1 Timothy 2:3-4 tells us, “This is good, and pleases God our Savior, who wants all people to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth.” In this passage of the New Testament, we are told that God wants all people to be saved.
Many individuals within theological circles have different views when it comes to this passage, but the literal interpretation of this passage tells us that God wants all people to be saved.
Interpreting 1 Timothy 2:4
When the Bible was written, it was written in a literal way. There are allegories in the Bible and figures of speech, but the Bible was written literally with the purpose of being read literally.
Therefore, 1 Timothy 2:4 needs to be understood literally. God did not have the Bible written in cryptic ways to confuse us.
Rather, He guided prophets and men by the Holy Spirit to write the books of the Bible for the purpose of humans being able to understand them (2 Peter 1:21). God does not want to confuse us as He wants us to be able to understand what He is telling us through His Word.
To interpret 1 Timothy 2:4 in any other way is theologically incorrect. God wants all people to be saved because He loves all people.
The Gospel of John records Jesus saying, “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him” (John 3:16-17).
From Jesus’ words, we are told that He died for the sins of the whole world because He loves us so much. Since God loves all people, we can know He wants all people to be saved. God created us in His Image (Genesis 1:27), which means that we are special among His creations.
If God did not care about us, why would He make us in His Image? He is our Creator, and He dearly loves all of us. God does not want one of His children to be lost. This is why 1 Timothy 2:4 tells us the truth that God wants all people to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth.
Limited or Unlimited Atonement?
There is a debate within theologians over the concept of limited atonement and unlimited atonement. Both of these views are radically different from each other. Limited atonement holds the view that salvation is limited to the elect.
The elect are the “chosen by God” according to those who hold to limited atonement. Normally limited atonement is only held by five-point Calvinists, who believe in all aspects of TULIP. TULIP is the acronym used within theological circles.
- T stands for total depravity.
- U stands for unconditional election.
- .L stands for limited atonement
- I stands for irresistible grace.
- P stands for perseverance of the saints.
As a dispensationalist and one who believes in unlimited atonement, I do not agree with all aspects of TULIP because they simply are not biblical.
I will not get into all the details of TULIP since we are focusing on limited atonement; however, I do recommend that all Christians be knowledgeable about TULIP and know their stance on it.
The idea of limited atonement simply is not biblical. God has not only chosen the elect few. Limited atonement teaches that if God wants a person to be saved, they will be saved, but if a person never accepts Him, then God never wanted them anyway.
All human beings are the elect because God wants all people to know Him. The idea being promoted by those who hold to limited atonement is an attitude of superiority.
Rather than accepting the truth that God wants all people to be saved, those who hold to limited atonement reject God’s desire for all men to be saved despite this fact being clearly stated in many passages such as 1 Timothy 2:4 and John 3:16-17.
In addition to rejecting God’s desire for all men to be saved, those who hold to limited atonement also would reject the Great Commission (Matthew 28:18-20). Since the elect will come to know Jesus on their own, why would there be a need for missions?
As someone who has studied the Bible intensely throughout undergrad and graduate school, I find no basis for limited atonement. What the Bible does teach is unlimited atonement.
Unlimited atonement is the belief that Jesus died as a propitiation for the sins of all people and that He wants them all to be saved. Jesus did not die just for the elect few. He died in order for all people to come to know Him.
The idea that God only has chosen the elect view undermines Jesus’ death on the cross. It is a great disservice to Jesus to believe that He only died for the elect. Not to mention that this view argues for the viewpoint that God has already chosen who He wants and who he does not want.
Limited atonement is not biblical, and it can cause major problems within evangelism and mission work.
I do not want to press any views on you because it’s important for each individual to come to a conclusion on the matter on their own, but I just wanted to present both sides of limited atonement and unlimited atonement in order for you to see both sides of the debate.
God really does want all people to know Him as their Savior and Lord. To say otherwise would be to undermine the scriptures and the very reason Jesus came to die for the sins of the world. The Bible tells us that Jesus came to die for the sins of the whole world (John 3:16-17).
The Bible does not tell us Jesus only came to die for the sins of the select few. God loves all people, which is why He sent His Son to die for the sins of the whole world. Limited atonement seems to press the idea that God has favorites of those He had already chosen ahead of time to know Him.
This contradicts the Bible because the Bible tells us clearly that God does not show favoritism (Romans 2:11). By choosing a select few or choosing His “favorites,” would compromise God’s entire being and what the Bible says about Him.
Limited atonement is not biblical because God wants all people to be saved. He is not willing for one of His children to be lost (2 Peter 3:9).
What Does This Mean?
Every single one of us was created by God and He loves each and every one of us. He has not chosen only the elect to come to know Him. God wants all people to know Him, which is why He has given us the Great Commission in order for us to take the gospel to places it has not reached yet.
God wants us to share the truth about the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus with others in order for them to hear the gospel and have a chance to place faith. God loves all people and that is why He wants all people to be saved.
For further reading:
What Does it Mean That Our Security Is in the Lord?
How Does God’s Mercy and Justice Work Together in Salvation?
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