John Gill answers Hard Passages – (Modern English)
Who desires all people to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth."
"Who desires all people to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth."
The salvation God wills is not merely the possibility of salvation, nor simply an offer that may or may not succeed. Rather, it is the certain and effectual salvation of those whom He has eternally purposed to save.
This salvation is secured by God's eternal decree, established in the covenant of grace, accomplished by Christ's atoning work, and applied by the Holy Spirit. Therefore, God's saving will is not conditional upon human choice or effort. If it were, salvation would ultimately depend on man's will instead of God's mercy, contrary to Scripture (Romans 9:16).
Neither should God's will here be divided into conflicting desires—as though He truly intended to save every individual while many nevertheless perish. God's purpose cannot fail. Whatever He has determined always comes to pass.
For this reason, the expression "all people" cannot mean every individual without exception. Scripture plainly teaches that not all are saved, and many will experience eternal judgment. Since no one can successfully resist God's sovereign purpose (Romans 9:19), Paul must mean all kinds of people rather than every individual.
This interpretation perfectly matches the context. Earlier Paul instructed believers to pray for all kinds of people—kings and subjects, Jews and Gentiles, rich and poor, slaves and free. Now he explains why: God's saving purpose extends to people from every class, nation, and social position. The gospel is not limited to one race or one social group.
Likewise, those whom God purposes to save are also brought "to the knowledge of the truth." This is more than intellectual understanding. It is the saving knowledge of Christ and His gospel, produced by the Holy Spirit.
God not only ordains the salvation of His people but also ordains the means by which they are saved. Everyone whom God saves is brought to faith in Christ through the truth of the gospel.
This again demonstrates that Paul is not speaking of every individual, since many throughout history have never heard the gospel, while others hear it but remain spiritually blind. God's sovereign grace opens the eyes of those whom He has chosen, while others remain in unbelief according to His righteous judgment.
"For there is one God, and one Mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus."
Paul's argument is that there is only one God for all people. He is not merely the God of the Jews but also of the Gentiles (Romans 3:29–30). Therefore, believers should pray for people from every nation because the same covenant God saves people from every tribe and language.
Likewise, there is only one Mediator between God and humanity.
A mediator stands between two parties that are separated by hostility. Humanity, because of sin, is alienated from God and under His righteous judgment. Christ alone reconciles sinners to God by satisfying divine justice through His perfect obedience and sacrificial death.
Having accomplished redemption, Christ continually intercedes for His people before the Father, ensuring that every blessing of the covenant of grace is applied to them and that they are safely preserved until eternal glory.
Paul calls Him "the man Christ Jesus." This does not mean Christ is merely a man. He is fully God and fully man.
His humanity was necessary because He had to obey God's law, suffer in the place of sinners, and die as their substitute. His deity was equally necessary because only one who is truly God could bear the infinite wrath deserved by sinners and accomplish an atonement of infinite value.
Paul emphasizes Christ's humanity here because the Mediator assumed the same human nature shared by those He came to save. As the God-man, He alone is perfectly qualified to reconcile God and sinners.
There is only one Mediator. Therefore, all believers—whether Jew or Gentile—approach God through the same Savior. This truth excludes every other supposed mediator, whether angels, departed saints, or any human priesthood.
"Who gave Himself as a ransom for all, to be testified at the proper time."
The ransom Christ gave was nothing less than Himself. He offered His body and soul, laying down His very life voluntarily out of love for His people.
His death was substitutionary. The word "ransom" signifies the price paid to secure the freedom of captives. Christ died in the place of sinners, redeeming them from the guilt of sin, the curse of the law, the tyranny of Satan, and eternal condemnation.
Again, the phrase "for all" does not mean every individual without exception. If Christ actually paid the full ransom for every person, then every person must necessarily be saved. Otherwise, either Christ's ransom would fail to accomplish its purpose or God would unjustly punish those whose debt had already been fully paid.
Rather, Paul means that Christ gave Himself for all kinds of people. He redeemed people from every nation, social class, age, language, and condition in life. His church is gathered from every tribe, people, and tongue throughout the world.
This provides yet another reason believers should pray for all kinds of people. Since Christ has redeemed His elect from every nation and class, the church should earnestly pray that God would gather all those whom Christ purchased with His blood.
Finally, Paul says this redemption was "to be testified at the proper time." The gospel is God's appointed testimony concerning the person and saving work of Christ. At the time determined by God, this glorious message is proclaimed throughout the world so that His chosen people may hear, believe, and be saved.