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Definition of 'Scripture'

noun

The sacred writings of the Christian religions; "he went to carry the Word to the heathen" [syn: Bible, Christian Bible, Book, Good Book, Holy Scripture, Holy Writ, Scripture, Word of God, Word]

noun

Any writing that is regarded as sacred by a religious group [syn: scripture, sacred scripture]

From: GCIDE

Scripture \Scrip"ture\ (?; 135), n. [L. scriptura, fr. scribere, scriptum, to write: cf. OF. escripture, escriture, F. ['e]criture. See Scribe.]
1. Anything written; a writing; a document; an inscription. [1913 Webster]
I have put it in scripture and in remembrance. --Chaucer. [1913 Webster]
Then the Lord of Manny read the scripture on the tomb, the which was in Latin. --Ld. Berners. [1913 Webster]
2. The books of the Old and the New Testament, or of either of them; the Bible; -- used by way of eminence or distinction, and chiefly in the plural. [1913 Webster]
There is not any action a man ought to do, or to forbear, but the Scripture will give him a clear precept or prohibition for it. --South. [1913 Webster]
Compared with the knowledge which the Scriptures contain, every other subject of human inquiry is vanity. --Buckminster. [1913 Webster]
3. A passage from the Bible; a text. [1913 Webster]
The devil can cite Scripture for his purpose. --Shak. [1913 Webster]
Hanging by the twined thread of one doubtful Scripture. --Milton. [1913 Webster]

Scripture invariably in the New Testament denotes that definite collection of sacred books, regarded as given by inspiration of God, which we usually call the Old Testament (2 Tim. 3:15, 16; John 20:9; Gal. 3:22; 2 Pet. 1:20). It was God's purpose thus to perpetuate his revealed will. From time to time he raised up men to commit to writing in an infallible record the revelation he gave. The "Scripture," or collection of sacred writings, was thus enlarged from time to time as God saw necessary. We have now a completed "Scripture," consisting of the Old and New Testaments. The Old Testament canon in the time of our Lord was precisely the same as that which we now possess under that name. He placed the seal of his own authority on this collection of writings, as all equally given by inspiration (Matt. 5:17; 7:12; 22:40; Luke 16:29, 31). (See BIBLE; CANON.)