2 First of all, then, I urge that requests, prayers, intercession, and thanksgiving be made on behalf of all people, 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 Saviour, ⁴ who desires that  ALL PEOPLE ARE saved AND TO COME TO A RECOGNITION OF THE TRUTH. ⁵ For there is one God, and one mediator between God and mankind, the Man Christ Jesus, ⁶ who gave Himself as a ransom FOR ALL, the  EVIDENCE FOR WHICH IS TO BE GIVEN at the proper time. ⁷ For this I was appointed as a herald and an apostle (I am telling the truth, I am not lying), as a teacher of the Gentiles in faith and truth (1Tim2:1-7).

Saviour of all?

First of all, then, it is to be noted that Paul urges prayer to be made for all people, most especially those in authority. That is because his desire for the Church of God is that it can live peaceably within the community “with all goodness and dignity” – a sentiment to which I would add nothing. What is of course more interesting is what the apostle goes on to write in verse 4 – that God our Saviour desires/wishes/intends that all people be  “σωθῆναι”   which I along with most bibles have translated as “saved”. You will note I have used lower case within the highlighted phrase (above), for as I have been explaining, there is salvation and there is SALVATION – and this is not referring to the latter, at least not in the context of the current age.

God does not intend that all come to a saving knowledge of Jesus Christ in the present; He has ensured that it cannot happen. That is the consequence of Paul’s teaching on predestination, namely that as a result of the Fall men and women are innately incapable of coming to a saving knowledge of  Jesus Christ. It is a matter of grace and sovereign Choice.  Paul was a classic example, he was in the business of destroying Jesus Christ and His people at the point of his conversion. More generally, as Jesus Himself put it, “No one can come to Me except the Father who sent Me draw him” (Jn6:44) – a concept repeated numerous times and  in numerous ways by the Apostle Paul. Those who reject or disregard that teaching cannot really claim to be “bible-believing Christians”. Their problem is, taking on board that scriptural precept makes no sense at all if one believes that one is either saved or damned. Especially with  a God like this, who is described by John as love personified (1Jn4:8), and who desires that all people are “σῴζω”. As in English, the Greek word for “saved” has a range of meanings. Systemically σῴζω^G4982  relates to the idea of  RESCUE, and in our context, as most Christians would agree, it pertains to rescue from the impact of the Fall.

Given that God is sovereign, what He desires or wishes must come to pass. And Paul is saying that God wishes that all eventually come to acknowledge the Truth, especially (no doubt) concerning the Lord Jesus Christ – who He is and what He has done on mankind’s behalf. Most will not have grasped the matter and acted upon it in their lifetime, so they will not have been prepared to receive and experience what the elect of God shall experience as “the Bride of Christ”. Nevertheless, many shall (like the Mt25 sheep) be graciously admitted to God’s eternal Kingdom, in the process being reunited with those they have loved and lost in life. They can then be prepared and fitted for whatever God has planned for the human race in the ages to come, which is assuredly not “Requiem Aeternum” – that pertains to spirits who having cast off their mortal coil and are described in Scripture as being asleep – prior to the resurrection and glorification of their bodies. For those who, by grace alone, were called into the Church and persevered in the faith, their preparation will already have taken place, hence their more immediate role with Christ within the kingdom He is to establish  at His coming (cf. Eph1:10).

The mystery of evil

As ever, there is a third grouping. They shall not acknowledge the Truth even when it is clearly presented to them, nor shall they respond positively to the glorious revelation of Jesus Christ at His coming. For such are “vessels fitted for destruction” that Paul describes in Romans chapter nine. As such they lack the innate capacity or inclination to acknowledge the One who is the summation of goodness, having known only evil and falsehood in their lives. Such shall be punished fairly and proportionally and in accordance with their capability. For Paul clearly states that their souls or spiritual vessels were κατηρτισμένα^G2675 – i.e. adjusted or adapted for the purpose of committing evil (Rom9:22). Though created by God they were not planted by Him but by Satan (Mt15:13; Mt13:38;1Jn3:12).

Believe it or not, their creation was a wondrous act of love on God’s part. That was in view of the consequences for the Godhead: the Word of God condescending to become a Man, who would suffer terrible afflictions and die in His thirties so as to deal with the outcome. But our God is neither a sadist nor a masochist – He permitted the Fall and exacerbated it with the creation of these barely human reprobates because, as we shall see, it was necessary  in order for true humanity to fulfil its glorious destiny. These people, who look like but do not properly act as members of the human race might be defined in secular terms as as psychopaths. In many cases like the example of Pharoah in Rom9, they are people of wealth and privilege. As such, they may well receive the adoration of many in their lifetime  – that is until their true legacy is laid bare.

Being devoid of conscience, compassion and truth, there is no (Rom7-style) inner conflict that the unconverted Saul of Tarsus had experienced. Their flesh (i.e. body and brain) and their ill-functioning spirit being united in evil ensure this eluded sub-category of sinners are free indeed to carry out their narcissistic and invariably destructive activity. Yet like Satan himself they serve an essential purpose within God’s extraordinary plan for humanity, concerning which some of His angels, following Lucifer’s lead, rebelled and fell. The rest accepted the unexpected new pecking order (cf. Heb2:5) which was a direct result of One who was superior to all angels being incarnated as a Man, then sanctifying others such that  “both He that sanctifies and they who are sanctified ARE ALL OF ONE: for which cause (Christ) is not ashamed to call them brethren” (Heb2:11). Faithful angels are nevertheless captivated, ever desiring “to look into the matter” (1Pet1:12).

The mystery of evil

The providential role that fallen angels and wicked humans have is hinted at in Rom9:23, but more fundamentally so in Heb2:10 with respect to God’s rationale for the existence of evil and suffering. Without it and a divine Saviour to deal with it, the sons of Earth having remained in Edenic innocence, could never have been  raised to divinity. For note from Hebrews that suffering is a prerequisite for glory, even for One who is sinless (2:9-10), still more so for His sanctified but imperfect followers (Rom8:17). Such is the mystery of evil and it is explained  more fully in chapter six and seven of the Little Book of Providence and, just as importantly, reconciled with the rest of Scripture.

A ransom for all

Verse 6 is equally interesting and revealing, especially when translated as I have. The key word being  μαρτύριον^G3142  which as bible hub affirms pertains to a testimony or the provision of evidence. I believe I have now shown in my book that Christ gave Himself as a ransom for all at Calvary, at the same time explaining that the benefits of that Sacrifice apply at two levels – forensic (providing pardon for the many) and participatory for those who come to know Him as their Saviour and Sanctifier. Whilst Christ atoned for the sins of all,  the aforementioned who at the last refuse to acknowledge His Truth, Personage, Saviourhood and Universal Reign can have no part in His kingdom and shall rightly be excluded and punished. But regrettably, post-mortem punishment and processing will not be restricted to the satanic.

The need for purging

Christ has atoned for the sins of the world, but pardon for sin is one thing, being fitted to play a part in Peter’s longed for “kingdom where righteousness dwells” is another. Some painful self-enlightenment, re-education, even purgatorial punishment will be needed in the case of those whose mortal sins have caused hurt to others, especially where these were never confessed or punished in life. “All shall be salted with fire, salt being a  good thing; but if the salt becomes unsalty, with what will you make it salty again? (Mk9:49-50) – the latter referring to the aforementioned unsalvable – they refuse to be saved.  The wise should discern that such post-mortem (and Day of Wrath) punitive action in no way detracts from God’s lovingkindness – it is only fair and just for the sake of those who have been victims of cruel and abusive behaviour. Contrary to the teaching of many, who reluctantly conclude that whatever else God may be He cannot be said to be fair, are mistaken. Fairness is an essential component of love as any loving parent should realise (as do their children), and God is Father of all.     

The truth of Christ’s atonement being for sin not just selected sinners surely follows from what Paul has declared concerning God’s universal benevolence in verse 4. The Father of mankind desires that all those that can be made serviceable become subjects of His eternal Kingdom. Like any father, He does not wish that all and sundry corporately marry His Son, only those who have been prepared for such an honour during their earthly lifetime through a personal knowledge of their future Spouse. So shall it be said: “Let us be glad and rejoice and give honour to God: for the marriage of the Lamb is come, and His wife has made herself ready” (Rev19:7).