1 Timothy 4:10 – Especially of Believers

Faithful is the saying and worthy of all welcome. For for this are we toiling and being reproached, that we rely on the living God, Who is the Saviour of all mankind, especially of believers.

God saves all mankind and that fact makes Him a “Savior of all mankind”. However, we must conclude that (relatively) almost no one believes this message. The vast majority cannot even believe it because they have never heard it in the first place (cf. Rom.10:14). And those from whom one might expect to hear it (namely from Christians) prove to be the most outspoken enemies of this Gospel. They do not believe it, because they think they have to do something for it… (compare Romans 9:32)

In other words, God may be a Savior of all people, but few believe it. And those who do believe it do not have to imagine themselves to be anything because it is God who has given them this faith and opened their eyes, ears and hearts to it.

God saves all people, but especially or mostly (Gr. malista; cf. Gal.6:10) believers. They already participate in God’s saving word and when wrath will soon break out over the world, they will be evacuated just before that (1 Thes. 1:10). What a privilege to already know God as Savior of all!

Delen: