Universal Salvation both with and without Paul.

Back when my Soterology was a more Independent Baptist style Free Grace Eternal Security, I made a post addressing those who reject Paul as a False Prophet showing I could argue it independent of Paul.  Primarily directed at the sub group calling themselves Jesus Words Only.

I figure I ought to do the same for Universal Salvation.  To start with I shall demonstrate it using Jesus Words Only.

John 12:30-33

Jesus answered and said, "This voice came not because of me, but for your sakes.  Now is the judgment of this world: now shall the prince of this world be cast out.  And I, if I be lifted up from the earth, will draw all men unto me."  This he said, signifying what death he should die.

The language in the Greek in verse 32 is very strong language, implying those being drawn are being drawn regardless of their will.  And on the Cross Jesus asked The Father to forgive those mocking and tormenting him, even though none of them were repentant.

That the Punishment of the Wicked is NOT endless can be demonstrated by Matthew 5:26/Luke 12:59 as well as Matthew 18:34 and Luke 12:47-48.  But back to Matthew 5, later verse 45 tells us that...

"That ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven: for he maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust."

Then I have my post on The Second Death where I tied Jesus teaching about the Sheep and Goats Judgment (last parable of Matthew 25) into what He taught in John 5:21-29 and Revelation 20.  I only mention Paul's Resurrection teaching there to show how I view it as consistent with that, but that doctrine can be built without Paul easily.

The idea that Jesus taught Eternal Damnation is refuted by understanding the Greek (see Words Translated Eternal and The Age of Ages), but I've also rhetorically argued how even the KJV can be interpreted consistent with Universal Salvation.

Matthew 10:28 is a favorite verse of Annihilationists, where Jesus says not to fear who  kill your Body but God who can kill your Soul.  Eternal Punishment believers say "killing the soul" is just a poetic allegory for Eternal Punishment. But the problem is you need to keep reading verses 29-31, Jesus goes on to say NOT to Fear God because He won't do that because He loves us.

Going on to the writings of The Apostles, 1 John 2:2 refutes Limited Atonement.  "And he is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world."  And 2 Peter 3:9 tells us that God is not willing that any should Perish.

I'm also working on a post specifically about how I feel Revelation on it's own strongly implies Universal Salvation which will be posted on my Prophecy Blog, the Anti-Paul people love to misuse certain material from Revelation.

Objections to Paul tend to come from a place of reverence for The Old Testament, especially The Torah.  I have my post on The Resurrection in The Torah where I show that the roots of the Universal Salvation message are right there in The Torah.  And I've talked about the fact that Ezekiel 16 says even Sodom shall be restored.  And then there is Psalm 30, a Davidic Psalm, in verse 5 says that Yahuah's anger is for but a moment. 

So that point has been proven.

But what if the opposite attitude towards Paul also exists?  What if there are Neo-Marcionites out there who think only Paul got it right and the rest of Scripture must be filtered through how it lines up with Paul?  Well I can also prove that Paul taught Universal Salvation.

Romans 5:17-19, and the context only makes the point stronger.

For if by one man's offence death reigned by one; much more they which receive abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness shall reign in life by one, Jesus Christ.)  Therefore as by the offence of one judgment came upon all men to condemnation; even so by the righteousness of one the free gift came upon all men unto justification of life.  For as by one man's disobedience many were made sinners, so by the obedience of one shall many be made righteous.

Which is complimented by the discussion of Adam and Christ in 1 Corinthians 15.  The number of people saved by Jesus can't be smaller then the number condemned by Adam.

1 Timothy 2:3-4 says "For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Saviour; Who will have all people to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth.".  Which is another big Problem for Calvansit theology.  And then verse 6 does more damage to Limited Atonement.

And in Chapter 4 verse 10 we have.

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.

Showing Jesus has Saved all, not just Believers.

Paul only uses any of the three words that are commonly translated "Hell" once, in 1 Corinthians 15:55, but the KJV doesn't render it Hell here but rather Grave, I shall adjust the KJV reading.

O death, where is thy sting? O hell, where is thy victory?

He only refers to the Abyss when saying Jesus descended into it, making it part of the Harrowing of Hell doctrine.

What Paul says about fire as judgment is in 1 Corinthians 3:13-15, where the context is specifically about Believers at the Bema Judgment.

Every man's work shall be made manifest: for the day shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire; and the fire shall try every man's work of what sort it is.  If any man's work abide which he hath built thereupon, he shall receive a reward.  If any man's work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss: but he himself shall be saved; yet so as by fire.

2 Thessalonians 1:8-9 and maybe Hebrews 6:2 are the only places where Paul is seemingly referring to Eternal Damnation, but once again this comes down to the issue of how Aionion/Aionios should be translated, and perhaps also what kind of judgment is even in mind.

And there are other Paulian passages with Universalist implications as well.  Like 2nd Corinthians 5 and Paul's teaching on Israel in Romans 9-11, or Colossians 1:20.  

But perhaps most importantly the Sermon on Mar's Hill in Acts 17, that can't be written off as some obscure teaching buried in the Epistles, this is how he presented The Gospels to the Greeks and often held up by people like Ken Ham as the model of how The Gospel should be presented to the Gentiles.  At the end in verses 31 and 32 we read.

"Because he hath appointed a day, in the which he will judge the world in righteousness by that man whom he hath ordained; whereof he hath given assurance unto all men, in that he hath raised him from the dead."  And when they heard of the resurrection of the dead, some mocked: and others said, We will hear thee again of this matter.

The Judgment is mentioned, but then says that "all men" have assurance in the Resurrection.  It's not an option they have to accept, it's assurance.  And the description of how people responded, ranging from hostility to curiosity to belief, is emphasizing The Resurrection not The Judgment.

So if you limited your Canon to Paul, there isn't much of a hint of endless Punishment, the Wage he associates with Sin is Death in Hebrews.  But he also says Death has no Sting now thanks to Jesus.  Marcion's Canon was Paul and Luke minus OT references, and Luke has no references to Eternal or Everlasting punishment, only Eternal Life.  The Parable in Luke 16 is depicting Hades which Paul says will have no Victory.

My bias however has always been against picking and choosing.  So I'm glad I can demonstrate Paul to be consistent with the rest of Scripture on this.