Does All Always Mean All?

[Cole_H]

Much has been said about the phrase “all men” and the “whole world” in the Bible. The Lexical Greek definitions for “All” are:

Every

All

all kinds of

every kind

We see this usage of “All kinds of” in Revelation where it says Christ purchased people for God.

And they sang a new song, saying: "You are worthy to take the scroll and to open its seals, because you were slain, and with your blood you purchased for God persons from EVERY tribe and language and PEOPLE and nation.

Notice here that Jesus is said to have purchased people from EVERY PEOPLE. All people here clearly means all people groups or races. Not every single individual. This is a theme in the Bible that God is not only the God of the Jews but the Gentiles as well. He purchased people from every race, tribe, and nationality - the whole world. This doesn’t mean every single individual. God has a remnant chosen by grace in this lifetime. The reprobate along with the whole physical creation and fallen angels are made new in the purifying fires. The first will be last and the last will be first but we will all make it.

We also see this usage of “all” as in “all kinds of” in Romans 5.

Consequently, just as the result of one trespass was condemnation for all men, so also the result of one act of righteousness was justification that brings life for all men. For just as through the disobedience of the one man the many were made sinners, so also through the obedience of the one man the many will be made righteous.

While it is true that all individuals have sinned, the context here is more limited to the definition of 'all kinds of". This would fit well with the word “many” in the passage. Sin not only extends to the Jews but the Gentiles as well. In no way does the passage teach that Christ died for every single individual. The Bible tells us that He died for His sheep. Nowhere does it say He died for the goats.

I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep. - John 10:11

He died for His sheep and secured their salvation and sanctification with His blood. This begins the reconciliation that will later have a greater cosmic impact as all things are reconciled to Himself. As the passage in Col. says, it includes all things - visible and invisible. This would include the reprobate (second fruits), fallen angels, and all of the physical creation in the fires of purification. Faith and hope are for this age not the next. When we all see Christ face to face the faith and hope of the elect will be fulfilled and pass away.

“Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen”(Heb.11:1).

“For we walk by faith, not by sight” (2 Cor. 5:7).

Now hope that is seen is not hope. For who hopes for what he sees? - Romans 8:24

“For now we see in a mirror dimly, but then face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I have been fully known”. (1 Cor. 13:12)

The objects of faith and hope will be fulfilled and perfectly realized in heaven, but love will last forever. In heaven there will be nothing but perfect expression of love towards God and each other. As the Catholic Study Bible has stated in it’s commentary on 1 Corinthians 13:13-

The translation is misleading because it fails to render the Greek adverb nuni (now). Paul is not saying that all three virtues are eternal, but instead he ties them to the present age. Faith and hope will pass away when we see the Lord in heaven and possess the eternal happiness we yearned for in this life. But “love” never ends (13:8). Rather than passing away, love reaches perfection in the everlasting embrace of the Trinity that awaits the saints beyond this life.

[Eaglesway]

15 Who is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of every(pas) creature:

16 For by him were all things(pas) 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(pas) were created by him, and for him:

17 And he is before all things(pas), and by him all things(pas) 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(pas) he might have the preeminence.

19 For it pleased the Father that in him should all(pas) fulness dwell;

20 And, having made peace through the blood of his cross, by him to reconcile all things(pas) unto himself; by him, I say, whether they be things in earth, or things in heaven.
Col 1 is the slammer for me. Pas always means all, all inclusive, without exception, unless it is used in relation to a subset like “all the figs in the basket” which stil means all, each and every one- but within the baslet. Other wise it means all, as in “All figs grow on trees” which is inclusive of all figs ever.

The beautiful thing in Colossians 1 is that Paul defines all very thoroughly as all that Jesus created, all that Jesus is pre-eminent over( He is ascended to the throne of God and is over all), all that He is before(everything since He created all things), everything that consists(all that has any sustained existence), all that is in the body, and everything in heaven or on earth.

Thats pretty much all

[Cole_H]

I agree EW. The context of Col. is all things including everything within the visible and invisible.