Copying, in the context of the Bible, refers to the act of reproducing texts, particularly the Scriptures, for the purpose of preservation, dissemination, and study. This practice has been crucial in the transmission of biblical texts throughout history, ensuring that the Word of God is accessible to successive generations.

Old Testament Context

The practice of copying Scripture is rooted in the Old Testament. The Israelites were commanded to preserve the words of God meticulously. In Deuteronomy 17:18-19, the king of Israel was instructed to write for himself a copy of the law: "When he is seated on his royal throne, he must write for himself a copy of this instruction on a scroll in the presence of the Levitical priests. It is to remain with him, and he is to read from it all the days of his life, so that he may learn to fear the LORD his God by carefully observing all the words of this instruction and these statutes" . This command underscores the importance of personal engagement with the Scriptures and the role of copying in maintaining the integrity of God's Word.

The scribes, or "Sopherim," were responsible for copying the Scriptures. Their meticulous work ensured that the texts were transmitted accurately. The reverence for the text was so great that they counted every letter and word to avoid errors. This dedication highlights the sacredness attributed to the Scriptures and the responsibility of preserving them without alteration.

New Testament Context

In the New Testament era, the practice of copying continued as the early church sought to spread the teachings of Jesus Christ and the apostles. The apostle Paul, in his letters, often instructed the recipients to share his writings with other churches. For instance, in Colossians 4:16, Paul writes, "After this letter has been read among you, see that it is also read in the church of the Laodiceans, and that you in turn read the letter from Laodicea" . This exchange of letters necessitated the copying of texts to ensure that all congregations had access to apostolic teachings.

The early Christians recognized the authority of the apostolic writings, and the need for accurate copies was paramount. The process of copying was not only a practical necessity but also a spiritual duty, as these texts were considered divinely inspired.

The Role of Copying in the Preservation of Scripture

The faithful copying of biblical texts has been instrumental in preserving the Scriptures through the centuries. The discovery of the Dead Sea Scrolls, for example, revealed the remarkable consistency of the Hebrew Bible over a millennium, affirming the reliability of the copying process. The scribes' dedication to accuracy ensured that the Scriptures remained uncorrupted, allowing believers to trust in the authenticity of the biblical text.

Copying also played a significant role in the translation of the Bible into various languages. The Septuagint, a Greek translation of the Hebrew Scriptures, and the Latin Vulgate are examples of how copying facilitated the spread of God's Word beyond its original linguistic and cultural boundaries.

Conclusion

The practice of copying Scripture is a testament to the enduring value placed on the Word of God. Through the diligent efforts of scribes and early Christians, the Bible has been preserved and transmitted with remarkable fidelity, allowing it to continue to be a source of spiritual guidance and authority for believers worldwide.1. (p. pr. & vb. n.) of Copy.

2. (a. & n.) from Copy.

When He was Living at Rome He Wrote a Treatise on the Preservation ...
... which all the pagans and enemies of God, all apostates and persecutors, and whoever
else hate the Christian name, vied with one another in copying out, because ...
/.../5 when he was living.htm

*** end of this project gutenberg ebook history of egypt, chaldaea ...
... the public domain in the United States and you are located in the United States,
we do not claim a right to prevent you from copying, distributing, performing ...
/.../end of this project.htm

*** end of this project gutenberg ebook history of egypt, chaldaea ...
... the public domain in the United States and you are located in the United States,
we do not claim a right to prevent you from copying, distributing, performing ...
/.../end of this project.htm

The Family Likeness
... Worship is imitation, and there is no religion which does not necessarily involve
the copying of the example or the pattern of that Being before whom we bow. ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture ephesians peter/the family likeness.htm

The Changed Life
... My method is just the opposite. I copy the virtues one by one." The difficulty
about the copying method is that it is apt to be mechanical. ...
/.../the greatest thing in the world and other addresses/the changed life.htm

The River of Life
... of life and character. Ezekiel seems to be copying the first psalm, or vice
versa, the Psalmist is copying Ezekiel. At any rate, there ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture a/the river of life.htm

How the Books were Written.
... more roughly written. The book contains many blunders in copying, and
there are a few cases of willful omission. Its remote age ...
/.../gladden/who wrote the bible/chapter xii how the books.htm

Appendix v. Rabbinic Theology and Literature
... twenty-three; [6372] concerning women and intercourse between the sexes, three;
[6373] concerning formalities to be observed in the copying, fastening, &c., of ...
/.../the life and times of jesus the messiah/appendix v rabbinic theology and.htm

Introductory Notice to Excerpts of Theodotus; Or, Selections from ...
... Dupin (perhaps too readily copying Valesius) appears to think Clement may have been
the compiler, but that, like the Hypotyposes, the work was the product of ...
/.../theodotus/excerpts of theodotus/introductory notice to excerpts of.htm

The Nearness of the Kingdom
... knows that He is near? By copying the heavens, which can receive no impulse
from without to mar their tranquility. Thus must the soul ...
/.../eckhart/meister eckharts sermons/ii the nearness of the.htm

Copying (10 Occurrences)
... 2. (a. & n.) from Copy. Multi-Version Concordance Copying (10 Occurrences). 3 John
1:11 My loved one, do not be copying what is evil, but what is good. ...
/c/copying.htm - 9k

Disgusting (149 Occurrences)
... 2 Kings 16:3 But he went in the ways of the kings of Israel, and even made his son
go through the fire, copying the disgusting ways of the nations whom the ...
/d/disgusting.htm - 38k

Copy (18 Occurrences)

/c/copy.htm - 13k

Samaritan (8 Occurrences)
... In copying he left a space vacant in the middle of a column. The space thus
left is every now and then bridged by a single letter. ...
/s/samaritan.htm - 42k

Books (16 Occurrences)
... It is sometimes said that they used their sources not by restating the contents
as a modern compiler would do, but by just copying. ...
/b/books.htm - 101k

Write (865 Occurrences)
... 7. (vi) To be regularly employed or occupied in writing, copying, or accounting;
to act as clerk or amanuensis; as, he writes in one of the public offices. ...
/w/write.htm - 7k

Worshipper (15 Occurrences)
... 1 Kings 16:31 And as if copying the evil ways of Jeroboam, the son of Nebat, was
a small thing for him, he took as his wife Jezebel, daughter of Ethbaal, king ...
/w/worshipper.htm - 11k

Imitation (3 Occurrences)
... Noah Webster's Dictionary 1. (n.) The act of copying. 2. (n.) That which is
made or produced as a copy; that which is made to resemble ...
/i/imitation.htm - 8k

Tracing (1 Occurrence)
... 2. (n.) The act of one who traces; especially, the act of copying by marking on
thin paper, or other transparent substance, the lines of a pattern placed ...
/t/tracing.htm - 7k

Pattern (28 Occurrences)
... Williams in the Architect, January, 1913, says of the works at Baalbek and Palmyra,
"There is a machine-like resemblance betokening slavish copying." At the ...
/p/pattern.htm - 19k

Is the Bible reliable? | GotQuestions.org

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Was some of Proverbs copied from the Instruction of Amenemope? | GotQuestions.org

Copying: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.com

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