What is the difference between these two statements:
- All even numbers are divisible by 2.
- All birds fly.
"All even number are divisible by 2" is universally true - there are no exceptions. Statements of the type are often true by definition or proved to be true by deductive logic.
"All birds fly" is generally true - there are exceptions (penguins, ostrich, emu, cassowary, rhea. kiwi ...) Statements of this type are usually "proved to be true" by inductive logic or by distinctive characteristics definitions.
When you are asked to evaluate a statement as true or false, it is essential that you recognize whether a universal or a general statement is intended.
A second issue that arises with the use of "all" is whether it is referring to a complete thing "used to refer to the whole quantity or extent of a particular group or thing." or every member of a set.
- Did you read all the book?
- Did you outline all the chapters?
In asking about the book I am asking about a "complete thing" whereas in asking about the chapters, I am asking about a set of things within the book.
So why is this so important?
All scripture is inspired by God and is useful for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, so that everyone who belongs to God may be proficient, equipped for every good work.
The Holy Bible: New Revised Standard Version (Nashville: Thomas Nelson Publishers, 1989), 2 Ti 3:16–17.
If one takes "all" to mean the entire scripture as a single unit, you have a practical problem. If one takes "all" in this context to mean a collection rather than the entire as a single whole, you need to be able to define the unit of scripture that is the minimum required to have the characteristics of useful for teaching, reproof, correction ... Otherwise you opponent in a debate may reduce your argument to absurdity by selecting a phrase from a genealogy or even a single tiddle and ask you to show how it is useful for teaching, reproof, correction .... And remember, if you have claimed this is a universal truth, a single negative example destroys the premise i.e. the statement is false.
And as for why someone might push you on the interpretation of a too small unit:
The Jewish rabbis have a quaint way of expressing this very idea: they say that they will not understand the Scriptures until the Messiah comes. But when He comes, He will not only interpret each of the passages for us, He will interpret the very words; He will even interpret the very letters themselves; in fact, He will even interpret the spaces between the letters!
When I first heard this, I simply dismissed this as a colorful exaggeration. Until I reread Matthew 5:17 and 18:
"Think not that I have come to destroy the Torah and the prophets; I have not come to destroy but to fulfill.
For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled."
(A jot and tittle are the Hebrew equivalent of our dotting an i and the crossing of a t.)
"All" may have a wider role in revealed knowledge than in empirical knowledge, but we still need to be very clear about what we mean.
