SOUNDING OUT:
ALL Scripture
II Timothy 3:16 is quite clear that
ALL scripture is given by inspiration
of God. "All" is an important adjective in
this verse since it includes the idea of oneness, entirety,
or the whole. It refers to every passage of Scripture
and every word in every passage - no exceptions.
However, the 1901 American Standard Version (as
well as some other versions like the Duoay-Rheims) put
the “is” in another place and reads as follows:
“Every scripture inspired of God is also profitable,”
which is a grammatically possible translation. The problem
with that translation is that it leaves open the possibility
that there may be some Scriptures not inspired by God.
That is absolutely not true. For if any of the whole
is not of God, then which part is it and who makes that
decision? Thus you can see how the integrity and unity
of the whole Scripture is undermined. (Bullinger has
a great section on this in Figures of Speech
pages 44-46.)
"Scripture" (graphê)
is used in the singular here and in the plural in other
places. The singular here also emphasizes the importance
of the whole of Scripture. It coheres and is uniform.
Bullinger states in Figures of Speech page
636 that this is a synecdoche where the whole is put
for every part of it. It is one outstanding unit complete
and relevant in itself.
"Given by inspiration of God" comes
from the Greek word theopneustos. It is a compound
word from Theos meaning “God” and
pneô meaning “to breathe or blow.”
It means divinely breathed or given by inspiration of
God. It is the figure of speech condescension, attributing
to God human characteristics. What does breath mean
to man? (Breath meant life in Genesis 2:7.) The scripture
is the very “life of God.”
The divine inspiration of scripture is foundational
and very important. Satan has attacked it from the very
beginning. Indeed, he asked in Genesis 3:1, “Hath
God said?” The Scriptures are the voice of God
to the heart of man. It is inconceivable that God would
give His people a book they could not trust. He is the
God of truth as Deuteronomy 32:4 states. He is also
called the Spirit of Truth in I John 5:6. Jesus said
of the Scriptures in John 17:17, “Thy Word is
truth.” “The Bible is the revealed Word
and will of God. That’s what makes the Bible relevant.
It is relevant because it is revealed. The Creator of
the heavens and the earth chose to reveal His will and
that makes it relevant. It is also reality. With all
the fantasy and fiction spewing from the mind of man,
it alone is the only sure thing in life.
What the Bible says, God says. The Bible is the
final authority, the veritable "Supreme Court"
from which there is no appeal. It was on such a basis
that Martin Luther took his historic stand. When the
moment of crisis came on April 18, 1521, at the Diet
of Worms, Luther was called on by Johann von Eck, Official
General of the Archbishop of Trier to renounce his errors.
Luther replied, "Unless I am convinced by testimonies
of Scripture or by evident reason (for I believe neither
the Pope nor Councils alone, since it is established
that they have often erred and contradicted themselves)
I am the prisoner of the Scriptures cited by me, and
my conscience has been taken captive by the Word of
God. Here I stand. I can do no other. God help me. Amen."
Have we delivered our conscience to the Word
of God? Do we acknowledge it as the reality of the relevant
revealed Word that it is? Is our behavior hedged in
by it? Are our actions guided by it? These are questions
I asked myself this week, and I was pleased with how
I could honestly answer them.
