Reformed Doctrine Daily Devotions

As some of you may know, I am daily reading through Scripture in its order.  Today’s devotion included I Timothy 2:1-6 which is quoted below. 

Some Arminians (people who reject the Five Points of Calvinism also known as “TULIP”, particularly “Limited Atonement”) cut out and paste verses 4 and 6 in contending that God wants to save everyone and that Christ died for everyone.  But, does “all” in Scripture always mean every member without exception?  We will primarily look at the context of the six uses of “all” in this Scripture passage, although you can certainly discern throughout Scripture that the uses of the word “all” elsewhere in Scripture DOES NOT always mean every member without exception.  

Let us read this Scripture passage, and I have highlighted every use of “all” in this passage.  

“1  First of all, then, I urge that entreaties and prayers, petitions and thanksgivings, be made on behalf of all men,

 ²  for kings and all who are in authority, so that we may lead a tranquil and quiet life in all godliness and dignity.

 ³  This is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior,

 ⁴  who desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth.

 ⁵  For there is one God, and one mediator also between God and men, the man Christ Jesus,

 ⁶  who gave Himself as a ransom for all, the testimony given at the proper time.”  1 Timothy 2:1-6. 

In the first “all” as in “first of all”, did Paul intend that he was going to list every one without exception of the things that he intended to urge?  Of course not!  The reader understands that he was only going to urge some things.  

In the second “all” as in “all men”, did Paul intend that we make entreaties and prayers, petitions and thanksgivings, for every man without exception?  No, I don’t think so.  The following verse specifically states those about whom Paul was speaking:   “for kings and all who are in authority”.  Also, in the prior verse of 1 Timothy 1:20, Paul states:  “Among these are  Hymenaeus and Alexander, whom I have handed over to Satan, so that they will be taught not to blaspheme.”  Although maybe some specific prayer was even appropriate for Hymenaeus and Alexander, it does not seem like Paul intended to include them (even though they also were men) in his general statement:  “I urge that entreaties and prayers, petitions and thanksgivings, be made on behalf of all men,” 

In the third “all” as in “ for kings and all who are in authority”, did Paul intend that entreaties and prayers, petitions and thanksgivings, be made on behalf of every king and every one in authority without exception?  No.  The following verse shows the purpose of these entreaties and prayers, petitions and thanksgivings:  “so that we may lead a tranquil and quiet life in all godliness and dignity”.  Should we have prayed for success for Hitler as he was blitzkrieging across western Europe?  Should we have given thanks for his success?  Of course not!  The point that I am trying to make is that the reader understands or should understand that the stated purpose is a limitation on the word “all”.  The purpose of such prayers is that we may lead a “tranquil and quiet life in all godliness and dignity”.    

In the fourth “all” as in “all godliness and dignity”, did Paul intend to imply that we are able to “lead a tranquil and quiet life in all godliness and dignity”?  Of course not!  The reader understands that we will not be perfect in godliness and dignity until we reach Heaven.  The reader understands that Paul means that the purpose of such prayers is that we be given better opportunities with such a tranquil and quiet life to engage in more and better types of godliness and dignity.

In the fifth “all” as in “who desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth”, did Paul intend to imply that God desires to save all men without exception and God desires all men without exception to come to the knowledge of the truth?  No.  We have seen in a prior post titled “The Love of the Truth” in II Thessalonians 2:10 that there are those who did not receive the love of the truth to be saved:  “and with all the deception of wickedness for those who perish, because they did not receive the love of the truth so as to be saved.”  We have even seen in the following verse that:  “For this reason God will send upon them a deluding influence so that they will believe what is false,”  II Thessalonians 2:11.  We have seen in II Thessalonians 2:13 that God has chosen some for salvation through faith in the truth:  “But we should always give thanks to God for you, brethren beloved by the Lord, because God has chosen you from the beginning for salvation through sanctification by the Spirit and faith in the truth.” 

In the sixth “all” as in “who gave Himself as a ransom for all“, did Paul intend to imply that Christ actually gave Himself up for every human without exception.  No. 

It is important that we consider the context and compare Scripture carefully.  When we do so, we will conclude that “all” in Scripture does not always mean every member without exception.  We should not be satisfied finding one or a few verses and think:  “Ah hah!  Gotcha!”.  2 Timothy 2: 15 exhorts us:  “Be diligent to present yourself approved to God as a workman who does not need to be ashamed, accurately handling the word of truth.”