9 And to make all men see what is the
fellowship of the mystery, which from the beginning of the world hath been hid
in God, who created all things by Jesus Christ:
Interestingly, modern versions giving precedence primarily to
the authority of the Codices Sinaiticus and Vaticanus, among a few small other
manuscripts deny here the entire first part of the Gospel of John where Jesus
is said to be the Word by which the universe was created. The NIV, The NASV, The Message, The HCSB, and others have removed
“by Jesus Christ.” If that removal isn’t
shocking and disconcerting to you as a Christian that is a sad thing.
John 1:3 All things were made by him; and without him
was not any thing made that was made.
Colossians 1: 15 Who is the image of the invisible God, the
firstborn of every creature: 16 For by
him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible
and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or
powers: all things were created by him, and for him: 17 And he is before all things, and by him all
things consist. 18 And he is the head of
the body, the church: who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that
in all things he might have the preeminence.
Paul says that part of his goal is to “make all men see” the
mystery that he mentioned previously, that the Gentiles could join in with the
believing Jews and become a part of God’s plan of redemption. All men will not
see, though. Even God, whose will it is that all men be saved, finds that will
frustrated by man’s free will as He does not force anyone to believe Him or
trust in Him.
1Timothy 2:4 Who will have all men to be saved, and to
come unto the knowledge of the truth.
In the Bible it is important to note the two kinds of “all.”
There is “all” without exception and there is “all” without distinction. One is
all as in “everyone will” and one is all as in “everyone could”. And, as Paul would admit, all men will not
see.
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