The following is an apologetics series of responses to critiques made by proponents of eternal damnation or annihilation of the wicked to the original article by this author, Pauline Universalism I: The Case for Cosmic Reconciliation and the wider Universal Salvation website of this ministry.

The background passage in this debate is Philippians 2:9-11. As the critic prefers the English Standard Version (ESV) we shall be using a messianised version of that translation for the most part, with variant translations in ('parentheses and quote marks') added when needed:

"Therefore Elohim (God) has highly exalted Him (Yah'shua/Jesus) and bestowed on Him the Name that is above every other name, so that at the Name of Yah'shua (Jesus) every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Yah'shua the Messiah (Jesus Christ) is Master (Lord), to the glory of Elohim (God) the Father" (Phil.2:9-11, ESV).

Some critics, blatantly ignoring the phrase "to the glory of Elohim (God) the Father" (Phil.2:11, ESV), "who desires all people to be saved" (1 Tim.2:4, ESV), claim these verses say nothing about all being saved because the confession is just an unwilling statement of acknowledgment or submission by some!

But that's not at all what the relevant Greek word exomologeó in Philippians 2:11 implies when it is translated as "confess" in the Messianic Scriptures (New Testament). One can see that, in addition to Philippians 2:11, all such verses (cited below= are positive and some are uplifting, conveying the hope of salvation. Clearly, they do not convey unwilling acknowledgment or submission:

"...for it is written: 'As I live, says Yahweh (the LORD), every knee shall bow to me, and every tongue shall give praise (exomologeó = 'confess') to Elohim (God)" (Rom.14:11, ESV, quoting Is.45:23)

This is a quotation from Isaiah 45:23, the same citation made by Paul to the Philippians (see above). The ESV notes that "confess" here is also translated "give praise" in several Greek MSS (manuscripts). Why? Presumably because this was how it was worded in the original Aramaic:

"As I live, says Master YHWH, to Me every knee will bow; and to Me every tongue will give praise" (Rom.14:11, AENT)

What is particularly interesting is that in the Aramaic of Philippians 2:11, Paul uses the word for "confess" (AENT) so that the apostle translates this phrase in Isaiah 45:23 as both "confess" and "give praise" so that we may know that the two words are synonymous or different shades of the same meaning. Every single human being is confessing and praising Elohim (God). Therefore we know that this is positive, affirmative, and joyful, and not under any kind of bitter compulsion. The undelivered do not praise the Creator, they curse Him.

The Messianic Renewed Covenant (MRC) translation of the Messianic Scriptures (New Testament), which uses a Greek NT ground text as opposed to an Aramaic one, also translates the phrase "and every tongue shall give praise to Elohim (God)" (Rom.14:11, MRC). Likewise, in the Philippian citation, he renders exomologeó as "confess" adding the footnote that this word also means "agree", thus bringing our further nuance.

As you carefully study the literature on the use of exomologeó it becomes clear that this Greek word means a combination of 'confess', 'agree with', 'praise' and (as we shall presently see) 'swear'. Scholars are pressed to choose between them (since they are all true) which is why they tend to use a mixture of 'confess' and 'praise', as with Benjamin Wilson's translation of Vatican MS 1209 according to Dr.J.J.Griesbach's Recension. Wilson renders exomologeó as "praise" in Philippians 1:11 and "confess" in Romans 14:11. A great many translations now use both terms as in the Revised New American Revised Bible (RNARB), which follows Wilson, as does the scholars' favourite, the New Revised Standard Version (NRSV), which indicates in its footnotes that both 'confess' and 'praise' are valid.

In the end we must return to the source of the quotation, which is Isaiah 45:23 where the word is the Masoretic text is "swear" as in 'swearing allegiance' - see the Jewish Publication Society (JPS, 1917), Orthodox Jewish Bible (OJB), Hebraic Roots Version (HRV), Old Testament - British & Foreign Bible Society, etc.. Presumably this is why the Greek Septuagint (LXX) also renders the word as "swear", as in taking an oath. This is an oath of allegiance being taken! You don't go and execute or torment those who have just sworn an oath of allegiance to you and are praising you out of the fullness of their hearts!

Though this ought to be enough to settle the matter, let us take a look at some other passages of Scripture so as to unambigiously seal the correct meaning exomologeó:

"Then Jerusalem and all Judea and all the region about the Jordan were going out to him (John the Baptist), and they were baptised by him in the river Jordan confessing (exomologeó) their sins" (Mt.3:5, ESV).

Does anyone believe for one moment that these peeople were either making a false or resentful 'confession', gritting their teeth because they were being forced to by John? Of course not! And why not? Because their confession (exomologeó) is an act of worship, and expression of praise! Mark 1:5 says exactly the same thing.

The same thing was being said and done post-resurrection:

"And many of those who were believers came, confessing (exomologeó) and divulging (disclosing) their practices" (Ac.19:18, ESV).

Will anyone assert that these were forced confessions also? These were, after all, bona fide believers "confess[ing] their evil deeds" as part of their repentance upon conversion. There was nothing fake or forced here. Their hearts were broken and their spirits contrite - the Ruach (Spirit) had moved them to do this. And that's the whole point: exomologeó (confession) is a work of the Ruach Elohim (Spirit of God) acting on a tenderised heart. This is not a forced confession by a Gestapo- or KGB-like agent because our Elohim (God) does not work like that even if the Calvinist cariature might.

"For I tell you that Messiah (Christ) became a servant to the circumcised to show Elohim's (God's) truthfulness, in order to confirm the promises given to the patriarchs, and in order that the Gentiles might glorify Elohim (God). As it is written, 'Therefore I will praise (exomologeó) You among the Gentiles, and sing to Your name'" (Rom.15:8-9, ESV).

The apostle James speaks of voluntary confession and the healing that this leads to:

"Therefore confess (exomologeó) your sins to one another and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person has great power as it is working (can accomplish much)" (Jas.5:16, ESV).

"The one who conquers (overcomes) will be clothed thus in white garments and I will never blot his name out of the book of life. I will confess (exomologeó) His name before My Father and before His malakim (angels)" (Rev.3:5, ESV).

The idea that there is anyone being compelled to 'confess' against their will under the lash of a metaphorical whip is pure fiction and belongs to the world of an over active imagination inspired my mediaeval Catholic theology. You cannot force Scripture into a man-made doctrinal system but must allow it to speak for itself. Without a shadow of a doubt, Paul's two quotations from the navi (prophet) Isaiah are universalist, just as Isaiah himself was universalist. Only by a major theological contortion act can you make exomologeó out to be anything other than positive, just as the confession of sin in an act of repentance is postive.

And whether Mr.Calvin or anyone else doesn't like it or not is no concern of mine.

"Let Elohim (God) be true through everyone were a liar, as it is written, 'That you may be justified in your words, and prevail when you are judged'" (Rom.3:4, ESV)

Is Paul talking about universal submission or universal salvation? Both.