Is all Scripture is God-breathed because it says so? (That would be circular reasoning, don't you think?)
Why? ALL
Is all Scripture is God-breathed because it says so? (That would be circular reasoning, don't you think?)
Absolutely!
Scripture
Root: Scriptura (Latin) or γραφὴ (graphē in Greek)
Meaning: Refers to sacred writings or texts; in a Christian context, it denotes the Bible as the authoritative collection of God's revelation.
is
Part of Speech: Verb (third person singular)
Function: Serves as a linking verb connecting the subject (Scripture) to the predicate (God-breathed), indicating existence or identity.
God-breathed
Morphological Components:
God: The proper noun referring to the divine being, the Creator.
Breathed: The past participle of the verb "breathe," indicating the action of imparting life or spirit.
Combined Meaning: This compound term emphasizes that Scripture is divinely inspired, originating from God's will and essence.
The concept suggests that the words of Scripture are not merely human but infused with God's Spirit.
Syntactical Breakdown
Subject: Scripture
The main focus of the sentence, highlighting the sacred texts.
Verb: is
Connects the subject to its attribute, establishing a statement of identity or condition.
Predicate: God-breathed
Describes the nature of the subject, emphasizing that Scripture is not just any writing but is infused with divine authority and inspiration.
The phrase "Scripture is God-breathed" conveys several significant theological points:
Divine Origin: The assertion that Scripture is inspired by God means that its authority comes from the Creator Himself, making it a reliable source for doctrine and guidance.
Inspiration of the Holy Spirit: This concept reflects the work of the Holy Spirit in guiding the authors of Scripture, ensuring that what they wrote was in accordance with God's will.
Authority and Truth: The understanding that Scripture is God-breathed supports its inerrancy and infallibility in conveying truth, as it is ultimately rooted in the character of God, who cannot lie (Titus 1:2).
In summary, "Scripture is God-breathed" encapsulates the divine inspiration and authority of the Bible, affirming that it is a living document shaped by God's will, intended for the instruction and edification of believers. The morphological and syntactical breakdown of this phrase helps to underscore its significance in the Christian faith.
2Ti 3:16 All scripture (+) is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness,
2Ti 3:17 in order that the person of God may be competent, equipped for every good work.
All Scripture [Every Scripture] ... -- Many scholars like Lenski say there is no difference in these renderings by various translations. Most translations follow "All Scripture."
All Scripture -- would include the N.T. sacred writings as well as the Old Testament. As Paul has already referred to the OT in vs. 15, he now deliberately includes the Sacred Writings of the New Covenant as well.
Inspired of God -- Paul uses the Greek term theopneustos here which is a combination of two other Greek words: theos (“God”) and pneo (“breathe”) meaning “God-breathed". "God-breathed, means breathed into by God, inspired. The rabbinical teaching was that the Spirit of God rested on and in the prophets and spoke through them so that their words did not come from themselves, but from the mouth of God and they spoke and wrote in the Holy Spirit. The early church was in entire agreement with this view." (Rienecker, LKGNT)
INSPIRATION - 2Ti_3:16, 2Pe_1:21, 1Co_14:37, 1Th_2:13, Gal_1:11-12, Mat_17:5, Luk_1:68-70,
Profitable -- Scripture is valuable because it corrects false teaching while building up believers to live godly lives.
Doctrine -- Teaching; We must teach scripture.
Reproof -- Rebuke- for the purpose of “refutation” of a false statement or argument. PPC
"Only the Christian morality is the true ethic governing human behavior. The pre-Christian Gentiles forsook God, and the result was the near-universal debauchery of the human race. There can be no doubt that forsaking the NT ethics on such things as adultery, homosexuality, drunkenness, etc., if persisted in, will have the same final result." Coffman.
Correction -- Setting a person on a straight course.
Instruction -- Training, instructing believers in God's ways.
Doctrine = tells us what is right.
Reproof = tells us what is not right
Correction = tell how to get right
Instruction = tells how to stay right.
AUTHORITY OF THE BIBLE
2Ti_3:16,
Deu_18:20,
Rev_22:18-19,
Deu_4:2,
Num_24:12-13,
Luk_16:15,
Pro_14:12.
The final revelation - Gal_1:8-9,
Joh_16:13,
2Pe_1:3.
J.