1 Timothy 2:1-7 - Prayers for All People

Last week

We discussed what it means to “wage the good warfare” and how we are to protect the flock of God.

This week

Paul shifts from defense of the flock to commands of church order and practice

And the church’s ministry as a whole

Specifically some commands centering around prayer

Supplications for all people (v.1-2)

1 Timothy 2:1–2 ESV

1 First of all, then, I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for all people, 2 for kings and all who are in high positions, that we may lead a peaceful and quiet life, godly and dignified in every way.

All Kinds of Prayer for all kinds of people (v.1)

These are what public prayers in the congregations should contain

Overlapping terms that that are trying to communicate one main theme: We should be praying for all peoples.

Supplication

the action of asking or begging for something earnestly or humbly

Paul calls us first to beg God humbly for all people

Being earnest in our prayers to God

Prayers

Talk to God about all people

Desiring that God would accomplish his will with them

That they would know him

Intercessions

To intervene between parties with the intention of reconciling them

Asking God to save all peoples

Thanksgivings

Thanking God for what he has given or provided

Thank you God for providing medicine for us and great things we can enjoy.

Communicate one main theme:

We should be praying for ALL PEOPLE

Who is “all people”? (v.2)

In the context of this passage, this is not necessarily saying for all individuals but rather all kinds and all stations.

Positions and roles in life:

From what we esteem to be the lowest to what we esteem to be the highest

Pray for peasants and kings

Why should we be praying for “kings and those who are in high positions”

They have a hard and important job: leading people & nations

What if they are ungodly? Do I still have to pray for them?

Yes! Pray they would turn and follow God

Yet recognize that God is using them as an instrument to cary out his will

God has some rulers as blessing and some for judgement

Even rulers that persecute the church? How is this beneficial?

A persecuted church weens out those who are truly not christian. It reveals those who are truly of the faith.

Pray for kings being an indictment against emperor worship

During this time emperor worship was common and active

You prayed to the king - like as if he were a god

Paul calls for prayer for the king - you do not pray for a god

If you have to its not a very good god!

We could pray a prayer for God to be more Holy - would it happen? No! God is already as Holy as he ever will be. This is part of his attribute of “perfection” God cannot improve or “get better” than he already is because he is as perfect as possible.

If God could improve then He really wouldn’t be God

Hero movie illustration

In super hero movies they constantly have to keep producing stronger heroes and stronger villains. They fight one villain who is supposed to be the worst in the universe and then a stronger hero emerges to beat this bad guy and then they bring another stronger villain and so on and so forth.

There will never be a greater God. We are not waiting on something better or stronger. He is the best and the best there will ever be.

That we may lead a peaceful life

Paul desires that we the people would lead “peaceful and quiet” lives

We need to be able to live peaceably and responsibly among our neighbors

One of the qualifications for elders is that they would be well thought of by outsiders (3:7)

Christians are not to be rioting in the streets!

Now we are to stand against injustice but we are not to return evil for evil.

Peaceful, quiet, and dignified lives through our everyday jobs and careers

I believe that the greatest way that most of us can practically live out this command is by be the best you can in the places where God has placed you.

Has God given you a profession? Do good in that glorify him in your work, be honest in your work. Do not steal from or lie to your bosses - seek to be the greatest worker you can be in the most God honoring way possible

Has God made you a mother or a wife? Honor God with how you serve and love your family.

Has God placed you as single and young right now? Glorify him by how you conduct yourself. Guard your heart and your purity. If you desire a spouse find one that honors and glorifies God!

Has God made you a retiree? Serve him by using your time wisely and loving others. Not becoming a grouchy busybody.

Maybe there is some sort of thing you can do for your church or your grandkids

Maybe you can find a single mother and help her out with raising her children

This is good and pleasing to God (v.3)

1 Timothy 2:3 ESV

3 This is good, and it is pleasing in the sight of God our Savior,

Doing these things is pleasing to God! Leading a quite life that is dignified and gives God glory

We should always be trying to please God; It must be our first and highest priority.

Who desires all to be saved (v.4)

1 Timothy 2:4 ESV

4 who desires all people to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth.

Lots of confusion around this verse. This is a key example (along with verse 6) of why context is so important.

IF YOU HAVE TIME (Not necessary): Many try to use this verse to assert that God sovereignly wills every human to be saved (That is, that God saves or wishes for everyone to be saved) if God truly wanted all to be saved (that it was his greatest desire) then all would be saved. We see God’s desire in expressing his election and reprobation in Romans 9:18-24. What God wants or desires the most will happen.

Romans 9:18–24 ESV

18 So then he has mercy on whomever he wills, and he hardens whomever he wills. 19 You will say to me then, “Why does he still find fault? For who can resist his will?” 20 But who are you, O man, to answer back to God? Will what is molded say to its molder, “Why have you made me like this?” 21 Has the potter no right over the clay, to make out of the same lump one vessel for honorable use and another for dishonorable use? 22 What if God, desiring to show his wrath and to make known his power, has endured with much patience vessels of wrath prepared for destruction, 23 in order to make known the riches of his glory for vessels of mercy, which he has prepared beforehand for glory— 24 even us whom he has called, not from the Jews only but also from the Gentiles?

So who is the “all people” referring to?

I believe that the “all people” in this context is referring to all kinds/types of people

People from every tribe nation and tongue

People in every station of life whether the most poor or most wealthy

The false teaching that was happening in Ephesus (the destination of this letter) was that the Jews had a greater advantage over the gentiles in regards to salvation.

This is the speculation and genealogies that were happening in Chapter 1

We also see Paul address such false things in the Ephesians chapter 2

Why does this matter?

We cannot let our prayer and evangelistic concern stop at a particular people group.

One God, One Mediator (v.5)

1 Timothy 2:5 ESV

5 For there is one God, and there is one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus,

The exclusivity of God is emphasized in this passage!

John 14:6 ESV

6 Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.

Acts 4:12 ESV

12 And there is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.”

The man Christ Jesus is our only mediator

Job 9:33 ESV

33 There is no arbiter between us, who might lay his hand on us both.

Humanity has longed for someone who could stand between God and men and mediate between us. This is Christ Jesus!!

He is fully man meaning he can represent us truly and fully God (making him able to be perfect and endure the full wrath of God)

Hebrews 2:17–18 ESV

17 Therefore he had to be made like his brothers in every respect, so that he might become a merciful and faithful high priest in the service of God, to make propitiation for the sins of the people. 18 For because he himself has suffered when tempted, he is able to help those who are being tempted.

Hebrews 4:14–5:1 ESV

14 Since then we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus, the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession. 15 For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin. 16 Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need. 1 For every high priest chosen from among men is appointed to act on behalf of men in relation to God, to offer gifts and sacrifices for sins.

Christ is our one and only perfect mediator

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Who gave himself as a ransom for all (v.6)

1 Timothy 2:6 ESV

6 who gave himself as a ransom for all, which is the testimony given at the proper time.

The same is true for this verse as it was true for the previous verse

Christ Jesus died for ALL kinds of people

Further support for this is given in the next verse

Apostle to the gentiles (v.7)

1 Timothy 2:7 ESV

7 For this I was appointed a preacher and an apostle (I am telling the truth, I am not lying), a teacher of the Gentiles in faith and truth.

The fact that Paul now brings up himself being the apostle to the Gentiles shows that the faith is not a jewish exclusive thing.

Application

We must pray for our leaders

We must seek to live a quiet life that is pleasing God

We must pray for all peoples