Wrestling with Calvinism: Part 2

Who is “everyone” in Hebrews 2:9 (NASB)?

1. What does the text say?
2. What does the text mean?

Here’s my preliminary shot at these two questions with respect to the “everyone” in Hebrews 2:9.

What does the text say? This is an interesting question when you survey the various translations out there. Here’s a sample: “everyone” (NASB, NKJV, NIV, ESV, RSV, HNV); “every man” (KJV, ASV, WEB); “every thing” (DBY); and “everyone in all the world” (NLT). I note that the NASB, which apparently is based on the Alexandrian text type, and the NKJV, which I think is based on the Textus Receptus (like the KJV), both say “everyone.” So, my answer to the first question is “everyone.”

What does “everyone” mean? A preliminary point to make here is that to ask this question is not to be facetious or obstinate. Someone might say, “Only a radical Calvinist would ask that question for which there is an obvious answer; ‘everyone’ obviously means every member of the human race.” Someone might also say, “The rebuttable presumption is that ‘everyone’ means every member of the human race, unless it can be proven otherwise.” But I think that such an approach unfortunately bypasses the legitimate question of “Why does ‘everyone’ presumably mean that?”

So what does “everyone” mean? I see at least two possible answers. First, “everyone” means every member of the human race. Second, “everyone” means every member of a sub-group within the human race. Why is the first possibility a real possibility? Because of Luke 18:14 (look it up:). Why is the second possibility a real possibility? Because of Genesis 45:1.

I’ve just realized I have only a few minutes before my son wakes up and we embark on an adventure to the playground together. So, suffice my reflections to end with the following question that I would love to hear your thoughts on. What is the relationship, if any, between “everyone” in verse 9 and the following words in verses 9-18:

-“we” (v. 9)

-“many sons”; “their” (v. 10)

-“those who are sanctified”; “them brethren” (v. 11)

-“brethren”; “the congregation” (v. 12)

-“the children whom God has given me” (v. 13)

-“the children” (v. 14)

-“those”; “their lives” (v. 15)

-“descendant of Abraham” (v. 16)

-“brethren”; “the people” (v. 17)

-“those who are tempted” (v. 18)

What’s your answer? Thanks for your time and help.