1 Timothy 2:4

Context

1 Timothy is a pastoral letter that Paul wrote to Timothy, who had charge of the church at Ephesus. In 2:1-2, Paul urges that prayers be made "for all men," especially "for kings, and for all that are in authority." Verses 3-4 give the reason: this is good and acceptable in the sight of God, "who will have all men to be saved." Verses 5-6 then state that there is one God and one mediator, "who gave himself a ransom for all."

Interpretations

• Arminian and Wesleyan reading: Methodist, Holiness, and Pentecostal traditions, among others, take "all men" literally as every individual. In this view, God genuinely desires the salvation of every person, Christ died for all, and through prevenient grace God has enabled anyone to respond. That some nevertheless perish is attributed to human rejection of grace.
• Calvinist (Presbyterian) reading: The Reformed tradition offers two explanations. One holds that, in context, "all men" means "all kinds of people," such as rulers and subjects or Jews and Gentiles; Augustine is generally understood to have read the verse in a similar way. The other distinguishes between God's will of desire and command, which expresses what pleases Him, and His decretive will, which He has determined actually to bring about.
• Universalist reading: Those who hold that God's will is ultimately fulfilled in the salvation of all people also cite this verse, but the major denominations reject this view as inconsistent with the teaching of Scripture as a whole on judgment.

Debates and Issues

The verse has been cited consistently in the controversy over the doctrine of "limited atonement" set forth in the Canons of Dort. Both sides agree that the verse grounds the obligation to preach the gospel to all people; they differ over the nature of the will expressed in God's "willing."

Related Passages

• 2 Peter 3:9
• Ezekiel 18:23
• John 3:16
• Romans 9:18-23