Of the whole world
It has been asserted that when the phrase is use, whole world, it must mean every single person who has lived or shall live, the word world being qualified by the word "whole" making it of necessity every single person who live and ever lived.
It was said the the use of the phrase, whole world, by the Hebrews designates every single person and thus, being used of John, must mean the same.
This can be disproved on two fronts, one historical and one Divine. First, the historical.
1. That the phrase whole world was not always understood as of every single person by Hebrews is evidenced by the writiings of the Hebrews. Dr. John Gill brings this point to bear:
The phrase, the whole world, is frequently used by the Jews in a limited and restrained sense; as when they[5] report, "That it happened to a certain high priest, that when he went out of the sanctuary, aml[ ylwk, the whole world went after him;" which could only design the multitude in the temple; and where[6] it is said, " aml[ ylwk, the whole world has left the Misnah and gone after the Gemara;" which at most can only intend the Jews, and perhaps only a majority of their doctors; and in another[7] place, aml[ ylwk, the whole world fell upon their faces; but Raf did not fall on his face;" where it means no more than the congregation. Once more,[8] It is said, "When R. Sirecon Ben Gamaliel entered, that is, into the synagogue, aml[ ylwp, the whole world, that is, all the synagogue, stood up before him." Such phrases as these ygylp al aml[ ylwk, the whole world does not dissent; ydwm aml[ ylwk, the whole world confesseth; and yrbs aml[ ylwk, the whole world are of opinion, are frequently met with in the Talmud; by which is designed an agreement among the Rabbins in certain points; nay, sometimes two doctors only are meant by amy[ ylwk, the whole world.[9]
http://www.pbministries.org/books/gill/Cause_of_God_and_Truth/Part 1/section_57.htm
The divine use. The phrase is often used in Scripture in a limited sense.
1. And it came to pass in those days, that there went out a decree from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be taxed. Luke 2:1
It is plain here that not every single inhabitant is considered, but the whole Roman Empire and whatever nations were subject to it.
2. First, I thank my God through Jesus Christ for you all, that your faith is spoken of throughout the whole world. Romans 1:8
This cannot be designed for every living person but of all the churches of God.
3. And the great dragon was cast out, that old serpent, called the Devil, and Satan, which deceiveth the whole world: he was cast out into the earth, and his angels were cast out with him. Rev 12:9
The saints and elect of God cannot be included in this because they are not decieved by the wicked one nor can he harm them. For, "We know that whosoever is born of God sinneth not; but he that is begotten of God keepeth himself, and that wicked one toucheth him not." 1 John 5:18
4. For they are the spirits of devils, working miracles, which go forth unto the kings of the earth and of the whole world, to gather them to the battle of that great day of God Almighty. Rev 16:14
It should be plain to all that this cannot include every single person who has ever lived or ever will. It only includes those alive at the time and certainly distinct from saints.
This should be sufficient from divine Scripture that the term world, and whole world, is used in a limited sense and does not extend to every person that has been, or will be in the world. There is one verse of Scripture that inludes all wicked men, and that is:
And we know that we are of God, and the whole world lieth in wickedness. 1 John 5:19 Here the entire compass of mankind lies in wickedness, saints exepted. Which still adds futher proof of the limited sense of the phrase.
It is then evident that when we read "And he is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world." 1 John 2:2 that we read of this in its limited sense. We do no violence to the Scriptures or insert a meaning or use of a phrase upon the Scirptures.
It is also good to bring Romans 3:25 to shed light on this verse. "Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God;"
The propitiation of Christ is through faith in His blood, which not all men have, and so adds further proof of its limited sense. And what man among us would declare that Christ is a propitation for men and not also their advocate, as the Apostle John say He is of us? It is plain from Scripture that Christ does not advocate for the world, but for the elect only.
"I pray for them: I pray not for the world, but for them which thou hast given me; for they are thine." John 17:9
I have before, in other posts, brought to light the fact that one of the greatest mysteries which was hidden, but revealed by Christ and His apostles, was that the Gentiles should be fellow heirs with Israel, grafted in, and granted by God repentance to life. It should be noted that the Apostle John was a Jew and writing to Jews, so in considering the auidence this adds further weight to the limited sense of 1 John and other Scriptures that Christ is being revealed as the Saviour, not of Jews only, but of the whole world. Those familiar with Jewish thinking and understanding know that the Jews when referring to the whole world meant the Gentiles. Of this Dr. Gill comments,
This puts me in mind of a passage I have met with in the Talmud,[13] a saying of Rabbi Jochanan," We, says he, twmwal lsw[h, to the nations of the world, who are lost, and they know not that they are lost; whilst the sanctuary stood, the altar atoned, or was a propitiation for them; but now who shall be a propitiation for them?" Blessed be God, we know who is the propitiation for us, the nations of the world, one that was typified by the altar, and is greater than that, even the Lord Jesus Christ.
Indeed, blessed be God, who has chosen to redeem people out of every nation. It is sealed and secure. It is unfrustratable by the wickedness of men, their impentitant hearts, stubbroness of will, or blindness to truth. The blood of the Lamb will have its full satisfaction. For:
"...they sung a new song, saying, Thou art worthy to take the book, and to open the seals thereof: for thou wast slain, and hast redeemed us to God by thy blood out of every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation" Rev 5:9
