1 Timothy 2:1

Directions for Common Prayer and Intercession for all, since the Gospel is for all

1. I exhort therefore that, first of all Rather, I exhort therefore first of all; as my first special injunction after my general charge and commission, ch. 1 1 Timothy 1:3; 1 Timothy 1:3; 1 Timothy 1:18; 1 Timothy 1:19; the verb itself partly suggests the taking up of the subject in new form.

that … supplications … be made The position of the Greek verb suggests its being middle voice rather than passive. So R.V. margin and Alford following Chrysostom: -I exhort to make supplications." The present tense implies the habitual making; and the absence of a subject leaves it unemphatic. In a modern rendering it might run exactly "I recommend therefore first of all the practice of common supplication and prayer, of common intercession and thanksgiving, in behalf of all men." The middle is found in 17 places at least in N. T., in two of these governing the same word -supplications," Luke 5:33; Philippians 1:4. So Chrysostom in his comment here uses as the natural phrase -for all the world … we make our supplication." The only place where the passive occurs is in the perfect participle, Hebrews 12:27, -as of things that have been made."

supplications, prayers, intercessions In the first word there is, from its derivation, the idea of a felt -want" and petition for its supply; cf. esp. Philippians 1:4; Luke 1:13; 2 Timothy 1:3. Notice how in English, in the prayer of St Chrysostom, -our common supplications" is explained by "requests" and by "desires and petitions."

In the second, the idea of vow and -worship towards" God, cf. Matthew 21:13, - my houseshall be called the house of prayer," Acts 2:42, -they continued stedfastly … in the breaking of bread and the prayers."

In the third, the idea of a personal interview and solicitation, such as Abraham's for Sodom: either (1) against, or (2) for some one: for (1) cf. Acts 25:24, -made suit to me, crying that he ought not to live," Romans 11:2, -he pleadeth with God against Israel": for (2) Romans 8:26, -The Spirit (and Romans 8:34 Christ Jesus) maketh intercession for us," Hebrews 7:25 -He ever liveth to make intercession for us." See note also on chap. 1 Timothy 4:5.

The plural of each as being a collection of concrete examples is the earlier way of representing the abstract noun; and it also helps to give the force, implied by the whole context, of common, public, prayer. Augustine says that the four words refer to the liturgical form of administration of Holy Communion: we may certainly say the converse that our -Divine Liturgy" is modelled on this authorised rule, taking e.g. the modern -Prayer for the Church Militant" with its express embodiment of this passage, or the ancient Gloria in Excelsis (1) "In earth peace, goodwill towards men: (2) we bless thee, we worship Thee, O Lord, (3) Thou that takest away the sins of the world, have mercy upon us; (4) we give thanks to Thee, God the Father Almighty": or taking the service as a whole, we get (1) the supplicationfor mercy and grace in the Kyrie after each Commandment, in the collects for the Queen and that for the day and the Church Militant, (2) the prayer of worshipin the prayers of humble access and consecration, (3) the intercession in the Lord's Prayer and following prayers, (4) the thanksgiving of the Gloria in Excelsis summarising all before.