Lexical Summary melan: Black, dark Original Word: μέλας Strong's Exhaustive Concordance ink. Neuter of melas as noun; ink -- ink. see GREEK melas NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originneut. of melas, q.v. Thayer's Greek Lexicon STRONGS NT 3188: μέλανμέλαν, μέλανος, τό, see the following word. Topical Lexicon Semantic and Symbolic RangeStrong’s Greek 3188 denotes the black substance used for writing—ordinary ink. In Scripture it appears only metaphorically as well as literally, drawing attention to the contrast between human inscription and divine inscription, and to the practical means by which apostolic teaching was dispatched and preserved. Scriptural Occurrences • 2 Corinthians 3:3 – Paul contrasts “ink” with “the Spirit of the living God,” underscoring the New Covenant reality in which the law is written on “tablets of human hearts.” Historical Background: Ink and Writing in the First Century Greco-Roman ink was commonly a mixture of carbon (soot or charcoal) suspended in gum solution, sometimes enriched with ferric compounds. It dried quickly and adhered well to papyrus and parchment. Jews and Christians adopted this technology for scrolls and codices. The mention of ink in the Epistles shows the apostles’ familiarity with contemporary literary tools, anchoring the New Testament in tangible history and culture. Theological Significance 1. New Covenant Realities (2 Corinthians 3:3) Ink represents the old, external medium; the Spirit represents the internal, life-giving inscription. Paul’s imagery affirms that regeneration is an act of God, not human artistry. The same Spirit who inspired the written word now inscribes truth upon believers’ hearts, demonstrating continuity rather than competition between Scripture and Spirit. 2. Apostolic Authority and Transmission Though Paul elevates spiritual inscription above ink, he never denigrates written revelation. The epistles themselves are Spirit-breathed writings that have become part of Scripture. Thus, the word “ink” simultaneously points to the insufficiency of mere human letters and to God’s chosen vehicle for preserving apostolic doctrine. 3. Fellowship and Presence (2 John 1:12; 3 John 1:13) Ink is portrayed as a second-best option. Face-to-face ministry completes joy. Yet the very lines that speak this truth come to us through ink, demonstrating that God sanctifies even the “lesser” medium to bless His Church when direct presence is impossible. Pastoral and Ministry Implications • Shepherds today should value personal interaction while also employing written and digital means for instruction, recognizing both the power and limitations of mediated communication. Historical Reliability and Preservation of Scripture The reference to ink authenticates the physical reality of the manuscripts. Early Christian scribes employed durable inks that, when paired with parchment and later the codex form, enabled wide circulation and preservation. Archaeological finds of second- and third-century papyri illustrate how these everyday materials carried the gospel across the Roman world. Related Themes and Cross-References • Tablets of stone vs. hearts of flesh – Exodus 31:18; Jeremiah 31:33 Christological and Ecclesiological Insights Christ is “the Word” (John 1:1), and His Spirit writes living truth within His people. The Church, therefore, is both a reading community—receiving inspired writings—and a living epistle, manifesting Christ to the world. Ink once carried the message; now believers themselves are “letters from Christ,” a testimony that transcends parchment. Summary Strong’s Greek 3188, though referring to ordinary black ink, opens a window on profound biblical themes: the transformation wrought by the Spirit, the authority and preservation of Scripture, and the call to authentic, relational ministry. In God’s providence, ink both reveals its own limitations and serves as a faithful witness to the once-for-all delivered faith. Forms and Transliterations μελάνθιον μελανι μέλανι μελανος μέλανος μελανωμένη melani mélani melanos mélanosLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance 2 Corinthians 3:3 Adj-DNSGRK: ἐνγεγραμμένη οὐ μέλανι ἀλλὰ πνεύματι KJV: not with ink, but INT: having been inscribed not in ink but with [the] Spirit 2 John 1:12 Adj-GNS 3 John 1:13 Adj-GNS Strong's Greek 3188 |
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