γράμμα (gramma)
gramma
something written
Quick Reference
- Language
- Koine Greek
- Testament
- New Testament
- Occurrences
- 14 verses
- Root
- —
Word Overview
The noun gramma refers simply to something written, ranging from a single character to a complete document. In Luke’s account of the steward’s debt (Luke 16:6–7), it denotes a written bill or record of accounts. Paul uses it in Galatians 6:11 to describe the large letters he wrote with his own hand, highlighting the physical act of inscription rather than just the content.
Its most significant theological weight appears in the contrast between the letter and the Spirit. In Romans 2:29 and 2 Corinthians 3:6, Paul distinguishes τὸ gramma—the written code or external authority—from the life-giving power of the Holy Spirit. Here, the word represents the static text that condemns, whereas the Spirit brings transformation. This usage suggests that the written word alone, without the Spirit’s influence, is insufficient for true righteousness.
Christians have understood this distinction to mean that Scripture points beyond itself to a living reality. While the sacred writings (2 Timothy 3:15) are revered as God-breathed, Paul warns against treating them as mere external rules. The word gramma thus captures both the tangible record of faith and the limitation of relying on text alone, inviting readers to seek the deeper spiritual life that accompanies the written word.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The Greek word gramma simply means something written, whether a single character or a full document. In the New Testament, it often appears in discussions about how we relate to God’s instructions. Sometimes it refers to physical records, like the bills in Luke 16 or the large letters Paul used in Galatians 6:11. These examples show that writing is a tangible tool for communication and record-keeping.
However, the word carries deeper weight when contrasted with the Spirit. In passages like 2 Corinthians 3:6, Paul notes that the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life. This does not dismiss Scripture’s value; rather, it highlights that text alone cannot transform the heart. Christians have long understood this to mean that while we honor the written Word, true righteousness comes from the Holy Spirit working within us.
This distinction invites us to look beyond external rules to a living relationship with God. The written word points us toward Him, but it is the Spirit who brings the change we need. By seeking that inner transformation, we find hope and strength that no mere code can provide on its own.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 14 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- writings4×
- letters3×
- bills2×
- of [the] letter.1×
- of [the] letter1×
- letter1×
- learning1×
- in letter,1×
- [the] letter1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- γράμματα6×
- γράμμασιν4×
- γράμματος2×
- γράμματος.¶1×
- γράμματι,1×
- γράμμα1×
Key Verses
-
II Corinthians 3:6
who also made us sufficient as servants of a new covenant, not of the letter but of the Spirit. For the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life.
This verse establishes the critical theological contrast where gramma represents the static written code that condemns, while the Spirit brings life.
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Romans 7:6
But now we have been discharged from the law, having died to that in which we were held; so that we serve in newness of the spirit, and not in oldness of the letter.
Here Paul describes serving in newness of spirit rather than oldness of the letter, showing how gramma signifies a former way of being held by external law.
-
Galatians 6:11
See with what large letters I write to you with my own hand.
Paul uses this term to describe the physical size of the letters he wrote by hand, emphasizing the tangible act of inscription in his final appeal.
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Luke 16:6
He said, ‘A hundred batos of oil.’ He said to him, ‘Take your bill, and sit down quickly and write fifty.’
In this narrative, gramma refers to a written bill of debt, illustrating its basic meaning as a recorded document or account.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does the word gramma mean in the Bible?
Why does Paul say the letter kills in 2 Corinthians 3:6?
How is gramma different from other words for Scripture?
Does this word mean we should ignore the Bible?
Every Occurrence (14 verses across 7 books)
Luke 3 verses
He said, ‘A hundred batos of oil.’ He said to him, ‘Take your bill, and sit down quickly and write fifty.’
Luke 16:7Then he said to another, ‘How much do you owe?’ He said, ‘A hundred cors of wheat.’ He said to him, ‘Take your bill,…
Luke 23:38An inscription was also written over him in letters of Greek, Latin, and Hebrew: “THIS IS THE KING OF THE JEWS.”