Hi Clement, your 2nd premise does not follow logically, which is clear because God doesn't get everything that He desires (for the very same reason that we don't), because some of the things we (both) desire on the one hand
conflict with things we want/desire on the other.
For instance, you may absolutely LOVE banana splits, so much so that you'd like to have one everyday for both lunch and dinner, but you also LOVE fitting in your pants. Sadly, we do not always get EVERYTHING that we want, just what we desire the most at any given moment (unless acted upon by a third party which, of course, is NEVER a problem for the Almighty).
Here's an interesting passage, because it deals with the most frequently asked question of pastors/priests, "
how can I figure out what God's will is for my life", so this is a great place to start to answer that question because the Bible doesn't speak in those exact terms very often (as I'm sure you know).
1 Thessalonians 4
3 This is the will of God, your sanctification; that is, that you abstain from sexual immorality;
4 that each of you know how to possess his own vessel in sanctification and honor,
5 not in lustful passion, like the Gentiles who do not know God.
This passage makes clear what God's will/desire is for each one of us. Off hand, would you say that He has gotten all that He desired or not?
Thanks!
Yours and His,
David
Matthew 5
27 You have heard that it was said, ‘YOU SHALL NOT COMMIT ADULTERY’;
28 but I say to you that everyone who looks at a woman with lust for her has already committed adultery with her in his heart.
The Greek word used in 1 Thess.4:3 is not the Greek word THELO of 1 Tim.2:4 etc. According to the following comments the different Greek word used in 1 Thess.4:3 refers in that context to a commandment of God, not something that is a determined desire of His (as with THELO):
"Some have rejected the conclusion of this syllogism by contending that God has two wills, one akin to a determination but another to a commandment. They contend that God’s will or desire that all be saved is not something that God determines to happen but is instead more of a commandment that can be defied. Thus, they say, this argument does not necessarily hold.
"John Piper has written about the subject
here. The Greek word for will or desire in verses cited by Piper to support his case is thelema. That word has very different meanings. It can mean “determine,” in which case, if God determines it, it will happen. Humans are powerless to change whatever God determines to happen. But it can also mean “command.” Consequently, if it means “command,” what is commanded by God may not happen, for humans can and do freely choose to ignore commandments. So, here we have different interpretations, even opposing ones, depending on which definition is used: a determination is not a commandment.
"To support his case, Piper's points out Matthew 6:10, "Your kingdom come, Your will be done, On earth as it is in heaven," in which will, translated from thelema, seems to mean “determine” and 1 Peter 4:2, "so as to live the rest of the time in the flesh no longer for the lusts of men, but for the will of God," in which will, translated from thelema, seems to mean “command.”
"There is a serious problem in rejecting the conclusion of the syllogism based on Piper’s logic that God’s will or desire does not necessarily mean that all will be saved. That problem stems from failing to observe the original Greek wording in the particular verses supporting the syllogism premises above. These verses do not rely on the word thelema that Piper uses to help establish the idea that God has two wills, but instead on the word thelo. Thelo does not have disparate definitions, as does thelema. The definition of thelo, especially when it refers to God, means “to sovereignly decide a matter” (Theological Dictionary of the New Testament). Thus, in this case, it does not refer to a commandment or anything else that can be defied.
"But actually, one does not need to consult a theological dictionary to discern that the meaning of thelo when referring to God is a determination, not a commandment. One need refer only to the above Isaiah verse in the Greek translation of the Old Testament, or the Septuagint: “It [my word] will not return to Me empty, Without accomplishing what I desire (thelo), And without succeeding in the matter for which I sent it.”
"When thelo is the underlying word for will or desire, as it is in the verses supporting the syllogism premises, whatever God desires, He accomplishes. It is a determination. Thus, there is no rational basis to reject the conclusion of the syllogism--that all will be saved--in the language of the verses supporting the premises."
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Premise 1: God desires all be saved....
1 Timothy 2:4: "[God] who desires(THELO) all people to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth."
Premise 2: God does all He desires(THELO, Strongs #2709) (Isa.55:11; Psa.115:3; 135:6).
Conclusion: All will be saved
True or false?
Supporting verses:
Our God is in the heavens; he does all that he pleases(THELO) (Psalm 115:3).
Whatever the LORD pleases(THELO), He does, In heaven and in earth, in the seas and in all deeps (Psalm 135:6).
"So will My word be which goes forth from My mouth; It will not return to Me empty, Without accomplishing what I desire(THELO), And without succeeding in the matter for which I sent it." (
Isaiah 55:11).
