The liberals have exploited the
absence of the copulative verb in 2Ti 3:16 to make the verse teach that only
some portions of Scripture are inspired. The Greek seems to allow such since it
reads: πασα γραφη θεοπνευστος
και ωφελιμος (“all Scripture
inspired and profitable”) instead of πασα
γραφη εστιν
θεοπνευστος και
ωφελιμος (“all Scripture is inspired and profitable”).
However, there are two grammatical reasons why the verse cannot be interpreted
to limit inspiration. First, Greek does not eliminate the copulative to remove
its connecting value but to emphasize it. Hence if a Greek reader sees a
sentence without a copulative verb but knows that the sentence would normally
take a copulative verb, this is a sign to him that the copulative is being
emphasized, which in English may be expressed with italics or capital letters, e.g.,
“All Scripture IS inspired by God and profitable . . . “ An example of this
fact is noted in Ep 2:8: “For by grace you have been saved through faith; and
that not of yourselves, for it is the gift of God” (τη γαρ
χαριτι εστε
σεσωσμενοι δια
της πιστεως
και τουτο
ουκ εξ
ημων θεου
το δωρον). the
phrase “for it is the gift of God” is without the copulative εστιν (“is”)
before θεου το δωρον (“the gift
of God”). Also, there is no copulative between τουτο (“that”) and ουκ εξ
ημων (“not of yourselves”). Second, to the clause,
“All Scripture is inspired by God” Paul adds another nominative adjective ωφελιμος (“profitable”) to the first nominative adjective
θεοπνευστος (“inspired by God”), so that it reads, “All
Scripture is inspired and profitable”). In Greek grammar, the addition of ωφελιμος (“profitable”) requires that a copulative is
implied, otherwise the meaning would be, “All Scripture inspired and
profitable,” which in English could mean that whatever Scripture is, only some
of it is profitable.” (Robert Sungenis, Supersessionism
is Irrevocable: Facing the Ambiguities, Compromises, and Heresies in Recent
Catholic Documents Regarding the “Old Covenant” [State Lina, Pa.: Catholic
Apologetics International Publishing, Inc., 2024], 95-96 n. 107)
