From gramma. A writer, i.e. (professionally) scribe or secretary -- scribe, town-clerk.

see GREEK gramma

1. in secular authors and here and there in the O. T. (e. g. 2 Samuel 8:17; 2 Samuel 20:25; 2 Kings 19:2; 2 Kings 25:19; Psalm 44:2 (), a clerk, scribe, especially a public scribe, secretary, recorder, whose office and influence differed in different states: Acts 19:35 (Sir. 10:5); (cf. Lightfoot in The Contemporary Review for 1878, p. 294; Wood, Discoveries at Ephesus, Appendix, Inscriptions from the Great Theatre, p. 49 n.),

2. in the Bible, a man learned in the Mosaic law and in the sacred writings, an interpreter, teacher: Matthew 23:34; 1 Corinthians 1:20 (called also νομικός in Luke 10:25, and νομοδιδάσκαλος in Luke 5:17; (Meyer (on Matthew 22:35), while denying any essential different between γραμματεύς and νομικός (cf. Luke 11:52, 53 — yet see critical texts), regards the latter name as the more specific (a jurisconsult) and Classic, γραμματεύς as the more general (a learned man) and Hebraistic; it is also the more common in the Apocrypha, where νομικός occurs only 4 Macc. 5:3. As teachers they were called νομοδιδάσκαλοι. Cf. B. D. under the word , also under the word I. 1 note)); Jeremiah 8:8 (cf. 2:8); Nehemiah 8:1; Nehemiah 12:26, 36; 2 Esdr. 7:6, 11, and especially Sir. 38:24, 31ff Sir. 39:1-11. The γραμματεῖς explained the meaning of the sacred oracles, Matthew 2:4 (γραμματεῖς τοῦ λαοῦ, Joshua 1:10; 1 Macc. 5:42; cf. Sir. 44:4); ; Mark 9:11; Mark 12:35; examined into the more difficult and subtile questions of the law, Matthew 9:3; Mark 2:6; Mark 12:28; added to the Mosaic law decisions of various kinds thought to elucidate its meaning and scope, and did this to the detriment of religion, Matthew 5:20; Matthew 15:1ff; 23:2ff; Mark 7:1ff; cf. Luke 11:46. Since the advice of men skilled in the law was needed in the examination of causes and the solution of difficult questions, they were enrolled in the Sanhedrin; and accordingly in the N. T. they are often mentioned in connection with the priests and elders of the people: Matthew 21:15; Matthew 26:3 R G; Mark 11:18, 27; Mark 14:1; Mark 15:1; Luke 19:47; Luke 20:1; Luke 22:2. Cf. Schürer, Neutest. Zeitgesch. § 25 ii.; Klöpper in Schenkel v. 247ff; (and thorough articles in BB. DD. under the word ; cf. Winer's Grammar, Robertson Smith, The O. T. in the Jewish Ch., Lect. iii.):

3. universally, a religious teacher: γραμματεύς μαθητευθείς εἰς τήν βασιλείαν τῶν οὐρανῶν a teacher so instructed that from his learning and ability to teach advantage may redound to the kingdom of heaven, Matthew 13:52 (but G T Tr WH read μαθητευθείς τῇ βασιλεία (L ἐν τῇ βασιλείαν); and many interpret made a disciple unto the kingdom of heaven (which is personified); see μαθητεύω, at the end).