who gave himself as a ransom for all; the testimony in its own times;
"The one clear concern that runs through the whole paragraph has to do with the gospel as for everyone (’all people,’ 1 Timothy 2:1; 1 Timothy 2:4-7). . . . The best explanation for this emphasis lies with the false teachers, who either through the esoteric, highly speculative nature of their teaching (1 Timothy 1:4-6) or through its ’Jewishness’ (1 Timothy 1:7) or ascetic character (1 Timothy 4:3) are promoting an elitist or exclusivist mentality among their followers. The whole paragraph attacks that narrowness." [Note: Fee, p. 62.] 