One Ransom for All: The Beautiful Scandal of God’s Universal Particularity (1 Timothy 2:5–7)

On Sunday we focused on the death and resurrection of Christ. While Psalm Sunday directs us to Christ’s triumphal entrance to Jerusalem, we focused on Paul’s message of the cross in 1 Timothy 2:5–7. As 1 Timothy 2–3 spend time on Christ’s death and resurrection, we considered how his one death ransomed people from every nation.

Indeed, speaking into the divided context of Ephesus where the Law was separating Jews and Gentiles and urging Gentiles to become like Jews, Paul speaks of the all-sufficiency of Christ’s death once and for all. In this context, we see why this is good news for us and for all time.

You can listen to the sermon online. And you can response questions and further resources below.

Response Questions

1. In this passage, prayer is the main point (see vv. 1–2, 8). How does Christ’s relate to prayer for all people?
2. Who are the all people? How do we know? What context clues tell us that Jew and Gentile are in view?
3. How does this view of Jew and Gentile help us see the centrality of Christ?
4. Why is it necessary for there to be a mediator between God and mankind? Why does Paul stress the exclusivity of one God, and one mediator?
5. Whose idea is Christ’s mediation and death? Is this something forced upon Jesus? (Hint: notice who offers the ransom)
6. Who is the ransom paid to? What does that matter? Does the devil have any right to demand a ransom?
7. How does this passage encourage you to pray? To believe? To walk with Christ?
8. What other observations or questions come mind in this passage?

Additional Resources

Here are a couple blogposts that wrestle with the theology of this passage:

• The One for All: 7 Reasons Why 1 Timothy 2 Teaches Definite Atonement (and 3 Reasons Why It Matters)
• The Nature and Necessity of the Cross: Why Christ Had to Die for Sin (With a Little Help from Anselm)

Soli Deo Gloria, ds