinsomeheart.blogspot.com/2014/10/recovery-of-sight-to-blind-isaiah-61.html
We have to recognize that Jesus
was quoting the Septuagint. He told the people that that day Isaiah 61:1 & 2
was fulfilled. Jesus was walking through a script that had been written as far
back as two thousand years before his birth. Jesus was fulfilling everything
the prophets said about him. It is hard enough for us to go back and document
these things that were written, but Jesus, without having his own Bible,
scrolls, or electronic device with scripture in it, pointed out he was
fulfilling the words of the prophets.
Luke 24:27 Then beginning with
Moses and [throughout] all the Prophets, He went on explaining and interpreting
to them in all the Scriptures the things concerning and referring to Himself.
AMP
Luke 24:27G2532And G756beginning G575from G*Moses, G2532and G575from G3956all G3588of the G4396prophets, G1329he interpreted G1473to them G1722in G3956all G3588the G1124scriptures G3588the things G4012concerning G1438himself.
Wouldn’t we love to have a
recording of that conversation? There were probably other writings that Jesus
referenced to these two guys, books like Enoch, Jubilees, or the Wisdom of
Solomon or 2-4 Ezra. The two men mention that Jesus opened wide to them the scriptures.
Jesus also opens the minds of his disciples.
Luke 24:32G2532And G2036they said G4314to G240one another, G3780[2not G3588 G25883our heart G1473 G25454burning G1510.7.31Was] G1722inG1473us G5613as G2980he was speaking G1473to us G1722in G3588the G3598way, G2532and G5613as G1272he opened wide G1473to us G3588the G1124scriptures?
Luke 24:45 G5119Then G1272he opened wide G1473their G3588 G3563mind G3588 G4920to perceive G3588the G1124scriptures.
There is something clear here
from people’s testimonies, there are times when someone has to open another
person’s mind. People close off their minds for all kinds of reasons, but at
some point people’s minds can be opened to understanding the ancient prophetic writings.
We have seen the ancient writings as sculptures, tablets, as plans for the
temple, as prophetic death sentences, and as prophetic foretelling. We also see
that the foretelling’s that were written about the Messiah were a script that
Jesus walked through; and people were held accountable for not knowing those
words. There is also another type of prophetic foretelling that was in
existence before the flood. It is the witness of the stars and the stories of
their names. The story that the heavens tell is the same story that the
prophets wrote about. Jesus tells us that if we believe on him like the scripture
says then out of our bellies will flow rivers of living water.
John 7:38 He who believes in Me
[who cleaves to and trusts in and relies on Me] as the Scripture has said, From
his innermost being shall flow [continuously] springs and rivers of living
water. AMP
John 7:38G3588The one G4100believing G1519in G1473me, G2531as G2036[3said G35881the G11242scripture], G4215[4rivers G15371From out of G3588 G28362his belly G1473 G44823shall flow G52046water G21985of living]
That scripture is written in the constellation of Aquarius. Aquarius is
the constellation story of the water bearer. We will develop this further in
the next few weeks. But before there were written prophetic words, there were
stars that were given names and across all ancient languages, those star names
remain the same. They tell of a virgin who would bring a savior into the world,
who would fight for the sheep, impart the power of the Holy Spirit on the
sheep, and then take the sheep home. Just like Jesus walked through a script
that the prophets wrote, the script in the heavens is the story we all are
walking through, whether we realize it or not. And just like our physical
writings, we have to put the story of the stars into a timeline format. The
oldest understandings come out of Chaldean, Hebrew, Assyrian, Babylonian, and
Egypt. Later distortions came during the Greek and Roman era. If we go back to
the oldest stories we get an accurate look at the scripture in the stars.
During the time of the first
century the people who walked with Jesus either wrote or orated the stories of
Jesus’ time on earth. Luke, who was not an eyewitness, is said to have
interviewed others (primarily Thomas) and wrote his account of walking with
Jesus. Then, as people converted from Judaism to Christianity, others wrote of
their knowledge. Not all were prophets such as the Shepherd of Hermas, whose
visions were recorded, canonized, and widely distributed at that time. Some
were prophets, such as Paul and John. At various times in history there were
different texts included in the canon of Christian writings. The Essenes
translated and scribed many texts in an attempt to preserve them. With this in
mind, we have to wonder how many texts have been lost forever.
All ancient texts are profitable
for our learning. Whether we choose to believe they are prophetic or not is
another matter, but all writings give us insights into people of the time
period. What we should always consider very strongly is how much altered text
we should believe which was written by people who rejected Jesus as Messiah and
have made many attempts to cover up his Messiahship. At the very least, 134
alterations to the name Yahweh have caused
so much confusion that other religions have sprung up; they gather up more followers
all under the intentional alterations of the name Yahweh. I understand that
after being evicted from Jerusalem the religious leaders attempted to preserve
Judaism as a religion, but today we can look back and recognize that the
outcome of their behavior causes people to die in their sins. The Romans
canonized what they thought was important, the Jews canonized what they thought
was important, and the Protestants canonized what they thought was important.
Maybe instead of only this group or that group of writings, we should think
inclusively and judge by way of the Holy Spirit, what can teach us something
and what cannot. Could it be “both and” instead of “either or”? And in the case
of Moses, the actual scripture written by the hand of God was not as important
as salvation for the children of Israel. Maybe that is the correct perspective.
