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a ransom for all

1 Timothy 2:5-7 (JDV)

1 Timothy 2:5 You see, there is one God and one mediator between God and humans, the human Christ Jesus,

1 Timothy 2:6 who gave himself as a ransom for all, a testimony at the proper season.¹

1 Timothy 2:7 I was appointed a herald for this, a missionary (I am telling the truth; I am not lying), and a teacher of the Gentiles in faith and truth.

a ransom for all

Paul had just encouraged Timothy to keep on fighting for the faith, but now he says that Christ is the one mediator and he gave himself as a ransom for all. This cannot mean that everybody will be saved. If that were the case, there would be no reason to keep fighting for the faith. If all will be saved, no fight is necessary.

So, why does Paul mention that Christ is the one ransom for all? He means both Jew and Gentile. The Christian faith insists that Jesus is the only mediator. His death on the cross was a sacrifice sufficient to save everyone. But a sacrifice is only efficient if it is presented in faith by a believer.

LORD, thank you for Jesus, our one mediator who gave himself as a ransom for all..

1καιρός = season. 1 Timothy 2:6; 4:1; 6:15.