1 Timothy 2:1-7

Praying for all Men

To be able to hold firm to the faith and teach it in the face of the opposition mentioned in the first chapter, Paul went on to urge Timothy to do certain things. A supplication is an entreaty to God to provide for a particular need. Prayers include petitions, expressions of thanks and adoration, according to Coffman. Spain says intercessions are an opportunity for the Christian to have an intimate talk with the King. Thanksgiving is an expression of gratitude. These various forms of prayer were to be offered up for all men. This may be difficult to receive, but it suggests we even need to approach God with a thankful attitude about our enemies and those who may persecute us (1 Timothy 2:1).

Few governments have ever treated Christians more cruelly than that of Rome, yet Paul said to pray for kings. God gave governments power so that anarchy would not prevail (Romans 13:1-7). Christians are also to pray for those in lower offices of government. If government functions well, we can live in peace and exercise godly and honest living. Both the prayers and the resulting peaceable life are in accord with the Lord's will. If we are living true lives of godliness, we will be taking the gospel to all the world (Mark 16:15-16; Matthew 28:18-20). When we seize the extra opportunities afforded us during times of peace, more men get a chance to obey the gospel and fulfill God's ultimate desire for all to be saved (1 Timothy 2:2-4).

Lipscomb notes the people of Paul's day who believed in many gods also believed there were different gods for each nation. Thus, they could not pray to their god for the people of another nation. In Christ, we come to realize there is but one God over all men. So, we pray for all men to one God. A mediator is one who stands between two parties who are at odds with one another. In this case, man's sin made him an enemy of God. Jesus came to the earth as a man so he could serve as mediator between God and man. We cannot go to God by any other since only Jesus has paid the price for sin and made it possible for man to approach the Father (1 John 2:1-2).

Jesus willingly gave himself as an offering for the sins of man (Matthew 20:28; John 10:17-18). The word "ransom" suggests Jesus gave himself in the place of man. Remember, sin brings death as natural payment (Romans 6:23). Jesus came at precisely the time God had planned for him to come (Galatians 4:4; Ephesians 1:4; Ephesians 1:10). Everything was in readiness for his coming. Because God is the God of all men and he will have all men to be saved, we should pray for all men (2:1, 4-5). The church's love for souls originates out of that same background. Too, God's desire to see all saved caused him to send Paul forth to proclaim the good news and give instructions that would cause the Gentiles to fully understand the truth (1 Timothy 2:5-7).