Featured Constraining "all" to the things in view

One of the systemic or chronic problems with our English translation of the New Testament is translating the Greek word (pas) which means "all" as "all things" when something less than everything imaginable is in view. For example, when we see "with God all things are possible" (Matthew 19:26) it might be more accurately and contextually translated as "with God all salvations are possible."

The word salvations is in italics to indicate it has been added to the text to clarify the scope of "all" in this context.

Mark 7:37 (NASB)
And they were utterly astonished, saying, “He has done all things well; He makes even those who are deaf hear, and those who are unable to talk, speak.”

Does Mark 7:37 refer to everything imaginable, or simply that Jesus has done well all the things He has done in demonstrating His God given power to authenticate His gospel? A better less ambiguous translation would read, He has done all His deeds well....

So it appears when we see "all things" translating "all" we should consider constraining "all" to the things in view.

Lets look at one more verse:

Mark 9:23 (NASB)
But Jesus said to him, “‘If You can?' All things are possible for the one who believes.”

The context here is Jesus is answering the request "help us if you can." Thus "all" needs are possible for the one who believes best conveys the actual message.

 

Mark 11:24 (NASB)
“Therefore, I say to you, all things for which you pray and ask, believe that you have received them, and they will be granted to you.

Here the inspired text constrains "all things" to those we pray and ask for.

 

Matthew 11:27 (NASB)
“All things have been handed over to Me by My Father; and no one knows the Son except the Father; nor does anyone know the Father except the Son, and anyone to whom the Son determines to reveal Him.

When evaluating the scope of "all" (pas) in this verse we must look back to verse 11:25 to see that the "things" are revealed truths. Specifically knowledge of the Father and Son as revealed by the Son.

Matthew 11:25 (NASB)

At that time Jesus said, “I praise You, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that You have hidden these things from the wise and intelligent, and have revealed them to infants.

A handy hermeneutic when evaluating the scope of "all" is to read it as saying "all these" and thus you are put on the trail of the what is being addressed by the adjective "all."

 

John 1:3 (NASB)
All things came into being through Him, and apart from Him not even one thing came into being that has come into being.

Here when we evaluate all these came into being, our answer is obvious, all created things. Thus all creation came into being would present a more specific and accurate translation.

 

John 3:35 (NASB)
“The Father loves the Son and has entrusted all things to His hand.

Again if we ask what are "all these" given through His hand, the answer is all His testimony."
Thus "The Father loves the Son and has given all His testimony through His hand.

 

Another Greek word "hapas" (G537) is also sometimes translated as "all things" but as this is a compound word "alpha" and "pas" the idea seems to be "from the very first and all the rest" or every thing specified.

For example,
Luke 2:39 (NASB)
And when they had performed all things according to the law of the Lord, they returned into Galilee, to their own city Nazareth.

This could be better translated as every requirement according to the law of the Lord.

 

Acts of the Apostles 2:44 (NASB)
And all the believers were together and had all things in common;

This is a nice verse because it has "pas" translated simply as "all" because the scope is specified as "all those who were believers," but the scope of the phrase everything in common, must be discerned from context. Here the idea is their possessions, thus their "every possession in common."

 

Romans 8:28 (NASB)
And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose.

Here when we ask, what does "all these" refer to, the answer does not jump out. What works together for good for those that love God? Why all aspects of their love of God works together for good as they are being called (transferred) according to His purpose into His kingdom. Thus we are aware that all their trust and devotion is working together for good for those being called according to His purpose.

 

Here is one of the most important verses for evangelism in my opinion:

John 21:17 (NASB)
He *said to him the third time, “Simon, son of John, do you love (philo) Me?” Peter was hurt because He said to him the third time, “Do you love Me?” And he said to Him, “Lord, You know all things; You know that I love You.” Jesus *said to him, “Tend My sheep.​

Again, this translation choice supports the bogus view that while incarnate Jesus was still omniscient, but we know Jesus did not know the time of His return so He was not omniscient while incarnate if scripture cannot be broken. And lets say, after we look for what "all these" refers, and we are unsure, then our default translation choice is "Lord, You know all these things" which limits the scope of all to whatever we think best fits the context.

However, the contextual scope here is plain to see, as "do you love me more than these" constrains "all" to Christ's knowledge of Pete's attitude toward Christ and the attitude of His other disciples. Thus, "you know all about us" conveys the actual message and eliminates an argument for a bogus claim.

Why is this verse important for evangelism? Jesus asks Peter about his sacrificial love, and Peter truthfully says he loves Christ like a brother or dear friend. Jesus asks the same question again. And Peter knows he does not measure up. But then Jesus asks Peter if he loves Him as a brother or dear friend!!! Thus Jesus takes us where we are, even if we are not where we will be one day.

 

One of the features of Koine Greek grammar, found in our New Testament, is the omission of a word or phrase that must be supplied by the reader by inference, or could be supplied by translators by inferring from the context what has been left out. These additions should be "italicized" to signal the reader that the word or phrase has been added for clarity. That gives the reader an opportunity to evaluate the addition and perhaps see a better less ambiguous choice. Thus when you see all "things" many times only the "all" is found in the inspired text, and "things" has been supplied and should have been italicized.

For example, rather than supplying "things" which provides no clue as to the contextual scope, the translators could add these things which points to the immediate context. Better yet is to study the immediate context and answer the question, what is "all these" referring to? In John 21:17, rather that "you know all things" a far better rendering would read "you know all about us" which is the obvious scope found in the context of the passage.

 

Acts of the Apostles 4:32 (NASB)
And the congregation of those who believed were of one heart and soul; and not one claimed that anything belonging to him was his own, but all things were common property to them.

Obviously "all" refers to their property or belongings, therefore a better translation choice is: "but all their belongings were common property to them."

 

Acts of the Apostles 13:39 NASB
and through Him everyone who believes is freed from all things, from which you could not be freed through the Law of Moses.

Here "all" refers to whatever sin the Law could not justify.

A less ambiguous interpretive translation would read:
And by means of Him, everyone believing is justified from all the sins from which you could not be justified by the Law of Moses.

 

Act 17:22
Then Paul stood in the midst of the Areopagus and said, “Men of Athens, I perceive that in all things you are very religious;

Here the whole idea is missed. "In" translates "kata" meaning "according to or with respect to" thus the verse should read "I perceive that in all respects, you are very religious." Next Paul uses one of their religious aspects, the worship of the unknown God.

 

Romans 14:2
One person has faith that he may eat all things, but the one who is weak eats only vegetables.

Here, obviously the verse was intended to read "...he may eat all foods, ...."

 

1 Corinthians 2:15
But the one who is spiritual discerns all things, yet he himself is discerned by no one.

Here the idea is when we are indwelt, we have the mind of Christ within us, and therefore can discern whatever the Spirit discloses to us. Therefore the verse should read, "...discerns all spiritual disclosures ..."

 

Phlippians2:14
Do all things without complaining or arguments;

Here the idea is to do God's will, thus "Do all God wills without ...."

 

Ephesians 5:13
But all things become visible when they are exposed by the light, for everything that becomes visible is light.

Here we have what appears to be a nonsensical translation. Scientifically everything we see enters our eyes as light. But to think that is the message is absurd.

"But all enlightenment is revealed when exposed under God's light, for what is revealed is God's enlightenment.

 

Many times "all things" refers to everything God has created, thus "all creation" would clarify many verses.

 

2 Timothy 2:10
For this reason I endure all things for the sake of those who are chosen, so that they also may obtain the salvation which is in Christ Jesus and with it eternal glory.

Several improvements are needed for this rendering.
1) endure all things, should read, endure all difficulties
2) For the sake should read for the benefit
3) those who should read "thie"
4) who are chosen should read chosen.

The first difficulty is if a person is chosen for salvation, they have obtained salvation, so how does Paul's ministry provide "salvation" yet to be obtained? Here again I think Paul is referring to progressive sanctification where born anew believers earn rewards for effective ministry.

So putting it all together, "For this reason I endure all difficulties for the benefit of the chosen, so that they also may obtain the rewards of salvation which is in Christ Jesus and with salvation, eternal glory.

 

2 Timothy 4:5
But as for you, use self-restraint in all things, endure hardship, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry.

Here the idea is to be cautious or careful or circumspect in Timothy's ministry, so this would be a more accurate rendering:
But as for you, be circumspect in all ministry, endure hardship, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry.