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1 Timothy 2:4
Some see in the statement of 1 Timothy 2:4 that God is trying to save as many from some eternal doom in the present evil world, if only they would learn and believe. Thus, instead of seeing the beauty that is actually there, that God will indeed save, or deliver, all men from their ignorance, and as a result of that deliverance bring all to an accurate knowledge of the truth, they vaguely see it as a warning of doom. First of all, we note that the KJV is generally considered not completely precise in its translation: "and God will have all men to be saved." Most translations do present this as God "desires all men to be saved," (New American Standard) or God "wants everyone to be saved ." (Today's English Version) The New World Translation tries to qualify it as "all sorts of men should be saved". While the KJV may not be totally precise in its translation, yet we do believe that the KJV captures the thought that Paul was trying to express to Timothy: that God will fullfill his desire to have all mankind to be saved [delivered]. Paul had just mentioned prayers for the worldly rulers, not that they come to a knowledge of the truth, but that the believers "may go on leading a calm and quiet life." Then Paul states that this is fine and acceptable, not because they will be eternally doomed because of their unbelief, but because they will eventually be delievered [saved] from their ignorance and come to a knowledge of the truth. This statement, that it is God's will that "all men should be saved", finds a parallel in the statement by the same Apostle, in Romans 11:26, "And so all Israel shall be saved." The thought in this last passage is not that all Israel shall be saved eternally, but merely that all Israel shall be saved from their blindness -- in the sense of being recovered from the blindness which came upon them as a people as a result of their national rejection of the Messiah. So the thought of the text is also limited and applies only to the Adamic catastrophe: God wills that all men should be saved, not only from the just sentence which he pronounced and which cut short Adam's trial (this he has already accomplished in the death of his Son) but he also wills that all men shall be recovered from the ignorance and blindness with which Satan since the fall has darkened their minds: "The god of this world has blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them." (2 Corinthians 4:4) God wills that all should be so saved from all the train of evils following Adam's sin and curse, that they may come to a knowledge of the truth. Why does he will this? To the intent that having a clear knowledge of the truth they may make the very best possible use of the new trial for life secured for them by their Redeemer's ransom-sacrifice. It is for the carrying out of this, God's will, that the Redeemer will inaugurate his Millennial Kingdom, which will first bind Satan (restrain all outside evil influences) and then release man from his blindness--as it is written, "the eyes of the blind shall be opened." (Isaiah 35:5) For the same reason, viz., that the new trial shall be most favorable for man, it is the divine arrangement that its work shall be done gradually and require a thousand years. -- Isaiah 2:2-4; 25:6,7; 29:24; John 12:47,48; Revelation 20:1-5.
Some related online writings: "Prayers for Earthly Rulers"
"Ransom and Testimony: Will They Become Co-Extensive?"
"The Will of God" "One Mediator" Mankind's Course to the Day of Judgment Will Billions Be Eternally Destroyed in the Battle of Armageddon? Ransom and Atonement Resources
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