1 Timothy 2:4
who wants everyone to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth.
who wants
The Greek word used here is "θέλει" (thelei), which conveys a strong desire or will. This reflects God's benevolent and loving nature, emphasizing His active interest in the salvation of humanity. It is not a passive wish but an intentional desire, underscoring the divine initiative in the salvation process. God's will is not coercive but invitational, respecting human freedom while earnestly desiring their redemption.

all men
The phrase "πάντας ἀνθρώπους" (pantas anthrōpous) in Greek is inclusive, indicating the universality of God's salvific will. This challenges any notion of exclusivity in salvation, affirming that God's grace is available to every person, regardless of race, gender, or social status. Historically, this was a radical concept in a world often divided by ethnic and cultural barriers, highlighting the revolutionary nature of the Gospel message.

to be saved
The Greek term "σωθῆναι" (sōthēnai) means to be delivered or rescued, often used in the New Testament to describe spiritual salvation. This salvation is not merely a future hope but a present reality, offering deliverance from sin and its consequences. The concept of salvation in the biblical context encompasses both justification and sanctification, a holistic transformation of the individual.

and to come
The phrase "καὶ εἰς ἐπίγνωσιν" (kai eis epignōsin) suggests a movement or progression towards something. It implies an ongoing journey of faith, where believers are continually growing and maturing in their understanding. This dynamic process is part of the Christian life, where knowledge of God and His truth deepens over time.

to a knowledge
The Greek word "ἐπίγνωσιν" (epignōsin) denotes a full, experiential knowledge, not just intellectual assent. It involves a relational understanding, where one knows God personally and intimately. This knowledge is transformative, impacting how one lives and interacts with the world, reflecting the biblical emphasis on knowing God as the ultimate goal of human existence.

of the truth
The term "ἀληθείας" (alētheias) refers to the ultimate reality as revealed in Jesus Christ. In a world filled with relativism and subjective truths, the Bible presents God's truth as absolute and unchanging. This truth is not merely doctrinal but is embodied in the person of Christ, who declared Himself to be "the way, the truth, and the life" (John 14:6). Understanding this truth leads to freedom and fulfillment, aligning one's life with God's purposes.

Persons / Places / Events
1. Paul
The apostle who authored the letter to Timothy, providing guidance and instruction for church leadership and Christian living.

2. Timothy
A young pastor and protégé of Paul, serving in Ephesus, who received this letter as part of his pastoral training and encouragement.

3. Ephesus
The city where Timothy was ministering, known for its diverse population and the presence of various religious beliefs, including the worship of Artemis.

4. God
The central figure in this verse, whose desire for salvation and truth is emphasized.

5. All Men
Refers to all humanity, indicating the universal scope of God's salvific will.
Teaching Points
God's Universal Desire for Salvation
God's heart is for all people to be saved, reflecting His love and mercy. This challenges believers to share the gospel universally, without prejudice or discrimination.

The Importance of Truth
Coming to the knowledge of the truth is essential for salvation. Believers are called to grow in their understanding of God's Word and to live it out.

Role of the Church in God's Plan
The church is tasked with proclaiming the gospel and teaching sound doctrine, ensuring that the truth is accessible to all.

Prayer and Intercession
In the context of 1 Timothy 2, prayer for all people is emphasized. Believers should intercede for others, including leaders, to facilitate an environment where the gospel can be freely shared.

Living Out the Gospel
Believers are called to live lives that reflect the truth of the gospel, serving as witnesses to God's saving power and truth.
Bible Study Questions
1. How does understanding God's desire for all to be saved influence your approach to evangelism and outreach?

2. In what ways can you grow in your knowledge of the truth, and how can this impact your daily life?

3. How can the church effectively fulfill its role in spreading the knowledge of the truth in today's society?

4. What practical steps can you take to pray for and intercede on behalf of others, especially those in leadership positions?

5. How does the universal scope of God's salvific will challenge any biases or prejudices you may hold, and how can you address these in your life?
Connections to Other Scriptures
2 Peter 3:9
This verse echoes the theme of God's patience and desire for all to come to repentance, reinforcing the universal scope of God's salvific will.

John 3:16
Highlights God's love for the world and the provision of salvation through Jesus Christ, aligning with the desire for all to be saved.

Romans 10:13-15
Discusses the necessity of preaching for people to hear and believe, connecting to the call for spreading the knowledge of the truth.

Titus 2:11
Speaks of the grace of God appearing to all people, which aligns with the universal offer of salvation.

Acts 17:30-31
Paul’s message in Athens about God commanding all people everywhere to repent, emphasizing the universal call to salvation.
UniversalismR. Finlayson 1 Timothy 2:1-7
All Men to be SavedJ. Vaughan, M. A.1 Timothy 2:3-4
God Would have All Men to be SavedR. Watson.1 Timothy 2:3-4
Our SaviourW. Birch.1 Timothy 2:3-4
Redemption UniversalH. Melvill, B. D.1 Timothy 2:3-4
Salvation by Knowing the TruthC. H. Spurgeon.1 Timothy 2:3-4
The Beneficial and Acceptable Nature of Such Catholic PrayerT. Croskery 1 Timothy 2:3, 4
The Saviour -- GodA. Clarke, D. D.1 Timothy 2:3-4
The Saviour GodG. J. Proctor.1 Timothy 2:3-4
People
Adam, Eve, Paul, Timothy
Places
Ephesus
Topics
Desire, Desires, Full, Mankind, Salvation, Saved, Truth, Willing
Dictionary of Bible Themes
1 Timothy 2:4

     1175   God, will of
     4925   delay, divine
     6510   salvation

1 Timothy 2:1-4

     5003   human race, and God
     6615   atonement, necessity
     8245   ethics, incentives

1 Timothy 2:1-7

     5005   human race, and redemption

1 Timothy 2:2-4

     1175   God, will of

1 Timothy 2:3-4

     1115   God, purpose of
     1462   truth, in NT
     6650   finding

1 Timothy 2:3-5

     1320   God, as Saviour

1 Timothy 2:3-6

     5020   human nature

Library
Where and How to Pray
'I will therefore that men pray every where, lifting up holy hands without wrath and doubting.'--1 TIM. ii. 8. The context shows that this is part of the Apostle's directory for public worship, and that, therefore, the terms of the first clause are to be taken somewhat restrictedly. They teach the duty of the male members of the Church to take public, audible part in its worship. Everywhere, therefore, must here properly be taken in the restricted signification of 'every place of Christian assembly.'
Alexander Maclaren—Expositions of Holy Scripture

Salvation by Knowing the Truth
It is quite certain that when we read that God will have all men to be saved it does not mean that he wills it with the force of a decree or a divine purpose, for, if he did, then all men would be saved. He willed to make the world, and the world was made: he does not so will the salvation of all men, for we know that all men will not be saved. Terrible as the truth is, yet is it certain from holy writ that there are men who, in consequence of their sin and their rejection of the Savior, will go
Charles Haddon Spurgeon—Spurgeon's Sermons Volume 26: 1880

Seventeenth Day for Kings and Rulers
WHAT TO PRAY.--For Kings and Rulers "I exhort therefore, first of all, that supplications, prayers, intercessions, thanksgiving, be made for all men; for kings, and all that are in high places; that we may lead a tranquil and quiet life in all godliness and gravity."--1 TIM. ii. 1, 2. What a faith in the power of prayer! A few feeble and despised Christians are to influence the mighty Roman emperors, and help in securing peace and quietness. Let us believe that prayer is a power that is taken up
Andrew Murray—The Ministry of Intercession

Fifth Sunday after Epiphany
Text: Colossians 3, 12-17. 12 Put on therefore, as God's elect, holy and beloved, a heart of compassion, kindness, lowliness, meekness, longsuffering; 13 forbearing one another, and forgiving each other, if any man have a complaint against any; even as the Lord forgave you, so also do ye: 14 and above all these things put on love, which is the bond of perfectness. 15 And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to the which also ye were called in one body; and be ye thankful. 16 Let the Word
Martin Luther—Epistle Sermons, Vol. II

"Now the End of the Commandment is Charity Out of a Pure Heart, and a Good Conscience, and Faith Unfeigned. "
[It is extremely probable that this was one of the probationary discourses which the author delivered before the Presbytery of Glasgow, previous to his ordination. The following is an extract from the Record of that Presbytery: "Dec. 5, 1649. The qlk daye Mr. Hew Binnen made his popular sermon 1 Tim. i. ver. 5 'The end of ye commandment is charity.'--Ordaines Mr. Hew Binnen to handle his controversie this day fifteen dayes, De satisfactione Christi."--Ed.] 1 Tim. ii. 5.--"Now the end of the commandment
Hugh Binning—The Works of the Rev. Hugh Binning

We Shall not be Curious in the Ranking of the Duties in which Christian Love...
We shall not be curious in the ranking of the duties in which Christian love should exercise itself. All the commandments of the second table are but branches of it: they might be reduced all to the works of righteousness and of mercy. But truly these are interwoven through other. Though mercy uses to be restricted to the showing of compassion upon men in misery, yet there is a righteousness in that mercy, and there is mercy in the most part of the acts of righteousness, as in not judging rashly,
Hugh Binning—The Works of the Rev. Hugh Binning

The First Lie.
"Ye shall not surely die."--GENESIS iii. 4. I.--WHO WAS THE FIRST LIAR? The old serpent, the devil, called elsewhere "the father of lies." But he had not always been a liar; he had fallen from a position very eminent, teaching us not to measure our safety by our condition. The higher we are elevated, the more dreadful the fall. Some of the most degraded vagrants were cradled in comfort, and have wandered from homes of splendour. Perhaps the vilest of the vile once were ministers of the Gospel.
Thomas Champness—Broken Bread

Believe and be Saved
It is the Holy Spirit alone that can draw us to the cross and fasten us to the Saviour. He who thinks he can do without the Spirit, has yet to learn his own sinfulness and helplessness. The gospel would be no good news to the dead in sin, if it did not tell of the love and power of the divine Spirit, as explicitly as it announces the love and power of the divine Substitute. But, while keeping this in mind, we may try to learn from Scripture what is written concerning the bond which connects us individually
Horatius Bangs, D.D.—God's Way of Peace

Introduction to Expositio Fidei.
The date of this highly interesting document is quite uncertain, but there is every ground for placing it earlier than the explicitly anti-Arian treatises. Firstly, the absence of any express reference to the controversy against Arians, while yet it is clearly in view in §§3 and 4, which lay down the rule afterwards consistently adopted by Athanasius with regard to texts which speak of the Saviour as created. Secondly, the untroubled use of homoios (§1, note 4) to express the Son's
Athanasius—Select Works and Letters or Athanasius

The Protevangelium.
As the mission of Christ was rendered necessary by the fall of man, so the first dark intimation of Him was given immediately after the fall. It is found in the sentence of punishment which was passed upon the tempter. Gen. iii. 14, 15. A correct understanding of it, however, can be obtained only after we have ascertained who the tempter was. It is, in the first place, unquestionable that a real serpent was engaged in the temptation; so that the opinion of those who maintain that the serpent is only
Ernst Wilhelm Hengstenberg—Christology of the Old Testament

The Substance of Some Discourse had Between the Clerk of the Peace and Myself; when He came to Admonish Me, According to the Tenor of that Law, by which I was in Prison.
When I had lain in prison other twelve weeks, and now not knowing what they intended to do with me, upon the third of April 1661, comes Mr Cobb unto me (as he told me), being sent by the justices to admonish me; and demand of me submittance to the church of England, etc. The extent of our discourse was as followeth. Cobb. When he was come into the house he sent for me out of my chamber; who, when I was come unto him, he said, Neighbour Bunyan, how do you do? Bun. I thank you, Sir, said I, very
John Bunyan—Grace Abounding to the Chief of Sinners

And not Without Just Cause a Doubt is Raised...
14. And not without just cause a doubt is raised, whether he said this of all married women, or of such as so many are, as that nearly all may be thought so to be. For neither doth that, which he saith of unmarried women, "She, that is unmarried, thinkest of the things of the Lord, to be holy both in body and spirit:" [1973] pertain unto all unmarried women: whereas there are certain widows who are dead, who live in delights. However, so far as regards a certain distinction and, as it were, character
St. Augustine—On the Good of Marriage

An Admonition to them who Come to visit the Sick.
They who come to visit ihe sick, must have a special care not to stand dumb and staring in the sick person's face to disquiet him, nor yet to speak idly and ask unprofitable questions, as most do. If they see, therefore, that the sick party is like to die, let them not dissemble, but lovingly and discreetly admonish him of his weakness, and to prepare for eternal life. One hour well spent, when a man's life is almost out-spent, may gain a man the assurance of eternal life. Soothe him not with the
Lewis Bayly—The Practice of Piety

Extent of Atonement.
VI. For whose benefit the atonement was intended. 1. God does all things for himself; that is, he consults his own glory and happiness, as the supreme and most influential reason for all his conduct. This is wise and right in him, because his own glory and happiness are infinitely the greatest good in and to the universe. He made the atonement to satisfy himself. "God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life."
Charles Grandison Finney—Systematic Theology

The Fifth Commandment
Honour thy father and thy mother: that thy days may be long upon the land which the Lord thy God giveth thee.' Exod 20: 12. Having done with the first table, I am next to speak of the duties of the second table. The commandments may be likened to Jacob's ladder: the first table respects God, and is the top of the ladder that reaches to heaven; the second respects superiors and inferiors, and is the foot of the ladder that rests on the earth. By the first table, we walk religiously towards God; by
Thomas Watson—The Ten Commandments

The Great Slaughters and Sacrilege that were in Jerusalem.
1. Accordingly Simon would not suffer Matthias, by whose means he got possession of the city, to go off without torment. This Matthias was the son of Boethus, and was one of the high priests, one that had been very faithful to the people, and in great esteem with them; he, when the multitude were distressed by the zealots, among whom John was numbered, persuaded the people to admit this Simon to come in to assist them, while he had made no terms with him, nor expected any thing that was evil from
Flavius Josephus—The Wars of the Jews or History of the Destruction of Jerusalem

Thoughts Upon Striving to Enter at the Strait Gate.
AS certainly as we are here now, it is not long but we shall all be in another World, either in a World of Happiness, or else in a World of Misery, or if you will, either in Heaven or in Hell. For these are the two only places which all Mankind from the beginning of the World to the end of it, must live in for evermore, some in the one, some in the other, according to their carriage and behaviour here; and therefore it is worth the while to take a view and prospect now and then of both these places,
William Beveridge—Private Thoughts Upon a Christian Life

A Plain Description of the Essence and Attributes of God, Out of the Holy Scripture, So Far as Every Christian must Competently Know, and Necessarily Believe, that Will be Saves.
Although no creature can define what God is, because he is incomprehensible (Psal. cxliii. 3) and dwelling in inaccessible light (1 Tim. vi. 16); yet it has pleased his majesty to reveal himself to us in his word, so far as our weak capacity can best conceive him. Thus: God is that one spiritual and infinitely perfect essence, whose being is of himself eternally (Deut. i. 4; iv. 35; xxxii. 39; vi. 4; Isa. xlv. 5-8; 1 Cor. viii. 4; Eph. iv. 5, 6; 1 Tim. ii. 5; John iv. 24; 2 Cor. iii. 17; 1 Kings
Lewis Bayly—The Practice of Piety

An Essay on the Scriptural Doctrine of Immortality.
Considering that under the existing conditions of humanity, disease, and decay, and death abound on every side, it is surprising that the word "immortality" obtained a place in systems of philosophy, the authors of which must be supposed to have been unacquainted with divine revelation. It is not surprising that in the absence of such aid the belief of immortality should not have been firmly held, or that by some philosophers it should have been expressly disavowed. Even in the Canonical Scriptures,
James Challis—An Essay on the Scriptural Doctrine of Immortality

According to which principle or hypothesis all the objections against the universality of Christ's death are easily solved
PROPOSITION VI. According to which principle or hypothesis all the objections against the universality of Christ's death are easily solved; neither is it needful to recur to the ministry of angels, and those other miraculous means which they say God useth to manifest the doctrine and history of Christ's passion unto such, who, living in parts of the world where the outward preaching of the gospel is unknown, have well improved the first and common grace. For as hence it well follows that some of
Robert Barclay—Theses Theologicae and An Apology for the True Christian Divinity

The Prophet Jonah.
It has been asserted without any sufficient reason, that Jonah is older than Hosea, Joel, Amos, and Obadiah,--that he is the oldest among the prophets whose written monuments have been preserved to us. The passage in 2 Kings xiv. 25, where it is said, that Jonah, the son of Amittai the prophet, prophesied to Jeroboam the happy success of his arms, and the restoration of the ancient boundaries of Israel, and that this prophecy was confirmed by the event, cannot decide in favour of this assertion,
Ernst Wilhelm Hengstenberg—Christology of the Old Testament

The Preacher as an Apostle.
Gentlemen, in the two last lectures we have investigated two of the principal sources--perhaps I might say the two principal sources--of a minister's power--his manhood and his Christianity. These may be called the two natural springs out of which work for men and God proceeds. Out of these it comes as a direct necessity of nature. If anyone is much of a man--if there be in him much fire and force, much energy of conviction--it will be impossible for him to pass through so great an experience as
James Stalker—The Preacher and His Models

The Christian Prayer
Scripture references: Matthew 6:5-15; Luke 11:1-13; John 17; Matthew 26:41; Mark 11:24,25; Luke 6:12,28; 9:29; 1 Thessalonians 5:17,25; 1 Corinthians 14:13,15; Psalm 19:14; 50:15, Matthew 7:7; 1 Timothy 2:1; Ephesians 3:20,21; John 16:23; 14:14; James 5:16. THE PROVINCE OF PRAYER Definition.--Prayer is the communion of man with God. It is not first of all the means of getting something from God, but the realization of Him in the soul. "Seek ye first the Kingdom of God and His righteousness" (Matthew
Henry T. Sell—Studies in the Life of the Christian

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