John Calvin Commentary 1 Timothy 2:4

"who would have all men to be saved, and come to the knowledge of the truth." — 1 Timothy 2:4 (ASV)

Who wishes that all men may be saved. Here follows a confirmation of the second argument; and what is more reasonable than that all our prayers should be in conformity with this decree of God?

And may come to the acknowledgment of the truth. Lastly, he demonstrates that God has at heart the salvation of all, because he invites all to the acknowledgment of his truth. This belongs to that kind of argument in which the cause is proved from the effect; for, if

the gospel is the power of God for salvation to every one that believeth, (Romans 1:16),

it is certain that all those to whom the gospel is addressed are invited to the hope of eternal life. In short, as the calling is a proof of the secret election, so those whom God makes partakers of his gospel are admitted by him to possess salvation, because the gospel reveals to us the righteousness of God, which is a sure entrance into life.

Hence we see the childish folly of those who represent this passage to be opposed to predestination. “If God,” they say, “wishes all men indiscriminately to be saved, it is false that some are predestined by his eternal purpose to salvation, and others to perdition.” They might have had some ground for saying this, if Paul were speaking here about individual men. However, even then we would not have lacked the means of replying to their argument. For although the will of God should not be judged from his secret decrees, when he reveals them to us by outward signs, yet it does not therefore follow that he has not determined within himself what he intends to do concerning every individual.

But I say nothing on that subject, because it has nothing to do with this passage.

For the Apostle simply means that no people and no rank in the world are excluded from salvation, because God wishes that the gospel should be proclaimed to all without exception.

Now the preaching of the gospel gives life, and hence he justly concludes that God invites all equally to partake of salvation.

But the present discussion relates to classes of men, and not to individual persons, for his sole object is to include in this number princes and foreign nations.

That God wishes the doctrine of salvation to be enjoyed by them as well as others is evident from the passages already quoted and from other passages of a similar nature.

Not without good reason was it said, Now, kings, understand, and again, in the same Psalm,

I will give thee the Gentiles for an inheritance, and the ends of the earth for a possession (Psalms 2:8–10).

In a word, Paul intended to show that it is our duty to consider not what kind of persons the princes at that time were, but what God wished them to be. Now, the duty arising from that love we owe our neighbor is to be solicitous for and to endeavor for the salvation of all whom God includes in his calling, and to testify to this by godly prayers.

It is with the same view that he calls God our Savior; for from where do we obtain salvation but from the undeserved kindness of God? Now the same God who has already made us partakers of salvation may sometime extend his grace to them also. He who has already drawn us to him may draw them along with us. The Apostle takes for granted that God will do so, because this had been foretold by the predictions of the prophets concerning all ranks and all nations.