The Apostle Paul wrote in 2nd Timothy 3:16 that "All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:"
I have read this verse many times before and thought nothing much of it, it's a pretty self explanatory verse. Then I started thinking, when Paul wrote this, what was he referring to as scripture? He was writing a letter to Timothy, not knowing that generations later would consider his letters to be scripture. I do not think even Paul himself considered them to be scripture.
By this logic, the new testament isn't scripture. The new testament is Gospels, Epistles, and Prophecy. "Scripture" would purely mean the Old Testament.
This is not to say that the new testament isn't inspired or of God, it most certainly 100% is. Especially the gospels, which have the words of the Messiah!
So, my questions to you are:
I have read this verse many times before and thought nothing much of it, it's a pretty self explanatory verse. Then I started thinking, when Paul wrote this, what was he referring to as scripture? He was writing a letter to Timothy, not knowing that generations later would consider his letters to be scripture. I do not think even Paul himself considered them to be scripture.
By this logic, the new testament isn't scripture. The new testament is Gospels, Epistles, and Prophecy. "Scripture" would purely mean the Old Testament.
This is not to say that the new testament isn't inspired or of God, it most certainly 100% is. Especially the gospels, which have the words of the Messiah!
So, my questions to you are:
- Do you think the new testament is scripture?
- Do you think Paul considered his own writings to be scripture, while he was writing them?
- What makes scripture, scripture?
