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Commentary Index | Return to PrayerRequest.comRobertson Word Pictures - 2 Timothy 3:16 - 3:16
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Every scripture inspired of God is also profitable (pāsa graphē theopneustos kai ōphelimos). There are two matters of doubt in this clause. One is the absence of the article hē before graphē, whether that makes it mean “every scripture” or “all scripture” as of necessity if present. Unfortunately, there are examples both ways with both pās and graphē. Twice we find graphē in the singular without the article and yet definite (1Pe 2:6; 2Pe 1:20). We have pās Israēl (Rom 11:26) for all Israel (Robertson, Grammar, p. 772). So far as the grammatical usage goes, one can render here either “all scripture” or “every scripture.” There is no copula (estin) in the Greek and so one has to insert it either before the kai or after it. If before, as is more natural, then the meaning is: “All scripture (or every scripture) is inspired of God and profitable.” In this form there is a definite assertion of inspiration. That can be true also of the second way, making “inspired of God” descriptive of “every scripture,” and putting estin (is) after kai: “All scripture (or every scripture), inspired of God, is also profitable.”
Inspired of God (theopneustos). “God-breathed.” Late word (Plutarch) here only in N.T. Perhaps in contrast to the commandments of men in Tit 1:14.
Profitable (ōphelimos). See note on 1Ti 4:8. See Rom 15:4. Four examples of pros (facing, with a view to, for): didaskalian, teaching; elegmon, reproof, in lxx and here only in N.T.; epanorthōsin, correction, old word, from epanorthoō, to set up straight in addition, here only in N.T., with which compare epidiorthoō in Tit 1:5; paideian, instruction, with which compare Eph 6:4.