Hi Adam,
IMO I think whether all means all (everyone) depends on the context of the passage.
Here is an example of a passage that many differ in opinion -
1 Corinthians 15:22 For as in Adam all die, so in Christ all will be made alive. NIV (I did not choose this verse because of your name BTW
)
Who died in Adam?
Every human, who is made alive in Christ? Every human
that died in Adams sin, which leads us to acknowledging
ALL humans. We must also look at the context of Corinthians 15 as a whole.
Here Paul is talking about the resurrection, the
all that were made alive in Christ. He then continues to explain in 1 Corinthians 15 what should happen to the resurrected (which we have determined to be
all people)
21 For since death came through a man, the resurrection of the dead comes also through a man. 28 When he has done this, then the Son himself will be made subject to him who put everything under him, so that God may be all in all. Who is Paul referring to as all here? Remember the context of 1 Corinthians 15 is the resurrection of all.
When you sow, you do not plant the body that will be, but just a seed, perhaps of wheat or of something else. 38 But God gives it a body as he has determined, and to each kind of seed he gives its own body. 39 Not all flesh is the same: People have one kind of flesh, animals have another, birds another and fish another. 40 There are also heavenly bodies and there are earthly bodies; but the splendor of the heavenly bodies is one kind, and the splendor of the earthly bodies is another. People have ONE kind of flesh, not dependent on whether they are under the grace of God or not. Adam is the flesh which his sin we inherit, Christ is the quickening spirit, the last Adam, we shall all have his imprint and inherit his Image.
42 So will it be with the resurrection of the dead. The body that is sown is perishable, it is raised imperishable; 43 it is sown in dishonor, it is raised in glory; it is sown in weakness, it is raised in power; 44 it is sown a natural body, it is raised a spiritual body. 54 When the perishable has been clothed with the imperishable, and the mortal with immortality, then the saying that is written will come true: "Death has been swallowed up in victory."[h]
55 "Where, O death, is your victory?
Where, O death, is your sting?"
56 The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. 57 But thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. Here Paul proclaims the victorious work of the cross, there is no suggestion at all of exclusion in what I have read of the
whole passage.
So does all mean all in 1 Corinthians? I think so :)
