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Wednesday, November 27th, 2024
the Week of Christ the King / Proper 29 / Ordinary 34
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International Standard Version

1 Timothy 2:4

who wants all people to be saved and to come to a full knowledge of the truth.Ezekiel 18:23; John 3:16-17; 17:3; 2 Timothy 2:25; Titus 2:11; 2 Peter 3:9;">[xr]

Bible Study Resources

Concordances:

- Nave's Topical Bible - Gospel;   Minister, Christian;   Salvation;   Wisdom;   Thompson Chain Reference - Call, Divine;   Divine;   God;   Invitations, Divine;   Invitations-Warnings;   Love;   Opportunity;   Salvation;   Salvation-Condemnation;   Sinners;   Universal;   The Topic Concordance - Desire;   Goodness;   Torrey's Topical Textbook - Atonement, the;   Salvation;  

Dictionaries:

- Bridgeway Bible Dictionary - Election;   Jesus christ;   Knowledge;   Prayer;   Truth;   Baker Evangelical Dictionary of Biblical Theology - Know, Knowledge;   Mediator, Mediation;   Timothy, First and Second, Theology of;   Truth;   Charles Buck Theological Dictionary - Christianity;   Mediator;   Fausset Bible Dictionary - Timothy, the Second Epistle to;   Holman Bible Dictionary - Church;   Eschatology;   1 Timothy;   Hastings' Dictionary of the Bible - Election;   Mystery;   Prayer;   Hastings' Dictionary of the New Testament - Elect, Election ;   God;   Love;   Necessity;   Paul;   Perseverance;   Restitution;   Restoration;   Salvation Save Saviour;   Timothy and Titus Epistles to;   Truth;   Unconscious Faith;   Morrish Bible Dictionary - Election,;   Predestinate,;   11 To Desire, Will, Purpose;   48 To Know, Perceive, Understand;   Smith Bible Dictionary - Timothy, Epistles of Paul to;  

Encyclopedias:

- International Standard Bible Encyclopedia - Love;   Mystery;   Regeneration;   Repentance;   Restoration;  

Devotionals:

- Daily Light on the Daily Path - Devotion for April 3;   Every Day Light - Devotion for December 3;  

Parallel Translations

Easy-to-Read Version
God wants everyone to be saved and to fully understand the truth.
Revised Standard Version
who desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth.
Tyndale New Testament (1525)
which will have all men saved and to come vnto the knowledge of ye trueth.
Hebrew Names Version
who desires to have all men to be saved, and come to full knowledge of the truth.
New American Standard Bible
who wants all people to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth.
New Century Version
who wants all people to be saved and to know the truth.
Update Bible Version
who would have all men to be saved, and come to the knowledge of the truth.
Webster's Bible Translation
Who will have all men to be saved, and to come to the knowledge of the truth.
English Standard Version
who desires all people to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth.
World English Bible
who desires to have all men to be saved, and come to full knowledge of the truth.
Wesley's New Testament (1755)
Who willeth all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth.
Weymouth's New Testament
who is willing for all mankind to be saved and come to a full knowledge of the truth.
Wycliffe Bible (1395)
oure sauyour, that wole that alle men ben maad saaf, and that thei come to the knowyng of treuthe.
English Revised Version
who willeth that all men should be saved, and come to the knowledge of the truth.
Berean Standard Bible
who desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth.
Contemporary English Version
God wants everyone to be saved and to know the whole truth, which is,
Amplified Bible
who desires all people to be saved and to come to the knowledge and recognition of the [divine] truth.
American Standard Version
who would have all men to be saved, and come to the knowledge of the truth.
Bible in Basic English
Whose desire is that all men may have salvation and come to the knowledge of what is true.
Complete Jewish Bible
He wants all humanity to be delivered and come to full knowledge of the truth.
Darby Translation
who desires that all men should be saved and come to [the] knowledge of [the] truth.
Etheridge Translation
who willeth that all men should be saved, and turn to the knowledge of the truth.
Murdock Translation
who would have all men live, and be converted to the knowledge of the truth.
King James Version (1611)
Who will haue all men to bee saued, and to come vnto the knowledge of the trueth.
New Living Translation
who wants everyone to be saved and to understand the truth.
New Life Bible
He wants all people to be saved from the punishment of sin. He wants them to come to know the truth.
New Revised Standard
who desires everyone to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth.
Geneva Bible (1587)
Who will that all men shalbe saued, and come vnto the acknowledging of the trueth.
George Lamsa Translation
Who desires all men to be saved and to return to the knowledge of the truth.
J.B. Rotherham Emphasized Bible
Who willeth, all men, to be saved, and, unto a personal knowledge of truth, to come;
Douay-Rheims Bible
Who will have all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth.
Bishop's Bible (1568)
Who wyll haue all men to be saued, and to come vnto the knowledge of the trueth.
Good News Translation
who wants everyone to be saved and to come to know the truth.
Christian Standard Bible®
who wants everyone to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth.
King James Version
Who will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth.
Lexham English Bible
who wants all people to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth.
Literal Translation
who desires all men to be saved and to come to a full knowledge of truth.
Young's Literal Translation
who doth will all men to be saved, and to come to the full knowledge of the truth;
Miles Coverdale Bible (1535)
which wil haue all men saued, and to come vnto the knowlege of ye trueth.
Mace New Testament (1729)
who wills that all men be saved, by embracing the truth.
THE MESSAGE
He wants not only us but everyone saved, you know, everyone to get to know the truth we've learned: that there's one God and only one, and one Priest-Mediator between God and us—Jesus, who offered himself in exchange for everyone held captive by sin, to set them all free. Eventually the news is going to get out. This and this only has been my appointed work: getting this news to those who have never heard of God, and explaining how it works by simple faith and plain truth.
New English Translation
since he wants all people to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth.
New King James Version
who desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth.
Simplified Cowboy Version
God wants to save people with the truth. He's offering everything for faith.
New American Standard Bible (1995)
who desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth.
Legacy Standard Bible
who desires all men to be saved and to come to the full knowledge of the truth.

Contextual Overview

1 First of all, then, I urge you to offer petitions, prayers, intercessions, and expressions of thanks for all people, 2 for kings, and for everyone who has authority, so that we might lead a quiet and peaceful life with all godliness and dignity.seriousness">[fn]Ezra 6:10; Jeremiah 29:7; Romans 13:1;">[xr] 3 This is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior,Romans 12:2; 1 Timothy 1:1; 5:4; 2 Timothy 1:9;">[xr] 4 who wants all people to be saved and to come to a full knowledge of the truth.Ezekiel 18:23; John 3:16-17; 17:3; 2 Timothy 2:25; Titus 2:11; 2 Peter 3:9;">[xr] 5 There is one God. There is also one mediator between God and human beings - a human, Christ Jesus.Romans 3:29-30; 10:12; Galatians 3:20; Hebrews 8:6; 9:15;">[xr] 6 He gave himself as a ransom for all, a fact that was acknowledged at the right time.Matthew 20:28; Mark 10:45; Romans 5:6; 1 Corinthians 1:6; Galatians 4:4; Ephesians 1:7,9; 3:5; 2 Thessalonians 1:10; 2 Timothy 1:8; Titus 1:3; 2:14;">[xr] 7 For this reason I was appointed to be a preacher, an apostle, and a teacher of the Gentiles in faith and truth. (I am telling you the truth.the truth in Christ">[fn] I am not lying.)Romans 9:1; 11:13; 15:16; Galatians 1:16; Ephesians 3:7-8; 2 Timothy 1:11;">[xr] 8 Therefore, I want the men to offer prayers in every place, lifting up holy hands without being angry or argumentative.Psalm 134:2; Isaiah 1:15; Malachi 1:11; John 4:21;">[xr]

Bible Verse Review
  from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge

will: Isaiah 45:22, Isaiah 49:6, Isaiah 55:1, Ezekiel 18:23, Ezekiel 18:32, Ezekiel 33:11, Luke 14:23, John 3:15-17, John 6:37, Romans 3:29, Romans 3:30, 2 Corinthians 5:17-19, 1 Thessalonians 2:15, 1 Thessalonians 2:16, Titus 2:11, 2 Peter 3:9

and: Matthew 28:19, Mark 16:15, Luke 24:47, Romans 10:12-15, Revelation 14:6

the knowledge: Isaiah 53:11, Habakkuk 2:14, Luke 1:77, John 14:6, John 17:17, 2 Timothy 2:25, 2 Timothy 3:7, Hebrews 10:26

Reciprocal: Proverbs 8:4 - General Zechariah 10:8 - for John 1:7 - that John 5:34 - that Romans 5:18 - all men Romans 11:32 - concluded them all Galatians 3:14 - through Colossians 2:19 - not 2 Thessalonians 2:10 - that they 1 Timothy 2:1 - all men 1 Timothy 4:3 - believe 1 Timothy 4:10 - the saviour 2 John 1:1 - known

Cross-References

Revelation 1:4
From[fn] John to the seven churches in Asia. May grace and peace be yours from the one who is, who was, and who is coming, from the seven spirits who are in front of his throne,[xr]
Revelation 1:8
"I am the Alpha and the Omega," declares the Lord God, the one who is, who was, and who is coming, the Almighty.[xr]
Revelation 11:17
They said,Revelation 1:4,8; 4:8; 16:5; 19:6;">[xr] "We give thanks to you, Lord God Almighty, who is and who was, because you have taken your great powerand have begun to rule.
Revelation 16:5
Then I heard the angel of the water say,Revelation 1:4,8; 4:8; 11:17; 15:3;">[xr] "You are just. You are the one who is and who was, the Holy One, because you have judged these things.

Gill's Notes on the Bible

Who will have all men to be saved,.... The salvation which God wills that all men should enjoy, is not a mere possibility of salvation, or a mere putting them into a salvable state; or an offer of salvation to them; or a proposal of sufficient means of it to all in his word; but a real, certain, and actual salvation, which he has determined they shall have; and is sure from his own appointment, from the provision of Christ as a Saviour for them, from the covenant of grace, in which everything is secured necessary for it, and from the mission of Christ to effect it, and from its being effected by him: wherefore the will of God, that all men should be saved, is not a conditional will, or what depends on the will of man, or on anything to be performed by him, for then none might be saved; and if any should, it would be of him that willeth, contrary to the express words of Scripture; but it is an absolute and unconditional will respecting their salvation, and which infallibly secures it: nor is it such a will as is distinguishable into antecedent and consequent; with the former of which it is said, God wills the salvation of all men, as they are his creatures, and the work of his hands; and with the latter he wills, or not wills it, according to their future conduct and behaviour; but the will of God concerning man's salvation is entirely one, invariable, unalterable, and unchangeable: nor is it merely his will of approbation or complacency, which expresses only what would be grateful and well pleasing, should it be, and which is not always fulfilled; but it is his ordaining, purposing, and determining will, which is never resisted, so as to be frustrated, but is always accomplished: the will of God, the sovereign and unfrustrable will of God, has the governing sway and influence in the salvation of men; it rises from it, and is according to it; and all who are saved God wills they should be saved; nor are any saved, but whom he wills they should be saved: hence by all men, whom God would have saved, cannot be meant every individual of mankind, since it is not his will that all men, in this large sense, should be saved, unless there are two contrary wills in God; for there are some who were before ordained by him unto condemnation, and are vessels of wrath fitted for destruction; and it is his will concerning some, that they should believe a lie, that they all might be damned; nor is it fact that all are saved, as they would be, if it was his will they should; for who hath resisted his will? but there is a world of ungodly men that will be condemned, and who will go into everlasting punishment: rather therefore all sorts of men, agreeably to the use of the phrase in 1 Timothy 2:1 are here intended, kings and peasants, rich and poor, bond and free, male and female, young and old, greater and lesser sinners; and therefore all are to be prayed for, even all sorts of men, because God will have all men, or all sorts of men, saved; and particularly the Gentiles may be designed, who are sometimes called the world, the whole world, and every creature; whom God would have saved, as well as the Jews, and therefore Heathens, and Heathen magistrates, were to be prayed for as well as Jewish ones. Moreover, the same persons God would have saved, he would have also

come to the knowledge of the truth: of Christ, who is the truth, and to faith in him, and of all the truth of the Gospel, as it is in Jesus; not merely to a notional knowledge of it, which persons may arrive unto, and not be saved, but a spiritual and experimental knowledge of it; and all that are saved are brought to such a knowledge, which is owing to the sovereign will and good pleasure of God, who hides the knowledge of Gospel truths from the wise and prudent, and reveals them to babes: whence it appears, that it is not his will with respect to every individual of mankind; that they should thus come to the knowledge of the truth; for was it his will they should, he would, no doubt, give to every man the means of it, which he has not, nor does he; he suffered all nations to walk in their own ways, and overlooked their times of ignorance, and sent no message nor messenger to inform them of his will; he gave his word to Jacob, and his statutes unto Israel only; and the Gospel is now sent into one part of the world, and not another; and where it does come, it is hid to the most; many are given up to strong delusions to believe a lie, and few are savingly and experimentally acquainted with the truths of the Gospel; though all that are saved are brought to the knowledge of such truths as are necessary to salvation; for they are chosen to it through sanctification of the Spirit, and belief of the truth.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

Who will have all men to be saved - That is, it is in accordance with his nature, his feelings, his desires. The word “will” cannot be taken here in the absolute sense, denoting a decree like that by which he willed the creation of the world, for then it would certainly be done. But the word is often used to denote a desire, wish, or what is in accordance with the nature of anyone. Thus it may be said of God that he “wills” that his creatures may be happy - because it is in accordance with his nature, and because he has made abundant provision for their happiness - though it is not true that he wills it in the sense that he exerts his absolute power to make them happy. God wills that sickness should be relieved, and sorrow mitigated, and that the oppressed should go free, because it is agreeable to his nature; though it is not true that he wills it in the sense that he exerts his absolute power to produce it. A parent wills the welfare of his child. It is in accordance with his nature, his feelings, his desires; and he makes every needful arrangement for it. If the child is not virtuous and happy, it is his own fault. So God wills that all people should be saved. It would be in accordance with his benevolent nature. He has made ample provision for it. He uses all proper means to secure their salvation. He uses no positive means to prevent it, and if they are not saved it will be their own fault. For places in the New Testament where the word here translated “will” (θέλω thelō), means to desire or wish, see Luke 8:20; Luke 23:8; John 16:19; Galatians 4:20; Mark 7:24; 1 Corinthians 7:7; 1 Corinthians 11:3; 1 Corinthians 14:5; Matthew 15:28. This passage cannot mean, as many have supposed, that God wills that all kinds of people should be saved, or that some sinners of every rank and class may be saved, because:

(1) The natural and obvious interpretation of the language is opposed to such a sense. The language expresses the desire that “all men” should be saved, and we should not depart from the obvious sense of a passage unless necessity requires it.

(2) Prayer and thanksgiving 1 Timothy 2:1 are directed to be offered, not for some of all ranks and conditions, but for all mankind. No exception is made, and no direction is given that we should exclude any of the race from the expressions of our sympathy, and from an interest in our supplications. The reason given here for that prayer is, that God desires that all people should be saved. But how could this be a reason for praying for all, if it means that God desired only the salvation of some of all ranks?

(3) In 1 Timothy 2:5-6 the apostle gives reasons showing that God wished the salvation of all people, and those reasons are such as to prove that the language here is to be taken in the most unlimited sense. Those reasons are:

(a)That there is one God over all, and one Mediator between God and people - showing that God is the Father of all, and has the same interest in all; and,

(b)That Christ gave himself a ransom for all - showing that God desired their salvation.

This verse proves:

(1)That salvation is provided for all - for if God wished all people to be saved, he would undoubtedly make provision for their salvation; and if he had not made such provision, it could not be said that he desired their salvation, since no one can doubt that he has power to provide for the salvation of all;

(2)That salvation should be offered to all people - for if God desires it, it is right for his ministers to announce that desire, and if he desires it, it is not proper for them to announce anything contrary to this;

(3)That people are to blame if they are not saved.

If God did not wish their salvation, and if he had made no provision for it, they could not be to blame if they rejected the gospel. If God wishes it, and has made provision for it, and they are not saved, the sin must be their own - and it is a great sin, for there is no greater crime which a man can commit than to destroy his own soul, and to make himself the eternal enemy of his Maker.

And to come unto the knowledge of the truth - The truth which God has revealed; the “truth as it is in Jesus.” notes, Ephesians 4:21.

Clarke's Notes on the Bible

Verse 1 Timothy 2:4. Who will have all men to be saved — Because he wills the salvation of all men; therefore, he wills that all men should be prayed for. In the face of such a declaration, how can any Christian soul suppose that God ever unconditionally and eternally reprobated any man? Those who can believe so, one would suppose, can have little acquaintance either with the nature of GOD, or the bowels of Christ.

And to come unto the knowledge of the truth — The truth-the Gospel of Christ, should be proclaimed to them; and it is the duty of all who know it, to diffuse it far and wide, and when it is made known, then it is the duty of those who hear it to acknowledge and receive it. This is the proper import of the original word, that they may come, εις επιγνωσιν αληθειας, to the acknowledgment of the truth-that they may receive it as the truth, and make it the rule of their faith, the model and director of their life and actions.


 
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