Calvinist doesn’t believe in ‘all’. Whenever we use ‘all men’ in the Bible to be saved, that means all, everyone. But Calvinists like to deny this, they’d like to do a philosophical wordplay and say that’s not what the Bible really means, it means some men.
1 Timothy 2:1-4 “I exhort therefore, that, first of all, supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks, be made for all men; 2 For kings, and for all that are in authority; that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty. 3 For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Saviour; 4 Who will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth.”
Calvinist likes to argue that ‘all men’ is referring to all kinds of people in a distinct category, such as at v4 and v6. Here they focus on v1-2 and say that ‘all men’ is referring to all authorities.
If ‘all’ is only referring to a distinct category, then why does Paul distinguish (in v2) ‘we’ who is the elect from ‘all men to be saved’ in v4? Calvinist like to say that ‘all men to be saved’ is only referring to the elect, then why does Paul differentiate ‘we’ in v2 from all men since the elects have already been mentioned? Then who is this ‘all men’? Guess what, this ‘all men’ are not the saved elects.
1 Thessalonians 5:15 “See that none render evil for evil unto any man; but ever follow that which is good, both among yourselves, and to all men.”
Are we supposed to do only good to us or all men? All means all.
1 Timothy 4:10 “For therefore we both labour and suffer reproach, because we trust in the living God, who is the Saviour of all men, specially of those that believe.”
‘all men’ does not refer to the elects. Paul’s mentioning here that this includes those that believe, meaning it’s not only the elects. All means all.
Galatians 6:10 “As we have therefore opportunity, let us do good unto all men, especially unto them who are of the household of faith.”
‘all men’ does not refer to the saved elects. ‘especially unto them who are of the household of faith’: there’s the saved elect. So, all means all here.
The above 3 passages prove that ‘all men’ is not only referring to the saved elect, but they also prove that “all men” means all.
Titus 2:1-9 “But speak thou the things which become sound doctrine: That the aged men be sober, grave, temperate, sound in faith, in charity, in patience. The aged women likewise, that they be in behaviour as becometh holiness, not false accusers, not given to much wine, teachers of good things; That they may teach the young women to be sober, to love their husbands, to love their children, To be discreet, chaste, keepers at home, good, obedient to their own husbands, that the word of God be not blasphemed. Young men likewise exhort to be sober minded. In all things shewing thyself a pattern of good works: in doctrine shewing uncorruptness, gravity, sincerity, Sound speech, that cannot be condemned; that he that is of the contrary part may be ashamed, having no evil thing to say of you. Exhort servants to be obedient unto their own masters, and to please them well in all things; not answering again;”
Titus 2:11 “For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men,”
Calvinists argue that ‘all men; in v11 is referring to all kinds of elects: aged men (v2), aged women (v3), young women (v4), young men (v6), servents (v9).
Titus 3:1-2 “Put them in mind to be subject to principalities and powers, to obey magistrates, to be ready to every good work, To speak evil of no man, to be no brawlers, but gentle, shewing all meekness unto all men.”
‘all men’ in v2 is referring to the lost people from v1 by context.
Titus 3:15 “All that are with me salute thee. Greet them that love us in the faith. Grace be with you all. Amen. (It was written to Titus, ordained the first bishop of the church of the Cretians, from Nicopolis of Macedonia.)”
‘all’ here is referring to the saved elect (all that are with me), and that’s automatically distinguished from ‘all men’ in v2. In the Bible, ‘all’ means all. If it’s going to be different, the Bible will show us in the same context.
Calvinist’s tactic is they look at the surrounding verses for somebody and they’ll connect it with ‘all’. If we remember and are aware of that, then we will be prepared when we debate them.
Hebrews 2:9-13 9 “But we see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels for the suffering of death, crowned with glory and honour; that he by the grace of God should taste death for every man. 10 For it became him, for whom are all things, and by whom are all things, in bringing many sons unto glory, to make the captain of their salvation perfect through sufferings. 11 For both he that sanctifieth and they who are sanctified are all of one: for which cause he is not ashamed to call them brethren, 12 Saying, I will declare thy name unto my brethren, in the midst of the church will I sing praise unto thee. 13 And again, I will put my trust in him. And again, Behold I and the children which God hath given me.”
Calvinist claims that ‘every man’ in v9 is referring to every one of the ‘sons’ (v10), ‘brethren’ (v11) and ‘children’ (v13).
Let’s assume that ‘every man’ is referring to every single one of the elect: the children, brethren, and sons, then the question is, why does Paul talk about the lowliness of men in general, not just the elect?
Hebrews 2:6-8 “But one in a certain place testified, saying, What is man, that thou art mindful of him? or the son of man, that thou visitest him? Thou madest him a little lower than the angels; thou crownedst him with glory and honour, and didst set him over the works of thy hands: Thou hast put all things in subjection under his feet. For in that he put all in subjection under him, he left nothing that is not put under him. But now we see not yet all things put under him.”
v6 do you think that’s only referring to saved Christians or mankind in general? v7 if it’s only referring to saved elects, then are unbelievers better than the angels? It makes more sense that all of mankind is lower than the angels. Then we come to v9 where Jesus tasted death for every man. It makes more sense that it’s referring to all of mankind in general, all of humanity being weaker and lower than the angels.
Calvinists who give these arguments act like intellectuals and look very smart but this doctrine is far from common sense. Only a doctrine like that will complicate the easy words of God. They have to be deliberately dishonest when reading the verse and try to find a complicated interpretation because a first-time reader wouldn’t think of it that way.