What Would God Have? 1 Timothy 2:4

As Paul the apostle continued to instruct Timothy, he desired that he make prayer for all men, especially kings and people in authority, a priority in his life. He told Timothy that prayer and intercessions would enable people to “lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty”, and that this practice was “good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior”. In chapter two and verse four of his letter, Paul continued his words to Timothy by telling him what God desires where we read:

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

The verse begins, “Who will have all men to be saved,...” Paul continued his thought about God seeing prayer for “all men” as a “good and acceptable” practice by writing, “Who will have” or “has in mind, intends, resolves, determines, purposes, desires, wishes and takes delight in” “all men” which refers to “each, every, any, all, the whole and everyone human” “to be saved” or “to keep safe and sound; to rescue from danger or destruction; to preserve one who is in danger of destruction”. God, Our Heavenly Father desires that every person be “saved” from the pending judgment which is to come.

The verse begins, “and to come unto the knowledge of the truth.” Paul continued with, “and to come” which means “arise, come forth, show itself, find place or influence and be established” “unto the knowledge” or “recognition, full discernment and acknowledgment with precise and correct knowledge” “of the truth” which means “what is true in things appertaining to God and the duties of man, moral and religious truth, the truth as taught in the Christian religion, respecting God and the execution of his purposes through Christ, and respecting the duties of man, opposing alike to the superstitions of the Gentiles and the inventions of the Jews, and the corrupt opinions and precepts of false teachers even among Christians, and to have this truth as a personal experience.” God's desire is that everyone know and experience personally the truth of the gospel of Jesus Christ.

While we ponder Paul's words, we should remember the meaning of “who will have”. Paul did not say everyone “would” be saved, but rather that God “will have” or desires to have everyone saved. Some people, regardless of what the Lord says or does in their lives, will reject Him, and the offer of His Son Jesus as a sacrifice for their sins will not be accepted. God desires that everyone “come to the knowledge of the truth”, but the truth is many will walk away rather than accept it. We should remember that Paul's first instruction to Timothy was to “pray” and “intercede” on the behalf of “all men”. The greatest need within “all men” is that they be “saved and come to the knowledge of the truth”. May we pray that they do.

Next time Paul shares how there is one mediator between God and man, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.

Until tomorrow…there is more…

Look for the daily devotional book “Equipped for Battle – From Generation to Generation”, the marriage book “So, You Want to Be Married”, and the new devotional “One Year in the Sermon on the Mount” in all major bookstore sites, http://www.amazon.com ; http://www.barnesandnobles.com ; download to e-books, and find it locally at http://www.mrzlc.com/bookstore.