Superscription

Inscription; title; a writing over.

Shall we give, or shall we not give? But he, knowing their hypocrisy, said unto them, Why tempt ye me? bring me a penny, that I may see it. And they brought it. And he saith unto them, Whose is this image and SUPERSCRIPTION? And they said unto him, Caesar's. ( Mark 12:15-16 )

SUPERSCRIPTION

su-per-skrip'-shun (epigraphe):

(1) The legend on a coin designating the person in whose honor or by whose authority it is issued (Matthew 22:20; Mark 12:16; Luke 20:24).

(2) The accusation on the cross of Jesus (Mark 15:26; Luke 23:38). According to Roman custom an inscription bearing the charge or ground of a criminal's condemnation was fixed to the cross on which he was crucified. The use of such an inscription at the crucifixion of Jesus is mentioned by all four evangelists. The fullest description is that of Mark, "the superscription of his accusation" (he epigraphe tes aitias autou) (15:26). Matthew calls it more briefly "his accusation" (ten aitian autou) (27:38), while Luke styles it merely "a superscription" (epigraphe) (23:38). In the Fourth Gospel it is called a "title" (titlon) (John 19:19). The text of the superscription is given by the four evangelists in varying terms and with various degrees of fullness.

Russell Benjamin Miller