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NASB | 1 Timothy 2:4 who desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth. |
AMPLIFIED 2015 | 1 Timothy 2:4 who wishes all people to be saved and to come to the knowledge and recognition of the [divine] truth. |
Subject: My Final Answer! :-) |
Bible Note: "So, my contention is that Calvinists have totally misread the whole meaning of chapter 9. Paul is not arguing for God's right to limit His mercy, but for God's right to expand His mercy." But none of the hypothetic questions in Paul's discourse can lead me to that understanding. The "questioner" is not asking about why so many Gentiles have been "let in," but rather Paul is answering that: "But it is not as though the word of God has failed. For they are not all Israel who are descended from Israel" The unspoken challenge is that the word of God has failed (i.e. that God has rejected Israel). That is what drives the whole argument in Romans 9-11. Romans 9:14 has the question of God's injustice in choosing Jacob over Esau (and, by association, including some of Israel as children of the flesh and rejecting others). And Romans 9:19 says: 'You will say to me then, "Why does He still find fault? For who resists His will?"' I fail to see how this is consistent with an argument of why God is "expanding his mercy." Paul's literary debater is asking why God finds fault with the reprobate, not why God has been so merciful to the Gentiles. What is the premise of the question about God finding fault? The rhetorical question: "Who resists His will?" (Implied answer: no one). Paul never challenges that question in his answer, because it is the appropriate conclusion to draw from the preceding verses of Chapter 9. "It might surprise you, but as an Arminian, I love Romans 9-11. ;-)" It doesn't surprise me at all, brother, to know that you love your interpretation of Romans 9-11. :) "I pray that all is well with you and your family my friend." My wife and the girls are doing great. Looks like the adoption might be final by the end of September, so I would appreciate your prayers that everything will go through! --Joe! |