In the context of the Bible, documents play a significant role in the recording, preservation, and transmission of God's word and His dealings with humanity. The term "documents" can refer to various forms of written records, including scrolls, letters, decrees, and legal texts, which are integral to understanding the historical and theological narrative of the Scriptures.

Old Testament Documents

The Old Testament contains numerous references to written documents, which were essential for maintaining the covenantal relationship between God and His people. One of the earliest mentions of writing is found in Exodus 24:4, where Moses is described as writing down all the words of the LORD. This act of documentation was crucial for the Israelites to remember and adhere to the covenant laws given at Sinai.

The importance of written records is further emphasized in Deuteronomy 31:24-26, where Moses commands the Levites to place the Book of the Law beside the Ark of the Covenant as a witness against the people. This underscores the role of documents as a means of accountability and remembrance.

Prophets also utilized written documents to convey God's messages. For instance, Jeremiah was instructed to write all the words spoken to him in a scroll (Jeremiah 30:2). Such documents served as both immediate communication and long-term preservation of divine revelation.

New Testament Documents

The New Testament continues the tradition of using documents to convey and preserve the teachings of Jesus Christ and the apostles. The Gospels themselves are written accounts of Jesus' life, death, and resurrection, serving as foundational documents for Christian faith and practice.

The epistles, or letters, of the New Testament are another form of document that played a crucial role in the early Church. These letters, written by apostles such as Paul, Peter, and John, addressed doctrinal issues, provided guidance, and encouraged believers. For example, Paul emphasizes the importance of his written words in 1 Corinthians 14:37, stating, "If anyone considers himself a prophet or spiritual person, let him acknowledge that what I am writing to you is the Lord’s command."

Legal and Historical Documents

In addition to religious texts, the Bible references various legal and historical documents. The book of Esther, for instance, mentions royal decrees and edicts that were written and distributed throughout the Persian Empire (Esther 3:12-14). These documents were vital for the administration of the kingdom and the implementation of laws.

Similarly, in the book of Ezra, the rebuilding of the Jerusalem temple is facilitated by a decree from King Cyrus, which was documented and preserved (Ezra 1:1-4). Such records highlight the interaction between divine providence and human governance.

The Role of Scribes and Copyists

The preservation and transmission of biblical documents were largely the responsibility of scribes and copyists. These individuals were tasked with meticulously copying texts to ensure their accuracy and longevity. The role of the scribe is exemplified in Ezra 7:6, where Ezra is described as "a scribe skilled in the Law of Moses."

The meticulous care taken by scribes in copying the Scriptures underscores the reverence for God's word and the commitment to its faithful transmission across generations.

Conclusion

Documents in the Bible serve as vital instruments for recording divine revelation, legal decrees, and historical events. They provide a tangible link between God's eternal truths and the temporal world, ensuring that His word endures through the ages.1793. entugchano -- to chance upon, by impl. confer with, by ext. ...
... [J. Thayer documents how this meaning is consistently the same in ancient Greek
writers. The root of 5177 () means "to strike, hit the bulls-eye" ("spot on"). ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/1793.htm - 8k

209. akolutos -- without hindrance
... akolutos Phonetic Spelling: (ak-o-loo'-toce) Short Definition: freely, without
hindrance Definition: (characteristic of legal documents), without hindrance ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/209.htm - 6k

379. anapologetos -- without excuse
... [379 () comes from " privative" ("not") and ("to defend, excuse"). It
"occurs in documents from the second century before Christ. ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/379.htm - 8k

728. arrabon -- an earnest (a part payment in advance for security ...
... [728 () is common in the papyri for "down payment/earnest money" and hence
frequent in business documents and agreements.]. Word ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/728.htm - 7k

5480. charagma -- a stamp, impress
... unique "brand-mark"). [Ancient documents were validated by such stamps or
seals (see Plutarch, , 15:6; 16:2, , 2, 574).]. Word Origin ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/5480.htm - 7k

The Prophetic and Priestly Documents
... THE PROPHETIC AND PRIESTLY DOCUMENTS. Of the three principal documents,
J, E and P, to whose fusion is due the account of Israel's ...
/.../introduction to the old testament/the prophetic and priestly documents.htm

Introduction to Ancient Syriac Documents.
... Ancient Syriac Documents. Moses of Chorene. History of Armenia.
Introduction to Ancient Syriac Documents. 1. The preceding ...
/.../unknown/the decretals/introduction to ancient syriac documents.htm

Ancient Syriac Documents Relating to the Earliest Establishment of ...
... And Other Ancient Syriac Documents. ... The name Edessa (***) occurs only once in
these Documents, viz., in the "Acts of Sharbil," sub init.--Tr. ...
/.../unknown/the decretals/ancient syriac documents relating to.htm

Documents Connected with the Council of Tyre.
... Chapter VI."Documents connected with the Council of Tyre. 71. Thus ended
the conspiracy. The Meletians were repulsed and covered ...
/.../chapter vi documents connected with the.htm

Ambrose.
... Ancient Syriac Documents. Moses of Chorene. History of Armenia. Ancient
Syriac Documents. Ambrose. A memorial [3496] a which ...
/.../unknown/the decretals/ancient syriac documents ambrose.htm

Bardesan.
... Ancient Syriac Documents. Moses of Chorene. History of Armenia. Ancient Syriac
Documents. Bardesan. The Book of the Laws of Divers Countries. [3356] ...
/.../unknown/the decretals/ancient syriac documents bardesan.htm

The Teaching of the Apostles.
... Memoirs of Edessa. And Other Ancient Syriac Documents. [Translated by the Rev. BP
Pratten, BA] Ancient Syriac Documents. The Teaching of the Apostles. ...
/.../unknown/the decretals/ancient syriac documents the teaching 2.htm

Acts of Sharbil, who was a Priest of Idols, and was Converted to ...
... Memoirs of Edessa. And Other Ancient Syriac Documents. [Translated by the
Rev. BP Pratten, BA] Ancient Syriac Documents. Acts of ...
/.../unknown/the decretals/ancient syriac documents acts of.htm

The Teaching of Add??us the Apostle.
... Memoirs of Edessa. And Other Ancient Syriac Documents. [Translated by the Rev. BP
Pratten, BA] Ancient Syriac Documents. The Teaching of Add??us the Apostle. ...
/.../unknown/the decretals/ancient syriac documents the teaching.htm

The Teaching of Simon Cephas in the City of Rome.
... Memoirs of Edessa. And Other Ancient Syriac Documents. [Translated by the
Rev. BP Pratten, BA] Ancient Syriac Documents. The Teaching ...
/.../unknown/the decretals/ancient syriac documents the teaching 3.htm

Documents (2 Occurrences)
... Multi-Version Concordance Documents (2 Occurrences). Ezra 6:1 Then Darius
the king made a decree, and search was made in the house ...
/d/documents.htm - 6k

Document (9 Occurrences)
... 5. (vt) To furnish with documents or papers necessary to establish facts or give
information; as, a ship should be documented according to the directions of law ...
/d/document.htm - 9k

Libraries
... or manuscript. An archive is a library of official documents not in active
use; a registry, a library of going documents. 1. The ...
/l/libraries.htm - 38k

Numbers (136 Occurrences)
... of the one living and true God-which theory, in order to vindicate its plausibility,
required the reconstruction of Israel's religious documents in the way ...
/n/numbers.htm - 71k

Acts (271 Occurrences)
... "The book of the acts of Solomon" (1 Kings 11:41), probably a history based on the
state documents kept by the official recorder. ... (1) The chief documents. ...
/a/acts.htm - 101k

Virgin (62 Occurrences)
... THE CRITICAL QUESTION 1. Basis of Virgin-Birth Statement 2. Interrelationship of
Narratives 3. Sources, Origin and age of Documents V. THE DOCTRINAL QUESTION 1 ...
/v/virgin.htm - 64k

Birth (357 Occurrences)
... THE CRITICAL QUESTION 1. Basis of Virgin-Birth Statement 2. Interrelationship of
Narratives 3. Sources, Origin and age of Documents V. THE DOCTRINAL QUESTION 1 ...
/b/birth.htm - 71k

Library
... predilection for the subject, and the consequence is that his library was filled
with works which the Assyriologist would gladly exchange for documents of a ...
/l/library.htm - 16k

Papyrus (4 Occurrences)
... Egyptian documents of great historical value have been preserved on these fragile
rolls. ... Crit. 2, or Milligan, New Testament Documents, 249-54. ...
/p/papyrus.htm - 34k

Ostraca
... for ancient Hebrew writing and to a less extent for Hebrew words and forms they
are of value, while the fact that in them we possess documents actually penned ...
/o/ostraca.htm - 10k

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