(Eng. "Bible") was the inner part, or rather the cellular substance, of the stem of the papyrus (Eng. "paper"). It came to denote the paper made from this bark in Egypt, and then a written "book," roll, or volume. It is used in referring to "books" of Scripture, the "book," or scroll, of Matthew's Gospel, Mat 1:1; the Pentateuch, as the "book" of Moses, Mar 12:26; Isaiah, as "the book of the words of Isaiah," Luk 3:4; the Psalms, Luk 20:42, Act 1:20; "the prophets," Act 7:42; to "the Book of Life," Phi 4:3, Rev 3:5, Rev 20:15. Once only it is used of secular writings, Act 19:19.
<2,,975, biblion>
a diminutive of No. 1, had in Hellenistic Greek almost lost its diminutive force and was ousting biblos in ordinary use; it denotes "a scroll or a small book." It is used in Luk 4:17, Luk 4:20, of the "book" of Isaiah; in Joh 20:30, of the Gospel of John; in Gal 3:10, Heb 10:7, of the whole of the OT; in Heb 9:19, of the "book" of Exodus; in Rev 1:11, Rev 22:7, Rev 1:22-10, Rev 22:18 (twice), 19, of the Apocalypse; in Joh 21:25, 2Ti 4:13, of "books" in general; in Rev 13:8, Rev 17:8, Rev 20:12, Rev 21:27, of the "Book" of Life (see Note, below); in Rev 20:12, of other "books" to be opened in the Day of Judgment, containing, it would seem, the record of human deeds. In Rev 1:5-9 the "Book" represents the revelation of God's purposes and counsels concerning the world. So with the "little book" in Rev 10:8. In Rev 6:14 it is used of a scroll, the rolling up of which illustrates the removal of the heaven.
In Mat 19:7, Mar 10:4 the word is used of a bill of divorcement. See BILL.
Note: In Rev 22:19, the most authentic mss. have xulon, "tree (of life)," instead of "biblion."
<3,,974, biblaridion>
another diminutive of No. 1, is always rendered "little book," in Rev 10:2, Rev 1:10-10. Some texts have it also in verse Rev 10:8, instead of biblion (but see beginning of No. 2).
