1 Timothy 2:4 kjv
Who will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth.
1 Timothy 2:4 nkjv
who desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth.
1 Timothy 2:4 niv
who wants all people to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth.
1 Timothy 2:4 esv
who desires all people to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth.
1 Timothy 2:4 nlt
who wants everyone to be saved and to understand the truth.
1 Timothy 2 4 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Ezek 18:23 | "Have I any pleasure in the death of the wicked... but that he should turn from his ways and live?" | God's desire for the wicked to repent. |
| Ezek 33:11 | "As I live, declares the Lord GOD, I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked, but that the wicked turn... and live." | God prefers life over death for the wicked. |
| Jn 3:16 | "For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish..." | God's universal love and salvation. |
| 2 Pet 3:9 | "The Lord is not slow... but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance." | God's patience and desire for repentance. |
| Rom 1:16 | "...power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek." | Salvation offered to all types of people. |
| Rom 10:12-13 | "For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek; for the same Lord is Lord of all, bestowing his riches on all who call on him." | God's impartial offer of salvation. |
| Gal 3:28 | "There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is no male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus." | Unity in Christ removes social/ethnic barriers. |
| Col 3:11 | "Here there is not Greek and Jew, circumcised and uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave, free; but Christ is all, and in all." | Christ transcends all human distinctions. |
| Rev 5:9 | "By your blood you ransomed people for God from every tribe and language and people and nation." | Christ's atonement for all humanity. |
| Rev 7:9 | "...a great multitude... from every nation, from all tribes and peoples and languages..." | Future multitude of saved from all nations. |
| Tit 2:11 | "For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation for all people..." | God's saving grace extends universally. |
| Isa 45:22 | "Turn to me and be saved, all the ends of the earth! For I am God, and there is no other." | God's call to salvation to the whole world. |
| Jn 14:6 | "Jesus said... 'I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.'" | Jesus as the sole source of truth and salvation. |
| Jn 8:32 | "You will know the truth, and the truth will set you free." | Knowledge of truth leads to liberation. |
| Acts 4:12 | "There is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved." | Exclusivity of salvation through Christ. |
| Heb 10:26 | "For if we go on sinning deliberately after receiving the knowledge of the truth..." | Acknowledging the truth requires response. |
| Eph 4:13 | "...until we all attain to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God..." | Deeper knowledge of Christ as a goal. |
| Col 1:9-10 | "...filled with the knowledge of his will... so as to walk in a manner worthy of the Lord..." | Knowledge leads to practical Christian living. |
| Psa 19:7 | "The law of the LORD is perfect, reviving the soul; the testimony of the LORD is sure, making wise the simple." | God's word (truth) brings wisdom and life. |
| Jer 31:34 | "No longer shall each one teach his neighbor... for they shall all know me..." | Future universal knowledge of God. |
| Rom 3:29-30 | "Or is God the God of Jews only? Is he not the God of Gentiles also? Yes, of Gentiles also..." | God's lordship and salvation apply to all. |
| 1 Tim 4:10 | "For to this end we toil and strive, because we have our hope set on the living God, who is the Savior of all people, especially of those who believe." | God as Savior of all, but specially believers. |
1 Timothy 2 verses
1 Timothy 2 4 Meaning
This verse reveals God's benevolent and encompassing desire for the salvation of all humanity. It states that God, our Savior (as referred to in verse 3), wills or desires that every kind of person come to a saving knowledge of the truth, which ultimately leads to eternal life through faith in Christ. It underscores the universality of God's redemptive love and the broad scope of the Gospel invitation.
1 Timothy 2 4 Context
1 Timothy 2 is a passage about public worship and the church's mission. The verse immediately preceding 1 Tim 2:4 (verses 1-3) urges Christians to offer "supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings for all people, for kings and all who are in high positions." This broad scope of prayer sets the stage for verse 4 by providing the theological basis for praying for "all people": it is because God desires the salvation of "all people." The context challenges any narrow view of God's redemptive plan, whether based on ethnicity (e.g., exclusively for Jews) or social status (e.g., only for those in the church community). It emphasizes that God's grace extends to all types and classes of humanity, prompting universal prayer and evangelistic efforts.
1 Timothy 2 4 Word analysis
- who: Refers to "God our Savior" from verse 3. This establishes the divine origin and nature of the desire for salvation. It underlines that this benevolent will belongs to God Himself.
- desires: The Greek word is θέλει (thelei), which can mean "to will," "to wish," or "to desire." In this context, it speaks of God's preceptive will or desire, expressing His benevolent disposition and heart for humanity, rather than an effective, irresistible decree that forces all individuals to be saved. It shows God's general yearning for all people to turn to Him.
- all people: The Greek phrase is πάντας ἀνθρώπους (pantas anthrōpous). This phrase is crucial. While it does not imply that every single individual without exception will eventually be saved (universalism), it emphatically conveys that God's desire for salvation is extended to "all sorts, categories, or kinds of people" (Jew and Gentile, rich and poor, male and female, rulers and subjects), without partiality or distinction. This counters any exclusive Jewish-centric or social-status-based understanding of salvation in the early church, emphasizing the comprehensive reach of the Gospel.
- to be saved: The Greek term is σωθῆναι (sōthēnai), a passive infinitive. This indicates that salvation is an action performed by God. It signifies being rescued from sin's penalty and power, brought into a right relationship with God, and granted eternal life through Christ's atoning work.
- and to come: The Greek is ἐλθεῖν (elthein). This implies a necessary human response and movement towards God. It suggests an active and intentional acceptance on the part of the individual, emphasizing that salvation is not forced but involves a conscious act of embracing.
- to a knowledge: The Greek word is εἰς ἐπίγνωσιν (eis epignōsin). This is not just superficial gnosis (knowledge), but epignosis, which signifies a deeper, more complete, accurate, or experiential recognition and apprehension of something. It implies a transformative, personal, and vital understanding that shapes one's life, rather than mere intellectual assent. It's coming to fully acknowledge and embrace.
- of the truth: The Greek is ἀληθείας (alētheias). This "truth" refers specifically to God's revealed truth concerning salvation, encapsulated in the Gospel of Jesus Christ. It is the reality of God, His character, His plan, and particularly the redemptive work of Jesus, who declared Himself "the truth" (Jn 14:6). It's the salvific message and divine revelation that must be truly known.
1 Timothy 2 4 Bonus section
- God's Revealed Will vs. His Decretive Will: The desire expressed in this verse ("who desires all people to be saved") is commonly understood as God's will of disposition or revealed will. It states what is pleasing to Him, what He delights in, and what He calls all people to. This is distinct from His decretive or efficacious will, which is what God infallibly determines and brings to pass (e.g., His eternal election of those who will believe). While God sovereignly orchestrates salvation, His open invitation and desire extend to all humanity.
- The Bridge of Knowledge: The phrase "to come to a knowledge of the truth" acts as a crucial bridge between God's desire and ultimate salvation. Salvation is not achieved without embracing the revealed truth of the Gospel. It underscores the indispensable role of the Gospel message and understanding Christ's identity and work as the means by which God's desire for human salvation is fulfilled in individual lives.
- Implications for Evangelism: This verse strongly mandates and encourages active evangelism. Because God desires all to be saved and know the truth, His followers are impelled to proclaim that truth to everyone, everywhere. It establishes the global scope of the Great Commission (Matt 28:19-20) and reminds believers that there are no ethnic, social, or geographical limits to God's saving love and the reach of the Gospel.
1 Timothy 2 4 Commentary
1 Timothy 2:4 serves as a foundational declaration of God's universal redemptive intent and character. It clarifies why believers are called to pray for "all people" and to share the Gospel universally. God's heart genuinely desires the salvation of all types of people from every background, culture, and status. This desire is not a mandate for universalism (where everyone will inevitably be saved) but an expression of His profound benevolence, long-suffering patience, and genuine love for the world He created. For this divine desire to be fulfilled, individuals must actively "come" to a "full and experiential knowledge of the truth." This truth is not abstract philosophy but the person and work of Jesus Christ, the Gospel message, which provides the only path to salvation. The verse thus motivates global missions and challenges any human-made barriers to sharing God's saving grace.