1 Timothy 2:4 - Coke's Commentary on the Holy Bible

Who will have all men to be saved,— It is here asserted by an inspired apostle, that God desireth the salvation of all men; and, in order to their bring capable of higher degrees of glory and happiness, would have them embrace the gospel, wherever it is preached, and become members of his preparatory kingdom. This is a pleasing thought, and cannot but be highly grateful to all benevolent minds: and if it should be inquired, "Why then are not all men saved?—Is not God infinite in power? Cannot he effect what he desires?"—The proper answer would be, that God is undoubtedly infinite in power, and therefore able to do whatsoever he pleases; but, that his manner of dealing with intelligent creatures, and with the inanimate part of the creation, is very different; because the state of the creatures themselves is very different. In the natural, or inanimate world, God, by his mighty power, effecteth whatever he desireth; and therein he acts according to the nature of inanimate things, which are entirely passive: but should he act after the same manner with intelligent beings, to whom, through his grace, he gives the offer of eternal happiness or eternal misery, heaven or hell, he woulddestroy their make; and treat them like what they are not, mere inanimate and passive creatures;—a thing whichinfinite wisdom can never do. Should he attempt to force sinners to become penitent and holy, the very force would destroy the nature of their holiness, and render it as improper to reward them, as it would be to reward a clock for going right, when all the wheels, and springs, and weights, were in their due order and situation. And if God sincerely desire the salvation of all, it is necessary that so wise and good a Being should in the present state of mankind, who are by nature dead in trespasses and sins, and children of wrath, offer to all, such a measure of his grace, as is sufficient to bring all who duly improve it to the eternal enjoyment of himself in glory: without which, indeed it is not easy to see how the wicked, who finally perish, can be left without excuse. But when he deals with intelligent beings in this stateof trial according to the use or abuse of his free grace, which alone gives them a free choice,—a power to stand or fall; it is not difficult to account for the perishing of such multitudes, even though God would have all men to be saved. The declaration of the divine benevolence to all mankind, is here subjoined as a reason why the Christians were to pray for all men: if God was ready to save them, surely they ought to be ready to pray for them. But it was also peculiarlydesigned as an oblique reproof ofthe Judaizing Christians, for their bigotry to their own nation, and their contempt of the Gentile Christians, or Gentiles in general. St. Paul here lets them know, that GOD judgeth otherwise, and therefore they ought to do so. He makes no distinction under the gospel between Jew and Gentile; and they ought to imitate the divine benevolence.