John 12:32
And I, if I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all peoples to Myself.
When John 12:32 is interpreted as referring to all people without exception, rather than all kinds of people in every ethnic group and station of life, the conclusion is universalism, which is an unbiblical teaching.
The Greek word translated as “draw” is “helko,” which means “to drag.” John 12:32 must be read in context of John 6:44, which promises that all who are drawn to Jesus will inherit the resurrection unto life on the last day:
John 6:44
No one can come to Me unless the Father who sent Me draws him; and I will raise him up at the last day.
If Jesus were drawing all people to Himself without exception, then so many wouldn’t have turned away:
John 6
64 But there are some of you who do not believe.” For Jesus knew from the beginning who they were who did not believe, and who would betray Him.
65 And He said, “Therefore I have said to you that no one can come to Me unless it has been granted to him by My Father.”
If Jesus were drawing all people to Himself without exception, He wouldn’t have said this to the Pharisees:
John 10:26
But you do not believe, because you are not of My sheep, as I said to you.
John 3:16 and 1 John 2:2 are interpreted to mean that God intends to save all people without exception, but they must be read in context of other passages of John’s writings:
John 11
51 Now this he did not say on his own authority; but being high priest that year he prophesied that Jesus would die for the nation, 52 and not for that nation only, but also that He would gather together in one the children of God who were scattered abroad.
John 17:9
I am praying for them. I am not praying for the world but for those whom you have given me, for they are yours.
John 11:52 says that Jesus died, not for all people without exception, but for “the children of God who were scattered abroad,” just as Jesus says in His priestly prayer of John 17:9 that He wasn’t praying for the whole world, but to those given to Him by the Father for salvation.
If John meant the whole world without exception, then the entire world must have been following Jesus in John 12:19, rather than just a large crowd.
John 12:19
The Pharisees therefore said among themselves, Perceive ye how ye prevail nothing? behold, the world is gone after him.
John’s references to Jesus dying for the world’s sins includes people from all nations, tribes, peoples, and tongues, rather than every individual without exception.
Revelation 7:9
After these things I looked, and behold, a great multitude which no one could number, of all nations, tribes, peoples, and tongues, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed with white robes, with palm branches in their hands
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