Who Were the Bible Scribes

cropped-uasv-2005.jpg

Please Support the Bible Translation Work of the Updated American Standard Version (UASV)

$5.00

APOSTOLIC FATHERS Lightfoot

Persons who can read and write. Their education made them indispensable in many civilizations, as they were needed to keep all military, government, legal, and financial records. Such secular roles for scribes are found in the earliest biblical references to them (e.g., Judg. 5:14; 2 Sam. 8:17; 1 Kgs. 4:3; 2 Kgs. 12:10; 18:18; 22:3, 12; Jer. 36:10). Jeremiah’s secretary Baruch is a scribe, assisting with business transactions (Jer. 32:12) as well as taking dictation (36:18, 32).

Although scribes continue to perform such roles in the postexilic period (cf. Neh. 13:13, where a scribe named Zadok is appointed as a treasurer over the storehouses where tithes are kept), the term begins to be more specifically associated with the transmission and interpretation of Torah. The scribes were Torah scholars who preserved and interpreted the Law in order to maintain its centrality in Judaism after the Exile and in the Diaspora. Ezra is an epitome of this kind of scribe (Ezra 7:6, 10).

Ben Sira (ca. 180 B.C.E.) describes the scribe as one whose study of God’s revelation translates into great power in the government and courts (Sir. 38:24–39:11). The scribe’s learning extends to all Israelite (and even non-Israelite) traditions: he “devotes himself to the study of the law of the Most High. He seeks out the wisdom of all the ancients, and is concerned with prophecies; he preserves the sayings of the famous and penetrates the subtleties of parables” (Sir. 38:34–39:2). Only the scribe has “eminence in the public assembly”; he is the one who can “sit in the judge’s seat” and can “expound discipline or judgment” (Sir. 38:33). The scribe “serves among the great and appears before rulers; he travels in foreign lands and learns what is good and evil in the human lot.… The Lord will direct his counsel and knowledge, as he meditates on his mysteries” (Sir. 39:4, 7).

is-the-quran-the-word-of-god UNDERSTANDING ISLAM AND TERRORISM THE GUIDE TO ANSWERING ISLAM.png

Such a description of scribes as both pious and influential is found in 1 and 2 Maccabees (late 2nd century B.C.E.). In 1 Macc. 7:12 a group of scribes negotiates with the Syrians, indicating they were in a position of some authority and power. Later a scribe, Eleazar, is held up as a model of piety for the rest of the community (2 Macc. 6:18–20).

DEFENDING OLD TESTAMENT AUTHORSHIP Agabus Cover BIBLICAL CRITICISM

Scribes are again presented as influential interpreters of Torah in the NT, though with a decidedly negative portrayal of them. They are usually presented together with other Jewish groups, especially Pharisees (e.g., Matt. 5:20; 23:2). As interpreters of the Torah, the scribes probably would have been most often associated with the Pharisees, who sought to broaden the applicability of the Torah. On a very few occasions scribes are shown as responding positively to Jesus (Matt. 8:19; 13:52; Mark 12:32), but they are most frequently portrayed as his enemies (Mark 8:31; 10:33; 11:18; 14:1, 43, 53; 15:1). Not surprisingly, their conflicts with Jesus often have to do with how the law of Moses should be observed (Mark 2:15–17; 7:1–8; Luke 6:6–11).

Mosaic Authorship HOW RELIABLE ARE THE GOSPELS

Matthew’s depiction of the scribes is at once the most negative and the most positive in the NT. On the one hand, probably due to the opposition his own community was experiencing from Jewish officials, Matthew views the Jewish scribes as corrupt and false, having Jesus attack them with the refrain, “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites!” (Matt. 23). But while he may view the current interpreters of the law as misguided (Matt. 23:16), Matthew still accepts their legitimacy and authority (vv. 2–3). Also, Matthew does not believe that Jesus has come to abolish the old laws and institutions, but rather to fulfill and complete them, giving them their proper authority and place (Matt. 5:17). Matthew therefore believes that there will still be scribes in the new Christian community, and they will continue their function of making the past traditions relevant and alive to believers, preserving them as precious treasures (Matt. 13:52; cf. 23:34).

By Kim Paffenroth

SCROLL THROUGH DIFFERENT CATEGORIES BELOW

BIBLE TRANSLATION AND TEXTUAL CRITICISM

The Complete Guide to Bible Translation-2
The Reading Culture of Early Christianity From Spoken Words to Sacred Texts 400,000 Textual Variants 02
The P52 PROJECT THE NEW TESTAMENT DOCUMENTS 4th ed. MISREPRESENTING JESUS
APOSTOLIC FATHERS Lightfoot APOSTOLIC FATHERS
English Bible Versions King James Bible KING JAMES BIBLE II
9781949586121 BIBLE DIFFICULTIES THE NEW TESTAMENT DOCUMENTS
APOSTOLIC FATHERS Lightfoot

BIBLICAL STUDIES / INTERPRETATION

How to Interpret the Bible-1 INTERPRETING THE BIBLE how-to-study-your-bible1
how-to-study-your-bible1
israel against all odds ISRAEL AGAINST ALL ODDS - Vol. II
THE LIFE OF JESUS CHRIST by Stalker-1 The TRIAL and Death of Jesus_02

EARLY CHRISTIANITY

THE LIFE OF JESUS CHRIST by Stalker-1 The TRIAL and Death of Jesus_02 THE LIFE OF Paul by Stalker-1
PAUL AND LUKE ON TRIAL
APOSTOLIC FATHERS Lightfoot APOSTOLIC FATHERS I AM John 8.58

CHRISTIAN APOLOGETIC EVANGELISM

The Epistle to the Hebrews
REASONING FROM THE SCRIPTURES APOLOGETICS CONVERSATION EVANGELISM
AN ENCOURAGING THOUGHT_01
Young Christians
INVESTIGATING JEHOVAH'S WITNESSES REVIEWING 2013 New World Translation
Jesus Paul THE EVANGELISM HANDBOOK
REASONING WITH OTHER RELIGIONS APOLOGETICS
REASONABLE FAITH FEARLESS-1
Satan BLESSED IN SATAN'S WORLD_02 HEROES OF FAITH - ABEL
is-the-quran-the-word-of-god UNDERSTANDING ISLAM AND TERRORISM THE GUIDE TO ANSWERING ISLAM.png
DEFENDING OLD TESTAMENT AUTHORSHIP Agabus Cover BIBLICAL CRITICISM
Mosaic Authorship HOW RELIABLE ARE THE GOSPELS
THE CREATION DAYS OF GENESIS gift of prophecy

TECHNOLOGY

9798623463753 Machinehead KILLER COMPUTERS
INTO THE VOID

CHRISTIAN THEOLOGY

Why Me_ Explaining the Doctrine of the Last Things Understaning Creation Account
Homosexuality and the Christian second coming Cover Where Are the Dead
CHRISTIAN THEOLOGY Vol. CHRISTIAN THEOLOGY Vol. II CHRISTIAN THEOLOGY Vol. III
CHRISTIAN THEOLOGY Vol. IV CHRISTIAN THEOLOGY Vol. V MIRACLES
Human Imperfection HUMILITY

CHILDREN’S BOOKS

READ ALONG WITH ME READ ALONG WITH ME READ ALONG WITH ME

PRAYER

Powerful Weapon of Prayer Power Through Prayer How to Pray_Torrey_Half Cover-1

TEENS-YOUTH-ADOLESCENCE-JUVENILE

THERE IS A REBEL IN THE HOUSE thirteen-reasons-to-keep-living_021 Waging War - Heather Freeman
 
Young Christians DEVOTIONAL FOR YOUTHS 40 day devotional (1)
Homosexuality and the Christian THE OUTSIDER RENEW YOUR MIND

CHRISTIAN LIVING

GODLY WISDOM SPEAKS Wives_02 HUSBANDS - Love Your Wives
 
WALK HUMBLY WITH YOUR GOD THE BATTLE FOR THE CHRISTIAN MIND (1)-1
ADULTERY 9781949586053 PROMISES OF GODS GUIDANCE
APPLYING GODS WORD-1 For As I Think In My Heart_2nd Edition Put Off the Old Person
Abortion Booklet Dying to Kill The Pilgrim’s Progress
WHY DON'T YOU BELIEVE WAITING ON GOD WORKING FOR GOD
 
YOU CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE Let God Use You to Solve Your PROBLEMS THE POWER OF GOD
HOW TO OVERCOME YOUR BAD HABITS-1 GOD WILL GET YOU THROUGH THIS A Dangerous Journey
ARTS, MEDIA, AND CULTURE Christians and Government Christians and Economics

CHRISTIAN COMMENTARIES

CHRISTIAN DEVOTIONALS
40 day devotional (1) Daily Devotional_NT_TM Daily_OT
DEVOTIONAL FOR CAREGIVERS DEVOTIONAL FOR YOUTHS DEVOTIONAL FOR TRAGEDY
DEVOTIONAL FOR YOUTHS 40 day devotional (1)

CHURCH HEALTH, GROWTH, AND HISTORY

LEARN TO DISCERN Deception In the Church FLEECING THE FLOCK_03
The Church Community_02 THE CHURCH CURE Developing Healthy Churches
FIRST TIMOTHY 2.12 EARLY CHRISTIANITY-1

Apocalyptic-Eschatology [End Times]

Explaining the Doctrine of the Last Things Identifying the AntiChrist second coming Cover
ANGELS AMERICA IN BIBLE PROPHECY_ ezekiel, daniel, & revelation

CHRISTIAN FICTION

Oren Natas_JPEG Sentient-Front Seekers and Deceivers
Judas Diary 02 Journey PNG The Rapture

Leave a Reply

Powered by WordPress.com.

Up ↑

%d bloggers like this: