All scripture is God breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting,and training in righteousness.2 Timothy 3:16(NIV)

The most definitive biblical text on the nature, function, and purpose of scripture, 2 Timothy 3:16-17, contains several difficulties that have made it the subject of much scholarly debate. The purpose of this article is to examine the Greek text phrase by phrase, exploring the difficulties and evaluating possible solutions. Concerning the nature of scripture, the first three words are best translated ‘all scripture is God-breathed’, although ‘every scripture is God-breathed’ remains possible. The inspired nature of the scriptures is presupposed by both these translations, and even by other interpretive options. Furthermore, it is proper to consider both copies and translations as inspired scriptures, while recognizing that in so doing we are referring to their true character rather than their absolute character. The function of scripture is represented by four prepositional phrases, which portray its functions as guiding believers towards correct belief and behaviour, while exposing wrong beliefs and behaviours.

Not only is 2 Timothy 3:16-17 the most definitive biblical statement on the nature and role of the scriptures, but it is also a passage with several well- known difficulties. The purpose of this article is to examine the Greek text phrase by phrase, exploring the difficulties and evaluating possible solutions. Now, is θεόπνευστος attributive, meaning ‘every God-breathed scripture’, or predicative, ‘every scripture is God-breathed’? Roberts (1961) strains to show that in all twenty-one occurrences of πᾶς + noun + adjective (no articles) in the New Testament, the adjective stands in an attributive relationship to the noun.However, his examples are unconvincing since only one occurs in a verbless clause where there is potential for ambiguity; all the others occur with expressed verbs or in prepositional phrases, and are thus of no help in establishing a principle which might apply to 2 Timothy 3:16. Common sens must surely prevail over such attempts to establish a grammatical rule to guide the interpretation of verse 16 (see Goodrick 1982:483). The two adjectives in the expression θεόπνευστος καὶ ὠφέλιμος must surely stand in the same relationship to γραφή, and since ὠφέλιμος is predicative, presumably so is θεόπνευστος. ‘Every God-breathed scripture is also profitable’ may be grammatically possible, but it feels terribly convoluted. ‘Every scripture is God-breathed and profitable’ is a much more intuitive reading of the text.

 In conclusion, πᾶσα γραφή could mean ‘every scripture’, but Paul seems to have ‘all scripture’ in mind. θεόπνευστος is most likely passive in meaning, hence ‘God-breathed’, and stands in a predicate relationship to γραφή. .

 The functions of scripture

Owing partly to their ambiguities and largely to modern interest in the inspiration of scripture, most scholarly debate has focused on the first three words of verse 16, namely, πᾶσα γραφὴ θεόπνευστος. Paul’s own emphasis, however, is on the rest of the passage. The inspiration of scripture was not disputed. Paul’s aim was not to assert the inspiration of the scriptures, but to elucidate the value of the inspired scriptures. In his opening assertion, the stress falls not on θεόπνευστος (‘God-breathed’), but on ὠφέλιμος (‘useful’); not on God’s inspiration of the scriptures, but on his intention for them.The semantic relationship between the two adjectives in the assertion ‘every scripture is God-breathed and useful’ is one of grounds-

 The scriptures are useful because they are God-breathed. We could paraphrase: ‘Every scripture is God-breathed; therefore, every scripture is useful Proof that the focus is on scripture’s usefulness lies in the fourfold elaboration of its usefulness.

Every scripture is useful for teaching for rebuking for correcting for training in righteousness The Greek text has a fourfold repetition of πρός with the accusative. Here πρός functions as a marker of purpose (Louw and Nida 1989:§89.60), signalling the immediate purposes of the inspired scriptures; the ultimate purpose is indicated by the ἵνα clause in verse 17. Since a single πρός followed by four nouns would suffice to convey the basic meaning, repeating ‘for’ with each noun is rhetorically significant. It serves to focus attention individually on each function of the inspired scriptures (Goodrick 1982:485).

The four immediate purposes are akin to four functions or uses of scripture. Teaching (διδασκαλία; 15 times in the Pastoral Epistles) refers to the content of sound doctrine. Scripture is useful for instructing people in correct beliefs because it contains revealed truth. The meaning of rebuking (ἐλεγμός) and correcting (ἐπανόρθωσις) is difficult to pinpoint, since both terms occur only here in the New Testament. Büschel (1995:222) suggests that ἐλεγμός means ‘the rebuking of the sinner’, while Preisker (1995:727) interprets ἐπανόρθωσις1 Timothy 3:16

 1 Timothy 4:2 for teaching preach the word for rebuking (ἐλεγμός) rebuke (ἐλέγχω) for correcting correct for training in righteousness exhort If this mapping of terms is correct, then rebuking refers to ‘correcting error’,while correcting is ‘most likely with reference to conduct’ (Knight 1992:449). Thus the scriptures are useful for correcting both doctrinal and behaviouralerror.Training in righteousness (παιδείαν τὴνἐνδικαιοσύνῃ) denotes guiding believers regarding how to live righteously. Therefore, the four functions of scripture form a chiastic quartet in which the first two deal with belief and the last two with behaviour, the frames being positive and the centre negativeAll Scripture is given by inspiration of God,.... That is, all holy Scripture; for of that only the apostle is speaking; and he means the whole of it; not only the books of the Old Testament, but of the New, the greatest part of which was now written; for this second epistle to Timothy is by some thought to be the last of Paul's epistles; and this also will hold good of what was to be written; for all is inspired by God, or breathed by him: the Scriptures are the breath of God, the word of God and not men; they are "written by the Spirit", as the Syriac version renders it; or "by the Spirit of God", as the Ethiopic version. The Scriptures are here commended, from the divine authority of them; and which is attested and confirmed by various arguments; as the majesty and loftiness of their style, which in many places is inimitable by men; the sublimity of the matter contained in them, which transcends all human understanding and capacity ever to have attained unto and discovered; as the trinity of persons in the Godhead, the incarnation of Christ, the resurrection of the dead, &c. The purity and holiness of them before observed, show them to be the word of him that is of purer eyes than to behold iniquity; as also their harmony and agreement, though wrote by different persons, in different places, and ages, and at sundry times, and in divers manners; what seeming inconsistencies are observed in them may, with labour and industry, by divine assistance, be reconciled. The predictions of future events in them, as particularly concerning Josiah and Cyrus, by name, long before they were born, and especially concerning Jesus Christ, and which have had their accomplishment, and many others in the New Testament both by Christ and his apostles, are a proof that they could not be the writings of men, but must have the omniscient God for their author; the impartiality of the writers of them, in not concealing the mean extract of some of them, the sins of others before conversion, and even their sins and failings afterwards, as well as those of their nearest relations and dearest friends, strengthens the proof of their divine authority; to which may be added, the wonderful preservation of them, through all the changes and declensions of the Jewish church and state, to whom the books of the Old Testament were committed; and notwithstanding the violence and malice of Heathen persecutors, particularly Dioclesian, who sought to destroy every copy of the Scriptures, and published an edict for that purpose, and notwithstanding the numbers of heretics, and who have been in power, as also the apostasy of the church of Rome; and yet these writings have been preserved, and kept pure and incorrupt, which is not the case of other writings; nor are there any of such antiquity as the oldest of these: to which may be subjoined the testimony of God himself; his outward testimony by miracles, wrought by Moses and the prophets, concerned in the writings of the Old Testament, and by the apostles in the New; and his internal testimony, which is the efficacy of these Scriptures on the hearts of men; the reading and hearing of which, having been owned for the conversion, comfort and edification of thousands and thousands, and ten thousand times ten thousand: and

is profitable for doctrine; for the discovering, illustrating, and confirming any doctrine concerning God, the being, persons, and perfections of God; concerning the creation and fall of man; concerning the person and offices of Christ, redemption by him, justification by his righteousness, pardon by his blood, reconciliation and atonement by his sacrifice, and eternal life through him, with many others. The Scripture is profitable for ministers to fetch doctrine from, and establish it by; and for hearers to try and prove it by:

for reproof; of errors and heresies; this is the sword of the Spirit, which cuts all down. There never was, nor is, nor can be any error or heresy broached in the world, but there is a sufficient refutation of it in the Scriptures; which may be profitably used for that purpose, as it often has been by Christ and his apostles, and others since in all ages:

for correction; of vice; there being no sin, but the evil nature of it is shown, its wicked tendency is exposed, and the sad effects and consequences of it are pointed out in these writings: for instruction in righteousness; in every branch of duty incumbent upon men; whether with respect to God, or one another; for there is no duty men are obliged unto, but the nature, use, and excellency of it, are here shown: the Scriptures are a perfect rule of faith and practice; and thus they are commended from the usefulness and profitableness of them.

CONCLUSION

All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, That is, all holy Scripture; for of that only the apostle is speaking; and he means the whole of it; not only the books of the Old Testament, but also New Testament.

                          BIBLIOGRAPHY

Leonard Verduin, The Reformers and their Stepchildren (Sarasota, FL: The Christian Hymnary Publishers), 1964, pp. 21–62

World Book Encyclopedia, 1999, vol. 1, p. 888, and vol. 15, p. 734, also Encyclopedia Britannica, 2003 ed., vol. 9, 673.

Karl Barth’s doctrine of the holy scripture. Grand Rapids:Eerdmans. Stark BS 1970. Biblical studies and the seminary curriculum.Ashland theological journal 3:3-14.Stott J 1984.

Louw JP and Nida EA 1989.Greek-English lexicon of the New Testament based on semantic domains(2nded.). New York: United Bible Societies.

Miller EL 1965. Plenary inspiration and 2 Timothy 3:16. Lutheran quarterly17(1):56-62.

Moller R 2008. The doctrine of the sufficiency of scripture and its implications for biblical counselling. Unpublished MTh thesis.

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Roberts JW 1961. Every scripture inspired by God.Restorationquarterly5(1):33-37.Runia K 1962.

 BST. Downers Grove: IVP.Strong 1996.The enhanced Strong’s lexicon.Ontario: Woodside Bible Fellowship. Electronic edition: Logos Research Systems