† Scripturiann.adj.

1565 T. Stapleton tr. F. Staphylus Apologie f. 107 Scripturians [L. Bibliistae], whiche affirme that nothing is to be admitted, read, or sette forthe to the people in the church, or to the youthe in scholes, but onely the bare text, and holy scripture of the Bible.

1642 R. Norwood Let. from Sommer Islands 24 in W. Prynne Fresh Discov. Wandring-blasing-stars (1645) They upbraid us in a scoffing manner, saying, Come you Scripturians, you Scripture-men that must have Scripture for what you will doe.

1781 H. Taylor Thoughts Grand Apostacy 130 The Scripturians, and others of different sects, endeavoured to maintain the Christian verity in opposition to the Catholic Religion.

1819 W. Harrison Let. 1 Oct. (1820) 36 Some pure scripturian who values ‘the scriptures themselves’ so highly, that he cannot bow down to human Creeds, or to any human authority whatever.

1872 Universalist Q. & Gen. Rev. Jan. 59 The Baptists in those days were great ‘Scripturians’... They possessed few books, and had little desire to read anything but the Bible.

1599 G. Chapman Humerous Dayes Myrth sig. G3^v Flo. Cursed be he that maketh debate twixt man & wife. Lem. O rare scripturian! you haue sealed vp my lips.

a1612 J. Harington Epigrams (1615) sig. E4^v Great Scriptureans.., That cite Saint Paul at euery bench and boord.

1676 A. Sall True Catholic & Apostolic Faith Church of Eng. xxv. 178 Your greatest Schole-men and Scripturians.

a1708 R. Davies Acct. Convincem., Exercises, Services & Trav. (1710) 6 We had a Meeting..where one of our Independent Teachers (who was a great Scripturian) was Preaching.

1833 A. Raines Refut. Doctr. Depravity 20 We have no doubt however, but that, if evil had been in the text, instead of trouble, it would have been used by many an erudite scripturian, as irresistible proof of total hereditary depravity.

1898 Chambers's Jrnl. 5 Nov. 783/1 Many's the time Sam Duncan, the great scripturian, tells me the same words out of the Bible.

1908 Centennial of Relig. Journalism 226 He [sc. Paul] was a learned man, a philosopher, a logician, a Scripturian, a theologian.

1609 H. Leech & R. Parsons Dutifull Consider. Proofe Relig. iii. 125 These different manners of speach..which are not found at all, totidem verbis, in the Scriptures, and therefore were denied by the Scripturian Heretickes.

1657 J. Reeve Prophet's Answer in Sacred Remains (?1751) 18 Whoever therefore imitates the Apostles Ministry from the Letter, are but Scripturian Usurpers, and Deceivers of their own Souls.

1826 Examiner 35/2 An Irish Priest..had called him a Bible-reading vagabond, a Scripturian rapscallion, &c. merely because he refused to part with his Bible.