It will be noticed that two related words are chosen by the apostle to refer to the

"Scriptures", gramma and graphe. Both are derived from grapho "to write", but usage

has given to each word a distinctive meaning. There are fifty-one occurrences of graphe

in the New Testament and, without exception, every reference is translated "scripture" or

"scriptures".  The distribution of graphe "scripture" and "scriptures" is as follows:

Matthew, 4 occurrences;  Mark, 4;  Luke, 4;  John, 12;  Acts, 7;  Romans, 7;

Rest of Paul's epistles, 7; James, 3; Peter, 3.

The phrase "it is written" gegraphai, literally "it hath been written (and remains so)",

refers to the Scriptures as an authority. Such examples as Matt. 4: 4; Mark 14: 27;

Luke 7: 27;  John 12: 14;  Acts 15: 15;  Rom. 1: 17;  I Cor. 1: 19;  II Cor. 9: 9;

Gal. 3: 10; Heb. 10: 7; I Pet. 1: 16,  will show that Gospels, Acts and Epistles use this

expression with this special significance. "The Writings" became the exclusive name of

the sacred books of the people of Israel. A canvass of the expression, will show that it is

applied equally to the Law, the Prophets or the Psalms.

Gramma is also used to indicate "the scriptures", but generally it is found with the

addition of ta hiera "the sacred writings". While graphe denotes "that which is written"

with reference to the Scriptures as a whole or in parts, gramma refers to the "letters"

rather as an object of study and learning. So, in John 7: 15 we read: "How knoweth

this man letters, having never learned."

The figure is familiar to us, we speak of a "man of letters", either intending a scholar,

or more usually, a literary man or author. From gramma came grammateus "the scribe",

the man who studied the Scriptures and, by so doing, possessed some authority in Israel.

It is therefore a happy distribution of the two words that we find in II Tim. 3: 15, 16.

Where he speaks of the child, Paul uses grammata, "the alphabet", but where he speaks

of the man of God, he uses graphe the authoritative scriptures. These "letters" are called

"holy".  The word so translated is hieros, a word familiar to us in the Egyptian

hieroglyphics "sacred engravings", but not so familiar to us is the Biblical

hierogrammata.  Hierus is translated "priest" in the New Testament, and hieron

"temple". The apostle selected the word hierourgeo "to minister as a priest" when he

spoke of his own particular relationship to the offering up of the Gentiles (Rom. 15: 16).

In order to distinguish hieros from hagios it is wise to use the word "sacred" for hieros,

reserving "holy" for hagios. Paul refers to the Scriptures which Timothy learned as a

child as "the sacred letters", partly because the other "sacred" things, such as priesthood,

sacrifice and temple, were passing away.

Brephos "from a child". The New Testament uses seven different words which

are translated "child".

Teknon, from tikto to bear, like Scottish "bairn".

Huios, a son, especially emphasizing relationship with the father.

Pais. In relation to descent, a child; in relation to age, a boy or a girl; in relation

to condition, a slave (as French use garcon, and we use "post-boy").

Paidon, a diminutive of pais, an infant.