What Does "God Breathed" REALLY Mean? | 2 Timothy

Does the Bible claim to be divinely inspired? 2 Timothy 3 16 is the go-to proof text for the doctrine of divine inspiration, as well as the ideas of inerrancy and infallibility. However, one of the most recent and comprehensive studies into the Greek word theopneustos (θεόπνευστος) has challenged the idea that it refers to inspiration. Prior to Origen in the 3rd Century, theopneustos probably meant "life-giving". In this video, I look at this term in its ancient context from a scholarly point of view.
2 Timothy 3:16 'All Scripture Is God Breathed!' The Bible - Is All Scripture Really God-Breathed? 2 Timothy 3:16-17 Explained
Sources:
John C. Poirier - The Invention of the Inspired Text amzn.to/3QKtwYi
See also the following masters paper: "Θεόπνευστος and its Implications for the Concept of
Scripture in 2 Timothy 3.14-17" - scholar.sun.ac.za/handle/10019...
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[@TabletsAndTemples]

I see you... checking out the comments before the video is over.

[@mustachemac5229]

I just got notified about this video but your comment is 8 days old... ?🤷‍♂️

[@TabletsAndTemples]

@@mustachemac5229 it was unlisted then scheduled ;)

[@TURTLEORIGINAL]

Bible Unboxed, Are you a Bible believing Christian?

[@Daniel12.4Ministry]

2 Timothy 3:16. "All that I have written is for you to stand firmly upon God’s spirit {“theopneustas”} (G-2316- “theo” = God + G-4151- “pneu” spirit + G-4714 - “stas” to stand firmly upon) (Romans 7:6; 1 Peter 1:22; 1 John 4:2; Acts 2:38; Acts 3:19; John 3:5; Joel 2:28) If Paul was speaking of the entire bible, how could he be speaking of all of the books that had not yet been written? Certainly he could not. The above translation is precise and is accurate. Get your copy of "THE ETERNAL BOOK OF TRUTH, THE NEW TESTAMENT SCRIPTURES"

[@jeffreylowe7358]

An argument I haven't heard before. Thanks for sharing

[@mustachemac5229]

I'm going to change the word in my Bible to life-giving and include verse 17 to maybe get some more context. 16 "All scripture is *life-giving*(inspired by God) and is useful for teaching the truth, rebuking error, correcting faults, and giving instruction for right living, 17 so that the person who serves God may be fully qualified and equipped to do every kind of good deed." Obviously, it is being poetic... in a sense that, God can give you life, so can scripture give you life. I don't know, this is a tough one for me. Thank you for the video, Lachlan.👍

[@randyliston2114]

You are 100% correct in the 1st century the people would only have understood this as "life giving!

[@brett2660]

I appreciate the detailed breakdown, as always. Thank you!

[@TabletsAndTemples]

Thank you for being a regular watcher!

[@MazzyKez]

Thank you for sharing. Helpful in understanding how scripture is useful in living a godly life. Rather than focusing on a literal interpretation, we can ask ourselves what is the point of this story and how can it help me live a godly life. We can analyze the author’s purpose like we would Aesop’s fables or the oral tradition of native Americans.

[@tomweldon7698]

The Greeks we're polytheists, so would the word mean god in the singular, and does it refer to the Christian god? Thx

[@TabletsAndTemples]

The vast majority (if not all, I'll have to double check that) uses of theopneustos and its derivatives are found in Jewish or Christian writings (or writings influenced in some way by Christianity/Judaism). So it probably typically relates to YHWH. There is one usage, inscribed on a sphynx in Egypt, though I think scholars suspect some Christian influence there too.

[@socratic.seeker]

God Breathing, God is the Earth! God indeed does breath ❤

[@ItsEverythingEuodia]

I have a question😅 So if the word doesn’t mean God breathed or inspired by God but life giving does this mean that we have no evidence to claim that the bible is infallible or that the Holy Spirit was involved when the Holy Scriptures were written? Or can you still have a high view of Scripture and believe the Holy Spirit was involved in the writing of Scripture even though we can’t claim it to be infallible or inspired by God?

[@TabletsAndTemples]

Hey there, thanks for watching. As to your question, I'll say upfront, my focus on this channel is primarily on Biblical studies (i.e., what did a text/idea mean in its ancient context). I don't focus so much on doctrine or theology, and when I do it's from the perspective of how ideas changed/developed over time. However, to try to answer your question I will say the author of the book on which this video is based would certainly argue that the doctrine of infallibility does not have an ancient foundation in the Bible. On the question of views of the Bible: different faith traditions and different denominations have different views on the origin and quality of the Bible, so it depends on the denomination and tradition.

[@ItsEverythingEuodia]

@@TabletsAndTemples Thank you for answering.

[@TURTLEORIGINAL]

@@ItsEverythingEuodia I hope you never allow these videos to cloud your heart on God's Word. Romans 10:17 “So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.” King James Version (KJV)

[@christopherflux6254]

If all scripture is ‘life giving’ (in the spiritual sense) then it still strongly implies a high view of scripture, because genuine spiritual edification is rarely built on lies.

[@rexcavalier]

When we say "All Scripture or Scriptures" are Life-Giving, did the people who were used to convey these messages, like for example the so-called four gospel books, never inserted any of their own words but just have written the exact words of God just like on the words of prophecies according to 2Peter 1:20-21? I suspect that modern translators based the word inspired or by inspiration from 2Peter 1:20-21 that the writers never inserted any of their own words or interpretation of any revelation from God, and therefore, the doctrine of inerrancy of the Scriptures comes in.

[@diansc7322]

2 Peter wasn't written by Peter oop

[@fireee5488]

god can inspire a copy that doesnt match the original (jer 36:32) or translation (matt 2:18) :)

[@nannimanfrin8420]

Those words would be better rendered "journalists" and do not mean biblical scribes

[@JeanMarcelino-qr9ju]

Referring to The second Resssurection

[@JeanMarcelino-qr9ju]

John8:51-59

[@JeanMarcelino-qr9ju]

Those who are in focus to Christ Jesus will never taste death? What kind of Death referring too Spiritual but in physical Hebrew 9:27 did you ever noticed A New creation in Christ Jesus 2 Corinthians 5:17 will born twice die Once while Those who doesn't embrace him will born once die twice Revelation 20

[@TheNerdyBrew]

I love your videos and they have helped me through alot. But in regards to the god-brethed. There is the rauach in Hebrew as God's spirit and the rauach is in the old testament. So the writers could've translated in Greek and still applying that God's spirit or breath the scriptures.

[@TabletsAndTemples]

Hey there, glad you like the videos. However I'm not sure I understand your comment, could explain a bit further what you mean?

[@TheNerdyBrew]

@@TabletsAndTemples I'm my spelling is incorrect. I was referring to the holy spirit defined in Judaism and I was reasoning that God-breathed in 2nd Timothy is referring to God's holy spirt and thinking it was translated from a Hebrew author addressing either the believing jews that converted or Greek gentiles. Hence the wording of God's breath. This isn't a primary source but sources at the bottom of what I'm trying to convey. Blessings and thank you for your ministry en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Holy_Spirit_in_Judaism

[@christopherflux6254]

It’s possible for this alternative interpretation to be true and for the Bible to still be inerrant/infallible. After all, it’s hard to argue that something is ‘life giving’ (in a spiritual sense) if it’s based on lies. So the verse still leads to a high view of scripture even if it’s not a proof text for inerrancy.

[@mattgerald2460]

you do know god or jesus doesn't look like that right

[@InquisitiveBible]

It's so hard to get an up-to-date photo of Jesus.

[@philippinebibleministry2989]

Isn't that what the devil told Eve? "Did God really say?" There are other verses which speak to this,,,John 10:35, scripture cannot be broken. My words shall not pass away...is in a few places meaning that His words will not be changed,,,it is evident that the OT is accurate to the word!! I think the NT also,,,if you start with the belief that every word is not from God, then you end up with a liberal theology which does not save anyone,,,,,,,,,Of course the word of God is life giving, it is also the word of GOD, Not the words of the 35