If God desires ALL to be saved, will ALL be saved? 2 Peter 3:9 and 1 Tim 2:3
Who are "the ALL?"1 Peter 1
1Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ,
To those who are elect exiles of the dispersion in Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia, 2according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, in the sanctification of the Spirit, for obedience to Jesus Christ and for sprinkling with his blood: May grace and peace be multiplied to you.
3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! According to his great mercy, HE HAS CAUSED US TO BE BORN AGAIN to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,
2 Peter 3
This is now, beloved, the second letter I am writing TO YOU (see 1Pet 1) in which I am stirring up your sincere mind by way of reminder, 2that YOU should remember the words spoken beforehand BY the holy prophets and the commandment of the Lord and Savior spoken by your apostles.
[Peter's source is the OT prophets, Yeshua and The Apostles including himself.]
3Know this first of all, that in the last days mockers will come with their mocking, following after their own lusts,4and saying, "Where is THE PROMISE of His coming? For ever since the fathers fell asleep, all continues just as it was from the beginning of creation."
[Peter was living in the last days of the Old Covenant. Mockers were present because they were aware of Yeshua's promise to return in that generation destroy the temple, Old Covenant and end that age. They even mock v4]
5For when they maintain this, it escapes their notice that by the word of God the heavens existed long ago and the earth was formed out of water and by water,6through which the world at that time was destroyed, being flooded with water.
[Peter gives an example of how the heavens and earth of Noah time was destroyed.]
7But by His word the present heavens and earth are being reserved for fire, kept for the day of judgment and destruction of ungodly men.
[The present heavens and earth, Old Covenant Mosaic Age is reserved for fire in 70AD]
8But do not let this one fact escape your notice, beloved, that with the Lord one day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years like one day.
[see Ps 90:4 For a thousand years in your sight
are but as yesterday when it is past,
or as a watch in the night.
1Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ,
To those who are elect exiles of the dispersion in Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia, 2according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, in the sanctification of the Spirit, for obedience to Jesus Christ and for sprinkling with his blood: May grace and peace be multiplied to you.
3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! According to his great mercy, HE HAS CAUSED US TO BE BORN AGAIN to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,
2 Peter 3
This is now, beloved, the second letter I am writing TO YOU (see 1Pet 1) in which I am stirring up your sincere mind by way of reminder, 2that YOU should remember the words spoken beforehand BY the holy prophets and the commandment of the Lord and Savior spoken by your apostles.
[Peter's source is the OT prophets, Yeshua and The Apostles including himself.]
3Know this first of all, that in the last days mockers will come with their mocking, following after their own lusts,4and saying, "Where is THE PROMISE of His coming? For ever since the fathers fell asleep, all continues just as it was from the beginning of creation."
[Peter was living in the last days of the Old Covenant. Mockers were present because they were aware of Yeshua's promise to return in that generation destroy the temple, Old Covenant and end that age. They even mock v4]
5For when they maintain this, it escapes their notice that by the word of God the heavens existed long ago and the earth was formed out of water and by water,6through which the world at that time was destroyed, being flooded with water.
[Peter gives an example of how the heavens and earth of Noah time was destroyed.]
7But by His word the present heavens and earth are being reserved for fire, kept for the day of judgment and destruction of ungodly men.
[The present heavens and earth, Old Covenant Mosaic Age is reserved for fire in 70AD]
8But do not let this one fact escape your notice, beloved, that with the Lord one day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years like one day.
[see Ps 90:4 For a thousand years in your sight
are but as yesterday when it is past,
or as a watch in the night.
God ain't saying 1 day = a thousand years or 1000 years = a day!
He is basically saying if he makes a promise He will keep it whether in a day or in a thousand years.
9The Lord is not slow about HIS PROMISE, as some count slowness, but is patient TOWARD YOU, not wishing for ANY TO PERISH but FOR ALL to come to repentance.
a) Who is the “you” in verse 9?
b) Is it every single individual in the world?
c) Or is it to those whom this letter is addressed? See 2Pet3.1 and 1Pet1.1
d) Who is the any in v9?
e) Is not the antecedent of any, the “you” in the same verse?
f) What is the antecedent of “all?” Is it not the “you” in the same verse?
g) What would they perish from? What is perish referring to? Physical death? Hell?
h) What is HIS PROMISE about? Jesus’ Coming judgment upon Jerusalem
i) Was the Lord slow about HIS PROMISE? No.
1 Tim2:1-7
1First of all, then, I urge that entreaties and prayers, petitions and thanksgivings, be made on behalf of ALL MEN, 2for kings and all who are in authority, so that WE may lead a tranquil and quiet life in all godliness and dignity.
3This is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior, 4who desires ALL MEN to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth.
5For there is one God, and ONE MEDIATOR ALSO BETWEEN GOD AND MEN, THE MAN CHRIST JESUS,
6who gave Himself as a RANSOM FOR ALL, the testimony given at the proper time.
7For this I was appointed a preacher and an apostle (I am telling the truth, I am not lying) as a teacher of the Gentiles in faith and truth.
a) Does ALL MEN mean every single individual without exception?
b) Or could it mean ALL MEN without distinction, meaning ALL KINDS OF MEN, like kings, princes, judges, those in authority, men, women?
c) Will God’s desires ever fail?
Job 23:13-14 "But He is unique, and who can make Him change? And whatever His soul desires, that He does. 14 For He performs what is appointed for me, And many such things are with Him. That is why I am terrified before him; when I think of all this, I fear him.16 God has made my heart faint; the Almighty has terrified me.
d) Will ALL MEN who has ever lived be in heaven?
e) Do ALL MEN come to the knowledge of God?
f) How does John 17 say a person comes to the knowledge of God? John 17:2For you granted him authority over all people THAT HE MIGHT GIVE ETERNAL LIFE TO ALL THOSE YOU HAVE GIVEN HIM. 3Now this is eternal life: that they may know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent.
g) Is this passage saying that Jesus mediates on behalf of every person?
h) If so, should not ALL MEN whose ever lived be in heaven?
i) If ALL MEN are not in heaven, doesn’t that mean that Jesus has failed as a Mediator?
j) If Jesus has spilt His blood to RANSOM ALL MEN, should not ALL MEN be with Him in heaven?
***
Answer: “all” (Greek pas) in Scripture does not necessarily mean every person on the face of the earth. (Matthew 3:5, 10:22; John 3:26; Colossians 1:23) Paul uses the word 22 other times in 1 Timothy and in many of these references it does not refer to “all existing examples of” something but rather “all kinds of” something or some other meaning (1 Timothy 1:15, 2:1-2, 6, 8, 11, 3:4, 11, 4:4, 8-10, 15, 5:2, 10, 20, 6:1, 10, 13, 17):
1. 1 Timothy 1:15 stedfast [is] the word, and of ALL acceptation worthy, that Christ Jesus came to the world to save sinners -- first of whom I am;
2. 1 Timothy 2:1-2 I exhort, then, first of ALL, there be made supplications, prayers, intercessions, thanksgivings, for ALL men:
3. 2for kings, and ALL who are in authority, that a quiet and peaceable life we may lead in ALL piety and gravity,
4. 1 Timothy 2:6 who did give himself a ransom for ALL -- the testimony in its own times --
5. 1 Timothy 2:8 I wish, therefore, that men pray in every place, lifting up kind hands, apart from anger and reasoning;
6. 1 Timothy 2:11Let a woman in quietness learn in ALL subjection,
7. 1 Timothy 3:4 his own house leading well, having children in subjection with ALL gravity,
8. 1 Timothy 3:11 Women -- in like manner grave, not false accusers, vigilant, faithful in ALL things.
9. 1 Timothy 4:4 because every creature of God [is] good, and nothing [is] to be rejected, with thanksgiving being received,
10. 1 Timothy 4:8-10 for the bodily exercise is unto little profit, and the piety is to ALL things profitable, a promise having of the life that now is, and of that which is coming;
11. 9stedfast [is] the word, and of ALL acceptation worthy;10for for this we both labour and are reproached, because we hope on the living God, who is Saviour of ALL men -- especiALLy of those believing.
12. 1 Timothy 4:15 of these things be careful; in these things be, that thy advancement may be manifest in ALL things;
13. 1 Timothy 5:2 aged women as mothers, younger ones as sisters -- in ALL purity;
14. 1 Timothy 5:10 in good works being testified to: if she brought up children, if she entertained strangers, if saints' feet she washed, if those in tribulation she relieved, if every good work she followed after;
15. 1 Timothy 5:20Those sinning, reprove before ALL, that the others also may have fear;
16. 1 Timothy 6:1As many as are servants under a yoke, their own masters worthy of ALL honour let them reckon, that the name of God and the teaching may not be evil spoken of;
17. 1 Timothy 6:10 for a root of ALL the evils is the love of money, which certain longing for did go astray from the faith, and themselves did pierce through with many sorrows;
18. 1 Timothy 6:13 I charge thee, before God, who is making ALL things alive, and of Christ Jesus, who did testify before Pontius Pilate the right profession,
19. 1 Timothy 6:17 Those rich in the present age charge thou not to be high-minded,
20. nor to hope in the uncertainty of riches, but in the living God, who is giving to us ALL things richly for enjoyment; --
Particularly pertinent is 6:10, “For the love of money is the root of all evil” (KJV). Money was not the “root” of Satan’s rebellion or the Fall of Adam and Eve, or many other sins. However, money is “a root of all kinds of evil” (NKJV; note: There is no definitive article “the” in the Greek).
Similarly “all” in 1 Timothy 2:4 does not refer to every person who has or will live. It refers to all kinds of people as opposed to only Jews (Matthew 13:47; Acts 10:34, 11:18; Revelation 5:9).
Moreover, if God wanted every person to be saved, then everyone would be saved since His will always comes to pass. (Isaiah 55:11; Psalm 33:10, 115:3, 135:6) But the Bible clearly teaches some will be damned (Matthew 25:26; Revelation 20:11-15, 21:8). –by Rolant Mackenzie
9The Lord is not slow about HIS PROMISE, as some count slowness, but is patient TOWARD YOU, not wishing for ANY TO PERISH but FOR ALL to come to repentance.
a) Who is the “you” in verse 9?
b) Is it every single individual in the world?
c) Or is it to those whom this letter is addressed? See 2Pet3.1 and 1Pet1.1
d) Who is the any in v9?
e) Is not the antecedent of any, the “you” in the same verse?
f) What is the antecedent of “all?” Is it not the “you” in the same verse?
g) What would they perish from? What is perish referring to? Physical death? Hell?
h) What is HIS PROMISE about? Jesus’ Coming judgment upon Jerusalem
i) Was the Lord slow about HIS PROMISE? No.
1 Tim2:1-7
1First of all, then, I urge that entreaties and prayers, petitions and thanksgivings, be made on behalf of ALL MEN, 2for kings and all who are in authority, so that WE may lead a tranquil and quiet life in all godliness and dignity.
3This is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior, 4who desires ALL MEN to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth.
5For there is one God, and ONE MEDIATOR ALSO BETWEEN GOD AND MEN, THE MAN CHRIST JESUS,
6who gave Himself as a RANSOM FOR ALL, the testimony given at the proper time.
7For this I was appointed a preacher and an apostle (I am telling the truth, I am not lying) as a teacher of the Gentiles in faith and truth.
a) Does ALL MEN mean every single individual without exception?
b) Or could it mean ALL MEN without distinction, meaning ALL KINDS OF MEN, like kings, princes, judges, those in authority, men, women?
c) Will God’s desires ever fail?
Job 23:13-14 "But He is unique, and who can make Him change? And whatever His soul desires, that He does. 14 For He performs what is appointed for me, And many such things are with Him. That is why I am terrified before him; when I think of all this, I fear him.16 God has made my heart faint; the Almighty has terrified me.
d) Will ALL MEN who has ever lived be in heaven?
e) Do ALL MEN come to the knowledge of God?
f) How does John 17 say a person comes to the knowledge of God? John 17:2For you granted him authority over all people THAT HE MIGHT GIVE ETERNAL LIFE TO ALL THOSE YOU HAVE GIVEN HIM. 3Now this is eternal life: that they may know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent.
g) Is this passage saying that Jesus mediates on behalf of every person?
h) If so, should not ALL MEN whose ever lived be in heaven?
i) If ALL MEN are not in heaven, doesn’t that mean that Jesus has failed as a Mediator?
j) If Jesus has spilt His blood to RANSOM ALL MEN, should not ALL MEN be with Him in heaven?
***
Answer: “all” (Greek pas) in Scripture does not necessarily mean every person on the face of the earth. (Matthew 3:5, 10:22; John 3:26; Colossians 1:23) Paul uses the word 22 other times in 1 Timothy and in many of these references it does not refer to “all existing examples of” something but rather “all kinds of” something or some other meaning (1 Timothy 1:15, 2:1-2, 6, 8, 11, 3:4, 11, 4:4, 8-10, 15, 5:2, 10, 20, 6:1, 10, 13, 17):
1. 1 Timothy 1:15 stedfast [is] the word, and of ALL acceptation worthy, that Christ Jesus came to the world to save sinners -- first of whom I am;
2. 1 Timothy 2:1-2 I exhort, then, first of ALL, there be made supplications, prayers, intercessions, thanksgivings, for ALL men:
3. 2for kings, and ALL who are in authority, that a quiet and peaceable life we may lead in ALL piety and gravity,
4. 1 Timothy 2:6 who did give himself a ransom for ALL -- the testimony in its own times --
5. 1 Timothy 2:8 I wish, therefore, that men pray in every place, lifting up kind hands, apart from anger and reasoning;
6. 1 Timothy 2:11Let a woman in quietness learn in ALL subjection,
7. 1 Timothy 3:4 his own house leading well, having children in subjection with ALL gravity,
8. 1 Timothy 3:11 Women -- in like manner grave, not false accusers, vigilant, faithful in ALL things.
9. 1 Timothy 4:4 because every creature of God [is] good, and nothing [is] to be rejected, with thanksgiving being received,
10. 1 Timothy 4:8-10 for the bodily exercise is unto little profit, and the piety is to ALL things profitable, a promise having of the life that now is, and of that which is coming;
11. 9stedfast [is] the word, and of ALL acceptation worthy;10for for this we both labour and are reproached, because we hope on the living God, who is Saviour of ALL men -- especiALLy of those believing.
12. 1 Timothy 4:15 of these things be careful; in these things be, that thy advancement may be manifest in ALL things;
13. 1 Timothy 5:2 aged women as mothers, younger ones as sisters -- in ALL purity;
14. 1 Timothy 5:10 in good works being testified to: if she brought up children, if she entertained strangers, if saints' feet she washed, if those in tribulation she relieved, if every good work she followed after;
15. 1 Timothy 5:20Those sinning, reprove before ALL, that the others also may have fear;
16. 1 Timothy 6:1As many as are servants under a yoke, their own masters worthy of ALL honour let them reckon, that the name of God and the teaching may not be evil spoken of;
17. 1 Timothy 6:10 for a root of ALL the evils is the love of money, which certain longing for did go astray from the faith, and themselves did pierce through with many sorrows;
18. 1 Timothy 6:13 I charge thee, before God, who is making ALL things alive, and of Christ Jesus, who did testify before Pontius Pilate the right profession,
19. 1 Timothy 6:17 Those rich in the present age charge thou not to be high-minded,
20. nor to hope in the uncertainty of riches, but in the living God, who is giving to us ALL things richly for enjoyment; --
Particularly pertinent is 6:10, “For the love of money is the root of all evil” (KJV). Money was not the “root” of Satan’s rebellion or the Fall of Adam and Eve, or many other sins. However, money is “a root of all kinds of evil” (NKJV; note: There is no definitive article “the” in the Greek).
Similarly “all” in 1 Timothy 2:4 does not refer to every person who has or will live. It refers to all kinds of people as opposed to only Jews (Matthew 13:47; Acts 10:34, 11:18; Revelation 5:9).
Moreover, if God wanted every person to be saved, then everyone would be saved since His will always comes to pass. (Isaiah 55:11; Psalm 33:10, 115:3, 135:6) But the Bible clearly teaches some will be damned (Matthew 25:26; Revelation 20:11-15, 21:8). –by Rolant Mackenzie
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