(1) A passage where PAS definitely refers to "most" or "a great number" is
2 Tim 1:15. Firstly we see that the words hOI EN THi ASIAi do not mean all
people in Asia but are restricted to the Christians. Secondly, these words
neither include all the Christians, because Onesiphuros (and probably also
others) remained loyal.
(2) Another place where PAS is used in a more restricted sense is Acts
2:17. The Spirit will hardly be poured out upon "ALL flesh", also upon
those having sinned against the Spirit, but the spirit will be poured out
upon "all KINDS of flesh", the kinds being specified in the following words.
(3) In Luke 21:29 PANTA TA DENTDRA evidently means "all OTHER trees". (See
Blass,Debrunner,funk º 480.)
If PAS in (1) and (3) is translated with "all" there is no problem for the
reader. S/he has the context and it is common knowledge that the fig is a
tree. However,it seems to me that a rendition of PAS in (2) as "all" will
be misleading.
Regards
Rolf
Rolf Furuli
University of Oslo