Yeah, all scripture must harmonize, so why do some want to take half of them out to try to limit the atonement? In trying to put limits and restrictions on the atonement, some are actually trying to put limits on God. God can save whomsoever he will. We know that it is not God's will that any should perish but that all should come to repentance. The free gift has come upon all men and whosoever will accept it shall be saved.
There all too many places in the scripture that deal with the fact that Jesus died for all, whosoever will, the whole world, all men...etc. and we cannot just overlook that fact. So if you want to harmonize the scripture, I suggest you try to do it with honesty and integrity. We should not and cannot try to change the meaning of words to fit some man made doctrine.
First of all; I firmly believe that no one can understand the scriptures and their true meaning, without denying their own entelect, and letting the Holy Spirit within them reveal the truths of the scriptures. Secondly, we have to study, making use of a Greek concordance.
If a person, seemingly, has scriptures that contradict each other, they do not have the truth.
2 Pet 3:9; The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to US-WARD, not willing that any should PERISH, but that ALL should come to repentance.
In keeping this verse in context, we have to go back to chapter 1, verse 1, which says that Peter is talking to "them that have obtained like precious faith with us through the righteousness of God and our Saviour Jesus Christ".
Peter even includes himself, in his warning to them, by using the word "us-ward".
Peter is warning them, and himself also, that when they commit a sin, they should repent of that sin, to avoid "pershing" Perish according to Greek, means to lose, or die. Death, according to Greek means "a separation".
After we have been born again, and we commit a sin, we separate ourselves from our fellowship with God, until we repent of that sin, for God will not fellowship with sin.
The "any" in this verse has reference to them that have obtained like precious faith.
I resent your comment that I do not harmonize the scriptures with honesty, and integrity. I could say that about you, but I won't, because it is not productive, and besides that, it is very rude.