1Ti 2:1-4 | KingComments | STEP | This chapter consists of two topics. The first topic is that of prayer and the particular responsibility it has for men regarding praying in public. The second topic is the external and the conduct of the woman and her place in public. Both topics are particularly important and can hardly be overestimated. They therefore rightfully belong in this letter. The great aim of the letter is after all to give instructions in the conduct of the believers in the house of God. This conduct concerns the right attitude both toward the unbelievers who are outside the house of God and toward the fellow believers who are in the house of God. This conduct ought to reflect the characteristic that God shows in this letter, that is as God our Savior. . Isn’t it telling that Paul “first of all” gives exhortations with a view to prayer? There will be more admonitions or exhortations, but this one is the most significant. As a believer you ought to start with this one. It is absolutely essential to heed this exhortation and take it to heart. Praying is one of the basic characteristics of spiritual life. In any case it is a fact for the newly converted Saul ( ). The first believers of the church were continually devoting themselves to prayer; they gathered together and were praying ( ). In the activity of prayer the conduct that should characterize the inhabitants of God's house is most evident. God’s house is above all a house of prayer ( ; ). The four different forms of prayer that Paul mentions here applies for both the personal and the collective prayer. 1. “Entreaties” emphasize the need of a continuous, fervent praying for a concrete need. There is an extra urge in it. 2. In the “prayers” you draw near to God to speak out your desires in the broadest sense of the word. You can share the most trivial matters with Him without any formality. 3. You make “petitions” when you draw near to Him in an intimate and free access to ask something concrete on behalf of others. 4. “Thanksgivings” are the support of the previous activities. You draw near to God and thank Him in advance for whatever He will or will not give or do, for He gives or does only what is good ( ). That Paul exhorts us to make intercessions “on behalf of all men”, underlines the purpose of God that we represent Him as the God-Savior. This is how He wants to be made known to all men ( ; ; ). If you become fully aware of this then its first effect will be that you start to pray. You do not only pray for the believers, but also for the unbelievers and you will exclude nobody in that. The circle of your prayer should not be more limited than the circle of God’s interest. . It goes without saying that among ‘all people’ “kings and all who are in authority” are included. Still Paul separately encourages us to certainly pray for these persons. In fact, we are inclined to forget them or even deliberately not mention them in our prayers, because of the usually ungodly nature they reveal. The latter was surely the case in the days of Paul. In those days the cruel, lawless emperor Nero was reigning. Paul therefore exhorts the Roman believers to pray for him (cf. ). Also the Lord Jesus tells His disciples to pray for those who persecute them ( ). It is not about the authorities in themselves. We ought to obey them and to be in subjection to them ( ; ; ). It is about people who form the government. All who are in authority, are those who hold a high office. It not only concerns the rulers of one’s own city of the own country, but also beyond. There is mention of ‘kings and all who are in authority’. Public prayer will prove to an ungodly government that the believers are not rebels. God can move the heart of rulers that they allow the believers to lead their lives without having them involved with the politics of the world ( ). The point is not so much that the government will be grateful to the believers, but that the believer himself is inwardly kept from feelings of hatred and bitterness. Through prayer, the Christian above the prevailing situation. It makes the soul “tranquil and quiet” in the midst of persecutions. This inward rest and peace become visible in “godliness and dignity”. It is “all” Godliness and dignity, which means that they are seen in all areas of life. ‘Godliness’ means to live in the fear of God. That doesn’t mean anxiousness, but respect, taking His will into account. ‘Dignity’ is quite the same as reverence and honesty. You see that your conduct is largely determined by your prayer life. . That attitude of prayer and its effect upon your way of life are “good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior”. God sees your prayer as something beautiful and worthy to accept. He wants to use it to save people. Your prayer may be a contribution to the proclamation of the gospel. . In fact, God “desires all men to be saved”. This is the first part of God’s desire ( ; ). There is no man whom God doesn’t want to grant salvation to. God wants to save sinners ( ) and that is all people. To God there is no distinction: all have sinned and all can be saved ( ). Therefore God is not to be blamed when a human being perishes. That human being owes that to his own stubbornness, he doesn’t want to. Here, however, it is not about the kind intention of God’s will, i.e. the will of God’s counsel ( ), for that will is always executed. It is about the desiring will of God, about His longing, that can be resisted by a human being in his responsibility ( ). The second part of God’s desire is that all people “come to the knowledge of the truth”. Salvation is not a goal in itself. God’s old people Israel was redeemed with a goal. That goal was that God should dwell in their midst. In that way the New Testament people of God are delivered from the power of the world in order to be a dwelling place of God in the Spirit ( ). That becomes visible when believers gather together as a church with the Lord in their midst ( ). The “truth” is the truth about the Person of the Lord Jesus. He is the truth ( ). We find everything about Him in the Bible, the Word that is the truth ( ). The knowledge of the truth is to be received in the church of the living God. The church is in fact the pillar and support of the truth ( ). In practice it means that a newly converted should be added to a local church. The local church is to be recognized there where the characteristics are present that the whole church has. Some characteristics are: 1. The body of Christ is seen there ( ). 2. The order in the church as the house of God is being maintained there by the acknowledgment of the authority of the Lord Jesus that He exerts by His Word and Spirit ( ). 3. There is a diligence to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace ( ). 4. Sin in the local church and in the believer’s own life is judged ( ). Now read 1 Timothy 2:1-4 again. Reflection: What place does prayer take in your life?

‏ 1 Timothy 2:1-4

A House of Prayer

This chapter consists of two topics. The first topic is that of prayer and the particular responsibility it has for men regarding praying in public. The second topic is the external and the conduct of the woman and her place in public. Both topics are particularly important and can hardly be overestimated.

They therefore rightfully belong in this letter. The great aim of the letter is after all to give instructions in the conduct of the believers in the house of God. This conduct concerns the right attitude both toward the unbelievers who are outside the house of God and toward the fellow believers who are in the house of God. This conduct ought to reflect the characteristic that God shows in this letter, that is as God our Savior.

1Tim 2:1. Isn’t it telling that Paul “first of all” gives exhortations with a view to prayer? There will be more admonitions or exhortations, but this one is the most significant. As a believer you ought to start with this one. It is absolutely essential to heed this exhortation and take it to heart. Praying is one of the basic characteristics of spiritual life. In any case it is a fact for the newly converted Saul (Acts 9:11). The first believers of the church were continually devoting themselves to prayer; they gathered together and were praying (Acts 1:14 ; Acts 2:42 ; Acts 4:24 ; Acts 12:12).

In the activity of prayer the conduct that should characterize the inhabitants of God's house is most evident. God’s house is above all a house of prayer (Isa 56:7; Mk 11:17).

The four different forms of prayer that Paul mentions here applies for both the personal and the collective prayer.

1. “Entreaties” emphasize the need of a continuous, fervent praying for a concrete need. There is an extra urge in it.

2. In the “prayers” you draw near to God to speak out your desires in the broadest sense of the word. You can share the most trivial matters with Him without any formality.

3. You make “petitions” when you draw near to Him in an intimate and free access to ask something concrete on behalf of others.

4. “Thanksgivings” are the support of the previous activities. You draw near to God and thank Him in advance for whatever He will or will not give or do, for He gives or does only what is good (Phil 4:6).

That Paul exhorts us to make intercessions “on behalf of all men”, underlines the purpose of God that we represent Him as the God-Savior. This is how He wants to be made known to all men (Mt 5:45; Acts 14:16-17; 1Tim 4:10). If you become fully aware of this then its first effect will be that you start to pray. You do not only pray for the believers, but also for the unbelievers and you will exclude nobody in that. The circle of your prayer should not be more limited than the circle of God’s interest.

1Tim 2:2. It goes without saying that among ‘all people’ “kings and all who are in authority” are included. Still Paul separately encourages us to certainly pray for these persons. In fact, we are inclined to forget them or even deliberately not mention them in our prayers, because of the usually ungodly nature they reveal. The latter was surely the case in the days of Paul. In those days the cruel, lawless emperor Nero was reigning. Paul therefore exhorts the Roman believers to pray for him (cf. Ezra 6:10). Also the Lord Jesus tells His disciples to pray for those who persecute them (Mt 5:44).

It is not about the authorities in themselves. We ought to obey them and to be in subjection to them (Rom 13:1-7; Tit 3:1; 1Pet 2:13-14). It is about people who form the government. All who are in authority, are those who hold a high office. It not only concerns the rulers of one’s own city of the own country, but also beyond. There is mention of ‘kings and all who are in authority’.

Public prayer will prove to an ungodly government that the believers are not rebels. God can move the heart of rulers that they allow the believers to lead their lives without having them involved with the politics of the world (Jer 29:7). The point is not so much that the government will be grateful to the believers, but that the believer himself is inwardly kept from feelings of hatred and bitterness. Through prayer, the Christian above the prevailing situation. It makes the soul “tranquil and quiet” in the midst of persecutions.

This inward rest and peace become visible in “godliness and dignity”. It is “all” Godliness and dignity, which means that they are seen in all areas of life. ‘Godliness’ means to live in the fear of God. That doesn’t mean anxiousness, but respect, taking His will into account. ‘Dignity’ is quite the same as reverence and honesty. You see that your conduct is largely determined by your prayer life.

1Tim 2:3. That attitude of prayer and its effect upon your way of life are “good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior”. God sees your prayer as something beautiful and worthy to accept. He wants to use it to save people. Your prayer may be a contribution to the proclamation of the gospel.

1Tim 2:4. In fact, God “desires all men to be saved”. This is the first part of God’s desire (Tit 2:11; 2Pet 3:9). There is no man whom God doesn’t want to grant salvation to. God wants to save sinners (1Tim 1:15) and that is all people. To God there is no distinction: all have sinned and all can be saved (Rom 3:22b-25 ; Rom 10:11-13).

Therefore God is not to be blamed when a human being perishes. That human being owes that to his own stubbornness, he doesn’t want to. Here, however, it is not about the kind intention of God’s will, i.e. the will of God’s counsel (Eph 1:5), for that will is always executed. It is about the desiring will of God, about His longing, that can be resisted by a human being in his responsibility (Mt 23:37).

The second part of God’s desire is that all people “come to the knowledge of the truth”. Salvation is not a goal in itself. God’s old people Israel was redeemed with a goal. That goal was that God should dwell in their midst. In that way the New Testament people of God are delivered from the power of the world in order to be a dwelling place of God in the Spirit (Eph 2:22). That becomes visible when believers gather together as a church with the Lord in their midst (Mt 18:20).

The “truth” is the truth about the Person of the Lord Jesus. He is the truth (Jn 14:6). We find everything about Him in the Bible, the Word that is the truth (Jn 17:17). The knowledge of the truth is to be received in the church of the living God. The church is in fact the pillar and support of the truth (1Tim 3:15). In practice it means that a newly converted should be added to a local church. The local church is to be recognized there where the characteristics are present that the whole church has.

Some characteristics are:

1. The body of Christ is seen there (1Cor 12:27).

2. The order in the church as the house of God is being maintained there by the acknowledgment of the authority of the Lord Jesus that He exerts by His Word and Spirit (Mt 18:20).

3. There is a diligence to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace (Eph 4:2-3).

4. Sin in the local church and in the believer’s own life is judged (1Cor 5:13 ; 1Cor 11:31).

Now read 1 Timothy 2:1-4 again.

Reflection: What place does prayer take in your life?