γραμματεύς

γραμματεύς — grammateús

γραμματεύς, γραμματέως (accusative plural γραμματεῖς, Winers Grammar, § 9, 2; (Buttmann, 14 (13))), ὁ (γράμμα), the Sept. for סֹפֵר and שֹׁטֵר;

1. in secular authors and here and there in the O. T. (e. g. 2Sa 8:17; 2Sa 20:25; 2Ki 19:2; 2Ki 25:19; Psa 44:2, a clerk, scribe, especially a public scribe, secretary, recorder, whose office and influence differed in different states: Act 19:35 (Sir 10:5); (cf. Lightfoot in The Contemporary Review for 1878, p. 294; Wood, Discoveries at Ephesus, Appendix, Inscriptions from the Great Theatre, p. 49 n.),

2. in the Bible, a man learned in the Mosaic law and in the sacred writings, an interpreter, teacher: Mat 23:34; 1Co 1:20 (called also νομικός in Luk 10:25, and νομοδιδάσκαλος in Luk 5:17; (Meyer (on Mat 22:35), while denying any essential different between γραμματεύς and νομικός (cf. Luk 11:52-53 — yet see critical texts), regards the latter name as the more specific (a jurisconsult) and Classic, γραμματεύς as the more general (a learned man) and Hebraistic; it is also the more common in the Apocrypha, where νομικός occurs only 4Ma 5:3. As teachers they were called νομοδιδάσκαλοι. Cf. B. D. under the word, also under the word I. 1 note)); Jer 8:8 (cf. 2:8); Neh 8:1; Neh 12:26; Neh 12:36; 2Es 7:6; 2Es 7:11, and especially Sir 38:24; Sir 38:31 ff Sir 39:1-11. The γραμματεῖς explained the meaning of the sacred oracles, Mat 2:4 (γραμματεῖς τοῦ λαοῦ, Jos 1:10; 1Ma 5:42; cf. Sir 44:4);; Mar 9:11; Mar 12:35; examined into the more difficult and subtile questions of the law, Mat 9:3; Mar 2:6; Mar 12:28; added to the Mosaic law decisions of various kinds thought to elucidate its meaning and scope, and did this to the detriment of religion, Mat 5:20; Mat 15:1 ff; Mat 23:2 ff; Mar 7:1 ff; cf. Luk 11:46. Since the advice of men skilled in the law was needed in the examination of causes and the solution of difficult questions, they were enrolled in the Sanhedrin; and accordingly in the N. T. they are often mentioned in connection with the priests and elders of the people: Mat 21:15; Mat 26:3 R G; Mar 11:18; Mar 11:27; Mar 14:1; Mar 15:1; Luk 19:47; Luk 20:1; Luk 22:2. Cf. Schürer, Neutest. Zeitgesch. § 25 ii.; Klöpper in Schenkel v. 247ff; (and thorough articles in BB. DD. under the word; cf. Winer's Grammar, Robertson Smith, The O. T. in the Jewish Ch., Lect. iii.):

3. universally, a religious teacher: γραμματεύς μαθητευθείς εἰς τήν βασιλείαν τῶν οὐρανῶν a teacher so instructed that from his learning and ability to teach advantage may redound to the kingdom of heaven, Mat 13:52 (but G T Tr WH read μαθητευθείς τῇ βασιλεία (L ἐν τῇ βασιλείαν); and many interpret made a disciple unto the kingdom of heaven (which is personified); see μαθητεύω, at the end).