Paul's Exhortations & Instructions to Brother Timothy 1st Letter Volume 16

Paul Exhorts Timothy to Pray for All Men Part 3

1 Timothy 2:4 Who will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth.  KJV

Paul's declaration here exposes or opens up the motive God the Father has concerning every human being living currently, living during the time Paul penned this letter, those who will be living in the future, and those who have lived since the very beginning of human creation (Adam & Eve) and that is as written here with these words, "Who will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth." (1 Timothy 2:4) (KJV). This is our Heavenly Father's great desire that no man or woman perish eternally, but that they come to know truth as the Apostle Peter declared the same concept with these slightly different words, "The Lord does not delay {and} is not tardy {or} slow about what He promises, according to some people's conception of slowness, but He is long-suffering (extraordinarily patient) toward you, not desiring that any should perish, but that all should turn to repentance." (2 Peter 3:9) (Amplified Bible). The tiny English word 'will' Paul uses here at the beginning of this verse is translated by the Greek word thelo meaning to choose or prefer (literally or figuratively); by implication to wish, that is, be inclined to, by Hebraism to delight in: - desire, be disposed to, love to, or please to, be willling to. The little English phrase 'to be saved' is translated by one Greek word sozo meaning safe or to save, that is, deliver or protect (literally or figuratively): - heal, preserve, save, make whole. The little English phrase 'the knowledge' is translated by one Greek word epignōsis which means recognition, that is, (by implication) full discernment.

In other words, it is our Heavenly Father's loving desire that all men/women come to our Lord, Master, and Savior Jesus Christ, for 'in Him' is safety from eternal wrath, deliverance and protection from the evil one right now in this earthly life, and the eyes of our spiritual understanding opened up to know the One and Only Truth as it is written by our Lord Jesus speaking of Himself, "Jesus said to him, I am the Way and the Truth and the Life; no one comes to the Father except by (through) Me." (John 14:6) (Amplified Bible). Here is what Adam Clarke says concerning this desire of God the Father, "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, 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." This same desire of our Heavenly Father was infused, impregnated, and instilled into the Apostle Paul by God the Holy Spirit and it motivated, mastered, and moved Paul to see every man and woman as potential believers in our Lord Jesus Christ, so he preached, propagated, and proclaimed the Gospel of Christ everywhere he went praying all the time that those present would hear it with their spiritual ears opened up by God the Holy Spirit and be saved/sozo, just as these words he wrote to the Corinthian Church affirm, "Just as I myself strive to please [to accommodate myself to the opinions, desires, and interests of others, adapting myself to] all men in everything I do, not aiming at {or} considering my own profit {and} advantage, but that of the many in order that they may be saved." (1 Corinthians 10:33) (Amplified Bible).

The Apostle Paul wanted this next generation of saints (Timothy being one of its new leaders) to be as zealous as he was for the Gospel and for putting down the false teachers who perverted the Gospel of Christ (at this time it was the Judizers and the Gnostics), for the only truth was found in our Lord Jesus Christ and every Christian man, woman, and child coming into a closer relationship with Him and recognizing and discerning who He really and truly is just as Paul wrote to the Ephesian Church with these words, "And His gifts were [varied; He Himself appointed and gave men to us] some to be apostles (special messengers), some prophets (inspired preachers and expounders), some evangelists (preachers of the Gospel, traveling missionaries), some pastors (shepherds of His flock) and teachers. His intention was the perfecting {and} the full equipping of the saints (His consecrated people), [that they should do] the work of ministering toward building up Christ's body (the Church), [That it might develop] until we all attain oneness in the faith and in the comprehension of the [full and accurate] knowledge of the Son of God, that [we might arrive] at really mature manhood (the completeness of personality which is nothing less than the standard height of Christ's own perfection), the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ {and} the completeness found in Him. So then, we may no longer be children, tossed [like ships] to and fro between chance gusts of teaching {and} wavering with every changing wind of doctrine, [the prey of] the cunning {and} cleverness of unscrupulous men, [gamblers engaged] in every shifting form of trickery in inventing errors to mislead. Rather, let our lives lovingly express truth [in all things, speaking truly, dealing truly, living truly]. Enfolded in love, let us grow up in every way {and} in all things into Him Who is the Head, [even] Christ (the Messiah, the Anointed One)." (Ephesians 4:11-15) (Amplified Bible).

"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." Albert Barnes

If you do not know the Lord Jesus Christ and His amazing healing power, pray this from your heart to the Lord Jesus Christ (you speaking directly to Him), Dear Lord Jesus, I confess to You that I am a sinner and I need Your forgiveness. I believe You shed Your Blood and died for my sins. I believe that You rose from the dead proving that You alone are God. I repent of my sins. I want to turn from my sins. I ask You Dear Lord Jesus to come into my heart and take control of my life. I want You to be my Lord, Savior, and my God. Amen...

Sincerely in Christ,

Clifford D. Tate, Sr.
Author of “Silent Assassins of the Soul - Are you Broken by Pornography and Masturbation? You can be Restored by the Lord Jesus Christ and brought into Deliverance, Freedom, and Victory! A Guide for Men and Women in the Enemy’s Crosshairs” e-book available now @ Amazon Kindle, @ Apple I Bookstore for IPod, Barnes and Noble for Nook, Reader Store for Sony Reade, Kobo, Copia, Gardners, Baker and Taylor, and eBookPie…