Bible Lexicons

In P Oxy II. 292.8 (a letter of commendation—c. A.D. 25) (= Selections, p. 37) ἠρώτησα δὲ καὶ Ἑρμί [α ]ν τὸν ἀδελφὸν διὰ γραπτοῦ ἀνηγει ̣̑[σθαί ] σοι περὶ τούτου , διὰ γραπτοῦ is clearly ";in writing"; as distinguished from ";by word of mouth;"; and that the same meaning is to be given to the phrase in P Oxy II. 293.5 (A.D. 27) οὔτε διὰ γραπτοῦ οὔτε διὰ σημέου (l. σημείου ), ";neither by letter nor by message"; (Edd.), is convincingly shown by Wilcken (Archiv iv. p. 259 f.) as against Preisigke’s contention that the contrast there is between ordinary and stenographic writing (Arch. f. Stenographic NF. I. p. 305 ff.). See also Aristeas 56 ὅσα δ᾽αν ᾖ ἄγραφα . . . ὅσα δὲ διὰ γραπτῶν . For the word cf. further P Petr III. 21 (g).38 (time of Euergetes I.) γραπτὸν λόγον , and P Amh II. 78.17 (A.D. 184) ἀσφάλιαν γ [ρ ]απτήν , ";written security."; We often find the compound ἔγγραπτος used as antithesis to ἄγραφος . In MGr τὸ γραφτό , like τὸ γραμμένο , makes a phrase for ";destiny."; That the word included ";drawing"; is shown by the combination εἰκὼν γραπτή , as in OGIS 571.4 (Lycia—Roman) εἰκόνι γραπτῇ ἐπιχρύσῳ , where Dittenberger gives numerous parallels, and refers it to a gilded shell with a painting of the receiver upon it.