Day 11 - I Timothy 2:1-4

Daily Devotional Study of I Timothy

Praying for Government Leaders

h 1 Timothy 2:1:4    h

¹Therefore I exhort first of all that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks be made for all men, ²For kings and all who are in authority, that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and reverence. ³For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior, ⁴who desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth.

I

n this passage, Paul uses the word “all” in referring to God’s desire for the salvation of all humanity. Timothy is to pray for all people and for all who are in authority because God desires all to be saved and come to the knowledge of the truth. Question? What does praying for government officials have to do with God's desire for all people to be saved and come to the knowledge of the truth? The answer is that political and social unrest in a nation hinders the spread of the Gospel and the work of teaching and training. Just look at nations in the world today where there is political and social turmoil. The spread of the Gospel is hindered and Christians are often driven underground. Political and social stability will facilitate the spread of the Gospel and such stability is contingent on the prayers of God's people. 

Our Prayers Will Bring Social Stability

Paul wants Timothy to pray for those in authority (government officials) so that God’s people can lead a quiet and peaceable life. The word “quiet” in this verse is from the Greek word hesuchia and it refers to a life without turmoil and upset. This word also appears in 2:11, where Paul says a woman should be allowed to learn in hesuchia, that is, without turmoil and upset. As we will learn in a later lesson, Paul is not silencing women in this letter, but demanding that they be allowed to learn it a quiet and peaceful setting--and that was revolutionary in Paul's day. In this passage, Paul uses it to refer to the sort of calm and stable life that is God’s will for all his people. Hesuchia, in this instance, will come as a result of God’s people praying for kings and all those in authority.

Four Kinds of Prayer

Paul mentions four kinds of prayers in this passage. The first one is “supplications” from the Greek word deeseis, which refers to prayer as “the expression of our needs and desires.” The second is “prayers,” from the Greek word proseuchas, the general term for prayer, referring to any kind of communication with God. The third is “intercession,” from the Greek word enteuxeis and means “to have a meeting with someone” or “to draw near to converse intimately.” The fourth is eucharist, which means “to give thanks.” Paul wants all these kinds of prayer to be made for government officials.

Social Unrest Hinders the Spread of the Gospel

Paul then ties our prayers for government leaders to God’s desire for all humanity to be saved. The point is that when there is social instability and unrest, it hinders the propagation of the gospel and the work of discipleship. Through Timothy’s prayers for kings and all in authority, hesuchia (quietness, stability) can come to the society, and this will facilitate the work of preaching the gospel to all humanity.

Let’s See the Bigger Picture

When Paul wrote this letter to Timothy, most of the kings and those in authority were pagans. Nonetheless, Timothy is to pray for them, and through his prayers, stability (hesuchia) will come and the work of spreading the gospel will be made easier. In North America today, many Christians will only pray for those government leaders who are of their political party or of their political persuasion. This comes from a narrow, political mindset. Our purpose in praying for government leaders is not political--to get our guys or gals elected. Our purpose in praying for government leaders is eternal, so that the Gospel may not be hindered by social and political unrest. We must see the bigger picture and pray for all who are in authority so that our society will be stable and we can freely carry on the work of the gospel.

Prayer & Reflection

O Lord our God who reigns over the nations of the earth, have mercy on our president, our congressmen, our senators and our judges. Fill their hearts and minds with your wisdom. Cause them to make good decisions that will lead to peace and stability in our land, that we may freely proclaim the Good News of Jesus Christ freely and without any hindrance. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen!