1Ti 2:1-4 “I exhort therefore, that, first of all, supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks, be made for all men; For kings, and for all that are in authority; that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty. For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Saviour; Who will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth.”
In the first chapter of this letter, Paul has given Timothy a charge concerning the church at Ephesus. He was to stir them up in their faith and not give place to those who would blaspheme the worship of Jesus Christ. As with Paul’s testimony, he was to declare that Jesus Christ came to save sinners. He was to be an example of fully relying on Christ.
Now Paul says, “I exhort you therefore.” In other words, Paul is not saying that what he is about to ask of Timothy is the proper response to the instruction he has already given. For every minister of the gospel of Jesus Christ, there is something that should always be done first. We have a blessed responsibility to pray for all men.
With every attempt to admonish God’s people, we should first of all petition God on their behalf. It does not matter if they are rich or poor. Whether or not they have attended church before has no bearing on this injunction. We should, first of all, be found diligently and earnestly praying for all men.
This request by Paul is especially telling if we stop to consider who was emperor in Rome at the time. It is estimated that Paul wrote this first letter to Timothy sometime between 63 and 66 AD. Nero ruled in Rome from 54 to 68 AD. He was in many ways considered to be one of the worst or the Roman emperors.
Now, let us look again at who Paul instructed to pray for. He was to pray for all men; for kings, and for all that are in authority. He was to pray for Nero and for those that supported him. He was to make intercession in his prayer for such men.
As ministers, it is not Biblical for us to enter into a frenzy of name-calling and finger pointing. This is true in the church and in the world around us. It is perfectly acceptable to recognize and identify ungodliness. However, that does not remove from us the instruction to pray for these, whether in the church or not.
We may pray for men and never see any difference in their actions. Paul’s instruction here was not that we should pray that these men would allow us to lead quiet and peaceable lives. Having a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty is the result of our willingness and ability to pray for these men. Our quiet and peaceable lives do not hinge on what they are doing but on what we are doing.
We are quick to claim a desire to please our God. Then we embroil ourselves in the political furor around us. What is good and acceptable to God our Savior is that we pray for all men; for kings, and for all that are in authority. We cannot honestly claim to desire to please God and ignore this instruction.
We do not know who it may please God to deliver from a life of debauchery. It is not our place to determine who is or is not worthy of our prayers. Our charge is to preach the gospel of Jesus Christ; not to decide who is worthy of hearing His gospel. It is good to give earnest heed to both Paul’s charge and to his request concerning all men.
May we be diligent in prayer for all men, knowing that if God has brought us to salvation and knowledge of the truth then He is certainly able to do so any whom He chooses!
