Scripture

“GOD-BREATHEDNESS” AS THE CHARACTER OF SCRIPTURE

Virgil Warren, PhD

            A series of words has traditionally stated from various angles the character of scripture in positive and negative terms. The list begins with the biblical expression in 2 Timothy 3:16, which translates literally as (1) “God-breathed.” The rather unhappy term in popular vogue for this passage is “inspired”; so “inspiration” becomes the corresponding noun for getting at the concept Paul expressed in the text. “Inspire,” however, does not properly picture the idea because it (a) creates the image of breathing into something the characteristic the word denotes—as when God “breathed into Adam the breath of life” and he became something more than he was. Such imagery limits the meaning of the text to what can add to something already there. The word picture in God-breathedness is that of “exhaling” the thing itself, so the scripture is regarded as issuing directly from God’s mouth. Scripture stands apart from all other writing by being viewed as God’s direct speaking.

2 TIMOTHY 3:16

Virgil Warren, PhD

πᾶσα γραφὴ θεόπνευστος καὶ ὠφέλιμος

pāsa graphē theopneustos kai ōphelimos

Variables in the English wording of this verse

COMMENTS ON CREEDS AND RELATED MATTERS

Virgil Warren, PhD

FIVE MODELS FOR COMPLETELY RELIABLE SCRIPTURE

Virgil Warren, PhD

PASSAGES RELEVANT TO INERRANCY*

Virgil Warren, PhD

    PROCEDURES CONSISTENT

THE NEW TESTAMENT’S WITNESS TO THE

OLD TESTAMENT’S INSPIRATION*

Virgil Warren, PhD