A Linguistic Evaluation of the Calvinist “All Without Distinction” Reading of πᾶς in the Pastoral Epistles

Abstract

This thesis examines the Calvinist “all without distinction” reading of πᾶς, an interpretation that safeguards the Calvinist teachings of double predestination and limited atonement by claiming that in four key passages within the Pastoral Epistles (1 Tim 2:4, 6; 4:10; Titus 2:11) πᾶς denotes not all individual people but all kinds of people. By exegetically refuting other Calvinist proposals for these verses, this thesis demonstrates that double predestination and limited atonement are unviable without the “all without distinction” reading. Nevertheless, it also documents how the primary motivations for these Calvinist teachings—preserving God’s role as sole cause in election, conversion, and salvation, and preserving an effective atonement—are maintained without double predestination and limited atonement by other Christian traditions. Although Calvinists allege that linguistic support for the “all without distinction” interpretation is found in other passages where πᾶς denotes something less than every individual, no prior study quantified the linguistic rationale for the referent of πᾶς being limited. This thesis undertakes this missing linguistic analysis using a corpus-based lexical analysis. It identifies six manners of restriction found with πᾶς: hyperbole, implicit domain restriction, nonveridicality, intensive nouns, collective nouns, and superordinate categories. Using Gricean pragmatics, exegetical analysis, operator scoping, semantic analysis, and cognitive linguistics, it determines the linguistic features by which restricted uses of πᾶς might be identified. By applying these criteria to 1 Timothy 2:4, 6; 4:10 and Titus 2:11, this thesis finds that these verses lack the linguistic features necessary for such restrictions. Consequently, it demonstrates that the “all without distinction” interpretation is unviable, as are the Calvinist teachings of double predestination and limited atonement that depend on it. Conversely, it confirms as scriptural teaching that God desires the salvation of all and that Christ died for the sins of all. This thesis further articulates the practical significance of recognizing the universal scope of the Father’s merciful will and the Son’s atoning death. Non-Christians being evangelized can be presented with a sure basis for faith, and Christians doubting their own faith or elect status can be offered direct assurance from God’s will, Christ’s death, and the means of grace.