1 Timothy 2:4 · KJV Bible | Whosoever Will

the first epistle of paul the apostle to timothy

Paul · c. 62–63 AD

Chapter the Second

God Will Have All Men To Be Saved

I exhort therefore, that, first of all, supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks, be made for all men;

For kings, and for all that are in authority; that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty.

For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Saviour;

Who will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth.

For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus;

Who gave himself a ransom for all, to be testified in due time.

Whereunto I am ordained a preacher, and an apostle, (I speak the truth in Christ, and lie not;) a teacher of the Gentiles in faith and verity.

I will therefore that men pray every where, lifting up holy hands, without wrath and doubting.

In like manner also, that women adorn themselves in modest apparel, with shamefacedness and sobriety; not with broided hair, or gold, or pearls, or costly array;

But (which becometh women professing godliness) with good works.

Let the woman learn in silence with all subjection.

But I suffer not a woman to teach, nor to usurp authority over the man, but to be in silence.

For Adam was first formed, then Eve.

And Adam was not deceived, but the woman being deceived was in the transgression.

Notwithstanding she shall be saved in childbearing, if they continue in faith and charity and holiness with sobriety.

DOCTRINAL VERDICT

TIER 1: UNIVERSAL SALVIFIC WILL

1 Timothy 2:4 is one of the clearest statements in the NT, and it is made in one word. God thelei: God desires. The verb is thelo, present active indicative. Present tense: ongoing, continuous, right now. Active: genuine positive willing. Indicative: a statement of fact. God desires all people to be saved (pantas anthropous) every person. The Calvinist reading requires two wills: a revealed will that desires all to be saved and a secret decretive will that has already determined most will not. The text creates no such distinction. It states one will with one scope. The pantas anthropous of verse 4 is the same pantas anthropous of verse 1, where Paul commands prayer for all people including kings. The scope is identical because the salvific desire is the ground of the universal prayer.

The Divine Salvific Will: Universal Scope

T1Reaching God T7Whosoever Will