Good. For it has never occurred to me to construct such a list. I presume from your post above, that your list is “the actual documents penned by Moses, the prophets, Matthew, Mark, Luke, John, Peter, Paul, etc.” Is that correct? Does the “etc.” include the letter of Clement (Paul’s fellow worker) to the Corinthians? If not, why not? If another letter written by Paul were discovered, would you include that in your list? Paul indicated that he wrote a letter to the Laodiceans.
Colossians 4:16 (NASB) When this letter is read among you, have it also read in the church of the Laodiceans; and you, for your part read my letter that is coming from Laodicea.
There is extant a letter purporting to be Paul’s letter to the Laodiceans. If that were proved genuine, would you include that in your list of “God-breathed Scriptures”?
It is not your list or my list of “God-breathed Scriptures” that is important. It is what Paul meant in 2 Timothy 3:16. The first thing to understand is that the Greek word “γραφη” (graphā) can simply mean “a writing” and not necessarily some special writing called “Scripture.” The second thing to understand, is that if Paul did mean a special list of “inspired writings” he probably referred to the Hebrew writings, as those were the ones that the Jewish Christians consulted. It is highly unlikely that he included the writings of “Matthew, Mark, Luke, John, Peter, Paul, etc.”
It might also be instructive to be aware that the translators of several versions offer an alternate translation that is also true to the Greek:
Every scripture inspired of God is also profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for instruction which is in righteousness.
(2 Timothy 3:16 ASV American Standard Version 1901)
All Scripture that is divinely inspired is also profitable, etc. (Revised Standard Version of 1881)
Every scripture inspired by God is also useful for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness (New Revised Standard Version 1989 given as an alternative reading)
And a less literal translation:
Every inspired scripture has its use for teaching and refuting error, or for reformation of manners and discipline in right living, so that the man who belongs to God may be efficient and equipped for good work of every kind (New English Bible 1970)
) word for word, will these works (or songs, as I hesitate to call them hymns) be considered inspired?
