NT RELIGIOUS / POLITICAL GROUPS (10)
(Message by Tanny Keng)
1. Who were the Scribes in the New Testament?
a) New Testament scribes, the organization of which began at the time of Ezra the prophet, were men trained to write. At first they were merely transcribers of God's law and synagogue readers. They later became interpreters of God's law whose responsibility was to teach the Torah to the Jewish masses and to the Jewish youth in particular. They produced legal documents, recorded deeds, etc. and could act as notary public and court secretary. Although some of them copied documents this was not necessarily a part of their job.
b) As in most of the ancient world, scribes were distinguished professionals who could exercise functions we today would associate with lawyers or judges. They were generally the most educated men in the nation and as such became influential. In fact, since the art of writing was known only to the intelligent, the term "scribe" became synonymous with "wise man" (1Chronicles 27:32). They were eligible to be elected to the Sanhedrin (the supreme and highest council of the Jews).
c) The high regard of such people as teachers of the law was such that the apostle Paul warned Timothy to be wary of those who pretended to be one of them " . . . desiring to be teachers of the law, understanding neither what they say nor the things which they affirm." (1Timothy 1:5-7). Many of them were also Pharisees. Jesus referenced their authority to convey God's word to the people when he said: "'The scribes and the Pharisees sit in Moses' seat . . . '" (Matthew 23:2). Yet, when people heard Jesus teach, they said he taught with a divine authority and power that even such professional writers lacked (Matthew 7:29).
d) Scribes (along with other religious leaders) are usually shown in the Gospel accounts as opponents of Jesus who actively sought to put him to death (Mark 11:27). Jesus knew in advance, and stated such to the disciples, that their role would be big in regard to helping bring his ultimate death on the cross (Mark 8:31, Matthew 16:21). Acts also portrays them as opponents of early Christianity (Acts 4:5; 6:12). Some few, however, were neutral (Matthew 13:52), or were even praised by Jesus (Mark 12:28-34), or rose to defend the apostle Paul (Acts 23:9).
1. Who were the Scribes in the New Testament?a) New Testament scribes, the organization of which began at the time of Ezra the prophet, were men trained to write. At first they were merely transcribers of God's law and synagogue readers. They later became interpreters of God's law whose responsibility was to teach the Torah to the Jewish masses and to the Jewish youth in particular. They produced legal documents, recorded deeds, etc. and could act as notary public and court secretary. Although some of them copied documents this was not necessarily a part of their job.
b) As in most of the ancient world, scribes were distinguished professionals who could exercise functions we today would associate with lawyers or judges. They were generally the most educated men in the nation and as such became influential. In fact, since the art of writing was known only to the intelligent, the term "scribe" became synonymous with "wise man" (1Chronicles 27:32). They were eligible to be elected to the Sanhedrin (the supreme and highest council of the Jews).
c) The high regard of such people as teachers of the law was such that the apostle Paul warned Timothy to be wary of those who pretended to be one of them " . . . desiring to be teachers of the law, understanding neither what they say nor the things which they affirm." (1Timothy 1:5-7). Many of them were also Pharisees. Jesus referenced their authority to convey God's word to the people when he said: "'The scribes and the Pharisees sit in Moses' seat . . . '" (Matthew 23:2). Yet, when people heard Jesus teach, they said he taught with a divine authority and power that even such professional writers lacked (Matthew 7:29).
d) Scribes (along with other religious leaders) are usually shown in the Gospel accounts as opponents of Jesus who actively sought to put him to death (Mark 11:27). Jesus knew in advance, and stated such to the disciples, that their role would be big in regard to helping bring his ultimate death on the cross (Mark 8:31, Matthew 16:21). Acts also portrays them as opponents of early Christianity (Acts 4:5; 6:12). Some few, however, were neutral (Matthew 13:52), or were even praised by Jesus (Mark 12:28-34), or rose to defend the apostle Paul (Acts 23:9).
e) The following meticulous procedures and methods were used for making copies of God's law (Torah).
i) They could only use clean animal skins to write on and for binding manuscripts.
ii) Each column of writing could have no less than forty-eight and no more than sixty lines.
iii) The ink must be black and made from a special recipe.
iv) They must say each word aloud while writing it.
v) They must wipe their pens and wash their entire bodies before each time they write the name of God (YHVH).
vi) Their work must be reviewed within thirty days. If as many as three pages required corrections, the entire manuscript had to be redone.
vii) The letters, words and paragraphs had to be counted. The document became invalid if two letters touched each other. The middle paragraph, word and letter must correspond to those of the original document.
viii) The documents written by them could be stored only in sacred places (synagogues, etc.).
The End ...
i) They could only use clean animal skins to write on and for binding manuscripts.
ii) Each column of writing could have no less than forty-eight and no more than sixty lines.
iii) The ink must be black and made from a special recipe.
iv) They must say each word aloud while writing it.
v) They must wipe their pens and wash their entire bodies before each time they write the name of God (YHVH).
vi) Their work must be reviewed within thirty days. If as many as three pages required corrections, the entire manuscript had to be redone.
vii) The letters, words and paragraphs had to be counted. The document became invalid if two letters touched each other. The middle paragraph, word and letter must correspond to those of the original document.
viii) The documents written by them could be stored only in sacred places (synagogues, etc.).
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