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 writings (Ro. 1, 2; 2 Tim. 3, 15), but always in the plural and equivalent to a specific collection of books or a library, the singular "scripture" or "book" being used only of specific quotations or books. The use of bibliotheca for Bible grew perhaps from the fact that books in many rolls were kept together in a box — the "bookcase," capsa or (biblio)theke. The "Pentateuch" is a five-roll book-box. The sacred book-chest or the book-chest became naturally applied to that containing the Biblical books.

The evolution of the name Bible seems to have been (1) the books (Dan. 9:2) = simple library, (2) the sacred books (1 Macc. 12:9; Rom. 1:2; 2 Tim. 3:19), (3) the Books (Scriptures) par excellence (Matt. 21:42, etc.), (4) the Books (Biblia) par excellence (2 Ep. Clem. 14:2), (5) the Book (Bible).

The Bible is also a library by nature as well as by name in that it is an organized