Archive for May 27th, 2010
The final word, thanksgivings (that is, completing the circle, so that the blessings that come from God return to him again in the form of expressed gratitude) is clear enough. Nevertheless, it must be borne in mind that not only supplications, prayers, and intercessions but also thanksgivings must be made in behalf of all men, including kings, etc.
Indeed, such invocations must be made “in behalf of” or “for” (see N.T.C. on John 10: 11, for the meaning of the preposition) all men. Several expositors feel certain that this means every member of the whole human race; every man, woman, and chi ld, without any exception whatever. And it must be readily admitted that taken by itself the expression all men is capable of this interpretation. Nevertheless, every calm and unbiased interpreter also admits that in certain contexts this simply cannot be the meaning.
Does Titus 2: really teach that the saving grace o( God has appeared to every member of the human race without any exception? Of course not! It matters little whether one interprets “the appearance of the saving grace” as referring to the bestowal of salvation itself, or to the fact that the gospel of saving grace has been preached to every person on earth. In either case it is impossible to make “all men” mean “every individual on the globe without exception.”
Again, does Rom. 5: 18 really teach that “every member of the human race” is “justified“?
Does I Cor. 15:22 really intend to tell us that “every member of the human race” is “made alive in Christ“?
But if that be true, then it follows that Christ did not only die for every member of the human race, but that he also actually saved every one without any exception whatever. Most conservatives would hesitate to go that far.
Moreover, if, wherever it occurs, the expression “all men” or its equivalent has this absolutely universalistic connotation, then would not the fol lowing be true:
(a) Every member of the human race regarded John the Baptist as a prophet (Mark 11:32).
(b) Every member of the human race wondered whether John was, perhaps, the Christ (Luke 3: 15).
(c) Every member of the human race marveled about the Gadarene demoniac (Mark 5:20).
(d) Every member of the human race was searching for Jesus (Mark 1:37).
(e) It was reported to the Baptist that all members of the human race were flocking to Jesus (John 3:26).