Topical Encyclopedia
In the context of biblical studies, the term "copied" often refers to the process of transcription and replication of biblical manuscripts. The meticulous copying of Scripture has been a critical aspect of preserving the biblical text throughout history. This entry explores the significance of copying in the biblical tradition, the role of scribes, and the implications for the reliability of the biblical text.
Biblical Context and ImportanceThe practice of copying Scripture is rooted in the biblical mandate to preserve and transmit God's Word. In
Deuteronomy 17:18-19, the king of Israel is instructed to write for himself a copy of the law, "When he is seated on his royal throne, he must write for himself a copy of this instruction on a scroll in the presence of the Levitical priests. It is to remain with him, and he is to read from it all the days of his life, so that he may learn to fear the LORD his God by carefully observing all the words of this instruction and these statutes" . This command underscores the importance of personal engagement with the Scriptures and the role of copying in ensuring the king's adherence to God's law.
Role of ScribesScribes played a crucial role in the copying and preservation of biblical texts. They were responsible for the accurate transmission of Scripture, often working under strict guidelines to ensure precision. The scribes' dedication to their craft is evident in the meticulous methods they employed, such as counting letters and words to prevent errors. This careful attention to detail helped maintain the integrity of the biblical text over centuries.
Transmission and ReliabilityThe process of copying Scripture has significant implications for the reliability of the biblical text. The abundance of manuscript evidence, particularly for the New Testament, attests to the careful transmission of the text. The Dead Sea Scrolls, discovered in the mid-20th century, include some of the oldest known copies of the Hebrew Bible and demonstrate the consistency of the text over time. The scrolls provide a remarkable witness to the fidelity of the copying process, as they align closely with later manuscripts.
Implications for Faith and PracticeThe faithful copying of Scripture has profound implications for Christian faith and practice. Believers can have confidence in the reliability of the biblical text, knowing that it has been preserved with great care. This assurance supports the authority of Scripture as the inspired Word of God, as stated in
2 Timothy 3:16, "All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for instruction, for conviction, for correction, and for training in righteousness" . The accurate transmission of the text enables Christians to engage with Scripture as a trustworthy guide for faith and life.
ConclusionThe practice of copying Scripture is a testament to the dedication of those who sought to preserve God's Word for future generations. Through the diligent work of scribes and the providence of God, the biblical text has been faithfully transmitted, providing a reliable foundation for Christian belief and practice.
Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary
(
imp. & p. p.) of Copy.
Greek
5261. hupogrammos -- a writing to becopied, an example... a writing to be
copied, an example. Part of Speech: Noun, Masculine Transliteration:
hupogrammos Phonetic Spelling: (hoop-og-ram-mos') Short Definition: a
...Library
Whether the Image of God is in Man?
... an image." Hence it is clear that likeness is essential to an image; and that an
image adds something to likeness"-namely, that it iscopied from something...
What Nonsense is this Out of which they Fabricate a Charge against...
... He had given me some papers about church affairs to getcopied; and the story describes
a trick practised by the Apollinarians who borrowed one of these, a...
There is Another Trinity in the Memory of Him who Thinks Over...
... But when it is conceived, then from that form which the memory retains, there is
copied in the mind's eye (acie) of him who conceives, and by remembrance is...
The Great Power of God
... It is also to be remarked that before the age of printing, when books werecopied
and recopied in manuscript, it was not uncommon for the copyist to take the...
The Chariot of Fire
... some at least of the writings attributed to him were ancient relics of the literature
of the old evangelical communities, which he eithercopied or touched up....
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... phrase "Project Gutenberg" appears, or with which the phrase "Project Gutenberg"
is associated) is accessed, displayed, performed, viewed,copied or distributed...
*** end of this project gutenberg ebook history of egypt, chaldaea...
... phrase "Project Gutenberg" appears, or with which the phrase "Project Gutenberg"
is associated) is accessed, displayed, performed, viewed,copied or distributed...
Manuscripts and Books
... Codex as carefully as possible, adding the accents and breathings, and separating
the words that were undistinguished in the original uncialcopied by Baanes....
The Sect Everywhere Spoken Against
... Sometimes he sent him tracts written by others, andcopied out by him.
And finally these tracts were almost entirely re-copied by...
Letter v. To Florentius.
... I entreat you, therefore, to ask him to allow you to have the commentaries of the
reverend Rhetitius, [76] bishop of Augustodunum, [77]copied, in which he has...
Thesaurus
Copied (3 Occurrences)... Multi-Version Concordance
Copied (3 Occurrences).
... Proverbs 25:1 These also are proverbs
of Solomon, which the men of Hezekiah king of Judah
copied out.
...Pattern (28 Occurrences)
... 1. (n.) Anything proposed for imitation; an archetype; an exemplar; that which is
to be, or is worthy to be,copied or imitated; as, a pattern of a machine....
Potter (14 Occurrences)
... They at leastcopied Phoenician and Mycenaean forms.... (4) Seleucidan. Foreign influence
again appears. Greek and other types are imported andcopied....
Pottery (11 Occurrences)
... They at leastcopied Phoenician and Mycenaean forms.... (4) Seleucidan. Foreign influence
again appears. Greek and other types are imported andcopied....
Cope (1 Occurrence)
Jude (4 Occurrences)
... All readers must be impressed with the similarity. Accordingly, it is very generally
held by interpreters that one of the writerscopied from the other....
Book (211 Occurrences)
... It seems that a book may be inwardlycopied through eye or ear or touch or any sense
from some outward book; or again it may becopied back and forth within...
Latin (2 Occurrences)
... Some of them, however, held their ground and continued to becopied down to the
12th and even the 13th century Codex C (Ephraemi) is an example of this; it is...
Natural (49 Occurrences)
... 6. (a.) Resembling the object imitated; true to nature; according to the life; --
said of anythingcopied or imitated; as, a portrait is natural....
Original (6 Occurrences)
... 2. (a.) Notcopied, imitated, or translated; new; fresh; genuine; as, an original
thought; an original process; the original text of Scripture....
Resources
Was some of Proverbs copied from the Instruction of Amenemope? | GotQuestions.orgWhat is the Majority Text? | GotQuestions.orgTextual criticism - what is it? | GotQuestions.orgCopied: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.comBible Concordance •
Bible Dictionary •
Bible Encyclopedia •
Topical Bible •
Bible Thesuarus
