Russell Taught Universalism

 •  2 min. read  •  grade level: 10
 
He said: "Everything that mankind lost by the first Adam is to be restored by the second Adam... although we are not Universalists yet we claim the right to use, and believe, and rejoice in every testimony of God's Word. It reads, 'We trust in the living God, Who is the Savior of all men, specially of those that believe ' (1 Tim. 4:1010For therefore we both labor and suffer reproach, because we trust in the living God, who is the Saviour of all men, specially of those that believe. (1 Timothy 4:10)). Here are two classes of saved ones—all the world, and believers. All are to be saved from the Adamic death " (Vol. 1, page 106).
"Here we merely call attention to the fact that it will be a tolerable time for Capernaum, and yet more tolerable for Sodom ... and if Capernaum and all Israel are to be remembered and blessed under the ' New Covenant,' sealed by the blood of Jesus, why should not the Sodomites also be blessed among all the families of the earth? They assuredly will be " (Vol. 1, page 110).
Spite of the assurance that he is not a Universalist, what does this teach? Universalism pure and simple. "All men," quoted from 1 Tim. 4:10,10For therefore we both labor and suffer reproach, because we trust in the living God, who is the Saviour of all men, specially of those that believe. (1 Timothy 4:10) are all men, and "Pastor" Russell says of them, "all are to be saved from the Adamic death." But "Pastor" Russell was unfortunate in his choice of 1 Tim. 4:1010For therefore we both labor and suffer reproach, because we trust in the living God, who is the Saviour of all men, specially of those that believe. (1 Timothy 4:10). It is generally admitted that the word "Savior" has reference in this passage to temporal salvation, in the sense of providential preservation. A glance at the context will prove this. We can quote passages where the word is so used. 2 Kings 13:55(And the Lord gave Israel a saviour, so that they went out from under the hand of the Syrians: and the children of Israel dwelt in their tents, as beforetime. (2 Kings 13:5) and Neh. 9:2727Therefore thou deliveredst them into the hand of their enemies, who vexed them: and in the time of their trouble, when they cried unto thee, thou heardest them from heaven; and according to thy manifold mercies thou gavest them saviours, who saved them out of the hand of their enemies. (Nehemiah 9:27) refer to the Judges of Israel as Saviors. In Acts 27:31,31Paul said to the centurion and to the soldiers, Except these abide in the ship, ye cannot be saved. (Acts 27:31) " Paul said to the centurion, Except these abide in the ship ye cannot be saved "—most evidently referring to temporal salvation.
Then we see how dishonest is the allusion to Capernaum. "Pastor" Russell gives a positive meaning to tolerable, whereas it is a word used to bring out a contrast. The Savior did not say that Capernaum would have a tolerable time. On the contrary, He showed the extreme gravity of its sin by contrasting its greater privileges with the lesser privileges of Sodom, foretelling its doom in the solemn words: "And thou, Capernaum, which art exalted unto heaven, shalt be brought down to hell" (Matt. 9:2323And when Jesus came into the ruler's house, and saw the minstrels and the people making a noise, (Matthew 9:23)).
Yet "Pastor" Russell calmly says Capernaum is to be blessed, and pays no heed to this plain and solemn statement of her doom. Is this honest?