THE RECONCILIATION
THINGS
5
OF ALL
The Reconciliation of all Things
In the following pages A and B discuss the subject of The Reconciliation of all Things. The standpoint of B
represents the standpoint of the Author, whilst the arguments of A are an attempt to present justly the views which
the Author here entirely repudiates. The deep questions of Sin and the Deity of Christ are scarcely touched, but
fuller consideration of these subjects may be found in the booklets Sin and its relation to God and The Deity of
Christ.
Are the words `all' and `universal' synonymous?
A. --Do you believe in the reconciliation of all things?
B. -- Yes, most certainly I do.
A. -- I am glad to hear it, for I have been given to understand that you denied that doctrine.
B. -- Perhaps I had better explain my position as I do not want to give you a false impression. A little while ago a
friend said to me, `Then you do not believe in the restitution of all things?' to which I replied, `I do believe in the
restitution of all things which God has spoken by the mouth of all His holy prophets (Acts 3:21), but I am afraid you
have in mind the restitution of all things as taught by Pastor or Mr. So and So, and that of course is another
question'.
A. -- It comes to this then, that really and truly you do not believe that `God will be all in ALL'.
B. -- Most certainly I do, but I do not necessarily believe the word `all' embraces just exactly the same number you
may do.
A. -- Yet I cannot understand how it is possible for `all' or `all things' to mean `some' or `some things' without
resorting to some form of self-deception.
Scriptural usage of `all'
B. -- I believe you will understand if once you see the passages in their contexts. Let us look at a few just by way of
illustration. Would you say that such an expression as `every nation under heaven' was universal in its scope or that
it meant only some nations?
A. -- I should say most decidedly that if Scripture means what it says, `every nation under heaven' must be nothing
short of worldwide.
B. -- Well, the words are used in Acts 2:5 to speak of the nations from which the Jews had come to Jerusalem, and
as the very passage goes on to enumerate those nations we can easily test the meaning. With the exception of Rome
every other country mentioned in verses 9-11 can be included in a circle of 400 miles radius. This is an exceedingly
small portion of the earth's surface.
A. -- Perhaps I must agree that in this case the expression cannot be taken universally, but I still maintain that where
we read in the epistle to the Colossians that the Lord reconciled all things the context leaves us without doubt as to
its universality.
The context of Colossians 1:20
B. -- I am prepared to leave Acts 2 if you so wish and consider the bearing of the context upon Colossians 1:20.
A. -- And abide by it?
B. -- And abide by it, most certainly.
A. -- The context of Colossians 1:20 speaks of Christ as the Creator of all things that are in heaven and earth, visible
and invisible, that He is before all things, and that by Him all things consist. There is simply nothing more to say if
you are willing to let the apostle explain his own terms.