1 Timothy 4:10

It is for godliness that the believer should strive and discipline himself or herself primarily (cf. 2 Peter 1:1-11). The reason for this is that we look forward to a genuine hope beyond the grave. That hope rests in the "living" God (1 Timothy 3:15) who is the "Savior of all man" (1 Timothy 2:2; 1 Timothy 2:4; 1 Timothy 2:6). God is the Savior of all in the sense that He has provided a salvation that is available to all. He is the Savior of believers in a special sense since they are those who have accepted His provision of salvation. Salvation is sufficient for all but efficient only for those who believe. [Note: See Gary L. Schultz Jr., "God’s Purposes in the Atonement for the Nonelect," Bibliotheca Sacra 165:658 (April-June 2008):145-63.]

Some strong Calvinists say that God is the Savior of all men only in the sense that He saves all people from temporary disasters. [Note: E.g., Hendriksen, pp. 154-56.] While it is true that God does this, Paul’s use of "Savior" has led most interpreters to conclude that he was describing God’s work of providing eternal salvation here as in 1 Timothy 2:4 (cf. 1 Timothy 1:1; 1 Timothy 2:3).

"Paul advises his readers to concentrate on the basics: steady nourishment from the Word of God, pursuit of the godly life in the Spirit and the priority of mission." [Note: Towner, 1-2 Timothy . . ., p. 108.]