How does God’s will affect the salvation of men? 2 Peter 3:9 says that God is "not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance." 1 Timothy 2:4 says that God "desires all people to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth." However, we know that not all will be saved (Rev 20:11–15).
God desires all men to be saved--- his moral, not decreed, will. Some might argue that "saved" in 1 Timothy 2:4 means physical preservation, but the vast majority see that it refers to salvation from wrath and judgment. Several commentaries say that it is important that Paul uses the passive voice of σωθηναι, and because he does, this places the action in God's moral will, and not his decreed will.
In the New Testament, the verb θέλω was rapidly replacing βούλομαι, and the two words shared a long history as synonyms. Both Kittle and Brown argue this point. However, these sources note that there was an original distinction between θέλω, denoting a desire that springs from inclination, and βούλομαι, as a desire that springs from deliberation (Mueller, NIDNTT, 3:1015-1018). Based on this distinction, it is commonly argued that θέλω here represents God's moral will in harmony with his nature, but distinct from his decreed or secret will.
In other words, God commands all men to repent of their sin (Acts 17:30) and believe in his Son, Jesus Christ (John 3:18). This is his preceptive will. However, only those whom God has chosen from the foundation of the world will be saved (Eph 1:4-6), which is his secret, or decreed, will.
God desires all men to be saved--- his moral, not decreed, will. Some might argue that "saved" in 1 Timothy 2:4 means physical preservation, but the vast majority see that it refers to salvation from wrath and judgment. Several commentaries say that it is important that Paul uses the passive voice of σωθηναι, and because he does, this places the action in God's moral will, and not his decreed will.
In the New Testament, the verb θέλω was rapidly replacing βούλομαι, and the two words shared a long history as synonyms. Both Kittle and Brown argue this point. However, these sources note that there was an original distinction between θέλω, denoting a desire that springs from inclination, and βούλομαι, as a desire that springs from deliberation (Mueller, NIDNTT, 3:1015-1018). Based on this distinction, it is commonly argued that θέλω here represents God's moral will in harmony with his nature, but distinct from his decreed or secret will.
In other words, God commands all men to repent of their sin (Acts 17:30) and believe in his Son, Jesus Christ (John 3:18). This is his preceptive will. However, only those whom God has chosen from the foundation of the world will be saved (Eph 1:4-6), which is his secret, or decreed, will.
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