[Greek] χειρόγραφον (cheirographon), [Latin] manuscriptus: certificate of debt, legal notice, bond, handwritten document, certificate of indebtedness, proof of obligation, evidence of people’s guilt; Col.2:14
Background information:
Greek Hellenism: This term means note of indebtedness and proof of obligation. Polybius’ Histories 30.8.4 states “It is impossible not to view the policy of these men with disapproval. For being confronted with their own letters, they were regarded as shameless. The Cnidians has thrown Thoas into prison. He was demanded by the Rhodians, and being put to the torture, confessed his crime; and his story was found to agree everything in the cypher of the intercepted letters.
Old Testament: This term means bond. Duplicate copies of the bond were given to the persons concerned. Duplicate documents, usually one part open and the other sealed, are well known in the Middle East. He gave his bond, and I gave him mine; I divided his into two parts, and each of us took one part; I put one part with the money (Tob.5:3). Raphael gave Gabael his bond and told him about Tobit’s son Tobiah, that he had married. Gabael got up and counted out for the moneybags with their seals (Tob.9:5).
New Testament: This term means record of debts or promissory note. This note makes reference to God’s pronouncement that the note which testifies against us is cancelled. In Judaism, God keeps an account of man’s debt (through angels and the imposition of penalties). In the heavenly book of debts, the angels of the Lord write the good work of the righteous. The angels of the accuser write all the sins of man. God has forgiven sins. He has cancelled the note of indebtedness by taking it and fixing to the cross of Christ. Christ’s crucifixion has essentially taken away our sins.
Scripture:
“Obliterating the bond against us, with its legal claims, which was opposed to us, He also removed it from our midst, nailing it to the cross.” Col.2:14
Chirograph: This document can be a indenture or medieval document written in duplicate, triplicate, and quadruplicate on a single piece of parchment. The Latin chirographum simply means handwritten. The practice of separating the copies with an irregular cut also gave rise to the description of the documents as indentures, since the edges would said to be indented.
Conclusion:
Manuscript, Chirograph
In the Greek Hellenistic era, this term was the document (record) of criminal activity. This record was presented in legal proceedings.
In the Old Testament culture, a bond was used to document money or services rendered. Duplicate documents (open and sealed) were used in the Middle East.
In the New Testament culture, God makes an accounting of our sins and transgressions. These records of our debts have been cancelled by God and placed on the cross. In His mercy, Christ offers Himself on the cross, taking away these debts. Our debts are cancelled.
In the Our Father Prayer (Mt. 6:12) were are called to forgive our debtors (those who trespass against us).
Fellow culprits, here’s to keeping our names off that certificate of indebtedness!