Board index ‹ Specific Bible verses, texts, and passages ‹ 1 Timothy

[Head William]

1tim 4 v 9 - 10 from NIV
9 This is a trustworthy saying that deserves full acceptance. 10 That is why we labor and strive, because we have put our hope in the living God, who is the Savior of all people, and especially of those who believe

My understanding of these 2 verses are as follows

1 its a trustworthy statement
2 deserves full acceptance
3 hence the2 reason why we
1a labour
2b strive
because
Our Hope is in
1 The Living God
WHO IS THE SAVIOUR OF ALL PEOPLE
ESPECIALLY
1 Of those who believe ... believers
2 of ALL people .....the unbelievers


The word save or saviour means , one who restores , reconciles, resuscitates all men.

from Wilson's Hebrew/Aramaic concordance

see under section ......s
save
saviour
also see under ....h
haiway / Aramaic ..to save / revive

this is my own personal view of 1 tim 4 v 9 and 10. from niv.

[jimwalton]

Yours is an interesting perspective, so let's talk about it. It sounds as if you believe in universalism: that everyone will be saved regardless of what they do in this life. This is manifestly not a teaching of the Bible.

Even in this particular text (1 Tim. 4.9-10), we have to give consideration to the other things Paul has said in this book that help us to understand this "trustworthy saying that deserves full acceptance."

In 1 Tim. 4.8 (to which v. 9 may be referring, though it may be referring forward to v. 10), it is godliness that holds promise for this life and the next. (Implying that ungodliness does not hold promise for the life to come).

In 1 Tim. 2.4 we read that God wants all men to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth, and that he gave himself as a ransom for all men (v. 5). In v. 7, though, we read that Paul is a herald of such truth. There would be no need for a herald if salvation automatically applied to all regardless of their faith. Paul must preach so that people may hear. His proclamation would be unnecessary if all men were universally saved.

While salvation is possible for all (God is savior of the world), Paul makes a distinction in v. 10 that He is actually the savior of those who believe. Salvation is conditioned upon belief (v. 10)—those who recognize the truth (as Paul has said in this letter in 2.4 & 4.3).

That’s my understanding of 1 Tim. 4.9-10.