Tentmaker Forum

I am not fully sure how in depth people have gotten on here about the actual exegetical arguments for ultimate reconciliation of all, but I have studied some of these passages in Greek (though I am most certainly not a Greek scholar, I am hopefully on my way to becoming one) and I have some thoughts on these verses.

First lets start with Philippians 2:9-11, one of the greatest proof of Christ's ultimate victory. After finishing his long discourse about Jesus humbling himself, and how we should follow his example, Pul turns to the result of us humbling ourselves and Christ being glorified by God, and in turn his glorifying of the Father. The glory is that every knee will bow and every tongue confess from within that Jesus is Lord. For God could easily demand praise and force people to bow to him, however as he says in Isaiah 29:13,

...this people draw near with their words
And honor Me with their lip service,
But they remove their hearts far from Me.

God does not take pleasure in lip service, he not about a great show. If he forced his enemies to bow down it would be a mockery of him, a false and hollow moment. However the beauty of this passage is that it is not a fake confession, but something much deeper and profound.



Looking specifically at verse 11 we find the Greek reading,

καὶ πᾶσα γλῶσσα ἐξομολογήσηται ὅτι κύριος Ἰησοῦς Χριστὸς εἰς δόξαν θεοῦ πατρός.

The word I want to focus on is eksomologeo, which is what we translate as confess in English. However this word means so much more than to simply confess, this Greek word is composed of two words, ek and homologeo.  Ek means "wholly out from," and homologeo is to "say the same thing about" When taken together eksomologeo means to "fully agree and to acknowledge that agreement openly (whole-heartedly); hence, to confess ("openly declare"), without reservation (no holding back)". It is a confession from within, from the heart.

These 3 scriptures are glorious, because in them is revealed the fate of every living soul. Because of what Christ did on the cross, every knee will bow and tongue confess whole-heartedly with joy that Jesus is Master of their lives. You see God is able to defeat his enemies through love, he has no need to force them to confess because the ones who confess do so from within their very being. Therefore we get a picture of the confessors being saved, and if every tongue will gladly confess then everyone will be saved, its that simple.


Next let's move on to 1 Corinthians 15:22

This verse is quoted by almost everyone as THE UR verse, however I have never found it that convincing. But on studying it in the Greek I found another astounding revelation. Here is my translation of 1 Cor 15:22,


Notice the 'in this same way' that is missing from this passage in almost all bible translations? The Greek word "outos"(in this same way) is normally translated as 'so' and doesn't really add much to the believers understanding of this verse, but Strong's defines it as,


Jesus used this same word outos, when he compared himself in the tomb to Jonah being in the whale for 3 days. And most contexts it is used in this way, as a connection to what was spoken previously. Just as all die in Adam, in like manner, also in Christ all will be made alive. In the same way as all die (through no will of their own) will all be made alive (through no will of their own). For it is God who works in you to will and do his good purpose. This is  "in this same way" changes the whole verse in my opinion and makes it a undeniable proof of UR.

These are only two verses of many I have been studying and will continue to, in the future I will post more. 

now prove all means all, and we'll be good.  Thats the ET thought, that it means as many as possible.

good post :thumbsup:

I have heard many people(including myself) say, "Well, it doesn't really mean "all" things, like as in every single thing- but, please, let's look at this from a scriptural perspective. Paul clearly defines "all things" in his epistle to the Colossian church. The Greek word "pas" means "all"; "everything"- according to Strong's, all inclusive.

15He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all(pas) creation. 16For by Him all things(pas) were created, both in the heavens and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things(pas) have been created through Him and for Him. 17He is before all things(pas), and in Him all things(pas) hold together. 18He is also head of the body, the church; and He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, so that He Himself will come to have first place in everything(pas). 19For it was the Father's good pleasure for all(pas) the fullness to dwell in Him, 20and through Him to reconcile all things(pas) to Himself, having made peace through the blood of His cross; through Him, I say, whether things on earth or things in heaven. Colossians 1:15-20 NASB

The word pas is an all inclusive word. The only way to modify pas is to couple it with a sub-category like, "all the figs in the basket" . This is a particular subset of figs and it is defined by all(pas) as in "every single one and all together" of the figs in the basket. If you were to say "all figs", eliminating the descriptive subset, in a statement such as "all figs have seeds" or "all figs grow on trees" the word pas means every single fig and all figs together inclusively without exception. Paul uses this kind of terminology in Romans 11:36, Ephesians1:9-11 and many other places we will examine, but in Colossians chapter one he really gets expansive and pointedly comprehensive in explaining what the "all" includes and how it is "gathered into one in Christ". Paul clearly states that the all includes:

All things He created in heaven and earth. (repeating the Romans 11:36 injunction that all things are created "through Him and for Him.") We know from John 1:1-10 and Hebrews 1:1-3 that nothing came into being that was not made by Him and that God created "all things "through Jesus Christ.

All things that He is before. We know from John chapter 1 that He was in the beginning with God. Since He created all things He must therefore be before everything that was ever made.

All things that "hold together in Him". We know from Hebrews chapter 1 that "all things hold together by the power of His word".

All things over which He has the "first place"(preeminence). We know from Ephesians 4:10 that, "He that descended is the same also that ascended up far above all heavens, that he might fill all things." Here "might fill" is one word, "pleroo" the verb form of "pleroma" in Ephesians Chapter one- it means "make replete" or "complete" or "satisfy".

For so it pleased(eudokia- the same word from Ephesians 1:9) the Father to make "all fulness" or, "pas pleroma", dwell in Him........and through Him to reconcile all things to Himself, having made peace through the blood of His cross; through Him, I say, whether things on earth or things in heaven.
(Col 1:20)

Paul is emphatic and thorough here . No reasonable mind can evade the conclusion that whatever Paul means by reconciliation- it will be completed in "all things" though the propitiatory sacrifice of Jesus Christ on the cross. As it is written in 1 John2:1,2

My little children, I am writing these things to you so that you may not sin. And if anyone sins, we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous; and He Himself is the propitiation for our sins; and not for ours only, but also for those of the whole(holos- entire, altogether, every whit; Strong's) world(kosmos).

kosmos (A) The universe, heavens and earth (Mat_13:35; Mat_24:21; Luk_11:50; Joh_17:5, Joh_17:24; Act_17:24; Rom_1:20; Heb_4:3). Metonym for the inhabitants of the universe (1Co_4:9). Figuratively and symbolically, a world of something, as an aggregate such as in Jas_3:6, "a world of iniquity" (cf. Sept.: Pro_17:6). Strong's


How shall this reconciliation of all take place? It is an administration suitable to the completion(pleroma- fulness) of times, a gathering into one in Christ of "all things".

It is a part of the glory that awaits us in the "ages to come", who are "predestined according to the purpose of Him who causes all things(pas) to work according to the counsel of His will.  :o)   http://hell-is-a-myth.webs.com/allinall.htm (http://hell-is-a-myth.webs.com/allinall.htm)

I just went through this on facebook (probably not a good start right there) same things both of you said, I was told I took verses out of context.  I asked how, the thread died after a couple people verbally high-fived them.  I gave context in defining pas.  No response, oh well.

It seems just too scary for most people to go against orthodoxy, to even consider it.  I know I was there before.  Until the Lord revealed it to me I was the other guy.  Although I must say, I was NEVER exposed to the victorious gospel so who knows if someone had shown me all really means all.  But then it makes me think that God is in control of it all, including the veil that is cast over all people.  Then I start thinking about why do anything at all because ultimately oh never mind :beach:

Yea, I get that, I really do. I really only share these things with people who are engaging me in some way in return, even if its they are trying to save me :o) However, every now and then I find myself sharing with someone who is really set free by the good news, :o) so I keep on throwin a line out there- but I rarely ever engage in debate- its just not productive unless you are being led by the spirit- u kno, b instant in season and out of season :)     As for taking the word out of context, U R (joke). U R taking it out of the context of the traditions of men and the letter that kills and putting it back in the context of the kind intention of Him who causes all things to work according to the counsel of His will- U kno, the one who predestined us to participate in the restoration of the entire creation.