What does 'the whole world' mean in 1 John 2:2?
John says Jesus is the atoning sacrifice for our sins, and not for ours only, but also for the whole world, and he uses the word world elsewhere for humanity in its rebellion against God. So the phrase reaches past the church and past Israel to the widest possible reach of people. Scripture holds two things without embarrassment: the sacrifice is worth more than every person who has ever lived and is offered to every person, and it certainly saves the people it was given to save.
This question arose from studying For whom did Christ die? and Did God choose me to be saved before I chose Him?.
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Not a summary of these passages: the passages themselves. Read them, then come back to the study below.
The study
What the Scripture says
John states the breadth on purpose
The sentence is built to widen as it goes: 'And he is the atoning sacrifice for our sins, and not for ours only, but also for the whole world.' John writes it to comfort anxious believers, and he reaches past the church to say what the sacrifice is worth and whom it is held out to. The same author records the same widening from Caiaphas, the high priest who condemned Jesus: he 'prophesied that Jesus would die for the nation, and not for the nation only, but that he might also gather together into one the children of God who are scattered abroad.' The scope of the sacrifice is not a doctrinal afterthought in this letter; it is the ground of the assurance John is giving.
And he is the atoning sacrifice for our sins, and not for ours only, but also for the whole world.And he is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world.
My little children, I write these things to you so that you may not sin. If anyone sins, we have a Counselor with the Father, Jesus Christ, the righteous.My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not. And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous:
Now he didn’t say this of himself, but being high priest that year, he prophesied that Jesus would die for the nation, and not for the nation only, but that he might also gather together into one the children of God who are scattered abroad.And this spake he not of himself: but being high priest that year, he prophesied that Jesus should die for that nation; And not for that nation only, but that also he should gather together in one the children of God that were scattered abroad.
What John means when he says 'the world'
In John's letters, the world is not the church and not Israel; it is the fallen human order in its hostility to God. 'We know that we are of God, and the whole world lies in the power of the evil one.' 'They are of the world. Therefore they speak of the world.' John tells his readers, 'Don't be surprised, my brothers, if the world hates you.' He warns them, 'Don't love the world, neither the things that are in the world,' and describes it as 'the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life.' So when John says the sacrifice reaches the whole world, he is not quietly meaning a subset of believers. He is naming the very world that hates God and lies under the evil one, the widest reach of humanity there is, and saying the sacrifice is for that.
We know that we are of God, and the whole world lies in the power of the evil one.And we know that we are of God, and the whole world lieth in wickedness.
They are of the world. Therefore they speak of the world, and the world hears them.They are of the world: therefore speak they of the world, and the world heareth them.
Don’t be surprised, my brothers, if the world hates you.Marvel not, my brethren, if the world hate you.
Don’t love the world, neither the things that are in the world. If anyone loves the world, the Father’s love isn’t in him. For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, isn’t the Father’s, but is the world’s. The world is passing away with its lusts, but he who does God’s will remains forever.Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world. And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever.
The same breadth runs through the letters
Paul tells Timothy to pray for all men and gives the reason: God 'desires all people to be saved and come to full knowledge of the truth,' and there is 'one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus, who gave himself as a ransom for all.' He says the grace of God 'has appeared, bringing salvation to all men,' and calls God 'the Savior of all men, especially of those who believe.' Hebrews says Jesus was crowned with glory and honor 'that by the grace of God he should taste of death for everyone.' Paul's summary of the two Adams has the same shape: as one trespass led to condemnation for all, so one act of righteousness leads toward justification for all. Read together, these texts will not let us shrink the sacrifice into a private transaction for a nameless few.
who desires all people to be saved and come to full knowledge of the truth. For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus, who gave himself as a ransom for all; the testimony in its own times;Who will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth. For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus; Who gave himself a ransom for all, to be testified in due time.
For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation to all men,For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men,
For to this end we both labor and suffer reproach, because we have set our trust in the living God, who is the Savior of all men, especially of those who believe.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.
But we see him who has been made a little lower than the angels, Jesus, because of the suffering of death crowned with glory and honor, that by the grace of God he should taste of death for everyone.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.
So then as through one trespass, all men were condemned; even so through one act of righteousness, all men were justified to life.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.
And yet the same Bible names a definite people
The Bible is just as definite in the other direction. Jesus says, 'I lay down my life for the sheep,' and tells others plainly, 'you don't believe, because you are not of my sheep.' On the night before He died He prays for those the Father gave Him, and says, 'I don't pray for the world.' The angel's announcement is not conditional: 'it is he who shall save his people from their sins.' Paul tells the Ephesian elders to shepherd 'the assembly of the Lord and God which he purchased with his own blood,' and Hebrews says He was 'offered once to bear the sins of many.' If the first set of texts shows how wide the sacrifice reaches, this set shows that it certainly accomplishes what it was given to accomplish. Scripture will not let us drop either set.
even as the Father knows me, and I know the Father. I lay down my life for the sheep.As the Father knoweth me, even so know I the Father: and I lay down my life for the sheep.
But you don’t believe, because you are not of my sheep, as I told you.But ye believe not, because ye are not of my sheep, as I said unto you.
I pray for them. I don’t pray for the world, but for those whom you have given me, for they are yours.I pray for them: I pray not for the world, but for them which thou hast given me; for they are thine.
She shall give birth to a son. You shall call his name Jesus, for it is he who shall save his people from their sins.”And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name JESUS: for he shall save his people from their sins.
Take heed, therefore, to yourselves, and to all the flock, in which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to shepherd the assembly of the Lord and God which he purchased with his own blood.Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all the flock, over the which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers, to feed the church of God, which he hath purchased with his own blood.
so Christ also, having been offered once to bear the sins of many, will appear a second time, without sin, to those who are eagerly waiting for him for salvation.So Christ was once offered to bear the sins of many; and unto them that look for him shall he appear the second time without sin unto salvation.
who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify for himself a people for his own possession, zealous for good works.Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works.
Two readings, and why we take this one
Christians have read these texts in two ways, and it is worth saying so plainly. Some conclude that the breadth of the all texts means Christ's death accomplished salvation for every person without exception, and that the whole difference lies in whether a person believes. Others conclude that those texts declare the worth of the sacrifice and the freeness of the offer, while the death actually secures and keeps the people it was given to save. We take the second, for three reasons. First, the texts themselves: John can say the sacrifice is for the whole world, and in the same letter can say that those who are born of God are kept and that Jesus prays for the ones the Father gave Him. Second, breadth language in Scripture usually means all without distinction rather than all without exception, the same way the gospel goes to all nations and John sees a multitude out of every tribe, language, people, and nation. Third, the alternative leaves the same sins paid for twice, once at the cross and again in judgment. But notice what both readings affirm, which is the part that matters to you: the offer is genuine, and nobody is barred from it by a hidden list.
And he is the atoning sacrifice for our sins, and not for ours only, but also for the whole world.And he is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world.
I have other sheep, which are not of this fold.I must bring them also, and they will hear my voice. They will become one flock with one shepherd.And other sheep I have, which are not of this fold: them also I must bring, and they shall hear my voice; and there shall be one fold, and one shepherd.
For God so loved the world, that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish, but have eternal life.For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
They sang a new song, saying, “You are worthy to take the book, and to open its seals: for you were killed, and bought us for God with your blood, out of every tribe, language, people, and nation,And they sung a new song, saying, Thou art worthy to take the book, and to open the seals thereof: for thou wast slain, and hast redeemed us to God by thy blood out of every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation;
The times of ignorance therefore God overlooked. But now he commands that all people everywhere should repent,And the times of this ignorance God winked at; but now commandeth all men every where to repent:
What the breadth is for: come and see
The scope of the atonement was never given to us as a ledger to inspect; it was given as a door to walk through. 'For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek; for the same Lord is Lord of all, and is rich to all who call on him. For, whoever will call on the name of the Lord will be saved.' Paul's conclusion from the whole argument is an entreaty, not a classification: 'We are therefore ambassadors on behalf of Christ, as though God were entreating by us: we beg you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God.' If you are asking whether the sacrifice is enough for you and whether it is held out to you, the answer Scripture gives is not a doctrine about lists but a person to come to. 'He who comes to me I will in no way throw out.' And the last page of the Bible says, 'He who is thirsty, let him come. He who desires, let him take the water of life freely.'
For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek; for the same Lord is Lord of all, and is rich to all who call on him. For, “Whoever will call on the name of the Lord will be saved.”For there is no difference between the Jew and the Greek: for the same Lord over all is rich unto all that call upon him. For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.
We are therefore ambassadors on behalf of Christ, as though God were entreating by us: we beg you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God.Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us: we pray you in Christ’s stead, be ye reconciled to God.
All those whom the Father gives me will come to me. He who comes to me I will in no way throw out.All that the Father giveth me shall come to me; and him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out.
The Spirit and the bride say, “Come!” He who hears, let him say, “Come!” He who is thirsty, let him come. He who desires, let him take the water of life freely.And the Spirit and the bride say, Come. And let him that heareth say, Come. And let him that is athirst come. And whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely.
If we confess our sins, he is faithful and righteous to forgive us the sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
As you read, you may wonder…
Scripture raises the next question
Studying the Word naturally opens more of it. Follow what you just read: it leads somewhere.
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Doesn't God want everyone to be saved?→The Gospel trail“Tell them, As I live, says the Lord Yahweh, I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked; but that the wicked turn from his way and live: turn, turn from your evil ways; for why will you die, house of Israel?Say unto them, As I live, saith the Lord God, I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked; but that the wicked turn from his way and live: turn ye, turn ye from your evil ways; for why will ye die, O house of Israel?”Can anyone resist God's grace?→The Gospel trail“No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws him, and I will raise him up in the last day.No man can come to me, except the Father which hath sent me draw him: and I will raise him up at the last day.”We haven't written this one yet. Take it to your church or small group: the Word answers it wherever it is asked. If we study it here later, all the better.
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Verses to meditate on
And he is the atoning sacrifice for our sins, and not for ours only, but also for the whole world.And he is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world.
and not for the nation only, but that he might also gather together into one the children of God who are scattered abroad.And not for that nation only, but that also he should gather together in one the children of God that were scattered abroad.
who desires all people to be saved and come to full knowledge of the truth.Who will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth.
But we see him who has been made a little lower than the angels, Jesus, because of the suffering of death crowned with glory and honor, that by the grace of God he should taste of death for everyone.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.
All those whom the Father gives me will come to me. He who comes to me I will in no way throw out.All that the Father giveth me shall come to me; and him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out.
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