⁹ It is a trustworthy statement deserving full acceptance. ¹⁰ For it is for this we labour and strive, because we have set our hope on the living God, who is the Saviour of all mankind, ESPECIALLY of believers (1Tim4:9-10)

Many Christians, not least those of my former ilk, have problems with these two verses from 1Timothy concerning God being the Saviour of all mankind ESPECIALLY of those who believe. It appears to undermine many Christians’ raison d’être, indeed the very purpose of the gospel as they understand it. As a former Evangelical myself I remember questioning my pastor about the verse. I was assured that theologians were working on the matter; the matter being the meaning of “μάλιστα” rightly translated as I have quoted from the NASB as “especially”. Presumably, these theologians are still working on it for “μάλιστα” is “μάλιστα” – it can only be translated as “especially” or some very similar synonym/phrase such as “chiefly” or “most of all”. It cannot be translated as “specifically”, “exclusively” or “that is” which is what many would have expected Paul to have written in this context. The Greek word’s usage can be verified by examining every occurrence of μάλιστα^G3122 in the New Testament on bible hub and noting that in all cases it can only sensibly mean what has just been stated.

Other attempts to explain this verse in the context of traditional binary soteriology include the notion that Paul is referring on the one hand to human life and on the other to a soul’s eternal destiny. The problem is that whilst God certainly sustains all life, He does not in any sense save everybody from the disasters of life, even from an early grave. A significant proportion historically have through no fault of their own or their parents failed to survive infancy. Paul must therefore be referring to people’s eternal estate. For, after all, why did God create man in His own image in the first place? It was surely that as the pinnacle of His creation along with the angels, we should come to know Him, worship Him and enjoy Him – if not in this life, then in that which follows.

Others argue that Paul meant that God is the only One who can save anyone. But note, Paul is referring here to God the Father as Saviour, not Jesus Christ, who is indeed the only One by whom any can be saved (in the gospel sense). But regardless of that – “μάλιστα” (=especially) simply cannot be made to fit that meaning. Others again (μάλιστα😊 Arminian Evangelicals) say Paul is making the point that Christ’s atonement was unlimited – He died for all. He did, but, as they would agree, only those who come to know Him as their personal Saviour are saved in the gospel sense. So again, μάλιστα” cannot be made to fit the bill.

No, either Paul is being dangerously clumsy with his wording, or he is theologically unsound (in which case we cannot really trust his teaching at all) OR he means exactly what he writes. That is effectively that there is salvation and there is SALVATION – which is precisely the case I have been making throughout. The latter is what I mean by gospel salvation, the sacramental and teaching provisions for which are only available in the Church. But then as I have been reminded of only today watching Pope Francis’ funeral, the Church (Paul’s “household of God”) is itself meant to be as saving sacrament for the world. Not only because it propagates a saving message, but because, as the late Pope’s life and legacy epitomized,  it is intended to be  an expression of God’s love and paternal care for the world.

Through its charitable agencies (such as RCC’s CAFOD), the Church seeks to remedy the consequences of famine, natural disaster and social injustice that have always beset the current age. Yet, as with the Jews in the Old Testament, the Church is described as “a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for God’s own possession”. A priesthood for whom, do we imagine? It can only be for the rest of the world. God’s intention is to restore our planet, not for His chosen people alone but through His chosen people. Yet in the process the Church (i.e. its true members) are “saved” in a special sense, so that they might be equipped to serve God and be a blessing to humanity in the present age, whilst being fitted for a  yet more glorious role as the corporate bride of Christ in the age to come.

Salvation for all?

My task has been to explicate a vastly broader benign providence than traditional bible-based Christianity has previously envisaged, not to make the case for absolute universalism. Paul on the other hand could be, here in 1Tim4:10 and a couple of chapters earlier regarding God’s wish all people are saved and come to a knowledge of the truth (2:4). He may have been given personal insights concerning what is to happen in future epochs (cf. Eph2:7). Unlike him, I have not been “caught up into paradise to hear unspeakable words which it is not lawful for a man to utter” (2Cor12:4). I have to rely on what has been at least implicated in Scripture. So going back to Jesus’s teaching, He indicates that some people are  beyond salvation (Mk9:50). That implies they could never repent or change from what they have become – whatever enlightening or post-mortem processing they might receive. They refuse to be saved.

Yet even if that is the case, God can still be regarded as the Saviour of all humanity. For, if given further opportunity to repent and having been enlightened with gospel truth (which is assuredly not the case for the majority in this life  – cf. 1Pet4:6), a soul still refuses to acquiesce, God, however loving, would not force anyone against their will to act and be what they are incapable of doing and being – most especially to love and serve Christ. But then such a soul might no longer be regarded as fully human – if there is not so much as a flicker of resemblance to the divine image, at the heart of which is love. And so, it could be said, for all true humanity, God is their Saviour, but more immediately and gloriously so for those who having believed (and shared in Christ’s suffering), become the heirs of God and co-heirs with His Son (Rom8:17).    

*The LITTLE BOOK OF PROVIDENCE: a seven-part synopsis of the bible: – available as a paperback from Amazon or FREELY as a PDF file  HERE

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