1 Timothy 2v1-7
1 Timothy 2:1-7
In chapter 1, Paul had explained to Timothy that his task involved preventing the spread of false teachings, sharing a gospel that would save sinners, and preventing a decline of commitment among church leaders. This was a big task that Paul had given Timothy to do. How was he going to accomplish it?
Well, we see in these verses the first part of the puzzle. Timothy needed to lead the Christians in Ephesus to pray for the salvation of all people. The false teachers may have had an attitude that presented Christianity as a religion only for the elite of the area. Paul said that this idea was wrong and that salvation was for all who would accept it.
Because the heretics in Ephesus were so stubborn, Paul felt it was necessary to give Timothy some specific guidelines for combating them. The first step then and today we see in the first 2 verses. Pray for everyone. Specifically, though, Paul mentioned four things to do when we pray. We should make requests, supplications according to the King James Version. Requests are petitions to God based on a sense of deep spiritual need. This is an acknowledgment of our helplessness to do as He tells us to do without Him helping us. These can be described as prayers to help us avoid evil of any kind or prayers for personal needs.
The second thing Paul says to do is, oddly enough, pray prayers. This is the most general word for prayer in the New Testament. The Greek word that is used here is the one that is used of all types of prayers to God including general requests or specific petitions. We might call these prayers of humbleness that acknowledge our reverence to and worship of God. This word has as much to do with our attitude of prayer as what we are praying for. We have to realize that God is sufficient to meet all of our needs. These are prayers for obtaining good things, both spiritual and physical, that we need to survive.
Third, Paul says we should pray prayers of intercession. This type of prayer is used of Christ’s prayers for believers in Hebrews 7:25 Therefore he is able to save completely those who come to God through him, because he always lives to intercede for them. These are prayers that we pray for other people. We come to the Lord through intercession in a confident and expectant frame of mind. We expect God to step in.
Finally, Paul says we need to pray with thanksgiving. This is an attitude of gratitude in our asking these petitions, prayers and intercessions. The first three words express various ways of making requests of God, but this one describes the expression we need to have when we are making these requests. Thanksgiving should motivate us to pray for great things.
Paul wanted to Ephesian Christians, and us, to realize who we need to be praying for. We don’t just need to be praying for ourselves, our friends, the members of our church, but we need to be praying for everybody. In verse 4 we see a statement about who God wants to be saved. He doesn’t want just a select few to be saved or a chosen socio-economic class of people to be saved. God wants all to be saved. That is why He sent His son to die on the cross. Not for just a few people of the world, but for the whole world. With that concept in mind, Paul told Timothy that he, and his fellow Christians, needed to be praying for all. That included kings, those in authority, and everyone else. Remember that when Paul was writing this letter one of the most vile, violent rulers of the Roman Empire was setting on the throne. A leader than thought nothing of turning a group of Christians over to the lions in the coliseum. A leader that enjoyed taking Christians, tying them to poles in and around his garden and setting them on fire, alive, to light up his garden at night. A leader none other than Nero himself. In spite of the atrocities that Nero either was doing or would be doing soon, Paul was encouraging the people to pray for him and the other leaders of the Empire. This speaks volumes to us as well. We are to pray for all of our leaders, whether they are county or school board members, mayors, city council members, our governor, senators, congressmen, and president. But we are to also pray for the lesser officials, county clerks, county treasurers, dogcatchers, and policemen. Anyone that is in authority needs our prayers.
It would have been real easy for these Christians to pray that Nero’s reign come to an end or that an evil would befall him. That was not what they were to be praying for, though. They were to pray that they would have the knowledge needed to guide them in their duties. This probably included praying that these leaders would come to know Christ. We need to pray for the same thing.
Paul’s hope was that these prayers would allow believers to live peaceful and quiet lives. He did not mean that they would never face conflict or persecution. Paul knew that conflict and persecution were part of the Christian life and that through these things we grow as Christians. What he was hoping for was a type of life that would make others want what we have. Maybe others would see our lives and we would gain their respect and they would ask us questions about what we have.
Paul wanted the Ephesian Christians, and us, to pray because it pleased God. Paul knew that God was Savior and that he died for all. God is the author of salvation. 1 Thessalonians 5:9 For God did not appoint us to suffer wrath but to receive salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ. Paul knew that his readers had experienced salvation and he wanted for the believers to tell others so they would have the same experience.
The goal Paul gave these Christians was just that goal, that all be saved. This includes all human beings of all time. God sent Jesus to die for that many people. Unfortunately, far too many people have rejected this gift. They are trying to get to heaven on their own power, their own might, and their own goodness. No matter of human power, might or goodness will ever get anyone into heaven. The only way any of us will make it, or anyone else that has ever lived will make it, is through the atoning death of Jesus Christ.
We need to pray for others so they will receive this gift. Without us praying for them and telling them about Jesus, they have no hope. The truth of the gospel is that Jesus did die for all, but not all will accept.
In the last 3 verses we read earlier Paul gives us a brief summary of the gospel message. There is only one God. At the time these words were written many people worshipped more than one god of wood or stone. Today people worship many gods of plastic, paper, fiberglass, metal, or whatever else that they put in front of the real God.
To get to God there is only one way, Jesus Christ. No other mediator. No one else can, or will, pay the price. Jesus paid the ransom to set us free. He did this willingly. Nobody held a gun to his head and told him he had to do it. Nobody forced him to die on the cross. He could have gone on living without giving his life, but he knew that was the only way you and I would ever be saved.
With these facts in mind, Paul emphasized in these verses that we need to pray. Pray for specific people. Pray for all. Pray especially for the lost. Are you doing that? Are you praying for our leaders? Are you doing that?