Romans 12:18
Romans 12:14-18 (see also Matthew 6:45)
Bless those who persecute you ; bless and do not curse. Rejoice with those who rejoice, and weep with those who weep. Be of the same mind toward one another; do not be haughty in mind, but associate with the lowly. Do not be wise in your own estimation. Never pay back evil for evil to anyone. Respect what is right in the sight of all men. If possible, so far as it depends on you, be at peace with all men.
Notice the definition of “all men,” which can be factored into 1st Timothy 2:4, just as 1st Timothy 4:10.
Question: If generic groups were inferred, then wouldn’t the removal of individuality from “all men” at Romans 12:17-18, completely overturn Paul’s whole point?
Answer: If this doesn’t mean “anyone,” then there could be some men that you would indeed be justified to return evil for evil, and some men, for your part, even if otherwise possible, that you would not need to try to be at peace with.
Again, this is not about comprising values, but about seeking peace wherever possible.
Matthew 5:43-48: “You have heard that it was said, ‘YOU SHALL LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR and hate your enemy.’ But I say to you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, so that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven; for He causes His sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous. For if you love those who love you, what reward do you have? Do not even the tax collectors do the same? If you greet only your brothers, what more are you doing than others? Do not even the Gentiles do the same? Therefore you are to be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect.”
Galatians 6:10: “So then, while we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, and especially to those who are of the household of the faith.”
Should we infer that this only means that we are to love the Calvinistically elect enemies? Of course, Calvinists also insist that they do not know who comprises the [fictitious] secret elect class, and therefore they would have to love everyone, not knowing if some random person may be of the Calvinistically elect. The only solution to this puzzle is that Matthew 5:45 and Romans 12:18 must be indiscriminately referring to anyone and everyone, so far as it is “possible” and “so far as it depends on you.” Factor this meaning of “all men” into 1st Timothy 2:4 and see what results.
One member of the Society of Evangelical Arminians: “Paul was not saying in Rom 12:18, for example, that Christians should be at peace with all kinds of people such as Muslims, Japanese, red-headed children, etc—but not necessarily all people without exception. No, he was saying that Christians should be at peace with everybody with whom they possibly come in contact, without exception.” (What Part of “All” Do You Not Understand?)
If this principle is not distributive to all men, then there would be people for whom these principles would not apply, which would ultimately overturn Paul’s point.
