Lexical Summary theopneustos: God-breathed, inspired by God Original Word: θεόπνευστος Strong's Exhaustive Concordance given by inspiration of God. From theos and a presumed derivative of pneo; divinely breathed in -- given by inspiration of God. see GREEK theos see GREEK pneo HELPS Word-studies 2315 theópneustos (from 2316 /theós, "God" and 4154 /pnéō, "breathe out") – properly, God-breathed, referring to the divine inspiration (inbreathing) of Scripture (used only in 2 Tim 3:16). 2315 /theópneustos ("God-breathed"), likely a term coined by Paul, "expresses the sacred nature of the Scriptures (their divine origin) and their power to sanctify believers" (C. Spicq, 2, 193). [Inbreathing (2315 /theópneustos) relates directly to God's Spirit (Gk pneuma) which can also be translated "breath."] 2 Tim 3:16: "Each-and-every (3956 /pás, singular) Scripture (Gk, singular) is God-breathed (2315 /theópneustos) and profitable for teaching, for convincing, for correction, for training in righteousness." The singular (anarthrous) use of 3956 /pás ("all") underlines that each part of speech (every inflected word-form, "reflex") used in the Bible is God-breathed, i.e. inscripturated (written) under divine inspiration. [G. Archer, "2315 (theópneustos) is better rendered 'breathed out by God' as the emphasis is upon the divine origin of the inscripturated revelation itself" (A Survey of OT Introduction, fn. 7, 29).] NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originfrom theos and pneó Definition God-breathed, i.e. inspired by God NASB Translation inspired by God (1). Thayer's Greek Lexicon STRONGS NT 2315: θεόπνευστοςθεόπνευστος, θεοπνευστον (Θεός and πνέω), inspired by God: γραφή, i. e. the contents of Scripture, 2 Timothy 3:16 (see πᾶς, I. 1 c.); σοφιη (pseudo-)Phocyl. 121; ὄνειροι, Plutarch, de plac. phil. 5, 2, 3, p. 904 f.; (Sibylline Oracles 8, 411 (cf. 308); Nonnus, paraphr. ev. Ioan. 1, 99). (ἐμπνευστος also is used passively, but ἄπνευστος, ἐυπνευστος, πυριπνευστος (δυσδιαπνευστος), actively (and δυσαναπνευστος; apparently either active or passive; cf. Winer's Grammar, 96 (92) note).) Topical Lexicon Biblical Occurrence and Immediate Context The adjective θεόπνευστος appears a single time in the Greek New Testament—in 2 Timothy 3:16. Paul reassures Timothy, “All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for instruction, for conviction, for correction, and for training in righteousness” (Berean Standard Bible). Positioned in a pastoral letter that deals with doctrinal fidelity amid rising deception (2 Timothy 3:1-15), the term anchors Timothy’s confidence in the written Word by grounding it in God Himself. “Scripture” (graphē) in Paul’s usage already embraced the Old Testament and, by apostolic extension, the growing corpus that would become the New Testament (compare 1 Timothy 5:18 with Luke 10:7; 2 Peter 3:15-16). Theological Significance: Divine Origin of Scripture 1. Divine Breath, Divine Authority. The word conveys that the Scriptures do not merely contain divine thoughts; they are the product of God’s own creative breath. Just as God breathed physical life into Adam (Genesis 2:7) and spiritual life into dead bones (Ezekiel 37:5-10), He breathes out His Word, imparting authority that is equal to His own character (Psalm 33:6; John 10:35). Conceptual Parallels in Scripture While θεόπνευστος is unique, parallel statements reinforce the same truth: Together these passages present a coherent doctrine of plenary, verbal inspiration—every word (verbal) of the whole (plenary) Scripture originates with God. Historical Reception in the Church Early Fathers. Clement of Rome (First Epistle 45.2-3) and Irenaeus (Against Heresies 2.35.4) cited Scripture as the very voice of the Spirit. Creedal Affirmation. The Nicene-Constantinopolitan Creed (381 A.D.) identifies the Holy Spirit as the One “who spoke through the prophets,” echoing θεόπνευστος. Reformation Emphasis. Reformers such as Martin Luther and John Calvin appealed to Scripture’s divine origin to challenge ecclesiastical abuses, coining the principle sola Scriptura. Modern Articulation. The Chicago Statement on Biblical Inerrancy (1978) explicitly rests its claims on 2 Timothy 3:16, summarizing centuries of orthodox conviction that the written Word is breathed out by God and therefore without error. Ministry Application 1. Preaching and Teaching. Because Scripture is God-breathed, expository preaching seeks to let the text speak on its own terms (Nehemiah 8:8). The preacher’s authority derives not from eloquence but from fidelity to God’s breathed-out Word. Relation to Other Doctrines Inspiration undergirds: These doctrines interlock; weaken inspiration and the others unravel. Key Cross-References for Study Psalm 19:7-11; Psalm 119:89-105; Isaiah 55:10-11; Matthew 5:17-18; Luke 24:44-45; John 17:17; Acts 17:11; Romans 15:4; Ephesians 6:17; Colossians 3:16; 1 Thessalonians 2:13; 2 Peter 1:20-21; Revelation 22:18-19. Summary θεόπνευστος in 2 Timothy 3:16 affirms that all Scripture proceeds from the very breath of God. This single occurrence encapsulates the Bible’s authority, trustworthiness, and sufficiency for salvation and godliness. From the prophets and apostles to the contemporary church, believers have staked their faith, worship, and mission on the conviction that the written Word is nothing less than the voice of the living God. Forms and Transliterations θεοπνευστος θεόπνευστος theopneustos theópneustosLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel Texts |
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