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Let us give earnest heed to these statements and examine them in the light of their
contexts. Both are the utterances of men in view of death, and there is a suitable
solemnity about the two epistles containing them that pervades their whole doctrine. In
both instances the immediate contexts speak of death:--
"The time of my departure is at hand. I have fought a good fight, I have finished my
course, I have kept the faith" (II Tim. 4: 6, 7).
"Shortly I must put off this my tabernacle as the Lord Jesus Christ hath shewed me"
(II Pet. 1: 14).
Thus, on the eve of martyrdom, both Paul and Peter give unambiguous testimony to
the absolutely divine origin of the Scriptures. How, then, can we hope to finish our
course, how keep the faith, how entertain the hope of a crown or a "well done" if we deny
or trifle with the Scriptures held so dear by these two servants of the Lord?
"From a child thou hast known the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise
unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus. All scripture is given by inspiration
of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in
righteousness: that the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good
works" (II Tim. 3: 15-17).
Two titles are here given to the Scriptures:--(1) "HOLY SCRIPTURES", Hiera
grammata = "Sacred letters" (the reader will call to mind the hiera-glyphics of Egyptian
monuments). (2) "SCRIPTURE", Graphe = "Writing".
Hieros stands for that which is sacred, revered, related to God. The neuter, to hieron,
indicates a sacred place, the temple or sacred thing, the sacrifice (I Cor. 9: 13). Hiereus
is a priest. Grammata indicates a letter of the alphabet (Gal. 6: 11), or a letter
(Acts 28: 21), but among the Jews it had a special significance, meaning the Holy
Scriptures themselves. "How knoweth this man letters, having never learned?"
(John 7: 15). As the word hieros gives us the word "priest" (hierus), so grammata gives
us the companion word, "scribe" (grammateus).
Graphe is practically an English word, having been in use in our language for a great
while. It occurs in such words as photography, geography, graphic, etc., and always
means something written. While graphe could, of course, refer to anything written at any
time by anyone, it assumes a special meaning in the Word of God, and when used
without qualification always means "The Scriptures", The Writings par excellence. So
gegrapti--"It is, or hath been, written" is a phrase that indicates the Scriptures. We trust
that no more need be said to stress the fact that we are dealing, not with thoughts, ideas,
or even spoken words, but something written. As will be seen in the sequel this is most
important.
The O.T. abounds in references to writing and to books. Moses wrote all the words of
the Lord in a book (Exod. 24: 4). So did Joshua (Josh. 24: 26). Over and over again
appeal is made to the written law (Exod. 31: 18; Deut. 28: 58; Josh. 8: 31).
The foundation of our faith is written testimony.