Paper’s Purpose: χάρτης (Strong’s G5489: chartes) Reveals Ancient Writing Materials

Strong’s G5489: From Egyptian origin, χάρτης refers to papyrus paper made from reed sheets, primarily used for writing letters and documents. This term highlights the material culture of early Christian communication and the transmission of sacred texts.

U- Unveiling the Word

The word χάρτης represents the ancient writing material made from papyrus reed, specifically processed into sheets for correspondence and document creation. In the New Testament era, this material was crucial for spreading the gospel message and maintaining church communications. The papyrus sheets were created by laying strips of the reed both vertically and horizontally, then pressing them together to form a durable writing surface. This physical medium became instrumental in preserving and transmitting God’s Word, as evidenced by the numerous papyrus manuscripts discovered throughout the Mediterranean region. Today, this word reminds us of God’s providence in preserving His message through tangible means, ensuring its transmission across generations.

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N – Necessary Information

• Greek Word: χάρτης, chartes, /khar’-tace/
• Pronounced: KHAR-tace (like “car” with an ‘h’ + “tace” rhyming with “face”)
• Part of Speech: Noun

Etymology:

• Borrowed from Egyptian language
• Related to the word for papyrus reed
• -της suffix indicating the finished product

D – Defining Meanings

• A sheet of papyrus prepared for writing
• A letter or document written on papyrus
• Writing material made from papyrus reed

For compound words: Not applicable as this is not a compound word

Translation Options:

• Paper – Most common translation, though potentially misleading as modern paper differs
• Papyrus sheet – More precise but less familiar
• Writing material – Broader term that captures the function

E – Exploring Similar Words

• βιβλίον (biblion, /bib-lee’-on/) – A small book or scroll See G975
• γράμμα (gramma, /gram’-mah/) – A letter, writing See G1121
• ἐπιστολή (epistole, /ep-is-tol-ay’/) – A letter, epistle See G1992

R – Reviewing the Word’s Morphology

• Case: Nominative, Accusative, Genitive, Dative
• Number: Singular, Plural
• Gender: Masculine
• Declension: First declension

Examples:

• Nominative: χάρτης (chartes)
• Genitive: χάρτου (chartou)
• Dative: χάρτῃ (chartē)
• Accusative: χάρτην (chartēn)

S – Studying Lexicon Insights

The lexicons uniformly recognize χάρτης as referring to papyrus writing material. BDAG emphasizes its Egyptian origin and its specific use in letter writing. Thayer’s highlights its significance in ancient communication, while LSJ provides evidence of its use in classical Greek literature. Vine’s notes its single occurrence in the New Testament, specifically in 2 John 1:12. Moulton and Milligan provide papyrological evidence showing its common use in everyday documents of the Hellenistic period. The term represents not just the material itself but symbolizes the importance of written communication in early Christian communities.

T – Tracing the Scriptures

First appearance:

“Having many things to write unto you, I would not write with [χάρτης] paper and ink: but I trust to come unto you, and speak face to face, that our joy may be full.” 2 John 1:12

Additional References:
This is the only occurrence in the New Testament.

A – Analyzing Classical Usage

N – Noteworthy Summary

The χάρτης represents more than just ancient writing material; it symbolizes God’s providence in preserving His Word through physical means. This simple papyrus sheet became the vehicle for transmitting divine truth, carrying apostolic teachings across vast distances and through centuries. Just as the ancient χάρτης served to connect believers across distances, today we have God’s Word preserved through various media, reminding us of His faithfulness in maintaining His message for all generations.

D – Did You Know?

• The word χάρτης is the etymological root of modern words like “chart,” “card,” and “charter”
• Ancient papyrus sheets could last hundreds of years in dry conditions
• The longest known papyrus scroll from antiquity measures over 130 feet

Strong’s G5489: χάρτης denotes papyrus paper, derived from Egyptian, used primarily for writing letters and documents. This term provides insight into early Christian communication methods and the material culture of New Testament times, highlighting the practical means by which God’s Word was preserved and transmitted.

Part of speech: Noun

Tags: writing-materials, papyrus, communication, letters, documents, ancient-culture, manuscripts, biblical-artifacts, new-testament-culture, early-church-history​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​