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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: Predestination question? |
Bible Note: Hey, Tim. Been busy with my twin baby girls, so my posting time is somewhat limited these days. You wrote: "It would make absolutely no sense to say that the first 'all men' means 'each and every individual' but the second 'all men' means only some men." If this verse were taken in isolation, I would agree. What I see is the following: In verse 15, "the many" is used in both places but clearly refer to different groups. In the first case, "the many" refers to those who have Adam as their federal head (i.e. all unregenerate human beings, including us in our pre-salvation days). In the second, those who have Christ as their federal head are "the many." In verse 17, we see the same thing, where we have death reigning through those in Adam, and those in Christ reigning in life. In verse 19, we see again that "the many" were made sinners (i.e. the unregenerate, those "in Adam") and "the many" who are in Christ WILL BE made righteous. Again, the certainty of the future final sanctification leaves no doubt that Paul is referring in the second case to those who are in Christ. So we see a back-and-forth comparison between those in Adam and those in Christ. That is why I think it is not a stretch at all to suggest that the verse in the middle of the ones I just mentioned are referring to "all men" in Adam in the first clause and "all men" in Christ in the second. The first result, condemnation, was applied to me from birth. The second result, justification, was applied to me from my new birth. That falls in line with the flow of Paul's argument and avoids the whole "actual condemnation/potential justification" dilemma I mentioned before. "So, here is where I would see your objection differently. The atonement is not just potential. It is an actual, objective fact. Our sins are not atoned for at the moment each of us prays for forgiveness." I agree completely regarding the atonement. It was accomplished for me 2000 years ago. However, we mustn't confuse "atonement" with "justification. The two terms are not interchangeable. My sins were atoned for before I even existed, but my justification is an act of God in my lifetime brought about through faith in Jesus Christ. Paul uses the term justification. Either I am automatically justified by what Christ did, apart from faith (contradicting verse 1); or else I am not automatically condemned by Adam's transgression (contradicting verses 13-19); or else "all men" in the clauses refers to two different groups just as "the many" does in verses 15 and 19. Tricky passage, huh? :) --Joe! |