"All inspired scripture has its use for teaching..." 2 Tim. 3:16 (REB)
"Every scripture inspired of God is also profitable..." (ASV of 1901)
"All scripture is inspired by God and is useful..." (NRSV) See FN
"All Scripture is inspired by God and is useful..." (GNT) See FN
What to do? My 4 translations of choice are divided on how to
translate the beginning of 2 Timothy 3:16? Yet, the NRSV and GNT do
give the other reading in agreement with the REB and ASV, so how do we
proceed? First off, check to see if there are variances in the Greek
and read a literal translation from the Greek for a hint.
"Every scripture [is] God-breathed and profitable for teaching, ..."
"All scripture [is] God-breathed and useful for teaching..."
"Every scripture [is] God-inspired and profitable for teaching..."
There is no variance in the Greek text and of the 4 Interlinear,
literal translations at my disposal, the above 3 versions sum it up.
1. Every Interlinear adds the translator's word [is], siding with the
traditional translation of the word for word NRSV, and the phrase for
phrase GNT, for the meaning of this phrase.
2. In every other occurrence in the NT, "scripture" in its context
clearly refers to the inspired word of God, not spurious writings.
THIS SUPPORTS WHAT MAY BE CALLED THE TRADITIONAL WORDING
1. Even though every Interlinear added the word [is], it is not in the
Greek itself and in the 2nd of the Interlinears above, without the
[is], would support the REB and ASV.
2. Both the NRSV and the GNT give a Footnote showing the REB and ASV
translation as an alternate choice. Yet, the ASV has a Footnote
showing the NRSV and GNT reading as an alternate as well.
3. Sometimes the context must give us the meaning.
a. This book is a later book when seeds of gnosticism appeared
b. Paul refers to "his teachings" in 3:10; "imposters" arrive, v13
Timothy is told to continue in what he has learned, v14;
in v15 Paul directs Timothy to the "Holy Scriptures", which he
has known from a child. Then I take v16 as containing a
warning about spurious gospels or scriptures.
The gnostic writings are scripture. Are they "scripture" that is
God-breathed? They are NOT!... and students of God-breathed scripture
can know it. So, I side with the ASV and REB when I recognize that
false teachings would be put into writings at the very beginning. 2
Timothy 3 shows Paul combating the early seeds of Gnosticism. In this
day, even in these newsgroups, you see the hate and anger directed at
the Apostle Paul as he battled the false teachings. How are we to
know the truth, the true God-breathed scriptures? See next post.
Gaius
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