#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 !?
