Scripture Inspired by God

In translating the Bible, the translators try to express what the original writers have said so that the readers in the receptor languages can understand the messages. They take various approaches from word-for-word to meaning-for-meaning. Whatever approach is used has both strengths and weaknesses. Sometimes, in the process, variations in meaning from one version to another will occur. Such is the case in the translation of 2 Timothy 3: 16.

In this study, sixty-five versions have been examined. Thirty-one of them are illustrated here. The others are similar to these. It is principally the first part of the verse that is of interest. The versions are divided into three categories: Indefinite, Conclusive, and Restrictive. These terms are explained below. Each category is sub-divided into three classes: "scripture" with Lower Case initial, "scripture" with Upper Case initial, and Other Words replacing "scripture."

Following the scripture quotations of each category is a list of the other versions that exhibit the same pattern.

Versions Compared

  1. AB - Amplified Bible
  2. ANT - The Authentic New Testament
  3. BNT - Barclay New Testament
  4. CEV - Contemporary English Version
  5. CNT - Cassirer New Testament
  6. CTNT - Centenary Translation of the New Testament
  7. DHB - Darby Holy Bible
  8. DRB - Douay-Rheims Bible
  9. EDW - The Emphatic Diaglott
  10. EVD - English Version for the Deaf
  11. GW - God's Word
  12. HBME - The Holy Bible in Modern English
  13. IB - Interlinear Bible
  14. IV - Inspired Version
  15. KJV - King James Version
  16. KLNT - Kleist-Lilly New Testament
  17. KTC - Knox Translation
  18. LB - Living Bible
  19. LBP - Lamsa Bible
  20. MCT - McCord's New Testament Translation
  21. NEB - New English Bible
  22. NLV - New Life Version
  23. NNT - Noli New Testament
  24. PRS - Phillips Revised Student Edition
  25. REB - Revised English Bible
  26. SGAT - An American Translation (Smith-Goodspeed)
  27. TCNT - The Twentieth Century New Testament
  28. TM - The Message
  29. WAS - Worrell New Testament
  30. WTNT - William Tindale Newe Testament
  31. YLR - Young's Literal Translation, Revised Edition

Other Versions Used

  1. AAT - An American Translation (Beck)
  2. AIV - An Inclusive Version
  3. ASV - American Standard Version
  4. CENT - Common English New Testament
  5. CJB - Complete Jewish Bible
  6. CLNT - Concordant Literal New Testament
  7. EBR - The Emphasized Bible
  8. HBRV - Holy Bible, Revised Version
  9. MNT - Moffat New Translation
  10. MRB - Modern Reader's Bible
  11. MSNT - The Modern Speech New Testament
  12. NAB - New American Bible
  13. NAS - New American Standard Version
  14. NBV - New Berkeley Version
  15. NCV - New Century Version
  16. NET - New Evangelical Translation
  17. NIV - New International Version
  18. NJB - New Jerusalem Bible
  19. NKJ - New King James Version
  20. NLT - New Living Translation
  21. NRS - New Revised Standard Version
  22. NSNT - Norlie's Simplified New Testament
  23. NWT - New World Translation
  24. RNT - Riverside New Testament
  25. RSV - Revised Standard Version
  26. SNB - Restoration of Original Sacred Name Bible
  27. SSBE - The Sacred Scriptures, Bethel Edition
  28. TBR - The Bible Reader
  29. TDB - The Dartmouth Bible
  30. TEV - Today's English Version
  31. TJB - The Jerusalem Bible
  32. WET - Wuest Expanded Translation
  33. WNT - Williams New Testament

 

Definitions of Scripture

First, we shall check two definitions in Funk and Wagnalls Standard Dictionary of the English Language:

  1. scripture: the sacred writings of any people; originally, anything written, as a document, book, or inscription, or its contents; a writing.
  2. Scripture: the books of the Old and New Testaments, including often the Apocrypha; specially the Bible: usually plural; a text or passage from the Bible.

Lower Case:
In checking the dictionary definition above, the use of a lower case initial "s" broadens the scope of the term. Thus, such writings as The Adigranth, The Analect of Confucius, The Book of Enoch, The Book of Mormon, The Gospel of Thomas, Jaina Sutras, The Koran, Nihongi, Popul Vuh, Tao-Teh-King, Teachings of Baha'u'llah, Tripitaka, The Upanishads, and The Zendavesta, can be included. Despite how Christians feel about these writings, they are (or were) Scriptural to many people. These are upper case writings to those whose accept them as Scripture.

Upper Case:
In checking the dictionary definition above, the use of an upper case initial "s" limits the scope of the term. To those of Judaism, this means The Tanakh. To those of Christianity, this means the Old Testament, The New Testament, and possibly The Apocrypha. It also means that, outside of the Bible, Yahweh cannot, or will not, direct His servants to write further Scripture.

Other Words:
"Writing" can be a synonym of "Scripture," and is probably used here in that sense. However, it does have broader meanings. "Document" is like "Writing." However, in the case used above, it stands for "holy Scriptures" in the previous sentence. Further, it refers to each writing within the known Scriptures of the day. The use of "Bible" in this context is what translators call an anachronism. Many feel that such should be avoided. The Bible, as we know it, was not in existence. Even our Old Testament was not canonized until after A.D. 70, even though the writings had long been in existence. Some of the New Testament had not been written when Paul made this statement to Timothy. The New Testament as such did not exist until late in the fourth century A.D.

 

Indefinite

In this category, the word "is" has been added and indicated by italics or brackets. It is indefinite because the reader does not know if the word "is" had been omitted in the past by design or by error. The translators seem to feel that it should be included for completion of thought, but are not absolutely sure that it should be there. If they had felt sure either way, the versions in this category would have been in one of the other two.

Lower Case

DHB - Every scripture [is] divinely inspired, and profitable for teaching, ... .

KJV - All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:

Others - EBR

Upper Case

AB - Every Scripture is God-breathed -- given by His inspiration -- and profitable for instruction, ... .

IB - Every Scripture is God-breathed and profitable for teaching, ... .

Others - NKJ

Other Words

YLR - ...; every Writing is God-breathed, and profitable for teaching.

Others - (none)

 

Conclusive

In this category, the word "is" or another verb of certainty follows the word "Scripture." It is conclusive because of the affirmed statements that the Scriptures were inspired by Yahweh. The translators have taken a definite stand.

Lower Case

CNT - As for scripture, it is divinely inspired, being serviceable for teaching, ... .

KTC - Everything in the scripture has been divinely inspired, and has its uses: to instruct us, to expose our errors, to correct our faults, to educate us in holy living; ... .

MCT - Every scripture is God-breathed and profitable for teaching, ... .

PRS - All scripture is inspired by God and is useful for teaching the faith and correcting error.

Others - CLNT, MNT, NAB, NJB, NRS, RSV, TBR, TJB, WET

Upper Case

CEV - Everything in the Scriptures is God's Word. All of it is useful for teaching ... .

CTNT - Every Scripture, seeing that it is God-breathed, is also profitable for teaching,... .

EVD - All Scripture is given by God. And all Scripture is useful for teaching.

GW - Every Scripture passage is inspired by God. All of them are useful for teaching, ... .

KLNT - All Scripture is inspired by God and useful for teaching, ... .

NNT - All our Holy Scriptures are inspired by God. They are useful in many ways.

SGAT - All Scripture is divinely inspired, and useful in teaching in uprightness.

TM - Every part of Scripture is God-breathed and profitable for teaching, ... .

Others - AAT, AIV, CENT, CJB, MSNT, NAS, NBV, NCV, NET, NIV, NLT, NSNT, NWT, RNT, SNB, TDB, TEV, WNT

Other Words

ANT - ... and that from infancy you have known the holy Scriptures, which have power to make you wise for salvation by faith that is in Christ Jesus. Each document is divinely inspired, and consequently advantageous for instruction, reproof, reclamation and moral discipline, ... .

LB - The whole Bible was given to us by inspiration of God and is useful to teach us what is true ... .

NLV - All the Holy Writings are God-given and are God-given and are made alive by Him. Man is helped when he is taught God's Word.

Others - (none)

 

Restrictive

In this category, the verb "is" does not appear immediately following the word "Scripture." It is restrictive because the statement refers only to Scriptures that have been inspired by Yahweh. It suggests that there are Scriptures that have not been inspired by Him. It also suggests that Yahweh can instruct other servants throughout later times to write. Again, the translators have taken a stand, whether or not they accept the implication.

Lower Case

BNT - Every divinely inspired scripture is also useful for teaching the truth, for the refutation of error, for moral correction, and for training in the good life.

DRB - All scripture, inspired of God, is profitable to teach, ... .

LBP - All scripture written by the inspiration of the Holy Spirit is profitable for doctrine, ... .

NEB - Every inspired scripture has its use for teaching the truth and refuting error, ... .

REB - All inspired scripture has its use for teaching the truth and refuting error, ... .

WTNT - For all scripture given by inspiration of God, is profitable to teach, ... .

Others - ASV, HBRV, MRB, SSBE

Upper Case

EDW - All Scripture, divinely inspired, is indeed profitable for Teaching, ... .

IV - And all Scripture given by inspiration of God, is profitable for doctrine, ... .

WAS - Every Scripture inspired of God is also profitable for teaching, ... .

Others - (none)

Other Words

HBME - Every Divinely inspired and useful writing was intended for teaching, attestation, and education in righteousness, ... .

TCNT - Everything that is written under divine inspiration is helpful for teaching, ... .

Others - (none)