1 Timothy 2:1-8·~1 min

A Call to Prayer

Paul urges petitions, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings for all people, especially for kings and those in authority. The aim is a tranquil and quiet life marked by godliness and dignity.

F¹irst of all, then, I urge that petitions, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgiving be offered for everyone— ²for kings and all those in authority— so that we may lead tranquil and quiet lives in all godliness and dignity.

Paul says such prayer is good and pleasing before God our Savior, who desires people to be saved and to know the truth. He grounds that in the one God, the one mediator Christ Jesus who gave Himself as a ransom for all, and in his own appointment as preacher and teacher to the Gentiles.

³This is good and pleasing in the sight of God our Savior, ⁴who wants everyone to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth. ⁵For there is one God, and there is one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus, ⁶who gave Himself as a ransom for all — the testimony that was given at just the right time. ⁷For this reason I was appointed as a preacher, an apostle, and a faithful and true teacher of the Gentiles. I am telling the truth; I am not lying about anything.

Paul wants the men in every place to pray with holy hands, free from anger and dispute.

⁸Therefore I want the men everywhere to pray, lifting up holy hands, without anger or dissension.

Section summaryPaul urges the church to make every kind of prayer for all people, including rulers, so that believers may live quiet and dignified lives. He says this pleases God our Savior, who desires people to be saved and come to the knowledge of the truth, and he roots that hope in the one mediator, Christ Jesus, who gave Himself as a ransom for all. The section closes with Paul's Gentile commission and with a call for men to pray without anger or quarrelling.

Role in the chapterThis opening section turns the church outward in prayer and grounds that calling in the saving work of Christ. It links public peace, God's saving desire, apostolic mission, and gathered worship.