On his website, Arminian Perspectives, Ben Henshaw has a questions page at which he answers questions about Arminianism and Calvinism that visitors to his site pose in the comment section of the page. Here is a question from a man named Adam followed by Ben’s answer:
Question: Can someone give me an explanation and insight concerning 2 Timothy 2:10 in relation to election? It sounds Calvinist.
Answer: It is problematic for the Calvinist position since the elect are either already saved or certain to be saved in Calvinism. Yet Paul’s words indicate uncertainty. It is similar to when Peter warns his readers to make their election sure. I think the passage fits better with the corporate view. Paul is speaking about those who are in Christ by faith and are therefore “the elect” presently. But since election does not guarantee final salvation, since those who are in the elect body can still be broken off through unbelief (Rom. 11), Paul is speaking about his struggle to keep the elect in the faith until they reach final salvation. So Paul’s focus is on perseverance in faith and not on how one becomes elect or at what point one can be considered elect, though his words imply that election is based on current faith in Christ and not on a secret eternal selection of certain sinners to eventually come to faith.
Another commenter added this to Ben’s answer in response to a question from someone with the screen name Wanderson about how 2 Tim 2:10 can be understood from the viewpoint of corporate election: I agree with Ben on 2 Tim 2:10. Paul frequently expresses concern that his churches will not persevere in faith and so perish. And while salvation can be thought of as a present possession in Paul and the NT, it is also frequently thought of as a future event or possession. This view is strongly supported by the fact that the vast majority of uses of “the elect” etc. clearly refers to the group of those who already believe, to those who are already in covenant relationship with God. That is the normal usage. So there needs to be some clear indication that we have a different usage here. But there really isn’t any. The statement goes along naturally with Paul’s concern for the salvation of his churches/converts. For example, he tells the Corinthian church, “if we are afflicted, it is for your comfort and salvation” (2 Cor 1:6; NASB). Note the similarity; Paul endures affliction for the salvation of those who already believe. And in 1 Tim 4:16, Paul tells Timothy, “Pay close attention to yourself and to your teaching; persevere in these things, for as you do this you will ensure salvation both for yourself and for those who hear you.” (NASB) So Timothy is to labor for the salvation of himself and those he pastored, believers.
