JOHN THE WRITER

#INKTOBER and JOHN THE WRITER

JOHN THE WRITER

Its #inktober2018 so lets look at New Testament verses in which #paper #pen and #ink are mentioned!

Who mentions these basic writing materials? The #Apostle JOHN!

2 John 1:12

Πολλὰ ἔχων ὑμῖν γράφειν οὐκ ἐβουλήθην διὰ χάρτου καὶ μέλανος,

ἀλλὰ ἐλπίζω γενέσθαι πρὸς ὑμᾶς καὶ …

Many things having to you to write not I would by “paper” and “black”

Khartou is paper made from papyrus and melanos is the black of ink.

John goes on to say he would rather have the joy of meeting with you face to face.

It is noteworthy he mentions writing himself with ink and not having a scribe do it so this means somehow John despite probably coming from a lower class family in Galilee that primarily spoke Aramaic could read and write in Greek! Did he learn as an adult or get tutored as a child? 

In Johns Third letter he again notes that he has written himself to the church

3 John 1:9 ἔγραψά Note again the first person verb form and then

3 John 1:13

Πολλὰ εἶχον γράψαι σοι ἀλλ̓ οὐ θέλω διὰ μέλανος καὶ καλάμου σοι γράφειν

Much I had to write to you but not I wish by black (ink) and reed (pen) to you to write

Again it not because of any lack of writing skills but because he would rather speak to them in person and hopes to see them soon.

One factor though in his reluctance to write long letters may have been the cost of papyrus sheets which could only be made and obtained in Egypt.

How lucky we are to have an abundance of cheap paper and the blessing of modern technology.

I am typing on the keyboard of a laptop that will be linked to the net via a wireless modem when I upload this to the metousia blog whereas John had to hope someone would donate paper and with no regular post service wait for a courier or church member to be travelling and carry the letter.

Do something for #inktober2018 

Draw an illustration!  Do Typography or Calligraphy! Art can be Ministry !?