who gave himself as a ransom for all; the testimony in its own times;
Who gave himself a ransom for all ...  This ranks with  Matthew 20:28 and  Mark 10:45 among the great "ransom" passages of the New Testament. Our Lord literally gave himself, in that no one took his life away from him, but he laid it down of his own accord (John 10:17,18).  There are no less than seven centers of initiative which are discernible in the crucifixion of Christ; and thus it is proper to say that: (1) God crucified Christ; (2) Christ crucified himself (gave himself willingly); (3) the Jews crucified him; (4) the Romans crucified him; (5) all mankind crucified him; (6) Satan crucified him; and (7) every man crucified him.  A study of these is very rewarding.  See in my Commentary on Romans, pp. 137ff.