Exegetical Notes: 1 Timothy 2...Continued from page 1
Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset and David Brown
3. this--praying for all men.
in the sight of God--not merely before men, as if it were their favor that we sought ( 2 Corinthians 8:21 ).
our Saviour--a title appropriate to the matter in hand. He who is "our Saviour" is willing that all should be saved ( 1 Timothy 2:4 , Romans 5:18 ); therefore we should meet the will of God in behalf of others, by praying for the salvation of all men. More would be converted if we would pray more. He has actually saved us who believe, being "our Saviour." He is willing that all should be saved, even those who do not as yet believe, if they will believe (compare 1 Timothy 4:10 , Titus 2:11 ).
4. "Imitate God." Since He wishes that all should be saved, do you also wish it; and if you wish it, pray for it. For prayer is the instrument of effecting such things [CHRYSOSTOM]. Paul does not say, "He wishes to save all"; for then he would have saved all in matter of fact; but "will have all men to be saved," implies the possibility of man's accepting it (through God's prevenient grace) or rejecting it (through man's own perversity). Our prayers ought to include all, as God's grace included all.
to come--They are not forced.
unto the knowledge--Greek, "the full knowledge" or "recognition" Philippians 1:9 ).
the truth--the saving truth as it is in, and by, Jesus ( John 17:3 John 17:17 ).
5. For there is one God--God's unity in essence and purpose is a proof of His comprehending all His human children alike (created in His image) in His offer of grace (compare the same argument from His unity,
efSearchByString('ro 3:30', 1, 'esv', BSTState);">Romans 3:30 ,
Galatians 3:20 ); therefore all are to be prayed for.
1 Timothy 2:4 is proved from
1 Timothy 2:5 ;
1 Timothy 2:1 , from
1 Timothy 2:4 . The
one God is common to all (
Isaiah 45:22 ,
Acts 17:26 ). The one Mediator is mediator between God and all men potentially (
Romans 3:29 ,
Ephesians 4:5 Ephesians 4:6 ,
Hebrews 8:6 ,
9:15 ,
12:24 ). They who have not this one God by one Mediator, have none: literally, a "go-between." The
Greek order is not "
and one mediator," but "one mediator
also between . . . While God will have all men to be saved by knowing God and the Mediator, there is a legitimate, holy order in the exercise of that will wherewith men ought to receive it. All mankind constitute, as it were, ONE MAN before God [BENGEL].
the man--rather "man," absolutely and genetically: not a mere
individual man: the Second Head of humanity, representing and embodying in Himself
the whole human race and nature. There is no "the" in the
Greek. This epithet is thus the strongest corroboration of his argument, namely, that Christ's mediation affects the whole race, since there is but the one Mediator, designed as the Representative Man for all men alike (compare
Romans 5:15 ,
1 Corinthians 8:6 ,
2 Corinthians 5:19 ,
Colossians 2:14 ). His being "man" was necessary to His being a Mediator, sympathizing with us through experimental knowledge of our nature (
Isaiah 50:4 ,
Hebrews 2:14 ,
4:15 ). Even in nature, almost all blessings are conveyed to us from God, not immediately, but through the mediation of various agents. The effectual intercession of Moses for Israel (
Numbers 14:13-19 , and
Deuteronomy 9:1-29 ); of Abraham for Abimelech (
Genesis 20:7 ); of Job for his friends (
Job 42:10 ), the mediation being PRESCRIBED
by God while declaring His purposes of forgiveness: all prefigure the grand mediation for all by the one Mediator. On the other hand,
1 Timothy 3:16 asserts that He was also
God.