Scripture
    n 1: 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]
    2: any writing that is regarded as sacred by a religious group
       [syn: scripture, sacred scripture]

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.
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            I have put it in scripture and in remembrance.
                                                  --Chaucer.
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            Then the Lord of Manny read the scripture on the
            tomb, the which was in Latin.         --Ld. Berners.
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   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.
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            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.
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            Compared with the knowledge which the Scriptures
            contain, every other subject of human inquiry is
            vanity.                               --Buckminster.
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   3. A passage from the Bible; a text.
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            The devil can cite Scripture for his purpose.
                                                  --Shak.
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            Hanging by the twined thread of one doubtful
            Scripture.                            --Milton.
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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.)