Specially (I Timothy 4:10)
QUESTION
How do you understand the following verse?
“For therefore we both labour and suffer reproach, because we trust in the living God, who is the Saviour of all men, specially of those that believe.” (I Timothy 4:10)
ANSWER
I see "all men" as a reference to the elect in regard to their eternal salvation and "specially of those that believe" as a reference to the temporal salvation of those who not only are of the elect, but who believe the precepts of God and live in accordance with them.
All of God's elect shall be eternally saved. This is a fundamental promise found repeatedly in scripture (Romans 8:31-39, John 10:28). But not all of God's elect are temporally saved to the same degree. The degree to which they are "specially" saved is a function of the truth they encounter, believe, and live in accordance with. Daniel and Lot were both eternally saved. However, Daniel was "specially" saved in temporal matters by putting his belief in practice through righteous living. Lot, not so much, and he was not saved from the debilitating consequences of sin as a result.
What say you?
FOLLOW UP
Makes sense to me. Here is a little bit of a different interpretation by Will Kinney from the brandplucked website. I think he is saying the verse does refer to everyone but only in physical ways for the non-elect and in a physical and temporal salvation way for the elect and also eternal salvation for the elect I think.
https://brandplucked.webs.com/1tim410saviourallmen.htm
ANSWER
I have heard that take on the verse before. It does provide a reasonable take on the distinction between salvation and "special" salvation. However, the context of this passage is an admonition to "the brethren" (v6) and this observation is key in defining what is intended by "all men." In other words, this is a family conversation and the "all men" in view here is "all of us" or "all of the family of God." In contrast, it seems odd to me that Paul would interject the notion of God saving all of humanity in a temporal sense in the middle this conversation. Because it is an admonition, it seems more natural to be contrasting eternal salvation by grace which is guaranteed for "all men" (i.e., "all of the elect" and thus "all the brethren I'm addressing") with "special" salvation which is experienced only by those who follow his admonitions.
HOW THIS RELATES TO CONDITIONAL TIME SALVATION
It occurs to me that the distinction between guaranteed eternal salvation (Hebrews 10:14) and conditional time salvation (I Samuel 12:14-15) explains the different measures of salvation experienced by God’s people in this lifetime. All of God's sheep are eternally saved in equal measure. However, one’s experience of salvation in temporal circumstances increases dramatically for those who willingly and obediently live according to the precepts of God. It is for this reason that Paul identifies Christ as the, "Saviour of all men (i.e., all of his elect), "specially of those that believe" (i.e., those who live in accordance with the precepts of God). Those who diligently follow Christ in obedience experience the special blessings thereof in the form of God’s approval (Matthew 25:21) and the avoidance of sin’s debilitating consequences (Romans 6:23, II Samuel 12:10). This is the distinction between simply having life and having it more abundantly. (John 10:10). The Lord said he’d never leave us nor forsake us (Hebrews 13:5). When God’s people downgrade that promise to the hope of deliverance unto eternal glory upon the occasion of death, they lose sight of the fact that God is with us in our present circumstances to help us in the here and now. “Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you. Cleanse your hands, ye sinners; and purify your hearts, ye double minded.” (James 4:8) Those who follow that adomonition are “specially” saved in this lifetime, in addition to the gift of eternal life they’ve been given.
- Elder Daniel Samons