As we can’t meet for our regular weekly Bible study meeting here are some thoughts based on 1 Timothy 2:1. It would be great if you could comment and add your thoughts to the comment section. The original plan was to do the entirety of 1 Timothy 2 but I thought there was so much in the first verse that I would stop there and see what other people had to say.
1 Timothy 2:1
Context:
This letter was written by Paul, Timothy had been one of Paul’s closest companions in ministry.
Paul had sent Timothy to Ephesus to counteract some false teaching that was taking place in the church there.
Timothy would of been in a position of leadership within the church in Ephesus.
Paul hoped to visit Timothy but due to circumstances that didn’t permit this he wrote him letters that would help him deal with some of the issues instead.
Verse 1
“I urge, them, first of all”
This doesn’t refer to time but instead it refers to the importance of what is to come next. Paul’s heart and mind was that the following things would be of high importance to the church, hence the “urge” that is placed before.
“that petitions, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for all people”
Petition (Greek: Deēsis) - Also known as supplication is essentially a request or asking for something. Our prayers should never just be a list of requests but we should ask confidently and hopefully based on God’s word.
Prayers (Greek: Proseuchē) - A broad term/word that includes all communications with God.
Intercession (Greek: Enteuxis) - Similar to petitio. Intercession is making a request on behalf of someone else. The needs of others should have a place in our prayers but again this should be balanced. Jesus often interceded on behalf of us and still does today - it’s our job to do this for those around us and even the wider world.
Thanks (Greek: Eucharistia) - Also known as gratitude or thanksgiving. The Greek word here has a practical element to it and it suggests that our thanks to God should come from a deep gratitude and should be an act of worship. This is a key virtue of the Christian faith and thanksgiving is at the heart of worship.
The final part of this verse tells us that these prayers should be made for all people. This is a reminder that all people need prayer. Many of us will find it easy to pray for our loved ones, family or friends but it is essential that we pray for others too, even those who are against us. Jesus exemplified this principle in asking for forgiveness for us when on the cross, even in the midst of physical persecution and at the point of being put to death he cried out to God to forgive the people of the earth.
To pray for all people also means we should pray in an evangelistic context. We should pray for those around us to come to know Jesus for themselves.
Finally this covers praying for one another, it’s important for us to pray for one another as we live out our lives. Paul and the other apostles that planted and supported the early church were men of prayer and we should be too. It’s essential that we lift one another up in prayer to God and prayer for the ministries of those around us.