Scripture

Lore & Background

The term scripture – derived from scriptura (Latin) – meant 'writings [manuscripts] in general' prior to the medieval era, and was then 'reserved to denote the texts of the Old and New Testaments of the Bible'. Beyond Christianity, the term has referred to a text accepted to contain the 'sacred writings of a religion'. Some religious texts are categorized as canonical, some non-canonical, and others extracanonical, semi-canonical, deutero-canonical, pre-canonical or post-canonical. The term 'canon' is derived from the Greek word 'κανών', meaning 'a cane used as a measuring instrument', connoting 'measure, standard, norm, rule'.

Reader's Guide

Not all religious traditions rely on written texts. In many cultures, religious teachings are preserved and passed on through oral traditions such as storytelling, memorization, and ritual speech. These oral traditions can function in ways similar to written scripture by conveying beliefs, values, and practices across generations. The relative authority of religious texts develops over time and is derived from the ratification, enforcement, and its use across generations. The process in which texts become accepted as sacred is often formed by historical developments, as well as religious leaders, institutions, and community practices.

Did You Know?

• One of the oldest known religious texts is the Kesh Temple Hymn of ancient Sumer, dated around 2600 BCE.
• The Rigveda, a scripture of Hinduism, is dated 1500 BCE and is one of the oldest known complete religious texts that has survived into the modern age.
• High rates of mass production and distribution of religious texts did not begin until the invention of the printing press in 1440.
• In Islam, the Sunnah are the traditions and practices of the Islamic prophet Muhammad that constitute a model for Muslims to follow.