ALL SCRIPTURE IS INSPIRED BY GOD YET MANY PEOPLE ARE NOT SO SURE BECAUSE THEY QUESTION WHAT "ALL SCRIPTURE" COULD MEAN. People Find It Difficult To Understand What Is Meant By The Saying "All Scripture Is Inspired By God". All scripture cannot possibly mean the writings of the every sacred book that is considered holy by the different religions of the world.

Bible 2 Tim 3.16 "All scripture is inspired of God…" What is the scope of the expression "all scripture"?

Harry Riches · Answer requested by Michael Sellars

Actually the verse really reads (πᾶσα γραφὴ θεόπνευστος) every Scripture God-breathed. The context of what the Apostle writes tells us exactly to what he is referring, and this is the Old Testament.

• From infancy, you have known the holy Scriptures which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith, which is in Christ Jesus. Every Scripture is God-breathed and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work. (2 Timothy 3:15-17)

Timothy, the person to whom the Apostle to the Gentiles is writing, is reminded that the Holy Scriptures (the 39 books of the Old Testament) are able to make him wise for salvation through faith in Lord Jesus Christ. The Old Testament points to Lord Jesus Christ (John 5:39–40), the Son of God (Proverbs 30:3–4). Many people who call themselves Christians do not understand this fact and dismiss the Old Testament.

There is a caveat when the Apostle says, “every Scripture God-breathed”, for this could also read “every Scripture that is God-breathed”, which would be a more accurate translation. Because not all that is considered Scripture (Holy Writings) is God-breathed.

In respect to the New Testament, there are twenty-seven books and epistles that make up what is the accepted canon. Whether one wants to accept the sixty-six books of the Bible as authoritative, this becomes a matter of conviction that people who possess the Holy Spirit begin to recognize. As the Apostle Peter wrote:

• For we did not follow cunningly devised fables, when we made known to you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but we were eyewitnesses of his majesty. For he received from God the Father honor and glory, when the voice came to him from the Majestic Glory, “This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.” We heard this voice come out of heaven when we were with him on the holy mountain.We have the more sure word of prophecy; and you do well that you heed it, as to a lamp shining in a dark place, until the day dawns, and the morning star arises in your hearts: knowing this first, that no prophecy of Scripture is of private interpretation. For no prophecy ever came by the will of man: but holy men of God spoke, being moved by the Holy Spirit. (2 Peter 1:16–21)

The key feature about the Bible is the prophetic witness that it contains. Those who reject it, do so because they think they know better. Those who accept this, do so because investigation has proven the Bible to be reliable. As is happens, the Bible states:

• Every word of God is flawless. He is a shield to those who take refuge in him. (Proverbs 30:5)

Most people prefer to accept acculturation rather than truth. Because of this, we find that many people (but not all) who attend school, high school, college and university believe in the theory of evolution and accept it as fact. The evidence that they provide for their theory is what you would expect from the likes of Penn and Teller—an illusion. And, similarly, there are those who are indoctrinated in their belief systems about the Bible that reject the truth—which is, unless you know Lord Jesus Christ and are baptized by Him in the Holy Spirit (Matthew 3:11), you will not truly understand the truth of the Scriptures. This is because the Holy Spirit has to be the teacher (John 14:26). For what the Holy Spirit will teach you, will be “profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work.”

The scope of the words “all Scripture” means that which is profitable for instruction in righteous, so that every person who desires the truth and hates evil can walk in the joy of salvation.

The Only Words Written By God Himself Form The Plumbline That Enlightens