1 Tim 2:1-8

An Exposition of 1 Timothy
1 Timothy 2:1-8
The 4th Pillar Of the New Testament Church: Prayer


1. Pray —“…2:1 Therefore I exhort first of all that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks be made for all men…”

a. The command to pray—Mat 6:1-15: “…When you pray…pray like this”

b. The Importance of Prayer

(1) Paul exhorts, urges, that this practice in the church be followed universally
(2) “First of all…” does not refer to time, but to importance—prayer is a top priority for the local church
(a) Jesus taught His disciples (and us) to pray
(b) Jesus set the example by frequent seasons of prayer
(c) The churches in Acts prayed often, and powerfully
(d) The Early Christians would pray in unison sometimes.
(e) The Apostles, in their letters (particularly Paul) often recorded prayers and benedictions in their letters

c. The Forms of prayer—The Words used here—three of these are words with shades of different meanings

(1) The First word, δεήσεις, is prayer where there is deep-felt need
(a) It means there is a felt closeness, we can be as persistent and desperate as we need to be.
(b) And we must ask—is there a deep-felt need in our hearts to see our friends and family saved?
(c) If every believer spent five minutes in hell, perhaps our attitudes would be better about the urgency to pray for the lost.

(2) προσευχάς—is prayer as a sincere act of worship and praise.

(3) ἐντεύξεις–intercessory prayer—

(4) εὐχαριστίας—glorifying and giving thanks for God’s previous answers to prayer—thanking God for His mercies while praying for more mercies


d. The First object of prayer—everyone All Men—the word “men” is anthropon, which, in this case means all people.

(1) We are to pray for the salvation of all people, just as we are to witness and evangelize all people, and just as Jesus died for all.

(John 3:16) ""For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life."

(1 John 2:2) "And He Himself is the propitiation for our sins, and not for ours only but also for the whole world."

e. Pray especially for National Leaders—“… for kings and all who are in authority, that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and reverence. …”

(1) For the leaders—which in Paul’s case were a bunch of perverted, violent monsters, such as the Roman Emperor Nero.

(2) Why pray for the rulers? “…that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and reverence. …”

(3) The God of Order and Justice—God ordained government to maintain at least a semblance of justice and law—(Rom 13:1-7), (1 Pet 2:11-16


2. Pray for the Lost—“…3 For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior, 4 who desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth…”

a. God wants us to pray for all—it is good in His sight

(1) We might often not be sure about God’s will in come matters
(2) But this we know—if we are praying for the salvation of all, we are touching the heart of God.


b. God Desires the Salvation AND THE DISCIPLESHIP of all! “…4 who desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth…”

(1) First, God has a heart for the Lost, and He desires their salvation—
(a) if you realize your need of His Grace, remember, He is not against you, He is for you!

(b) The offer of salvation is to every human being, and any human being, who calls upon the name of the Lord

(1 Tim 4:10) "For to this end we both labor and suffer reproach, because we trust in the living God, who is the Savior of all men, especially of those who believe."

(1 John 2:2) "And He Himself is the propitiation for our sins, and not for ours only but also for the whole world.

(Rom 10:13) "For "whoever calls on the name of the LORD shall be saved.""

(Rev 22:17) "And the Spirit and the bride say, "Come!" And let him who hears say, "Come!" And let him who thirsts come. Whoever desires, let him take the water of life freely."
"

(c) But what of those who never hear?
(i) They HAVE heard—
(ii) God’s witness in Nature—Ps 19:1-6
(iii) God’s attributes spelled out in creation—Rom 1:19-21
(iv) These should lead anyone who can see, hear, or feel them, to seek God—they are accountable

(d) But regardless of them, YOU are accountable for much, much, more.

(e) What we see here is God’s heart for the lost
(i) Be encouraged!
(ii) God’s hand is not Short

59:1 Behold, the Lord's hand is not shortened, That it cannot save; Nor His ear heavy, That it cannot hear

(iii) Jesus will cast none out who come to Him—John 6:37
(iv) As long as you are alive, the way to the Cross is ever open, it is only closed by your death.

(f) But God’s desire does not stop with Salvation—the unquoted PHRASE here is of utmost importanceè “…4 who desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth…”
(i) The Greek word is “epignosis,” which means FULL knowledge of the Truth
(ii) This hearkens back to the Great Commission

(Mat 28:19-20) …20 "teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you…”

(g) If you are here today and you are yet a babe in Christ after many years, that is NOT God’s will for you. God’s will for each of His children is that we come to a FULL KNOWLEDGE of the Truth.

(h) If you are here today and are lost, that is NOT God’s desire for you—His desire is that you be saved

3. Pray Through the Mediator—“…5 For there is one God and one Mediator between God and men, the Man Christ Jesus, 6 who gave Himself a ransom for all, to be testified in due time…”

a. One God—Trinitarian Christianity does not teach three gods, but one Triune God, and this One God sent His One True Son to be the Mediator
(1) If He were an angel, He could not represent men to God, nor God to men
(2) If He were only God, and not man, He could not be ours.
(3) If He were man only, and not God, He could no sooner stand in the brightness of God’s Presence than we could
(4) But as the God-Man, He touches both God and Man, and pleads our case.

b. A Ransom for ALL—this word ALL cannot be denied or played with—Jesus died for ALL
(1) But the propitiation, the reconciliation, the turning aside of God’s wrath is (Rom 3:25-26) through FAITH in His blood
(2) No faith, no salvation—His death is sufficient to have saved every person born, but alas, the fountain must be accessed by Faith and Faith Alone.

c. In Due Time—Gal 4:4-6

d. Paul was called and appointed to his ministry to take the Gospel to ALL, and He wants us to pray about it. (1 Tim 2:7) "for which I was appointed a preacher and an apostle; I am speaking the truth in Christ and not lying; a teacher of the Gentiles in faith and truth."


4. Let us Pray What We Preach—“…(1 Tim 2:8) "I desire therefore that the men pray everywhere, lifting up holy hands, without wrath and doubting…”

a. Paul, in verse 8, says that he wants men everywhere to lead in prayer—
b. He wants Holy hands lifted—those who are trying to genuinely life for the Lord, those who own Him as Lord
c. He wants wrath, and doubt left behind.
d. He Wants the MEN to pray publicly

(1) The Greek word in verse 8 is not anthropon, but it is “andra…”, which means “males.”
(2) God wants the men of this and every church to rise up and pray.
(a) This is not about mouthing a few words.
(b) This is not about the pastor or a deacon or two praying.
(c) This is the heart and essence of shared leadership and gifts—God wants men to lead in prayer and be serious about it.

e. This is not to minimize the praying women of this church, but God has ordained male leadership, and today, I ask men to lead—come up to the front, take a mike, and pray

(1) What man will pray to bind demonic forces right now?
(2) What man will pray for the sick in our congregation?
(3) What man will pray for the lost who are among us in this building right now?
(4) What man will pray for the lost in this town?
(5) What man will pray for revival in America?
(6) What man will pray for our national leaders?
(7) What man will pray for our youth?
(8) What man will pray for the leadership of our church?
(9) What man will pray for revival, right now, in this church?


Pray! People of God, Pray!