Bible Diary - 1 Timothy 2:1-8

February 22, 2008

Prayer is at the same time instinctual and unnatural. Has there ever existed a person who has never been driven to prayer? Probably not, for as someone observed, “There are no atheists in foxholes.” So it is no particular surprise that Paul has some instruction on prayer for Timothy to pass along to the church in Ephesus. That Paul chooses to urge praying for the hated Roman rulers may come as a surprise, however.

Prayer for All People

2:1 First of all, then, I urge that requests, prayers, intercessions, and thanks be offered on behalf of all people, 2:2 even for kings and all who are in authority, that we may lead a peaceful and quiet life in all godliness and dignity. 2:3 Such prayer for all is good and welcomed before God our Savior, 2:4 since he wants all people to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth. 2:5 For there is one God and one intermediary between God and humanity, Christ Jesus, himself human, 2:6 who gave himself as a ransom for all, revealing God’s purpose at his appointed time. 2:7 For this I was appointed a preacher and apostle – I am telling the truth; I am not lying – and a teacher of the Gentiles in faith and truth. 2:8 So I want the men to pray in every place, lifting up holy hands without anger or dispute.

As John Bunyan so famously observed, we Christians are like pilgrims making our uncertain way through a strange land. We are subject to temporal authorities during our journey, and Paul says they deserve our prayers, for we depend on them for the chance to “lead a peaceful and quiet life in all godliness and dignity.” Reflecting what Jesus taught, Paul elsewhere explains that God placed them there for that purpose and that they rule at God’s pleasure.

The important theological teaching in this passage is that ” there is one God and one intermediary between God and humanity, Christ Jesus,… .” Jesus appeared to humanity to mediate between God and man. Another biblical author expanded on this theme in the book of Hebrews.

Dave, caught for the moment between two worlds.

-sdg-

Posted by Dave | Filed Under Bible