Gathered scripture up showing distinctive symbol (5)
I believe the answer is:
totem
'distinctive symbol' is the definition.
'totem' can be an answer for 'symbol' (I've seen this before). I'm not sure about the 'distinctive' bit.
'gathered scripture up' is the wordplay.
'gathered' becomes 'met' ('meet' can be a synonym of 'gather').
'scripture' becomes 'OT' (Old Testament).
'up' says the letters should be written in reverse (in down clue: letters go upwards).
'met'+'ot'='metot'
'metot' in reverse letter order is 'TOTEM'.
'showing' is the link.
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for totem that I've seen before include "Venerated object" , "Spiritually significant emblem" , "Symbol, emblem" , "something sacred" , "emblem of tribe?" .)