Dear Friends in Faith,
Tony writes:
    Is God the Saviour of all sorts of men? I made the mistake of posting on a message board that God wills that all mankind be saved and that God is the Saviour of all mankind. What follows is proof that I am wrong:
    What about texts such as Titus 2:11, which refers to “the salvation of all men,” according to the rendering of RS? Other texts, such as John 12:32, Romans 5:18, and; 1 Timothy 2:3, 4, convey a similar thought in RS, KJ, NE, TEV, etc. The Greek expressions rendered “all” and “everyone” in these verses are inflected forms of the word pas. As shown in Vine’s Expository Dictionary of New Testament Words (London, 1962, Vol. I, p. 46), pas can also mean “every kind or variety.” So, in the above verses, instead of “all,” the expression “every kind of” could be used; or “all sorts of,” as is done in NW. Which is correct “all” or the thought conveyed by “all sorts of”? Well, which rendering is also harmonious with the rest of the Bible? The latter one is.
    Tony’s reply: But if we should actually see what is “harmonious with the rest of the Bible,” God’s word stands sure. “All mankind” really does mean just what it says in 1 Tim.2:4; 4:10. How so? The Bible the detractor uses is the New World Translation. It has Romans 5:18 thus: “So then, as through one trespass the result to men of all kinds was condemnation, likewise also through one act of justification the result to men of all kinds is a declaring of them righteous for life.” But this hardly makes sense. Were “all kinds” of humans condemned due to Adam’s sin, or was it really “all mankind”? It surely was all mankind because “all sinned and are wanting of the Glory of God.” Did some escape the death which Adam passed along? Are some so fortunate as not ever to have sinned and therefore have no need of a Saviour? Christ is the only one I know of. God truly does will that all mankind be saved and not just “all kinds” of mankind.

Dean writes:
    In English as well as in Greek “all” means “all,” and “all kinds of” means “all kinds of.” It is only by the demands of the context that we can say “all” is being used in a sense of “all [kinds of].” That usage is an example of the figure of speech called ellipsis where words that are understood are omitted. There is nothing in the context of 1 Timothy 2:4 and 4:10 which suggests that Paul is speaking figuratively here. Everything Paul says about God in this letter testifies to His ability, His will and His success in His work of salvation (see especially 1 Timothy 1:17; 2:4-6; 6:13-16, besides 4:9,10). Furthermore, considering the “rest of the Bible,” it is clear from Genesis 1:26,27 on that God created all mankind. With such a weighty and fundamental testimony of Scripture associating God with literally “all” humanity as their Creator, Who, furthermore is the Sustainer of all, Who gives to all “life and breath and all” (Acts 17:25), Paul could hardly expect his readers to suppose he is using the figure of ellipsis in speaking of God as the Saviour of all mankind. We should be very reticent to diminish the glory of the claims of God about Himself with a figure of speech.

The October Baldwin Fellowship was held at the Grace and Truth Chapel on the 6th with about 20 in attendance. T. M. and the two of us brought messages relating Old Testament passages to the evangel. The Kitchener/Waterloo (Ontario) meeting will be on the 13th, from 11:00 to 4:00. Later in the month, on October 26-28, there will be a Scripture conference near Wagener, South Carolina. Our November Fellowship will be held here in Almont on Nov.3.

Yours in His Grace and Peace,
Dean Hough and Tony Nungesser