Topical Bible: Prophecy: Written by an Amanuensis

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Topical Encyclopedia

In the context of biblical literature, prophecy refers to the divinely inspired messages delivered by prophets, who served as God's spokespersons. These messages often included foretelling future events, providing guidance, and calling people to repentance. The role of an amanuensis, or a scribe, in the transmission of these prophecies is a significant aspect of biblical authorship and preservation.

Role of the Amanuensis

An amanuensis is a person employed to write or transcribe what another dictates or to copy what has been written by another. In the ancient world, it was common for individuals, including prophets and apostles, to use amanuenses to record their messages. This practice is evident in several books of the Bible, where the presence of an amanuensis is either explicitly mentioned or implied.

Biblical Examples

One of the clearest examples of an amanuensis in the Bible is found in the writings of the Apostle Paul. In Romans 16:22, Tertius, who served as Paul's scribe, writes, "I, Tertius, who wrote down this letter, greet you in the Lord." This indicates that while Paul was the author of the epistle, Tertius was responsible for its physical writing.

Similarly, the prophet Jeremiah employed Baruch as his scribe. In Jeremiah 36:4, it is recorded, "So Jeremiah called Baruch son of Neriah, and while Jeremiah dictated all the words the LORD had spoken to him, Baruch wrote them on a scroll." This passage highlights the collaborative process between the prophet and his amanuensis in documenting divine revelation.

Theological Implications

The use of an amanuensis does not diminish the divine inspiration of the prophetic message. Conservative Christian theology maintains that the Holy Spirit guided both the prophet and the scribe in the transmission of God's word. The prophet received the revelation, and the amanuensis faithfully recorded it, ensuring the message was preserved accurately for future generations.

The involvement of an amanuensis also underscores the communal and relational aspects of biblical authorship. It reflects the interconnectedness of the early faith communities, where the transmission of God's word was a shared responsibility. This collaborative effort ensured the integrity and dissemination of the prophetic message across different regions and cultures.

Preservation and Transmission

The role of the amanuensis was crucial in the preservation and transmission of biblical texts. In a time when literacy was not widespread, and writing materials were costly, the skills of a trained scribe were invaluable. Amanuenses were often well-versed in the languages and writing styles of their time, enabling them to produce accurate and legible copies of the prophetic messages.

The meticulous work of these scribes contributed to the reliability of the biblical texts we have today. Their dedication to faithfully recording the words of the prophets ensured that the divine messages were preserved through centuries of transmission, allowing them to reach contemporary audiences.

Conclusion

The use of an amanuensis in the writing of biblical prophecy highlights the collaborative nature of scriptural transmission. While the prophet received the divine message, the amanuensis played a vital role in its documentation and preservation. This partnership reflects the communal effort in safeguarding the integrity of God's word, ensuring its faithful transmission to future generations.

Nave's Topical Index

Jeremiah 45:1
The word that Jeremiah the prophet spoke to Baruch the son of Neriah, when he had written these words in a book at the mouth of Jeremiah, in the fourth year of Jehoiakim the son of Josiah king of Judah, saying,
Nave's Topical Index

Library

On the Sufficiency and Perfection of the Holy Scriptures In
... Spirit who inspired them, or of his amanuensis, to consign ... (John 20:31.) "These things
have I written unto you ... of the prophets, "the word of prophecy" for the ...
/.../arminius/the works of james arminius vol 1/disputation 2 on the sufficiency.htm

Tertius
... His office as amanuensis was very humble, but it was ... of great or small, and without
which prophecy and the ... wished to be known only as having written the Epistle ...
/.../maclaren/romans corinthians to ii corinthians chap v/tertius.htm

On the Sufficiency and Perfection of the Holy Scriptures In
... crying;" not himself the Scribe, but the amanuensis of the ... "These things are written,
that ye ... prophets, "the prophets" and "the word of prophecy" signify the ...
/.../arminius/the works of james arminius vol 1/disputation 3 on the sufficiency.htm

Rom. xvi. 17, 18
... shortly." And this was prayer and prophecy as well ... This too is no small encomium,
to be Paul's amanuensis. ... which the divine writings were written, (for "behold ...
/.../chrysostom/homilies on acts and romans/homily xxxii rom xvi 17.htm

Introductory Note.
... met at Rome with an aged amanuensis of the ... to determine which of them were written
before, which ... occur distinct allusions to the "New Prophecy," or expressions ...
//christianbookshelf.org/tertullian/apology/introductory note.htm

Mark.
... sense, as a mere clerk or amanuensis, who wrote down ... is sustained by internal
evidence"written at Rome ... attention to the fulfilment of prophecy, Mark, writing ...
/.../schaff/history of the christian church volume i/section 81 mark.htm

Book 13 Footnotes
... the king and queen, that Isaiah's prophecy contained many ... who kept close to the written
law, against ... order for one thing, and his amanuensis performed another ...
/.../josephus/the antiquities of the jews/book 13 footnotes.htm

Letter cxxxvii. (AD 412. )
... in the meantime dictating to my amanuensis certain things ... and numerous instances
of fulfilled prophecy, the fulfilment ... see what a long letter I have written. ...
/.../augustine/the confessions and letters of st/letter cxxxvii a d 412.htm

John.
... his divine Master who thus fulfilled the prophecy of his ... and John himself could not
have written it without ... weight, Papias is even made the amanuensis of John ...
/.../schaff/history of the christian church volume i/section 83 john.htm

On the Interpretation of Scripture
... to enforce it, attenuating or adapting the utterance of prophecy to the requirements
or to the measure of modern times. Any one who has ever written sermons is ...
/.../on the interpretation of scripture.htm