Scripture

SCRIPTURE, or Writing. There is great Dispute concerning the first Inventer of Letters and Writing. Some maintain, that there was Writing before the Deluge, and that Adam was the Inventer of Letters. Others think, that Moses is the first Author of whom we have any Writings, and that before him there were no written Monuments. Thro’ the whole Lives of the Patriarchs, we see no Footsteps of any Writing. Moses does not quote any Writing that was extant before his own; for the Book of the Wars of the Lord, mention’d Numb. xxi. 14. is a Passage added to the Text of Moses, or was a Writing compos’d in his Time. It is true, they talk of a Book compos’d by Adam, and another by Enoch, and that certain other Writings are ascribed to the First Man, and to Enoch. Josephus speaks of certain Pillars with Inscriptions made before the Deluge; they mention also certain Writings that were said to have been compos’d by Abraham: but all this is look’d upon as fabulous and apocryphal, in the Judgment of the most judicious Criticks.

It is agreed by all, that there is nothing extant this Day in the World, either more ancient, or more authentick, than the Books of Moses; but it will not follow from thence, that there was no Writing before him. It appears, on the contrary, by his own Account, that Writing was common enough at that time, both in Egypt, from whence the Hebrews were just come forth, and also among the Hebrews. This People seemed already prepared and accustomed to express their Thoughts and Sentiments after this manner. The Chief of the Nation, without doubt, read the Tables of the Law. Moses had been instructed in all the Knowledge of the Egyptians, and, doubtless, had learned their Manner of Writing¹. See the Article LETTERS.

The Word Scripture taken absolutely, generally stands for the sacred Books of the Old and New Testament. Did ye never read in the Scripture? How then shall the Scriptures be fulfilled? All Scripture is given by Inspiration of God, and is profitable for Doctrine, for Reproof, for Correction, for Instruction in Righteousness.

Canonical Scriptures. See the Article CANON OF SCRIPTURES. They generally ascribe the forming of the Canon of Scriptures, or the Collection of the sacred Books of the Old Testament, to Esdras, who ranged them in a convenient Order. First, the Law: Secondly, the Prophets: Thirdly, the Kelubim, or Hagiographa, that is to say, sacred Writings. Our Saviour seems to have had regard to this old Manner of dividing the Bible, when he says; All things must be Luk. xxiv. 44.fulfilled which were written in the Law of Moses, and in the Prophets, and in the Psalms, concerning me. The Psalms are at the Head of the Hagiographa. Josephus, Lib. 1. contra Appion.against Appion, acknowledges the same Distribution. We have, says he, two and twenty Books that are of divine Authority, of which five are of Moses; the Prophets that succeeded Moses compos’d thirteen of them; the other four are Hymns to the Honour of God, and Rules for the Conduct of Life. We must however observe, that the Jews have varied in the Division of their holy Books; and at this Day, instead of twenty-two they reckon twenty-four. But this is a Difference only in Name; and when it is said, that the Canon was fix’d by Esdras we must understand it with some Restriction; for he could not insert Malachi into it, nor Esther, nor even Nehemiah, where there is mention of the High-priest Jaddus, and of Darius Codomannus, King of Persia, who lived all after Esdras.

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