The Young’s Literal Translation:
I exhort, then, first of all, there be made supplications, prayers, intercessions, thanksgivings, for all men: for kings, and all who are in authority, that a quiet and peaceable life we may lead in all piety and gravity, ****for this is right and acceptable before God our Saviour, ****who doth will all men to be saved, and to come to the full knowledge of the truth.
Table of Contents:
The Young’s Literal Translation:
I exhort, then, first of all, there be made supplications, prayers, intercessions, thanksgivings, for all men: for kings, and all who are in authority, that a quiet and peaceable life we may lead in all piety and gravity, ****for this is right and acceptable before God our Saviour, ****who doth will all men to be saved, and to come to the full knowledge of the truth.
[Commentaria in Epistolam ad Timotheum Primam]
Exhort thou, therefore, first of all, that supplications, prayers, petitions, givings of thanks be made for all men, for kings and for all who are set in higher place; that a peaceable and quiet life we may lead in all godliness and chastity. For this, indeed, is good and acceptable before our Saviour God, who willeth all men to be saved and to come unto the knowledge of the truth.
This is the ecclesiastical rule, delivered by the teacher of the nations, which our priests do use: that they should make supplication for all, entreating also for the kings of this world, that nations should be subject unto them, that being set in peace, in tranquility of mind and rest, we may serve our God. Praying also for those to whom the sublime power is entrusted, that in justice and truth they may govern the commonwealth, with abundance of things supplied, so that, the disturbance of sedition being removed, gladness may follow; for bread doth confirm the heart, and wine maketh the mind glad.
Further, making petition for those who are in various necessity, that being rescued and delivered, they may praise God as the author of their safety. Also rendering thanksgivings for those things which by God’s providence are daily bestowed upon us for life; that in all these things the Father God may be glorified, from whom are all things, and His Son, by whom are all things, so that, all things which are hostile and inimical to this dominion being put to rest, in the affection of godliness and chastity we may serve God. For disturbance and captivity preserve neither piety nor chastity. For whence is one pious who is naked? Or whence chaste where he is not in power of himself? That, therefore, these things may be preserved, quietness is necessary, that services pleasing to God may be rendered, who willeth all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth. This is, he says, life eternal, that they may know Thee, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom Thou hast sent.
Question: If, surely, God, who is called almighty, wills all men to be saved, is not His will fulfilled?
But in every speech a sense and condition doth lie hid; whence Peter the Apostle saith: Every Scripture hath need of interpretation. For God wills all men to be saved, but if they do come unto Him; for He doth not so will as that the unwilling should be saved, but He wills them to be saved, if they themselves also will. For indeed, He who gave the law to all, excepted none from salvation. Doth not the physician, for that very reason, propose in public, that he may show himself to will to save all, if, indeed, he be sought by the sick? For true salvation it is not, if it be given to one unwilling; nor can he rejoice in salvation received, who unwillingly, if, indeed, it be possible, hath received the medicine; not to say that the effect of medicine it cannot have, unless the sick man shall have applied his mind to it; for this medicine is not bodily but spiritual, which profits neither the doubtful nor the unwilling. For faith it is which doth give salvation, which unless the mind shall have wholly received with will, not only shall it profit nothing, but even shall harm. For the grace of faith hath this power, that to the devout it infuses divine healing; but to the undevout it imparts a disease, through which the whole man perisheth.