The Meaning and Use of “Scripture” in Jewish Tradition and the Time of Jesus

,

1. Introduction

The concept of Scripture (Greek: graphē) occupies a foundational role in both Jewish religious tradition and early Christian theology. By the time of Jesus and the apostles, the term referred to a defined and revered body of writings recognised as divinely inspired. This article examines the meaning of Scripture in first-century Jewish thought, the structure and recognition of the Hebrew Bible (Tanakh), and its transmission through both Hebrew and Greek (Septuagint) forms.

2. The Canon of Jewish Scripture

Jewish Scripture was, by the first century AD, structured into three major divisions known collectively as the Tanakh:

  • Torah (Law): The Five Books of Moses.
  • Nevi’im (Prophets): Including both the Former (Joshua, Judges, Samuel, Kings) and Latter Prophets (Isaiah, Jeremiah, Ezekiel, and the Twelve Minor Prophets).
  • Ketuvim (Writings): Psalms, Proverbs, Job, Ruth, Esther, Daniel, Ezra-Nehemiah, and Chronicles.

Although debate persisted among sects (e.g., Sadducees, Pharisees, Essenes) regarding the status of some texts, a core canon—particularly the Torah—was universally accepted as divinely authoritative.

3. The Authority of Scripture in Jewish Life

Scripture was treated not only as a literary collection but as the very revelation of God’s will:

  • In synagogue worship, Scripture was read aloud and interpreted weekly.
  • Pharisaic traditions developed extensive commentary (midrash and Talmud) based on Scripture, reinforcing its theological centrality.
  • The Dead Sea Scrolls (Qumran) reveal that entire communities oriented their lives around Scripture and its apocalyptic fulfilment.

4. The Septuagint (LXX) and Jewish Diaspora

Many Jews in the Greco-Roman world no longer read Hebrew, leading to the creation of the Septuagint, a Greek translation of the Hebrew Bible begun in the 3rd century BCE. By the time of Christ, the Septuagint was the dominant version used outside Judea and was also the version most often quoted in the New Testament.

5. Conclusion

In the time of Jesus, Scripture referred definitively to the Hebrew Bible—especially the Torah and Prophets—and carried divine authority. Both Hebrew and Greek forms were widely used, establishing a shared scriptural framework that the early Church would later build upon.

Home