Bible Strands
1 Timothy 2:6
who gave Himself as a ransom for all—the testimony that was given at just the right time.
Berean Standard Bible
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Study note
Setting — Paul writes to Timothy in Ephesus, grounding his instructions on worship conduct (vv. 1–2) in the theology of Christ's mediatorial work. The verse sits between the statement of one mediator (v. 5) and Paul's own apostolic commission (v. 7).
The words — ἀντίλυτρον (antilutron) is a compound of anti- (in place of) + lytron (release price), a form used only here in the New Testament; it marks substitution explicitly. The preposition ὑπὲρ (huper, "on behalf of") layers benefit over that substitutional sense, so the phrase reads "a substitute-release-price on behalf of all."
The thread — Matthew 20:28 and Mark 10:45 use the shorter form λύτρον (lytron) with "many" rather than "all," while 1 Peter 3:18 states the same once-for-all scope without the ransom vocabulary. 1 John 2:1 picks up the mediatorial thread from v. 5 in the language of advocate.
Why it lands — The verse claims the ransom covers "all" while its immediate context is a specific church with specific problems; the reader is asked to hold universal scope and particular application together without collapsing one into the other.
Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.
The Greek words
King James Version
Who gave himself a ransom for all, to be testified in due time.
Cross-references
- Matthew 20:28 just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life as a ransom for many.”
- 1 Peter 3:18 For Christ also suffered for sins once for all, the righteous for the unrighteous, to bring you to God. He was put to death in the body but made alive in the Spirit,
- 1 John 2:1 My little children, I am writing these things to you so that you will not sin. But if anyone does sin, we have an advocate before the Father—Jesus Christ, the Righteous One.
- Galatians 4:4 But when the time had fully come, God sent His Son, born of a woman, born under the law,
- 1 John 4:10 And love consists in this: not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son as the atoning sacrifice for our sins.
- Revelation 1:5 and from Jesus Christ, the faithful witness, the firstborn from the dead, and the ruler of the kings of the earth. To Him who loves us and has released us from our sins by His blood,
- 1 Corinthians 1:6 because our testimony about Christ was confirmed in you.
- Ephesians 5:2 and walk in love, just as Christ loved us and gave Himself up for us as a fragrant sacrificial offering to God.
- Titus 2:14 He gave Himself for us to redeem us from all lawlessness and to purify for Himself a people for His own possession, zealous for good deeds.
- Job 33:24 to be gracious to him and say, ‘Spare him from going down to the Pit; I have found his ransom,’