“This is good, and it pleases God our Savior, who wants everyone to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth.”
Verses 3 and 4 are a continuation of the first two verses. As a refresher, here they are. “First of all, then, I urge that petitions, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for everyone, for kings and all those who are in authority, so that we may lead a tranquil and quiet life in all godliness and dignity.” You can read my post on those verses here. 1 Timothy 2:1-2 – Abundant Joy
Paul goes on to say why his readers were to do this. The goal of this prayer is salvation. In our time, as in Paul’s day, we are to pray for our leaders so that we will have the ability to lead others to salvation.
The first thing I want to look at is the idea that God wants everyone to be saved. This is not an argument for universal salvation. The Bible clearly teaches against this. We can look at these verses in the 3rd chapter of John. “For God loved the world in this way: He gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him. Anyone who believes in him is not condemned, but anyone who does not believe is already condemned, because he has not believed in the name of the one and only Son of God” (vv.16-18). “The one who believes in the Son has eternal life, but the one who rejects the Son will not see life; instead, the wrath of God remains on him” (v.36). So while God loves the whole world, only those who believe are saved.
This brings us to my next point. These verses in Timothy are ones Arminians use to show that we have free will. God wants everyone to be saved, but only those who freely choose Him are. But keep in mind that Calvinists have verses that support their views as well. If you are not sure what Calvinists and Arminians believe, you can read about it here. Calvinism Vs. Arminianism – Abundant Joy Please keep in mind that this is not a salvation issue. Solid believers that I respect and follow have differing opinions on this issue. I am somewhere in the middle. I think that this is an issue that we can hold in tension, knowing that there are verses that support both election and free will.
Let’s next look at the phrase “knowledge of truth.” God our Savior wants us to be saved and come to the knowledge of truth. David Guzik writes this on his Enduring Word website. “Salvation is clearly associated with coming to knowledge of the truth. One cannot be saved apart from at least some understanding of who Jesus is and what He has done to save us.” Paul uses this phrase several times in his Pastoral Epistles; twice in his second letter to Timothy, and once to Titus. This example is especially helpful. “The Lord’s servant must not quarrel, but must be gentle to everyone, able to teach, and patient, instructing his opponents with gentleness. Perhaps God will grant them repentance leading them to the knowledge of the truth” (2 Timothy 2:25).
What is the truth? Again let’s look at the book of John.
“The Word became flesh and dwelt among us. We observed his glory, the glory as the one and only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth” (John 1:14)
We see that Jesus is full of truth.
“As he was saying these things, many believed in him. Then Jesus said to the Jews who had believed him, ‘If you continue in my word, you really are my disciples. You will know the truth, and the truth will set you free’” (John 8:31-32).
Jesus says we can know the truth.
“Jesus told him, ‘I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. If you know me, you will also know my Father. From now on you do know him and have seen him’” (John 14:6)
Jesus is the truth.
“When the Counselor comes, the one I will send to you from the Father —the Spirit of truth who proceeds from the Father—he will testify about me” (John 15:26)
If we believe in Jesus, have accepted him as our Savior, then we are sealed with the Holy Spirit (Ephesians 1:13) and have the Spirit of truth in us.
Being saved is more than just saying a prayer- I have heard it called “fire insurance.” The so-called “sinners prayer” is nowhere in the Bible. Now, there is nothing wrong with a sinner’s prayer if it comes with genuine repentance. And genuine repentance is followed by an ongoing knowledge of who Jesus is and what He wants and requires of us. This process is called sanctification and will go on until He comes back, or we go home to be with Him. This is what Paul is calling coming “to the knowledge of the truth” in these verses.
Let’s look at Jesus’s last words to his disciples in Matthew.
“Jesus came near and said to them, ‘All authority has been given to me in heaven and on earth. Go, therefore, and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe everything I have commanded you. And remember, I am with you always, to the end of the age’” (28:18-20).
Grace be with you!
Abundant Joy 